Overview:-
While most laptops are powerful, manufacturers make a wide
variety of machines to suit every user’s needs. Depending on your need, there
are factors to consider before you can decide on the specifications that will
be most suitable for you.
Processor
The processor,
also known as Central Processing Unit or CPU, is the hardware that allows
software, programs and apps to run on a computer. Every task that the computer
does requires processing power. A powerful processor can multitask, run larger
or more complex software, and also handle larger files easily.
Processors also
have multiple cores – up to 8 cores on a single high-end processor can handle
multiple programs more efficiently than single- or dual-core processors. There
are two major manufacturers of multi-core processors – Intel, with its range of
Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and Pentium processors, and AMD’s
APU processors.
Types of Intel processors
| Type of Intel processors | Approximate price (Rs.) |
| Pentium Dual Core | 18,000 |
| Pentium Quad Core | 22,000 |
| Core i3 | 25,000 |
| Core i5 | 35,000 |
| Core i7 | 50,000 |
Price
| Type of AMD processors | Approximate price (Rs.) |
| A4 | 18,000 |
| A6 | 25,000 |
| A8 | 28,000 |
| A10 | 32,000 |
Conclusion
The type of processor you need depends on your usage and your budget.
OS
An operating system manages
the hardware and software resources on a computer, while also providing
common services that are essential to all software on the system. All
other programs depend on it for resources.
For laptops, users have many
OS choices – Apple’s Mac OS X, Windows 7 or 8, Ubuntu based on Linux,
Google’s Chrome OS or the classic DOS.
Apple Mac OS X
Features:
- Great user interface
- Applications run smoother
- UNIX-based code makes the OS more secure
- Exclusively installed on Apple computers
- Limited choice of applications
Windows OS
Features:
- Most widely used
- Compatible with most hardware and software
- Supports third-party programs
- User interface can be customized
Linux OS
Features:
- Stable
- Compatible with most hardware and software
- Good for servers
- Free
DOS
Features:
- Free
- Any other operating system can easily be installed along with DOS
- Can be time consuming to understand as it is not a graphical interface
Chrome OS
Features:
- Available only on Chromebooks
- Limited offline capabilities
- Web-based applications
Conclusion
While Windows and Mac are the
most popular choices, Google’s Chrome OS works well for users who don’t
require many offline features. Ubuntu has also gained popularity over
recent years. In addition to being a free OS, Ubuntu also delivers
flexibility, as you can run most Windows programs on it.
RAM
RAM, short for Random-Access
Memory, allows data to be stored temporarily. This means that more RAM
allows for better, more efficient multitasking. Web pages load faster
and larger files open quicker when more RAM is available.
RAM required based on usage
| User Type | Primarily usage | Ideal RAM (GB) |
| Basic users | Browsing, email, social media, multimedia, MS Office | 2 to 4 GB |
| Intermediate users | All of the above, plus editing photos and videos | 6 GB |
| Advanced users | Run several programs at once and play games | 8 GB |
| High-end users | High-end gaming and graphics design. | 12 GB and above |
Graphics Card
A graphics card controls the display
on your laptop. A powerful graphics card can render videos and
graphics-intensive games easily, making them suitable for power users
such as professional gamers or programmers.
There are two kinds of graphics cards –
integrated graphics cards, which are built into the system’s mainboard,
and dedicated graphics cards, which are separate units. Dedicated
graphics cards, with up to 3 GB graphics memory, usually perform better
than integrated ones.
For users who don’t play graphics-intensive games, edit videos or edit images, an integrated graphics card is ideal.
Picking the ideal graphics card
| Type of user | Usage | Ideal Graphics Card |
| Basic users | Everyday use like browsing the web and multimedia | Integrated graphics card |
| Intermediate users | Graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming and image editing | Dedicated 1GB |
| Advanced users | Better frame rate, gaming experience or video editing. | Dedicated 2GB |
| High-end users | Professional gaming, animation, 3D rendering | Dedicated 2GB and above |
Screen Size
If you want to watch movies or
videos, or play games, opt for a bigger screen. Though larger laptops
with big screens usually have less battery backup and are bulkier,
making them comparatively less portable, they are better in terms of
performance.
Ideal screen size
Laptop screen aspect ratio
Aspect ratio refers to the
width and height of the screen. 16:9 would mean 16 units wide and 9
units high, indicating the common wide screen. 4:3 or 5:4 would be much
closer to a square display.
| Aspect Ratio | Ideal for |
| 16:9 | Multimedia users, hardcore gamers, graphic designers |
| 4:3 | Frequent travelers and everyday users |
Laptop Types
Variants such as Netbooks, Ultrabooks, Notebooks and Hybrid laptops cater to users’ different needs.
Netbook
Usually small and lightweight, these
portable laptops vary in screen size from 10 to 11 inches. They have no
optical drive and are ideal for budget users and students.
Ultrabook
Ultrabooks are slim, stylish and
lightweight. They have high-end configurations and some may even have
touchscreens. Ideal for travelers and advanced users.
Notebook
These perform all the functions of a
desktop. They come in mid- and high-end configurations, with large hard
disk capacities. These systems are built to meet entertainment and
graphics-intensive requirements.
Hybrid Laptop
Hybrid laptops can also be used as
tablets as their touchscreens are detachable. Usually small in size,
lightweight and portable, these laptops have screens that vary from 11’’
to 15.6’’. The added portability of these laptops makes them ideal for
frequent travelers who are looking for a mobile device that is powerful.
Touch Screen
Touch screen laptops are intuitive.
They make computer interfaces simpler. Just as you would on a
smartphone, you can tap to select, hold and drag to move items, swipe to
scroll and pinch to zoom. This feature is currently available on select
Windows laptops and select Chromebooks.
Storage
This is where all saved files
are stored. Hard Disks vary by storage capacity – from 60 GB to 1.5 TB
(1 TB is 1024 GB). If you plan on storing many files that take up a lot
of space, consider a hard disk with a larger capacity.
Note
The usable storage capacity of
disks will vary depending on the OS installed. Usually, a part of the
drive's space is dedicated to the OS and hardware drivers. For example, a
500 GB drive is equivalent to 1,00,000 images or 38 hours of video
files or as many as 1,25,000 music files.
HDD or SSD
Difference between Hard Disk Drive and Solid State Drive
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