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What to look for when choosing a laptop for home?

2023-06-16
What to look for when choosing a laptop for home?

Laptop for home use is the device you use every day. It is both a tool for work and entertainment - allowing you to comfortably browse the web, watch movies and TV series, pay bills, shop and operate the most necessary programs. However, in order to provide versatility and comfort, it must be distinguished by appropriate technical parameters. How to choose a laptop for your home, which will meet all your requirements?

Which laptop for home to choose?

Based on the type of construction, laptops can be divided into ultrabooks, 2-in-1 laptops and notebooks. Ultrabooks are distinguished by their small size and light weight, which they owe to their small screens of 12.5 or 13.3 inches. This makes them mobile and easy to transport. They also have the advantage of long battery life. They are great for traveling, allowing you to work or browse the web on the train, or in a coffee shop, even when you don't have access to a power source.

2-in-1 laptops combine the functionality of a traditional laptop and a tablet. They are equipped with a touch screen and special hinges that allow the screen to rotate 360°. This is an excellent solution for people who appreciate the versatility of tablets, while not wanting to give up the convenience of traditional laptops. The unique design of the device allows you to comfortably watch movies and TV series from anywhere, and the touchscreen can successfully replace the functions of the mouse and keyboard when you have a small workspace.

Notebooks are a versatile solution and will work best as a laptop for home use. A notebook is a portable personal computer that allows you to comfortably browse websites and web portals, use mobile banking, operate an office suite and watch movies. Its dimensions make it convenient to move it between rooms, put it on a desk or on your lap, and take it to the office or on a trip when needed. Notebooks are also extremely versatile in terms of equipment, so users can easily choose the model that best suits their requirements. For many people it will be the the best laptop for the home.

Laptops for home - choosing the right configuration

When buying a a laptop for your home first of all, you are faced with choosing the right manufacturer and model. Multiple component variants are available within a single laptop model. This allows you to easily find a device that will suit you in terms of functionality. The laptop designation consists of: manufacturer, series, model, processor series, processor generation and type, amount of RAM, capacity of driveru hard drive, and presence of operating system. Choosing laptop for the home, you need to look at both its design and configuration.

What processor for a home laptop?

The processor is the most important component of a laptop responsible for the functioning of the entire device. When deciding to buy a Windows laptop, you can choose between Intel and AMD brand processors. If you mostly use your home laptop only for web browsing or sending emails, the cheapest processors, such as the Intel Pentium or AMD A-series, may be sufficient. More demanding users who care about the ability to open multiple browser tabs simultaneously and the smooth running of applications in the background should opt for powerful Intel Core and AMD Ryzen processors.

The processor designation consists of brand, series, generation, identification number and type. When choosing a processor in a home laptop, it is worth choosing as recent a generation as possible - this will ensure better performance, as each successive generation of processor brings significant improvements to the operation of the device. It is also worth paying special attention to the designation of the processor type. The letters following the ID number tell you the power of the processor and the presence or absence of an integrated graphics card. Laptops that have an integrated graphics card can easily handle less demanding games, providing smooth gameplay in Full HD resolution.

Types of processors for home laptops

Intel processors are the chips most commonly used in laptops of all types. The processor, which is most often found in laptops for home use, are Intel Core i5 - versatile processors that allow installation of games and more advanced applications.

An alternative to Intel processors are AMD chips distinguished by their lower price and optimal technical parameters. AMD Ryzen 5 and 7 processors are the most versatile chips, allowing you to use several applications simultaneously, install games and use more advanced graphics programs.

How much RAM should a laptop for home have?

The rule of thumb is simple - the more RAM a laptop has, the better its performance is. The optimal value for a laptop for home use will be 8 GB RAM. This will make it possible to open more than a dozen browser tabs while simultaneously using office suite programs or music applications, and for games to load textures quickly and play smoothly. Home laptop intended for work and entertainment does not need to be equipped with 16 or 32 GB of RAM. Such parameters usually apply to professional laptops, designed for gamers or graphic designers, so the average user will not use their full potential.

