How to choose normal mode in a laptop. How to extend the life of your laptop

Buying computer equipment on the domestic market causes not only a sea of ​​positive emotions, but also a number of problems associated with choosing a worthy product from a huge range of goods. As practice shows, about 50% of users end up getting something completely different from what they originally wanted. Some are let down by the performance of a mobile device, others - by ease of use or high cost.

In this article, the reader will learn how to choose a laptop that is inexpensive, but good, which is able to cope with all the tasks. Tips, recommendations, testimonials and reviews of worthy products will help a potential buyer quickly navigate the computer market and not become a victim of scams and unscrupulous sellers.

Physical dimensions above all

Before proceeding with the technical part of the question, the user needs to decide on the diagonal of the mobile device. The fact is that it is the size of the laptop that affects the final cost of the product. Before choosing a laptop that is inexpensive but good, read expert reviews. They will clarify this issue:

• devices with a diagonal of 8-11 inches are designed for entertainment on the Internet and are aimed at active people who always want to stay in touch;
• 12-13 inches diagonal is occupied by the corporate segment (business, business trips, conferences, trainings);
• the niche of 14-16 inch devices is given to consumer notebooks;
• for fans of resource-intensive games, as well as for creative individuals, a specialized niche has been created, which includes laptops with a diagonal of 17-20 inches.

From simple to complex

The cheapest devices on the mobile market that have a physical keyboard are netbooks with a diagonal of 8-11 inches. When choosing, it is better to focus not on performance, but on the autonomy of work on a single battery charge. Ideally, such a device should work on a single charge for about 6-8 hours.

For those wondering how to pick a good, inexpensive netbook, consider paying attention to the display of your mobile device. It should be of high quality (IPS matrix), have a high resolution (at least 1366x768 dpi) and have decent brightness. The bonus here is the presence of a multi-touch sensor. In the domestic market, the Asus Transformer, Acer One, Lenovo IdeaPad and HP Stream netbooks have proven themselves well.

Real businessman

Before choosing an inexpensive but good laptop in the segment of 12-13 inch devices, you need to decide on a list of tasks that will be posed to a mobile device. The experts' recommendations in this matter are quite clear - you need to divide all the requirements into two components:

• work is the cheapest segment;
• entertainment is an expensive class.

Then everything is simple - having chosen the desired category, the buyer is guided by the cost, appearance and ease of use. If the user wants to combine business with pleasure, then it is better to give preference to a more expensive device.

Office kid

Staying on the segment of mobile devices with a diagonal of 12-13 inches, many users do not know how to choose a laptop that is good and inexpensive for working with office applications. Indeed, it is difficult to call the price low for equipment of this category (20-25 thousand rubles). If the user does not plan to play resource-intensive toys, then it is better to focus on the amount of RAM that is used when working with programs. The second selection criterion is the processor. It is better to give preference to a device with two cores and an operating frequency of more than 2 GHz.

Do not overpay extra money for the increased capacity of the hard drive and a discrete video adapter. All modern laptops are equipped with components that will not create inconvenience to the owner during operation. In this segment, the following are considered worthy: HP ProBook 430, Acer Aspire V3 and Asus Zenbook.

Time killers

Many users are interested in how to choose a good one that can be used for work purposes. It is clear that a potential buyer wants to combine business with pleasure. Everything is simple here - you need to focus on the central processor and the gaming video card. All other components (memory and hard drive) have already been selected by the manufacturer to increase the gaming power of the mobile device.

With processors, everything is clear - it is better to give preference to products of the Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 line, but with a video card you need to be extremely careful. Better to target the game class. For Nvidia products, the second place must be at least 4 (eg GTX 960M). Decent products in this segment include: Dell Alienware 13 and

Segment of elite devices

For users looking for information on how to choose an inexpensive but good laptop for play and work, there are certainly fans of Apple products. On the mobile technology market, under the logo of this brand, there are devices for combining work with leisure, equipped with 11-13 inch screens. Even if the manufacturer does not please potential buyers with a large assortment, there are no identical devices in the product line - it is quite easy to find the necessary gadget in terms of performance and price.

In the inexpensive segment (from 80,000 rubles), you can take a closer look at MacBook and MacBook Air laptops, which will cope with any office tasks and multimedia work. But game lovers should give preference to the more advanced MacBook Pro devices in terms of performance. Mobile equipment of this class will cope with any resource-intensive games, not to mention complex tasks invented by the user.

Inexpensive home solution

The cheapest laptops of the 14-inch form factor are in the price range under 25,000 rubles. The task of such devices is to provide the user with access to the Internet and the ability to work with multimedia. And before choosing a laptop that is inexpensive, but good for home, in this segment, you should get used to the idea that a mobile device will not be able to do more. You don't need to expect any resource-intensive games, convenient transportation or long battery life.

