Buying a New Mac or Laptop

Top Tips for Buying a New Mac or Laptop

In today’s increasingly connected world, people are more and more reliant on their smartphones and tablets.

And while the capabilities of these devices has improved rapidly over the past few years, laptops are still the best option if you need a device that offers functionality akin to a desktop PC, but that is also flexible and portable.  

There are a plethora of models and brands available in the market, which can make buying a laptop or Apple Mac seem complex.

Taking some time to think about your precise needs and understand more about the options available to you will help make the selection process less daunting.

Here are some of the most important factors which will help make the buying decision easier:

 Consider the unique needs of the buyer

There is such a wide variety of laptops available today, that you can almost certainly get something to meet your specific needs, but it’s important to step back and think about what those needs actually are.

A design expert might prefer sophisticated graphics features, while a travel writer’s key requirements might just be word processing software and a long battery life.

Are you planning on carrying the laptop around a lot, or will it mainly be used at home? Will you be playing games or watching movies, or just using it for Word and PowerPoint? Do you want lots of local storage, or are you happy storing your files in the Cloud?

Spending some time thinking about this upfront will help to put all the other features into perspective.

Budget Limitations

Setting a budget will help avoid impulse decisions and indulgences. Laptops today come in a really wide range of types, styles and capabilities, with variety in pricing to match.

You can pick up a low end Windows notebook for less than a few hundred pounds, while a high spec Mac will cost you over £1000.

Be wary of paying for features that you don’t need. Do you really need a touch screen display, or the latest slick design? Or would your money be better spent on a practical machine that meets your functional needs?

Operating System

There are essentially three options to pick from:  Windows, Apple and Chrome OS.

·         Microsoft Windows: This is the de factor choice for many first time laptop buyers and offers the widest range of software, including the popular Microsoft Office range (Word, PowerPoint etc.)

·         Apple OS X: Apple is well known for its reliability and the seamless sync up it provides with any other Apple device that the user works on. The latest version of the Mac operating systems, OS X, is called “El Capitan”. While software such as Microsoft Office is now available on the Mac, there are still come concerns around compatibility issues. 

·         Chrome OS: This is highly economical and a good choice for the budget sensitive. There is a more limited range of software available, the software is less mature that the others, and it is likely the one that you’ll be least familiar with. That being said, it uses Google’s very popular Google Docs suite, and is well integrated with Gmail and the Google Play store.

Screen Specification / Size

Screen size, resolution and graphics processing all impact the quality of the visuals. The screen size is also one of the main components impacting the overall size and weight of the laptop.

Larger screens are often better for working on, or watching videos, but they make the laptop heavier and less portable. Similarly, higher resolution displays offer a better experience, but make the laptop more expensive.

With regard to the resolution, laptops usually offer a range from 1366 by 768 up to 1920 by 1080. A higher resolution screen along with RGB LED backlighting would give a great visual experience. Instead of choosing a laptop with integrated graphics, it is better to go for one with a dedicated graphics chip.

Many people choose to compromise on screen size, and other peripherals, in order to make the laptop smaller and more portable.

Ports and peripherals:

You will definitely want to consider what types of ports and connectivity you require on your laptop since it is difficult (and in many cases impossible) to upgrade this at a future date.

·         USB – Since the ports cannot be upgraded later, it is better to pick a model that includes both traditional USB ports as well as the faster USB 3.0 port. The “U” in USB stands for “Universal” and that’s exactly what these ports are, they’ll allow you to connect your laptop to a wide array of peripheral.

·         HDMI – If you want to connect your laptop to a television or a monitor you’ll require an output port for this. Many modern laptops come with a built in HDMI port.

·         Card reader – If you are into digital photography, or you use some other external device that uses a memory card (like a smart phone), you may want to look for a laptop that has a built in card reader

·         DVD drive – Older laptops came with a CD / DVD drive as standard, but increasingly they are left out due to the preference for digital downloads. If you have a large DVD collection that you’d like to be able to play on your laptop, or you want to be able to burn your own CD / DVDs, look out for a laptop with a DVD drive.

Other important factors to consider:

·         Battery Life: Increased battery life increases the mobility of the laptop. Most models come with a replaceable battery, which can be upgraded later should you encounter any problems.

·         Security: Some laptops will come with built in biometrics (such as fingerprint) security as it protects the device against unauthorized access.

·         RAM: Higher RAM will ensure that the laptop runs smoothly, and is capable of running multiple applications at once. This is particularly important if you want to be able to multi task, or play games that require a high spec machine.

With all the right information at hand, buying a new laptop or an Apple MacBook will hopefully no longer be a daunting task.

As always, don’t be afraid to reach out to the professionals for guidance and advice. Most stores today have an IT support team on hand that can help to answer your questions.

Cloudscape IT Services                  http://cloudscape.it/

Over 30 years’ experience providing IT Services in the London area; we aim to provide first-class computer support, we help businesses with day to day computer help, Network Services, IT support, project management and cloud services. From new server installations to individual desktops and laptops – including MAC – We have the expert knowledge to solve your IT problems and keep you working efficiently.