Capacity and type of driveru hard laptop for home

For driveru hard drives in laptops for home use the best solution will be SSD. It ensures fast start-up and smooth and quiet operation. The SSD is also distinguished by its small size, making the weight of the laptop much less than that of driveru HDD. Another advantage of driverthis SSD is failure-free - it consists of few mechanical parts, so it is less susceptible to damage, which can occur, for example, during transportation of the device. Laptops with driverSSD are great for use at home, as well as for work and travel. What driveru hard capacity to choose? If you store a large number of files on your home laptop, opt for driver with a capacity of 500 GB or 1 TB. However, the capacity of 256 GB is sufficient for most users.

Operating system - Windows, Linux, Chrome OS or macOS?

Laptops equipped with the operating system are ready to use as soon as they boot up. You can choose from operating: Windows, Linux and macOS. Windows is the most popular operating system. Provides the ability to personalize, integrate with Microsoft products and install most games and programs. It's a versatile system available in many variants. For use on home laptop windows PRO will perform better. Linux is a free operating system, characterized by stability of operation.

Screen in a laptop for home - diagonal, resolution and matrix

The diagonal size of the laptop screen determines its weight and size. If you usually use your laptop at home, a diagonal of 15.6 or more will be appropriate. This is a convenient solution that will allow you to comfortably watch your favorite movies and TV series, work with various programs and office suite. For people who take home laptop for work or university, models with a screen diagonal of 14 inches will be better. This provides lower weight and greater mobility. At the same time, the screen with such a diagonal is large enough to comfortably use the laptop in any conditions. Screen resolution is responsible for the comfort of the laptop and provides sharp, clear images. Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution is optimal for laptops for home use.

Another parameter to choose when buying home laptop is the screen matrix. The most popular matrix technologies include IPS, VA, OLED and TN. IPS matrix is distinguished by excellent color reproduction and wide viewing angles. Great for watching movies, even with several people. TN matrix has shorter response time and lower price. Great for laptops whose users primarily use office programs such as word processing and spreadsheets.

Laptops can be equipped with a glossy or matte matrix. The matte matrix does not reflect light, so it allows you to work comfortably in any conditions, even in a sunny room. It is more comfortable during prolonged use and less tiresome to the eyesight. However, the glossy matrix is more resistant to damage and better color reproduction, which is why it is also used in touchscreen laptops. Home laptop with a glossy matrix will therefore be a good choice for those who care about the best viewing experience for movies and photos.3

Keyboard and touchpad in a laptop for home use

It is very important that the keyboard and touchpad of a home laptop were comfortable to use. The size and placement of the keys significantly affect the comfort of working with a laptop, but each user has his or her own personal preference, depending on the size of the hand, the place of use of the laptop, or the activities performed on it. Regardless of the purpose of the laptop, it is worth choosing a model equipped with function keys, making it easier to at least control the sound. Backlighting of the keyboard allows comfortable work even in a darkened room, and the numeric keypad may prove useful for those who frequently use spreadsheets.

Laptop case for home - aesthetics and functionality

A laptop is a tool you use every day. So it is worth ensuring that it meets both technical and aesthetic requirements. How the device looks depends largely on the materials used in its manufacture. The plastics used in laptop cases are primarily aluminum, fiberglass, carbon fiber and plastic. Devices with housing made of aluminum are distinguished by a higher price, but also higher resistance to mechanical trauma. The metal case looks elegant while protecting the home laptop before damage.

Models with a plastic housing are usually distinguished by a lower price. Laptops using fiberglass and carbon fiber are characterized by high durability and resistance to damage. These materials are typically used only in premium devices due to higher production costs. In the case of laptops for home use plastic or aluminum housing works perfectly.

In terms of the housing home laptop a very important issue is also the weight of the device. If you often use the equipment outside the home, it is worth choosing a model with a slim case, made of metal. These types of laptops are lightweight, handy, and also durable. Their weight is between 1-2 kg, so you can easily take them with you to the office or on a business trip. For laptops, which are mostly used at home, weight and slimness are not so important. So you can choose a model with a plastic housing and a larger diagonal that will allow you to work comfortably at your desk, on the couch or in bed.

The most important connectors in a home laptop

The most common connectors on laptops include USB Type 3.1, 2.0 and USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI, RJ-45, microphone input, headphone input and Kensington lock. USB connector allows you to connect driverexternal devices, flash drives and peripherals such as mouse, keyboard or controllers. Laptops usually have several USB connectors, which allow you to use several devices simultaneously.