As for the tips, they simply do not exist here. The buyer should choose the cheapest laptop they like in the shop window. The only advice given by experts to home users is that it is better to buy mobile equipment without a pre-installed operating system. In this case, the savings will be about 20-30% of the total cost of the laptop.

Sales leader

Multimedia devices for work and great pastime with a diagonal of 14-15 inches occupy almost half of the market, and here the choice is made for specific tasks of buyers. The user is naturally interested in the question of how to choose a good inexpensive laptop in this segment. There is a list of basic requirements for all laptops of this class, you definitely need to familiarize yourself with them:

• low price;
• portability and autonomy;
• high performance;
• mobility, beauty and elegance.

And then the user will have to choose two of the most important criteria from the four provided by the experts. After choosing the right items, finding a decent laptop will not be a problem. What you shouldn't do is claim 3 or 4 points. The fact is that it is impossible to find a device with all requests at the same time in this class of mobile technology.

The most productive devices

Before looking for answers to the question "how to choose a laptop that is inexpensive, but good for gaming", it is worth deciding on the gaming applications themselves that the user plans to run on a mobile device. The fact is that a high-performance gadget, capable of coping with resource-intensive applications at maximum settings, cannot a priori have a low cost.

You can play Dota 2 or ride a tank in World of Tanks on inexpensive devices with integrated video adapters or discrete entry-level solutions, but to run FarCry 4, FIFA 16 or Fallout 4 you will need a very powerful laptop equipped with a modern processor and a high-performance video card.

Ready-made solutions for players

Fans of games, before choosing an inexpensive but good laptop, need to pay attention to the presence of a gaming video adapter. It is this device that determines the purpose of mobile technology on the market. AMD products are required to be in the "R9" series, and Nvidia solutions are classified by the second digit in the marking, which must be at least five.

The second criterion when choosing a gaming solution is the presence of a powerful central processor with 4 physical cores: Intel Core i5 / i7 or AMD A4. You shouldn't even look at platforms of a class lower - they are not adapted for resource-intensive games.

As for the RAM and hard disk, here it is already worth looking at finances, of course, the larger the volume, the better for efficient work. In the gaming segment, Asus N752 and ROG series laptops, Acer Aspire Nitro and Predator, and Dell Precision and Alienware have proven themselves well.

Computer for creativity

Many users, wondering how to choose a laptop that is inexpensive, but good for gaming, find not gaming solutions at all in the expensive segment. With a diagonal of 17-20 inches and a high cost, mobile devices are not at all designed for games due to the lack of powerful discrete video adapters. But the amount of RAM is simply amazing (8-16 gigabytes). These devices are intended for designers, programmers, editors and other creative people.

In addition to RAM, the main criterion for such a device is a high-performance processor that can quickly perform complex calculations. Users should not forget about the quality of the liquid crystal display, which is capable of excellent color rendering (IPS-matrix).

Minimum RAM Requirements

The weak link in all portable systems in the domestic market is the small amount of RAM, which many device manufacturers are trying to save on. Before choosing a good one, the user needs to know that for the full operation of one Windows operating system (8 or 10), 1.5-2 gigabytes of memory are needed. Accordingly, to run even office applications, a laptop must have 2 times more memory installed. For games, the multiplicity is four.

Do not forget about the possibility of increasing productivity - a mobile device must have at least one slot for installing additional memory modules. By the way, the motherboard of the laptop must also support the increase in the amount of RAM.

Constant in laptop

When wondering how to choose an inexpensive but good laptop for work, many potential buyers find in the media some rather strange advice and recommendations regarding purchasing a mobile device with a weak processor. In the future, the user is offered to use the usual overclocking using special utilities.

In fact, this is nonsense - the laptop is simply not able to work continuously at maximum. The standard cooling system will fail at any time, and the mobile device will burn out. Repairs and refurbishment are not covered by the warranty.

It is better to choose the processor that is the most affordable for the price, albeit at the expense of the amount of RAM and hard disk. In fact, this is the only component in the system that cannot be replaced or duplicated.

Raising system performance

A potential buyer should not chase after the speed of a hard drive, being in search of an answer to the question of how to choose a laptop that is inexpensive, but good. The experts' reviews here boil down to one thing - the hard drive still needs to be changed after purchasing a mobile device to a solid-state SSD. Otherwise, you can forget about the high performance of the platform forever.

Alternatively, you can initially purchase a laptop with such a disk, but the overpriced cost of such devices can frighten even a seasoned customer. It is better not to trust the manufacturers of mobile equipment with such a question, but to take the process under your own control.

