The world of business laptops is a jungle! With hundreds of options, from ultra-sleek tablets to beefy portable workstations, it’s like finding a needle in a tech stack.
First things first, business laptops are not your everyday entertainment hub. These aren’t designed with gaming, streaming movies, or casual web surfing in mind, unless, of course, that’s your line of business. These trusty tech companions are built to be reliable, resilient, and ready to rumble. Many vendors offer models that stand the test of time, stocking replacement parts for up to five years to support long-term enterprise engagements.
But all good things come with a price, right? Business laptops typically come with a heftier price tag, costing around 20% to 30% more than their consumer-grade counterparts. But don’t let that deter you. When it comes to buying in bulk, the power of negotiation comes into play. The more you buy, the more bargaining power you have to strike a better deal or score some juicy extras like extended warranties.
If you want, you can explore the latest touchscreen laptop models. However, you need to make sure the touchscreen is designed for enterprise use, as these models tend to be more delicate and prone to damage.
Below are some key features that you should look for in a business laptop to help you cut through the clutter and find your perfect match.
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Essential Features to Consider When Purchasing a Business Laptop
Whether you’re looking at a feather-light two-pounder or a beastly eight-pound portable powerhouse, laptops are essentially shrunken-down desktop computers, sporting their own screens, keyboards, and petite parts, not forgetting the ever-important battery. Sure, the processor and the laptop’s size and weight hog the limelight, but let’s not sleep on other factors like the display and battery life — they deserve a fair share of your attention, too.
Processor: The Command Center
When it comes to the laptop’s inner workings, the processor stands as its nerve center, orchestrating the show behind the scenes. The majority of Windows systems employ the brains of either Intel or AMD, but a few ultralight models have dipped their toes into the ARM-based CPU waters. Apple has wholeheartedly embraced this concept with their M1 and M2 MacBooks, pushing the boundaries of what compact computing power can achieve.
The processor your team requires can vary significantly, depending on the responsibilities they carry out. For instance, a friendly face at reception or a call center superhero might manage just fine with an Intel Celeron or Pentium. A go-getter in sales could require a bit more oomph, necessitating an Intel Core i3 or i5. And for the creative wizards in graphic design? Only an i7 or an Apple M2 Pro will do.
RAM: Your Laptop’s Secret Sauce
Let’s talk about RAM, or as we like to call it, your laptop’s secret sauce. Think of it as the temporary storage space where your laptop keeps the data it needs right now. It’s like a floating desk where your laptop can quickly access all the important stuff it’s currently working on – from loading web pages, and crunching numbers in Excel, to presenting CAD imaging.
The size and speed of the RAM varies, and as expected, the more you have, the merrier your laptop performs. For any business computer, 4GB should be the absolute rock bottom, even if you’re pinching pennies. Most office folks will find their sweet spot at around 16GB — the more RAM on tap, the wider the smiles on your users’ faces.
Storage: The Laptop’s Treasure Chest
Let’s dive into the world of storage! Picture it as your laptop’s personal treasure chest, holding everything from today’s flurry of emails to sizeable video files. In this realm, you’ve got two main contenders: the old-school hard drive (HDD) and the swanky solid-state drive (SSD).
SSDs might make your wallet wince a bit more than HDDs, but they’re absolutely worth it. They’re quicker, tougher, gulp less power, and are strutting their stuff in most of the new laptop models. When you’re on the hunt, keep your eyes peeled for at least a 128GB SSD or, if you’re more of an HDD fan, a 1TB HDD.
Battery: The Power Juggler
Let’s chat about the battery, the lifeblood of your laptop that’s always juggling power between charges. All laptops rely on trusty lithium-ion batteries, bringing their A-game to keep your system humming. If all things stay the same, a battery boasting a 3,500 milliamp-hour (mAh) capacity will likely outlast one with a 3,000mAh capacity. This might just be your winning ticket on that long-haul flight from one country to another. And hey, who doesn’t want a bit of extra screen time, right?