Standard HDMI connector gives you the ability to connect your laptop to a monitor or TV. This allows you to increase your workspace or comfortably watch movies on a larger screen. Headphone and microphone input will work well for listening to music, streaming or online meetings. RJ-45 connector allows you to connect your laptop to the Internet via a cable. Some laptops for home use also have built-in memory card readers for convenient ripping of files from a smartphone. The Kensington lock, or Kensington Lock or Noble Wedge port, secures the laptop from theft by allowing it to be attached to a stable item such as a table or desk.

Laptop for home - ideal for work and remote learning

Nowadays, many people work or study in hybrid mode, combining work and on-site classes with remote ones. In such situations, it is a good idea to have a laptop on hand to communicate with colleagues, participate in meetings and online conversations, and operate word processing and spreadsheets. Although home laptop is used primarily for web browsing and watching movies and series, it can also work well as a device for work or remote learning.

So that you can freely participate in online meetings and conferences, your laptop should be equipped with a webcam and built-in microphone. This way you won't have to buy additional accessories for it. Such equipment must also provide a stable connection to the Internet, support the WiFi 5 or WiFi 6 wireless connectivity standard. Laptops with 16GB of RAM will allow you to open multiple tabs in your browser and quickly switch between applications, which is sure to come in handy when studying, creating presentations and sharing documents.

Popular laptops for home use, ideal also for remote work and learning, are devices from the series of Lenovo ThinkPad. They stand out for their versatility, performance and excellent durability. A distinctive feature of Lenovo devices is the comfortable-to-use keyboard. Backlighting of keys allows comfortable operation even in darkened rooms. Some of the laptops in the ThinkPad family, labeled YOGA, have a touchscreen and 360° hinges, so they combine laptop and tablet functionality.

Laptop for watching Netflix movies and series - how to choose the best one?

If home laptop is primarily used for entertainment and watching your favorite movies and series, pay attention to the placement of its speakers. Speakers, which are located on the bottom of the device, may prove impractical, for example, when using a laptop in bed. The sound from a laptop placed on a soft surface will be muffled, and at the same time the cooling system will be more stressed. The best solution for movie buffs will definitely be a laptop with speakers located on the side of the case. Full HD resolution, 16-inch diagonal and matte IPS matrix will provide the highest sharpness and depth of image, and comfort of viewing in a darkened room.

Multi-purpose multimedia laptops, perfect for comfortable viewing of videos and photos are the devices DELL from the Latitude series. These are DELL's flagship products for both business and home use. They are distinguished by excellent workmanship, durability, reliability and the highest technical parameters. Laptops are equipped with an HDMI connector for conveniently hooking up the device to a larger monitor or TV screen.

Home laptops for internet browsing

Web browser support is one of the basic functionalities of any laptop computer. When choosing a device that you will use primarily for web browsing and social networking, pay attention to the available forms of wireless communication. Wi-Fi module should not be lower than Wi-Fi 5. Wi-Fi 6, on the other hand, offers the highest data transfer rate and stable connectivity. Bluetooth communication, meanwhile, allows quick connection to other devices such as a smartphone, headphones, or mobile speaker.

Home laptop designed for relaxation, communication and office suite operation is a versatile all-rounder. It is extremely important to laptop for home use provided full data security and protected against malware. Among the devices that have the best security features are Dell and Lenovo devices and hP laptops, equipped with HP Sure Start Gen4 hardware and HP Sure Click technology to block malware. Using innovative technology, the device opens documents and web pages in its own isolated environment, independent of the operating system environment.

Why you should buy a post-lease laptop for your home?

Post-lease laptops are distinguished by the best value for money. Orbit365 - a trade brand of Sims Lifecycle Services - offers you the highest quality equipment at a competitive price. We operate in the spirit of Circular Economy, a concept that involves minimizing waste by reusing products. By choosing a post-lease laptop, you support sustainable development and contribute to reducing waste production. In addition, post-lease laptops in the business type hardware class are proven devices with excellent parameters, verified for ergonomics of work, which are great for both business and home use. The use of high-quality components ensures lower failure rates.

Home laptop post-leasing is a solution that combines economy and ecology. Attractive price goes hand in hand with excellent quality, all in the spirit of less waste. Thanks to the unique Refurbish 2.0 refurbishing technology, the laptops available in our offer do not bear any signs of use and look like new. If you are wondering, which laptop to buy for your home? Choose versatile and powerful laptops from proven brands and enjoy the comfort of an A+ rated device.

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