The Pursuit of Happyness

From year to year, more and more gaming applications are released that force users to purchase more productive mobile devices in the computer market. Naturally, any buyer will ask the question: "How to choose a laptop that is inexpensive, but good?" Asus (a Taiwanese manufacturer) approached this issue quite interestingly and offered the owners of portable devices the XG Station gadget, which plays the role of an external video adapter. The problem with resource-intensive games is easily eliminated:

• a laptop with a powerful processor and additional slots for expanding the amount of RAM is purchased;
• you will need a monitor or LCD TV with HDMI input;
• acquired the gadget "Asus XG Station" and a productive video adapter in the computer market.

Throwing away all fantasies

Having studied the advice, recommendations and reviews of the owners of mobile technology, experts came to disappointing conclusions - most users, before choosing an inexpensive but good laptop, do not pay enough attention to finding information about the necessary device in the media. Hence the West negative to mobile technology: heavy weight, slow operation, loud noise and similar problems related to the technical part.

A laptop is an ordinary personal computer, which is several times smaller in size and less power hungry. Do not expect that an expensive mobile device will be able to perform additional functionality. The maximum is the provision of wireless technologies (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) and autonomous work outside the home. Everything. No need to fantasize about how spaceships surf the universe using a laptop.

Finally

Before choosing a laptop that is inexpensive, but good in the domestic market, the user just needs to get acquainted not only with the products, but also with the technologies that are used by the manufacturer when assembling a mobile device at the factory. A future owner who wants to purchase a decent gadget at an affordable price will have to abandon abundant advertising in the media and study the basic components of a laptop and their purpose.

It is worth trusting the recommendations of experts who are not interested in selling, but provide independent advice and product reviews on their own initiative. Otherwise, it is unlikely that you will be able to purchase a laptop based on the price-quality criterion.

In order to select the perfect low-cost laptop, we spent around 100 hours analyzing and comparing the various models. For our top low-cost laptops in 2016, we ranked nearly 100 models. It is always difficult to find a decent cheap laptop, but in this article we will tell you about inexpensive models that have exceeded all our expectations. We have compiled our own rating, which will help you make the right choice.

It's hard to recommend just one cheap Windows laptop because manufacturers release new models and stop production every week and prices can change overnight. We hope that by the time you read this article, the laptop of our choice is still on sale, but if not, we found several other inexpensive Windows laptops that we liked. And since we can't guarantee that these particular models will always be cheap (or in stock), we've also put together a few tips on what to look out for when shopping.

Are you sure a budget laptop is right for you?

If you are choosing a new computer, then finding a lower price is a smart move, but please do not try to get a laptop for 15,000 rubles (or less!), It will hardly be able to give you what you want from it, it will only be frustrating you from the moment you take it out of the box. Better to spend another 5-10 thousand on a sufficiently powerful laptop that will be capable of almost everything, at least for the next couple of years. A decent laptop for 35 thousand rubles is suitable for regular web browsing and working with simple documents and spreadsheets, while a more expensive laptop can handle more complex tasks such as photo editing.

A budget laptop is a great choice if you're a student, for example, and need one device that can handle everything from using multiple web applications at once to basic video editing software. Yes, it will be a bit heavy to carry with you, and it won't charge as long as expensive ultrabooks, but you can still use it in class if necessary.

What options besides a laptop do you have

We still recommend saving some money for - like our favorite cheap ultrabook, the Asus ZenbookUX305UA - if you want a faster, much more portable laptop with longer battery life. On the other hand, a great budget laptop will have good performance and pretty decent performance, while saving you a lot of money.

Another device - a Chromebook, tablet, Ultrabook, or a cheap gaming laptop - might suit you better than a budget laptop. Which one to choose depends on what apps and games you are using, what you want from your device, how portable it should be, and how much you can afford to spend on it. A budget laptop is a great general-purpose device that does a lot of different things, but it's worth taking a few minutes to read our Which Laptop Should I Choose? Guide, even if you think the budget laptop is perfect for you - just to make sure that you buy the device you need before you spend tens of thousands of rubles on it.

What Makes a Good Budget Laptop (Minimum Specs)

An excellent budget laptop combines the best advantages with the least disadvantages... More specifically, here are a few minimum requirements where you should never compromise when buying. Take higher if you can, but never settle for less.

Apart from big discounts and rare exceptions, you should understand that it is almost impossible to choose a budget Windows laptop with such characteristics and pay 35 thousand rubles. If it is cheaper, the processor will not be powerful enough, and the RAM will be too small, in which case your laptop will seem slow even now, and in a few years it will be simply unbearable. Weaker specs are not good enough for a primary computer that you want to use for an extended period of time.

You can never find the perfect budget laptop because if it had the perfect fit it wouldn't be budget laptop.

