Are you looking for a good laptop for business, work, or school? Laptops aren’t created the same. Therefore, it’s key to remember that there are numerous types of laptops in the market.
Before purchasing the first laptop you see, it’s essential to consider more than just the screen size and speed. Finding the perfect laptop model to fit your needs and budget requires a lot of considerations. Unfortunately, very few people know what these considerations are.
Most laptop buyers only buy laptops that fit their budgets without looking at other specs and determining whether they fit their needs. Fortunately, our guide above will help you understand the different types of laptops in the market and how to choose the best laptop for you:
Entry-Level Laptops
If you want a brand new laptop at a lower price for basic tasks and lighter or occasional use, entry-level laptops are great for you. These computers are ideal for people who aren’t too concerned about battery life, weight, or performance. Entry-level laptops cost $500 and below.
While these PCs are generally cheaper and low-powered, they are great for handling general computing tasks like emailing, web browsing, and word processing. An entry-level computer can also handle other basic tasks like streaming standard definition videos, saving photos, and other multimedia tasks.
They are also well suited to meet the needs of younger students and casual computer users. If you’re looking for an entry-level computer for basic tasks, check out this site for cheap laptops.
Mid-Range Computers
If you’re looking for a portable laptop that you can take with you and use on the go, this is the best type of laptop for you. Mid-range laptops are light, thin, and easy to carry. They are mostly made for regular computer users, college students, business people, and families with multiple computer users.
You can use a mid-range computer to run numerous lighter software tools and games without lagging and becoming slow. Unfortunately, these laptops are not created to process more powerful software or high intensive functions such as gaming, video editing, and other tasks requiring fast graphics processing.
High-End Computers
When buying a laptop, the first thing to consider is your needs and how the laptop’s performance will meet these needs. If you’re looking for a PC with the processing power of a desktop while being portable and transportable, you should always go for high-end computers.
Ensure you check whether the computer runs on the latest generation processor, with at least 16GB RAM. High-end computers also come with varying functionalities. Some are considered gaming laptops and come with powerful graphics and processing power with extremely fast high-resolution screens.
A high-end computer is great for serious computer users and enthusiasts. They are also created for professionals who like to push the processing powers of the laptop with challenging and intensive computing tasks. These tasks may include playing high-end games, 3D rendering, programming, video, and audio editing.
Different Types of Laptops Based on Operating System
While there are numerous types of laptops in the market, the classification isn’t only limited to price. You can also break down laptop categories based on the operating system they run. Below are the most common types of laptops based on Operating System (OS):
Windows Laptops
More than half the laptops in the market today run on Windows OS. With this huge share on the market, Windows computers also have the broadest range of computer programs. Today, new Windows computers can run on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, the new OS that was released in October 2021.
These Windows versions are designed for laptops, tablets, and other devices with touchscreen support. Unfortunately, most old computers running on Windows 10 can’t run Windows 11 because of stringent hardware requirements. But Windows 10 devices will remain functional well into 2025.
Mac Operating Systems
The Mac operating system is designed to run only on Apple devices. It also comes with a tight integration program that only benefits and offers ease of use and consistency across apple devices. These devices may include iPads, iPhones, and new Apple Silicon-ran Macs.
Most Windows programs also have a macOS version. However, macOS-only compatible programs don’t come with a windows version. They do offer file-format compatibility with Windows software, meaning you can open the Mac version of the file on a Windows program.
If you want to run Windows OS on your Intel-based Mac, you can install Windows OS through Boot Camp. This built-in installer utility allows Mac users to run Windows on their hardware without emulating software. This gives you 100% performance of the Windows OS.
Linux Laptops
Linux is a free OS and is compatible with many PCs in the market. You can install Linux OS as an alternative to Windows. With numerous flavors of Linux, such as Ubuntu and Mint, you’re spoilt for choice.
Linux OS is the number one operating system for mainframes, servers, and supercomputers. However, only 2.15% of laptops and desktops run on Linux. Fortunately, you can always install Linux on your Windows PC.
Chrome OS Laptops
Chrome OS is exclusively used on Chromebits (USB dongle PCs), Chromeboxes (Chrome OS desktops), and Chromebooks (tablets and laptops). This OS is primarily based on Linux, and it’s created to work with cloud storage. However, some Chrome laptops, tablets, and desktops also come with on-device storage that you can use for offline work.
Chrome OS devices are well known for their simplicity, long battery life, low hardware overhead, and security. When using a Chrome OS device, you won’t worry about malware and backups.
Laptop Categories Based on Usage
The laptop market can be quite confusing, especially if you don’t know much about laptops and their functionality. The market is filled with laptops of all sizes, designs, and styles. But with so many options, how do you choose the best laptop based on your needs?
Below is a classification of laptops based on usage to help you:
Laptops for Everyday Computing
These laptops are great for everyday usage, also known as mainstream or midsize notebooks. This computer category falls in the middle when considering the laptop technology, screen size, weight, and price. The key characteristics of everyday computing laptops include:
- The weight starts at 5lbs
- Screen size lies between 15.6 inches up to 18.4 inches diagonally
- Comes with a hard drive with storage of up to 1 TB
- 2GB to 6GB DDR3 system memory
- A Built-in DVD burner
- AMD or Intel Dual-Core processors
- Dedicated or shared video memory
These laptops are designed for everyday usage. Therefore, they have the processing power to handle almost any basic task. However, they have a very short battery life, are too heavy, and can’t make a good travel laptop.
Lightweight Laptops
A lightweight laptop is also known as an ultrathin or ultraportable PC. They are twice the size of a typical notebook, but they are light, portable, and easy to carry around.
This category of laptops is excellent for frequent fliers. That’s because the devices offer an outstanding balance between portability and performance.
Some key characters of Lightweight laptops include:
- The weight is less than 4lbs
- A built-in optical drive
- Screen size between 13.3 inches to 14 inches
- It comes with dual to quad-core processors
- Shared video memory
- Up to 6GB DDR3 system memory
- Up to 250 GB of memory
With these characteristics, it’s easy to see why these laptops are ideal for frequent travelers. They are also very fast and can handle most computing tasks, with a great mid-sized screen making it comfortable to work from anywhere.
Buying a lightweight laptop can be quite expensive because of its functionality. It’s even more expensive if you choose a laptop with the fastest processor and the biggest storage hard drive.
Laptops Designed for Business
These laptops are built specifically for business people. They come with high processing power, making them perfect for juggling all the tasks and software available in a business setting. They also have long battery life and keep the battery’s charge for as long as possible, especially during long hours on the road.
Some key characteristics of these laptop types include:
- It comes with 8GB RAM
- 3 inch to 17.3-inch screen
- A smart card or fingerprint reader
- A standard limited warranty
- Data and cyber security protection features
- Intel or AMD dual or quad-core processor
Business laptops also come with wireless connectivity such as Wi-Fi and WAN so that users can always stay connected even in areas without a hot spot. Another great feature of these computers is data security. This is ideal for business people, and it helps them avoid data breaches and protect sensitive company information.
Are You Ready to Purchase a Laptop?
Whether you’re looking for a Mac, Windows, Chrome OS, Linux, ultra-portable, or family-size laptop, there are many types of laptops in the market today for everyone. However, you need to do some research before purchasing a laptop. Ensure you settle for a laptop that best fits your functionality needs, processing requirements, and budget.
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