Laptops have become an essential device for business executives. They allow executives to access critical applications and files even while away from the office, at home or on the road. When you are purchasing a business laptop, several things go into considerations. To make things easy for you we are presenting you with guidelines for buy business laptops.
Choose right type of laptop
The first step in selecting the right business laptop is deciding which class of machine is best for your work. The decision is primarily based on the factor – how often you will take the laptop with you and what is the comfortable screen size for you. Today’s laptops can be divided into three main categories- Netbooks, ultraportables, and mainstream laptops
Netbooks – they are smallest laptops having 11 to 13-inches screen. They are ideal for content consumption devices and right for executives who need to access the Internet every now and then. But they are generally underpowered and might not be suitable for heavy office work.
Ultraportables – ultraportables is a class of laptop that is built around portability. Weighing around 4 pounds are lesser; these laptops are 1.5 inches thin or thinner when closed. They belong to premium segment and are expensive. Ultraportables have good hardware configuration and executives can easily do the majority of their office tasks while on the go.
Mainstream laptops – they are the cheapest and mostly considered ideal desktop replacements. Having said that, it is no surprise they are a bit on the heavier side and they may weight around 5.5 pounds or more.
Choose right hardware configuration
The processor, RAM, and storage are three important hardware specifications you need to pay attention to. Laptops having a low-end CPU’s configuration are ideal for internet browsing and typing but not ideal for business use. Always go for a laptop with high-end CPUs such as 6th or 7th generation Intel Core i5, i7 or their AMD alternatives. If you have an unlimited budget for a business laptop, you can go for laptops powered by Intel Xeon processor or their AMD alternatives.
The value of a high-end CPU’s diminishes if it not accompanied with sufficient RAM. The operating system has to heavily rely on page file to prefetch data if your laptop has insufficient memory. Most business laptops are pre-loaded with the 64-bit operating system so you need to look for laptop models having 8GB RAM or more. If the laptop is pre-loaded with 32-bit Windows OS, 4 GB RAM is sufficient.
Storage is also an important component in laptops. Today’s laptop either offer SSD+HDD combination, SSD+SSD combination, or HDD only configuration. SSD is a newer type of storage and also faster than HDD. It does not have moving parts so they are more durable and compact.
Consider security features
Your business laptop is more likely to have confidential data stored on it drive, so security becomes an important aspect. According to a study conducted by Dell, thousands of machines go missing every year. While the majority of the thieves are not after your files, you still need to protect data stored on your laptop. There are several business laptop models which offer biometric security that acts as an additional layer of security.
Check Battery Life
The battery life is an important aspect which may be a deal breaker for some business users and nonissue for many. It mainly depends on how often you will use your laptop without access to power. No matter what your battery requirements, you need to look for laptops that offer 6- 8 hours of battery life. Laptop batteries specifications generally mention 6 cells or 9 cells. The 9-cell battery is always better and provides more backup than a 6-cell one.
Warranty and support
Majority of laptop manufacturers offer 1-year warranty while some offer 3-years warranty. Professionals should consider 3-years warranty as they would use the laptop that long until they plan to buy a new laptop. Some companies offer on-site support which means the laptop repair technician would come to your office or home and do the repairs. If the company does not offer on-site repair service you need to take the laptop to the customer center for repairs. So always read the fine print in warranty and support section.
Now that you know the important things to focus on, you can narrow down your choices and select the laptop that meets your needs and fits your budget. Do you know any other important aspect to focus on while purchasing a business laptop?
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