More about the required characteristics

Intel Skylake: the most advanced processor system to date

Laptops powered by Intel's latest Skylake processors provide maximum battery life. They were rare and expensive last year. Many laptops still use older Broadwell processors, and while these models offer slightly poorer performance and higher power consumption, they work just fine and you probably won't notice the difference. AMD laptops may be cheaper than Intel laptops, but in our testing last year we found that laptop computers with AMD A8 Kaveri fail to keep up with laptops based on Intel Broadwell processors... Kaveri A10 series processors are better, but still slower than Broadwell (and they are not much cheaper). Read more about top-end processors and what to choose in the corresponding article.

How much RAM is enough

This happens a lot. In fact, this is the kind of problem we faced with two laptops that we wanted to recommend in our ranking last year: the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 disappeared without warning while we were writing our guide, and the Toshiba L50-CBT2N22 jumped from 30k to 40 thousand rubles, and then dropped to 28 thousand just before we published this version of the guide. Toshiba has now completely stopped selling non-commercial computers in the United States. A depressing experience .. All of this makes purchasing a great budget laptop more of a "sea of ​​weather" rather than an impulse purchase. But we have some tips for making smart deals.

After you have selected a few models that look promising, go to your local M-Video, Media-Markt, Know-How or another store to get hold of the devices. It is very important: a laptop might have shiny specs, but a lousy trackpad or keyboard could ruin everything... You should also pay attention to the quality of the screen. Most cheap laptops have low quality screens with poor color fidelity and narrow viewing angles. Make sure you can come to terms with this screen.

As soon as your laptop arrives, carefully open the box, do not throw away parts and accessories, and do a comprehensive test drive. If you notice anything you don't like, return it to the manufacturer or store as soon as possible. If you hold out with this, you will not be able to return, - some manufacturers accept the goods back only within two weeks.

Top budget laptops right now

In order to simplify your choice, we have compiled our own rating for you. So here's our Top 5 Inexpensive But Good Laptops.

Lenovo IdeaPad 100S

Over the next few years of use, periodically check and install the latest drivers for all internal components of your notebook. Some manufacturers pre-install update utilities that automatically check for new drivers. If your laptop does not know how to do this and starts to glitch - the screen flickers, the speakers crackle, or other mysterious things happen - take a look at the tech section. See the laptop manufacturer's website for the latest drivers and utilities for your laptop.

If a Windows update or new driver unexpectedly creates problems, say if you can no longer connect to the Wi-Fi network, or if your laptop does not log out, you will want to hunt down that particular driver component that contributed to it. Whenever possible, you should use the drivers provided by the laptop manufacturer, but contacting the component manufacturer is a good troubleshooting method if Plan A fails.

What else will we update in this review in the near future

At the moment, based on our research, the HP Pavilion x360 13 seems to be the best cheap transfer laptop (with 360 degree rotation so it can function as a laptop or tablet) - it has an Intel Core i3-6100U processor. 6GB of RAM, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and the choice between a 500GB hard drive or 128GB SSD and a 1366 × 768 or 1920 × 1080 screen. We sat over it in the store for a bit and found the keyboard, touchscreen and build quality were okay, but the trackpad was a little slow. This can be a problem for both the laptop and the just tortured display case, so we need to tinker with it a little longer before making firm recommendations. We will update this guide as more information becomes available.

If you are looking for a laptop, you could not help but notice that models from different manufacturers that are the same from a technical point of view differ significantly in price. Does it make sense to overpay for a stamp? In some cases really worth it. Because, unlike a stationary computer, in a compact one, a lot depends on the build quality and materials. So, going to the store, you need to find out in advance which laptop manufacturers are the best.

To determine which brand or model of laptop is the best of all competitors, you need to evaluate the following parameters:
• CPU... This is the heart and brain of any computer, including a laptop. Modern laptops are equipped with Intel and AMD processors. Intel leads in the expensive segment, their models are more powerful and more efficient. And in the budget segment, AMD chips are more often used. All processors are rated by frequency and number of cores. These parameters determine the performance.
• RAM... For the selected laptop, you need to not only look at the amount of installed memory, but also at the maximum possible volume and number of slots.
• Graphic card... There is a card integrated into the processor that consumes part of its power and RAM. A discrete video card has its own processor and RAM; it can also be replaced with a more powerful one.
• HDD... The price is determined by the capacity. This is not a very important parameter if you are not working with large amounts of data.
• Other characteristics... This is the presence of a disk drive, wireless communication, card reader, web camera, various connectors.
• Display. Differ in diagonal size and resolution. Also available in matte or glossy finishes.
• Battery. They differ in capacity, which determines the battery life.
• Frame. The best is a metal alloy casing that cools well. Overheating is one of the biggest problems in laptops. Therefore, the chassis must provide adequate ventilation.
• Software... The laptop may already have an operating system preinstalled. But if you take a laptop without software, then it will cost several thousand less.

