Wondering how you can get a perfect computer? There are numerous brands and models of computers available on the market. Choosing one can be challenging, especially if you don’t know what you want. There are different things you should consider before purchasing one. Read on to learn how to choose the best type of computer for your needs.
How Do You Want to Use the Computer?
First and foremost, you should determine the purpose for which you wish to use the computer to get something that suits your needs. You can buy a computer specifically for work, or for any hobbies, you may have such as gaming. Determining how and where you will use it can help you make an informed decision. The requirements for each computer vary depending on how you intend to use it. For instance, you need to prioritize specifications like software and relevant applications if you want to use the computer for work. If you want to use it for gaming, it should have a fast processing speed and provide a high-quality resolution.
Laptop or Desktop Computer
You can either buy a laptop or desktop computer depending on your needs. A laptop is generally expensive compared to a desktop computer because it offers many advantages. It is portable, and you can take it anywhere which allows you to work on the go. A desktop computer comes with added weight and is typically much larger which means you can only use it from one location at a time. However, a large screen is an added advantage since it gives you a clear resolution.
Although laptops are becoming increasingly powerful a desktop computer is suitable for graphic-intensive applications like gaming, animation rendering, and video editing. Other things that can help you choose between a desktop and laptop include noise and cooling. Laptops are very compact, and they are likely to be noisier than desktop computers. You can improve the cooling system for your desktop which may not be possible with a laptop.
When choosing a laptop, you must also consider its battery lifespan. When it comes to peripherals, you should know that a desktop comes with more ports than a laptop. This means you can connect several devices like printers, speakers, external storage, microphones, and others.
Price
Price is one of the most important factors that will influence your final decision. There are several computer brands available on the market, and their prices differ significantly as a result of many things. Therefore, it is imperative to compare laptops using the best comparison website such as Kelaptop. With this tool, you can filter laptops by price, brand, features, and other specifications until you get the appropriate laptop that fits your budget.
When looking for a laptop, you also need to take into account specifications like RAM, CPU model, graphics card model, hard disk, processor, screen, and others. A comparison website can sort computers according to price, power, quality, and other aspects that make a particular brand stand out from the rest. With more than 30 brands and more than 100,000 models, it can be overwhelming to choose the most appropriate laptop for your purposes. Before you start searching for a laptop, you must have a realistic budget to narrow your search. Additionally, you also need to read customer reviews to gain insight into what other people say about different computers.
Windows or Mac
Choosing between Windows and Mac is a matter of personal preference, but your experience can also determine the operating system you are more comfortable with. It is vital to try both systems to determine which one offers a better experience when doing your work or other activities like gaming. Mac computers are more expensive than Windows-based PCs because they are more secure. There are fewer viruses for Mac OS computers because Apple uses a closed ecosystem approach for its products, and this makes it challenging to distribute malware.
Windows PCs on the other have provided a more robust gaming ecosystem, and as such, they are ideal for gamers. Windows PCs are also preferable since it comes with several apps designed to suit the needs of all users. Remember, Mac computers can also run on Windows operating systems. Therefore, your ultimate choice depends on how you want to use the computer.
Power and Performance
Performance is the most important metric you should consider when looking for a PC, and the CPU is at the core. A quad-core makes a big difference to the performance of a computer. AMD’s Ryzen 3 and Intel’s Core i3 CPUs are the latest, and they offer fantastic performance. If you want a computer with more power for tasks like video or photo editing, and gaming, then you need a computer with a processor like an Intel i5 or i7.
You also need to ensure that you have sufficient system memory or RAM. For most users, including gamers, RAM with a capacity of 8GB to 16 GB is ideal. However, if you handle a lot of heavy tasks like video editing, 32GB will be ideal, but this will also depend on the type of software you use. If you intend to play games on your computer, then you should check the graphics card, and this is probably the most expensive component of a PC. You need to check the specifications for each computer prior to making a purchase.
Storage
The storage capacity of a computer is another critical element you should consider before buying one. A computer hard drive is where you save your files and installed applications. The capacity varies depending on the model of the computer, and you can get one with as much as 500GB. The storage available on the hard drive determines the files and programs you can have on your computer before running out of space. However, if you want to buy a Chromebook, cloud storage is used, so you don’t need to worry about internal storage.
If you have several games and movies you want to store, then you will need to get a secondary drive with additional space. Most computers come with at least one solid-state drive (SSD) for the storage of files and other programs. SSDs are faster than hard disk drives (HDDs) with moving parts. With an SSD, you can easily locate and open files on your computer.
SSD is the best option for a boot drive, and traditional hard drives are ideal for additional storage. However, there are other options you can consider for storing your files like cloud storage for both desktop and laptop. External hard drives are perfect since they are just as fast as internal hard drives.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
You also need to check if a laptop comes with integrated wireless networking features like Wi-Fi. This means you can connect to the internet at broadband speeds when you are in the range of a Wi-Fi network. You can also use your laptop to connect to “hotspots” found in different places like hotels, airports, and cafes. The latest laptops have advanced Wi-Fi technology that offers fast speeds. The Wi-Fi feature found on a laptop is convenient since you can do your work on the go.
You will need Ethernet for a desktop computer to access a fast and steady internet connection. Any desktop computer will have an integrated Ethernet port that utilizes an Ethernet cable. However, the latest desktops have Wi-Fi or 6 wireless networking features provided via a built-in feature. Alternatively, you can get an optional attachment to access the internet.
Most laptops and some desktops have a Bluetooth feature that is commonly used to connect different devices to facilitate file transfer. With this wireless feature, you don’t need a cable to read or transfer data between two devices. Bluetooth also supports headsets that allow you to listen to music without using a cable.
Going Chromebook
Windows and Mac are the common options for operating systems, but Chromebook is the new alternative you can consider when buying a computer. A Chromebook uses Chrome OS which is a lightweight operating system specifically meant for ultra-portable laptops. Chromebooks are very easy to use, affordable, and ideal for casual users like students and people who want to get laptops on a budget.
Chromebooks are also compatible with Android Apps. However, they have little storage and limited power. The main issue is that they depend heavily on cloud storage, and this affects performance in many ways. They cannot run demanding applications or software without the support of Chrome OS compatibility. However, if you want a laptop with a little footprint, you should probably consider a Chromebook.
Buying a computer can be overwhelming since there are several brands and models available on the market. There are many things you should consider to get the ideal computer that suits your needs. You must set a realistic budget to get the right computer that fits your work, academic, or gaming requirements. You also need to choose between a desktop or laptop depending on how you want to use it. Other things you should consider include storage, operating system, RAM, and peripherals. Your ultimate choice is a matter of personal preference, but these tips can help you make a better decision.