More than 71% of Americans now work from home. That doesn’t mean everyone works using an authoritative desktop PC. You capacity be one of the people who needs something to use while on the go.
You’ll Need a Brand New Laptop
Of course, the benefits of a good laptop go further than the freedom of work. You can utilize them to play high-end video games, browse the Internet, converse, and watch movies. You can use powerful laptops for other types of work too, including graphic design, web design, and video editing.
However, it’s not easy to pick a laptop these days. There are many options on the market.
Fortunately, we’ve got a good list of shopping mistakes listed below. Continue reading this list we prepared to guarantee you buy the best laptop for the right price.
Buying the First Laptop Available
Never buy the first laptop you come across. That’s a quick ticket to regret. Buying a laptop because it looks better than the others and because of a low price doesn’t guarantee it’s worth the investment.
Whenever you find one you like, write it down or add it to your wishlist. There are other steps to take before completing the transaction and sticking with that laptop.
Consider that this laptop will stay with you for years. The majority of laptops can last three years or even longer if you take good care of them. You’ll want one that won’t waste your money during that period.
Not Powerful Enough
How do you know that a laptop is worth the investment? How will you know it’s not going to give you problems during those three or more years?
Learn how to gauge laptop performance based on its parts. This requires getting recognizable with at least four parts of a PC: the processor, RAM, video card, and motherboard.
If you need a laptop for professional video gaming, streaming, video editing, or web design, you’ll need a premium build. This means getting a laptop with the latest Intel i7, Intel i9, or AMD Ryzen processor. Pair this with a mid to high-end range graphics card such as Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU.
When it comes to memory, 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM should be your minimum. Go for further if you can give it. As for your motherboard, make certain it has modern ports for belongings like multiple HDMI cables, USB-C, USB 3.1, and Thunderbolt.
Wrong Types of Laptop
Not all laptops are the same. Every kind of laptop user, there is a sort of laptop.
If you propose to use the laptop solely for office work or school, prioritize a smaller, lighter laptop. You’ll carry it around often, after all. It’s not a good idea to bring a heavy gaming laptop to school if you only need one to take down notes and conduct school research.
If you need a laptop for video editing or gaming, you will need to invest in a powerful, heavy laptop. You should get one with a bigger screen and better battery life.
Are you someone who wants a jack-of-all-trades and won’t bother tinkering with a bunch of third-party applications? Not concerned with modes for video games or torrents? You would do well with an Apple product instead, such as a MacBook Air.
Wrong Size
Yes, the extent does matter when it comes to improving your laptop experience. Not only will the size concern the weight of the laptop, therefore disturbing portability, but it will also affect functionality.
A big laptop is a great choice for those who require visual real estate. This includes gamers, graphic designers, architects, artists, and web designers. They need all the space achievable to see what they’re doing and for better multitasking options.
For office work, where you’ll need one tab at a time, a smaller screen is better. These lighter laptops often don’t require a lot of power either, meaning you’ll get more out of the laptop’s battery.
Forgetting to Check Features and Accessories
Avoid the error of buying a laptop without checking its built-in features and accessories! A lot of people simply take a look at a laptop’s specs but forget to check the webcam, Bluetooth, WI-Fi capabilities, speakers, and touchpad.
Does the laptop feature a touch screen? Is the laptop’s keyboarding a condensed one, or does it feature a full set, including the Numpad keys?
A common mistake is to discount the capabilities of the webcam. Check if the webcam can capture in 1080p resolution. When it comes to the screen, don’t always aspire for the highest resolution and frame rate. 4K UHD resolution can seem immense on paper, but it will require a bigger screen. Using it will drain your battery. This won’t advantage you much if you only need the laptop for basic work.
Outdated Parts
Avoid buying a laptop that already appears outdated and old. Even a brand new laptop, fresh from the store, can be an outdated piece of hardware. This is especially the container if it features weak specs, like an Intel Celeron CPU and an integrated GPU.
Keep in mind that laptop continuance isn’t as easy as desktop PC maintenance. You can’t swap out all of the parts. You might not still be able to enter some parts for cleaning or repairs without disassembling the whole laptop. Avoid this difficulty by sticking with a laptop that uses newer, more powerful parts. You don’t have to go with the most premium build, but at least obtain something that doesn’t exercise parts from five years ago.
Choosing the Wrong Operating System
Never forget to check the operating system (OS) of the laptop before buying it!
Buying an Apple product, such as a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air? It will use the latest macOS, such as Big Sur or Monterey. These are easy to check since most people only buy MacBooks from an official Apple store.
However, any other laptop could exploit a different OS. Not all laptops run on Windows 10 or Windows 11. You might inadvertently buy a laptop that runs on Linux or Chrome OS.
While these OS options have their set of pros and cons, the biggest issue is compatibility. You might not be able to run the apps or games you require because they don’t work with the OS you have. You’d have to expend again simply to own and install Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Overpaying for a Laptop
A lot of people make the mistake of overpaying for a laptop. Don’t repeat this! Take your time to check the market and compare prices.
It’s always a better idea to check an official store, like the page from Lenovo or the official Apple store. These stores security that you’ll see the standard SRP (Suggested Retail Price) for the laptop you want. Signing up for the official stores might even grant you discount vouchers in the future.
At the very least, don’t make it a custom to buy from scalpers. These are communities who buy highly-sought laptops in bulk, therefore draining equipment from stores. They then sell the items online for high prices.
Ignoring Product Reviews
Yes, reviews matter and it’s okay to trust consumer reviews you find online. Keep in mind that the seller isn’t the one writing these reviews. They can’t cheat the system and write reviews for their products either.
Every review comes from a consumer who purchased and tried the laptop. They can tell you whether or not there’s a concern about false advertising. They can alert you about features not mentioned or over-hyped by promotional materials.
Reviews can also let you know that yes, that particular laptop is worth the price!
Of course, don’t basically take their word for it. Look for reviews that come with photos or videos. Take time to watch video reviews on YouTube, unboxing videos, and product breakdowns.
Not Future-Proofing
Not every brand new laptop will be worth it in five years. Some laptops, still new ones, might not come with USB 3.1 ports, for example. This means transferring files from your laptop to a flash drive will take longer than necessary.
Does the laptop feature WiFi 6 capabilities? Does it feature compatibility with the latest Bluetooth update? Can you upgrade the RAM or the built-in hard drive to further extend the laptop’s function in the future?
These are questions you require to address before spending on a laptop. You don’t want to buy one that works today but will become superseded in a year or two.
Buy the Best Brand New Laptop
Now you know the different mistakes to avoid when buying a brand new laptop. Simply going for the shiniest or most expensive option doesn’t always guarantee a worthwhile purchase. Avoid these mistakes and follow our tips to get the most out of your investment.
But why stop here when we’ve got still more technology tips for you to check out? We also have guides that cover other topics, from general business to real estate, so continue reading our lists and posts today!