The rating of manufacturers of the most reliable models according to the portal Mark.guru will help to choose the best laptop without unnecessary overpayments for the brand.

1 Apple

The American company is a leader in the Top of the best laptop manufacturers. Apple is known for its unsurpassed quality of parts and workmanship in general. Possession of the technique of this brand is one of the indicators of status. Therefore, laptops are targeted at home and business use. The models use the latest technologies and the company's own developments. They become leaders in most ratings in terms of reliability and quality.

Apple laptops are a one-piece product and are not upgradeable. Lightweight aluminum alloy is used as the body material. The battery is especially worth noting. Some models use a special composition with polymer electrolyte, which provides about 12 hours of battery life. The branded Retina display is characterized by high resolution and pixel density. The screen is bright, with the highest color rendering among the competition.

The touchpad of the latest MacBook Pro is made of real glass and automatically displays controls based on the task at hand.

The entire line of MacBooks uses Intel processors. The most powerful of these is the MacBook Pro, which has the latest 3.5GHz Core i7 with turbo boost up to 4GHz. It also has a powerful discrete graphics card and an integrated graphics processor. A modern type of GDDR5 RAM is used. Most models do not have a traditional hard drive, but instead use a 512GB SSD with high read / write speeds.

Apple also has less powerful versions of MacBooks. But absolutely all models are highly reliable and stable. Laptops do not slow down, do not overheat, work silently, all buttons and controls are ergonomically located, the operating interface is intuitive. Apple installs its own macOS operating system on all computers. But it is currently well compatible with various devices, with all applications, games and documents.

Advantages:

• modern and highest quality materials;
• perfect build;
• high technical characteristics;
• long battery life;
• the most modern technologies.

Flaws:

• high price.

Price range: from 55 to 220 thousand rubles.

Prices on Apple MacBook Pro 13 with Retina display Mid 2018:

2

In second place in the Top is Alienware, a subsidiary of the American company Dell.

Engaged in the production of powerful gaming laptops. The products have incredible technical characteristics and are aimed at professional gamers.

Many people think that laptops are not designed for gaming use, as they are not technically capable of competing with desktop PCs. Alienware's models completely refute this. They were the first in the world to create a gaming laptop and are still the leaders in this segment. Alienware laptops are as reliable as and often superior to the competition.

Alienware has three display options in 13, 15 and 17 inches. The most powerful specification is the 17-inch version. It has the latest Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA graphics card with 8GB GDDR 5 RAM. It also has two terabyte drives, one of which is an SSD. RAM 32 GB. But it is rather difficult to buy such a model in Russia, and its price in the USA is more than 3500 thousand dollars. So the average Russian gamer has little access to this technique.

Advantages:

• huge power and performance;
• high definition;
• stylish design;
• ergonomics.

Flaws:

• high price;
• small assortment on the Russian market.

The price range is from 80 to 210 thousand rubles.

Prices on Alienware 17 R4 Laptop:

3 ASUS

The Taiwanese company Asus produces laptops in different price segments and is included in the Top 3 of the world's best companies.

There are both very budget options for office use and powerful gaming models.

The best Asus laptops use the most advanced technology and strive to dominate all market niches. At the same time, if we compare the price and power of the products, then it turns out to be a very good ratio. The model line contains several groups of laptops:

1. ASUSPRO series has the best set of qualities for business use. It features a robust housing that is specially designed to withstand frequent opening and closing and carrying during business travel. Expandable memory up to 20GB is supported. All ASUS products are equipped with Intel processors, in the ASUSPRO series starting from Core i3.
2. Of particular note is the ZenBook Pro series. They are powerful, elegant, high-performance metal laptops. The display of the leading model in the series has 4K resolution and a high pixel density of 282 ppi. It has high contrast and accurate color reproduction. At the heart of the work is a Core i7 processor, a powerful gaming graphics card and 16 GB of RAM.
3. The Transformer Book series features notebook computers that can be rotated 360 degrees. It can be used as a tablet and can be placed on the table at a comfortable angle to watch movies. At the same time, it has the latest technical components and a high-definition display.

Advantages:

• high reliability;
• quality materials and assembly;
• high-definition display with excellent color rendering;
• modern technologies;
• wide range of.

Flaws:

• noise and overheating in some budget models.

Price range: from 15 to 100 thousand rubles.

Prices for ASUS X507UB:

4 Acer

The Chinese company Acer is one of the largest suppliers of laptops around the world and ranks fourth in the Top Best Manufacturers. With a budget price, it shows good build quality and stands out among other manufacturers from China. The model range includes several series of computers for home and business use.

