It is all too easy to click on the best-selling laptop pushed into your lap by retailers, but is that going to be the best fit for your business? To truly synchronise your needs with your tech device, you have to understand what you are buying, especially when it concerns something as important as your company. You don’t have to own a degree in computing to be able to discern what boxes to tick in your business laptop search and this guide details what you should be looking for.
What Do You Need the Laptop For?
Are you the admin brain behind your company, sending emails to clients and creating invoices or work regimes? Or does your career take you down a creative path, such as media design or geographical planning activities? Whatever the answer, the laptop you pick has to reflect those needs. A GIS supportive device will ensure that any GIS software is fully supported, or a laptop with a stronger GPU will ensure that graphics rendering is never a hindrance. These types of roles have a higher demand for a stronger CPU than a lesser demanding role functionality wise, for example, if you do lots of report writing.
Simply put, if you need your laptop to perform basic tasks such as typing, reading, or similar, then things like CPU, RAM, GPU, and even GIS will not be as important. However, if you are creating graphics, and work with media files or GIS software, there is an elevated need for a more technical laptop that can keep up with the complex jobs too.
Shopping for Your Budget
There are three ranges of laptops, low-budget, mid-range, and high-end models. Ideally, because of the purpose of this purchase, low-end models should be overlooked wherever possible. Starting at mid-range laptops means committing to a price of at least $350 and upwards, whereas the high-end models market at $600 and rising. The money you put into this asset should be seen as an investment, with the return being the profits from the work tasks carried out at the helm. For a deeper look at what a good price range can get you, check out these Lenovo Small Business Laptops and see how the specs hold up to the price tag.
What is a Good Business CPU?
The Central Processing Unit is the power behind the device. Which CPU you need depends on what you do with your device. If, say, a typical workday entails having multiple browser windows open simultaneously alongside complex software and an open inbox, your CPU demands immediately shoot up. If you spend the day typing up documents and sending sporadic emails, the CPU can stay put at the lower end. Most business owners will benefit from a Core i3 or i5, but the i7 is there for those needing an extra boost. The higher the CPU, the higher the price in most cases, but this is where it is worth putting your money.
Where Will You Use the Laptop?
If you work at home, the laptop you buy won’t need to be geared towards portability or ruggedness. However, people who travel to an office every day, or worksites, or take their work all over the world with them, need something sturdier. It is possible to find a lightweight laptop that is still rugged and therefore supports portability.
Which Design Suits Your Needs?
Business laptops come in a whole manner of designs, including standard, and hybrid models. Touchscreen laptops are becoming more popular than ever before, largely owing to their multi-faceted opportunities and flexible usage allowances. They can be used as a tablet, or laptop in the same sitting and have been a real innovation in the world of business. Traditional models still have a lot to offer and tend to be more rugged generally, but lots of business owners prefer the versatility of the hybrid models.
Your business needs the best supporting tools so it can perform to its optimum capacity. The laptop product is one of the biggest decisions to be made whether that is as you are starting out or a replacement device down the road. Consider all your options and remember to siphon out what is relevant and what can be pushed to the side.