Shopping for a laptop can be
extremely frustrating at times. Even when you already know the ins and
outs of personal computers, there are so many different aspects to
consider with laptops. Weight, battery life, and cost come into play
right off the bat, and when you factor in specific work requirements,
the number of decisions can be more than a little overwhelming.
Thankfully, we’ve already done the legwork for you. If you’re on the
hunt for a new laptop, look no further.
In these round-ups, we
break down exactly what’s important when you’re buying a new laptop, and
offer a handful of recommendations. Whether you’re a college freshman
looking for a deal, or an engineer looking for a portable super
computer, we’ve got you covered here, so let’s jump in.
Best laptops for engineers (best mobile workstations)
Whether
you’re designing complex structures in AutoCAD or crunching data in R,
engineers need as much horsepower as possible. If you want to work
efficiently on the go, you definitely need a machine with a beefy CPU, a
discrete GPU, and RAM to spare. These
portable workstations are certainly on the pricey side, but being able to get real work done away from your desk is invaluable.
Best laptops for video editing
While
video editing has traditionally been relegated to massive desktop
machines, laptops have become increasingly viable alternatives in recent
years. Quad-core CPUs and surprisingly powerful GPUs are easily found
in modern high-end laptops, and with the introduction of Retina-caliber
displays, you’ll be able to see every little detail even when you’re
away from your 30-inch monitor at your desk. Add in loads of RAM and a
super-fast SSD, and
video editing laptops will do well by any editor.
Best laptops for photo editing
If
you’re out shooting and editing photos in the field, you definitely
want to have a powerful laptop by your side. Obviously, you’ll want fast
storage and lots of RAM for managing high resolution images, but
there’s more to consider. You’ll need to see every nook and cranny in
your photos, so a nice big display with high pixel density will make
your life a whole lot easier. But if the added cost and heft don’t fit
your lifestyle, there are some damn fine ultrabooks available as well.
Whether you’re a budding amateur or a seasoned pro, there’s definitely
photography-compatible laptop here for you.
Best laptops for business
Too
often, employees get stuck with underpowered laptops, but that doesn’t
have to be the case. If you’re in charge of your company’s IT purchases,
or you’re in a position to pick your own work laptop, you can snag some
outstanding hardware for under $1000.
These affordable business laptops certainly aren’t going to run
Far Cry 4 on ultra settings, but these are rock-solid machines with shockingly reasonable price tags.
Best laptops for college students
Laptops
are extraordinarily popular on campus, and it’s easy to see why. Taking
notes, quickly accessing your body of academic work, and easily
collaborating with your classmates is very enticing. But before you buy
any ol’ machine, you need to consider the weight, battery life, and
asking price. There are definitely trade-offs to be made between those
three factors, but
this selection of college-appropriate laptops should cover just about any student.
A laptop for everyone
Whether
your budget is $300 or $3000, there’s a laptop here for everyone.
High-end production machines and low-cost workhorses alike, picking out
the right laptop is all about finding the right balance for your needs.
CPU, GPU, RAM, display, battery life, weight, bulk, and price are always
going to be pulling at you in different directions. Even with an
unlimited budget, there’s not a single laptop to fit every single
lifestyle. So read through these round-ups, take your time weighing your
specific needs, and you’ll be more than ready to buy when the time is
right.
Article from http://www.extremetech.com