1. For games, the Aspire V Nitro series is suitable, which uses the latest generation of Intel processors, a modern NVIDEA graphics card with 6 GB memory and 16 gigabytes of RAM. The technical characteristics are more than enough for the most modern games.
2. The SWITCH ALPHA series is good for both business and home use. It is a silent laptop with an innovative liquid cooling system and no built-in fan. The touchscreen display is crisp and powerful enough for fast multitasking.

Also in the assortment there are transformer models that can be used both as a tablet and as a computer. They are lightweight while retaining a full-sized keyboard and convenient functionality.

Advantages:

• affordable price;
• wide range of;
• modern design;
• compact size and light weight;

Flaws:

• weak battery on mid-range models;
• unreliable assembly and case.

Price range: from 12 to 115 thousand rubles.

Prices for Acer TravelMate P2 (P259-MG):

5 DELL

Dell is an American company with a solid global history. Previously, she was the leader of all the world Tops, but recently notebooks of this brand are losing their popularity, not withstanding the competition with Chinese technology. In the struggle for the market DELL are expanding their range of laptops, trying to master the budget price segment, offering the best solutions at affordable prices.

Dell's lineup is really very wide. There are also transformer models and laptops with touch input. The Latitude series is rugged and durable, while the Vostro models are a versatile, cost-effective office solution.

The most powerful of the Inspiron 5 line is the high-performance PC for gaming or professional use with complex applications.

They feature the latest Intel processor, powerful graphics and support up to 32GB of RAM.

Advantages:

• high quality materials and workmanship;
• wide range of;
• the use of the latest technology in advanced models;
• reliability and durability.

Flaws:

• faded screen, color rendition with distortion in many models;
• in some cases, unsuccessful case design, overheating.

Price range: from 22 to 115 thousand rubles.

Prices for DELL INSPIRON 5570:

6 HP

The American company Hewlett-Packard is one of the largest manufacturers of office equipment, including many laptop models. They are distinguished by low cost and good performance. The assembly does not always use high-quality components, but this applies to budget models and those manufactured for the Asian market.

The range of HP includes more than 100 models. There are powerful units with a touchscreen, for example, the ENVY 17. It has a powerful graphics card, 16 gigabytes of RAM and the latest Core i7 processor with a frequency of 2.7 GHz and can be increased to 3.5 GHz. The budget HP Pavilion models have a good battery and are compact in size.

The new OMEN models are tailor-made for gaming and include a very efficient cooling system in addition to the latest technical components.

Advantages:

• good components;
• wide range of models;
• reliability.

Flaws:

• weak plastic of the case;
• heats up at medium and high loads.

Price range: from 15 to 180 thousand rubles.

Prices for HP 15-bs000:

7 Lenovo

It is one of the most successful Chinese companies in the field of computer technology, which is rapidly gaining popularity all over the world. Currently, the manufacturer is focused more on the development of the segment of tablets and smartphones, but also in the category of laptops it boasts a wide range.

It makes sense to choose the best laptop in the budget category among the representatives of this brand.

The choice of models is so wide that it is very difficult to navigate in them. Here are both gaming and very budget options. It is worth saying that the price of top-end Lenovo laptops compares favorably with many competitors. At the same time, they are quite reliable in operation.

Of course, there are no such materials as those of the leaders of the rating. Both the components and the case are made for maximum cost reduction. For example, the YOGA 370 ultrabook costs a little over 100 thousand, but includes the most modern technologies, including the Thunderbolt 3 connector. And the ThinkPad T570 can work without recharging for about 16 hours.

Advantages:

• low price;
• modern design;
• use of the latest developments.

Flaws:

• in many cases an uncomfortable keyboard;
• cheap materials from budget models.

Price range: from 12 to 140 thousand rubles.

Prices for Lenovo IdeaPad 320 15 Intel:

8 MSI

The Taiwanese company MSI makes powerful and rather expensive laptops that are suitable for gaming and professional use. In addition to the latest components, it is worth noting the stylish design and ergonomic design. Particular attention is paid to the cooling system and noise reduction.

In the development of models, the emphasis is on the gamers. Therefore, the sound and screen must meet the requirements for realism of immersion in the gameplay, and the technical component must have the resource to support demanding modern games.

Technically, top-end models are not inferior to competitors from Apple, but their design is unusual and aggressive. The body is made of aluminum and the controls are positioned specifically for optimal control over your gaming experience.

Advantages:

• quality materials and assembly;
• high power and performance;
• equipment for gamers;
• special attention is paid to improving management.

Flaws:

• high price.

Price range: from 45 to 150 thousand rubles.

Prices MSI GL62M 7RDX:

9 Microsoft

The rating of laptops of the best brands is completed by Microsoft. Despite their good quality and high reliability, they are still not very popular on the Russian market. The top model is the Surface Book i7 ultrabook. It is powered by the latest generation Intel processor and offers high power and performance.

The battery is especially worth noting, which allows you to work autonomously for up to 16 hours.

The touch input and swivel screen allows you to use it like a tablet. To improve the cooling system, a second cooler is installed.

Advantages:

• quality materials;
• power;
• modern technologies;
• ergonomics.

Flaws:

• high price;
• powerful models are noisy and warm.

Price range: from 70,000 rubles.

Prices for Microsoft Surface Laptop:

Conclusion

These are the best laptop manufacturers for 2018 according to the portal Mark Guru. When choosing a laptop, you must first of all be guided by the purpose of use. If you need a fashion item that can meet the highest technical requirements, then buy any of the Apple MacBooks. When you need a gaming laptop, it’s better to choose firms that specialize in this narrow segment, such as Alienware or MSI. In the budget category, Lenovo and Acer have ideal solutions. In the ultra-thin and light segment, the market is rapidly gaining ground and companies such as Asus, Dell or HP will offer the best mid-range and higher options.

Modernity never ceases to pamper a person with a variety of technological innovations. The rapid passage of time forces us to become more mobile and in any difficult situation to have at hand a reliable technical means with which we can quickly influence the course of events. Oddly enough, a seemingly simple question: "How to choose a laptop?" - in fact, very difficult.

Because the end result must meet expectations. In other words, paying tribute to a particular device modification, the buyer should take into account the harmonious combination of many factors. After all, the realities of the present are literally imbued with convincing facts that eloquently prove that people buy something that is not at all what they need, often unreasonably betting on the wrong "horse".

So, to all those who want to thoroughly understand such an important question: "Which laptop to choose?" - dedicated to ...

A few words of advice

The material of the article is intended to free the reader from the yoke of commercial temptations, as well as help to avoid common mistakes when buying a laptop. The recommendations available are simple and easy to follow. For those who are poorly versed in the technical terms of the IT industry, this article will be a kind of revelation. And if the information presented does not make every reader an expert, then it will certainly contribute to the correct choice.

The subject of desire is a laptop

Let's say you still realized that the unlimitedness of our desires and the exactingness of the circumstances of the present, appeal to a trustworthy, and most importantly - effective assistant. A stationary computer cannot meet the needs of today, since such devices are deprived of compactness and autonomy. As a result, the question "how to choose a laptop?" in its solution, first of all, it must meet the requirements of the highest comfort.

Of course, the quality of the product is a fundamental factor in the further use of the purchased device. The well-known name (brand), "authoritatively" placed on the panel of a laptop, does not always correspond to the truth of polyphonic advertising: "Our products are exactly what you need!"

Cunning marketing techniques sometimes simply neutralize the consumer's freedom of choice ... Exclusively for the above reason, even advanced users find themselves in the position of a "fabulous hero", allegorically contemplating the cornerstone-problem "by what parameters to choose a laptop?"

A few words about the subject of conversation

Of course, a compactly implemented electronic machine is still the same computer, albeit somewhat transformed. The point is that diminutiveness requires some “technical sacrifices”. Netbooks are a prime example of this. For the sake of small size, the device is deprived of an optical device for reading and writing information (CD / DVD drive). However, the main problem with compact gadgets is the efficiency of the cooling systems. After all, the "power" of the laptop is due precisely to the internal electronic filling, and the processor's work is accompanied by considerable heat release. By the way, a good gaming laptop is also equipped with a powerful video card, the performance of which also depends on the efficiency of the implemented cooling scheme.

The brightness level of the screen, the work of resource-intensive programs and the number of simultaneously used communication modules directly affect the consumption of electricity. Since a portable device is, by definition, a mobile computer, a rechargeable battery is the autonomous performance of a laptop. It is the manufacturability of the battery, its capacity and the energy efficiency of the system components that determine the duration of the "life" of the portable device. Further - everything is much simpler.

How to choose a laptop: no room for error

In order to designate a certain landmark of their preferences, the consumer should pay attention to a number of important issues.

• For what purposes is a laptop purchased?
• In what mode will it be used?
• How much money is the buyer willing to spend?

These are probably the most important criteria for making the best choice. However, a significant addition to all of the above will be a number of recommendations that will help the reader to more clearly define the boundaries of his "want" and actual necessity.

Classification of laptop computers

Laptop manufacturers offer a fairly wide range of their products. Typically, the laptop lineup is divided into several main classes:

• Office.
• Multimedia.
• Game.
• Professional.

Each branch of the classification has its own distinctive features. The ultimate level of performance and operational comfort lies in the equipment features. Various configurations of laptop PCs and determine their area of ​​application, as well as are the basis for the user at the moment when it is necessary to select a laptop according to the parameters.

Electronic beauty

The design of the device is probably the first thing that everyone who decides to buy a laptop encounters. However, not every laptop that catches the eye of many is gold that glitters. Before you blindly believe that the object of your shopping "lust" is exactly the thing that will serve you faithfully, think carefully. Know that impulsiveness in the moment of practical choice is your worst enemy.

• The case of budget laptops is usually made of plastic, either hard or soft. A relatively cheap manufacturing technology, as a rule, suffers from natural consequences: fragile - cracks, soft - scratches.

• The middle price segment is a higher quality plastic of varying complexity of execution. For example, multilayer spraying allows you to keep the color or texture of the laptop surface for a long time practically unchanged.

• Professional models are, first of all, reliable devices. Therefore, in search of an answer to the question: "How to choose the right laptop?" it should be borne in mind that business-class portable devices have "titanic" properties of the case.

Competing manufacturing firms are quite creative. The originality of design and ergonomics of laptops produced today is truly unpredictable. So even an office laptop may well look like a top-class device.

The constructive part of the top cover interacts with the main part through special mechanisms, which, in general, is understandable. Nevertheless, quite often there are models in which the angle of inclination of the display part of the case is strictly 45 °, and this, as practice shows, is not very good. By the way, the pliability of the lid should have a certain degree of rigidity, and at the same time, it should be opened without much effort with one hand.

Display

Agree, video looks much more impressive on a large screen than on a small one. At the same time, the choice of a suitable display resolution and the manufacturability of its performance depend solely on the user's needs. If you are a photographer and do not know how to choose a laptop for work, then this paragraph should be studied thoroughly, since visual perception is the main meaning of your profession. However, the rest of the group of readers will also not be ignored. After all, a lot depends on the type of screen ...

• IPS-matrix is ​​the most acceptable option for almost any solution. However, the characteristic of an "affordable" laptop equipped with such a display cannot in any way possess. Perhaps, in the near future, the budget class of portable electronics will be able to boast of fantastic realism of the picture.

• TN-matrix is ​​a reasonable compromise between quality and visual sensations. Surfing the web, editing text, watching videos, and many other options are quite competent choices for both beginners and advanced users.

Which laptop should you choose for gaming? This is a multi-pronged issue. However, the size and resolution of the screen, as well as the mass of associated visualization parameters, still have a certain objective preference scheme.

• The higher the screen resolution, the better!

• 16:10 aspect ratio is most preferable for Internet surfing, work with office applications and graphics editors.

• The best gaming option is a vector ratio of 16: 9. By the way, this aspect ratio is more than acceptable for viewing high-resolution videos.

The diagonal of the display, in fact, is not a critical indicator of the "omnipotence" of a compact PC, but, nevertheless, it qualitatively affects the perception of the information displayed on the screen as a whole: be it a video, a game or viewing and editing graphic content. If you are faced with a kind of dilemma: "Laptop or tablet, what to choose?" - then preference should be given to the device closest to your lifestyle.

Indeed, for reading e-books, viewing correspondence and launching non-resource-intensive games, a miniature gadget is quite enough. It should be noted that today some hybrid computing devices have appeared on the mobile device market, in which two representatives of portable technology “coexist” harmoniously: a tablet and a laptop. However, the functionality of one depends on the capabilities of the "partner".

Perhaps the dear reader has heard or read that the matrix can have dead pixels. The mentioned term is quite simple in explanation - this is when the point of the display does not change its color even in the case when it is required by the dynamics of the image. Exclusively for this reason, it is worth paying attention to the quality of the displayed image.

An elementary run of color palette diagnostics will help you identify defects in the color spectrum. It will not be superfluous to provide for the "light" scope of the laptop, if there is an essential condition for future use - bright sunlight. Chances are, a laptop with a matte finish display will suit you.

By the way, sometimes it is worth paying attention to the acceptability of the viewing angle. Agree, not everyone will like it if a nearby person will unceremoniously look at the photos you are viewing or freely read confidential information displayed on the screen of your laptop.

CPU

In order to choose a laptop according to the parameters, you need to be aware of the boundaries of what you want. In other words, understand the main purpose of purchasing a device and be firmly confident that the installed central processor has the necessary computing resources to solve future problems.

Two solutions

The well-known leaders in the design and manufacture of CPUs are Intel and AMD. For the information of those who are somewhat behind the development of the IT industry in the field of high technologies, you need to understand that, despite the identity of aspirations, Intel Corporation has succeeded somewhat more in the above area. However, Advanced Micro Devices offers its customers more affordable prices for its products. And if you are faced with the problem: "Which laptop to choose for study?", American AMD can offer you a good option for the budget class.

Now, in order:

• Any 2-core processor is suitable for solving office tasks, the clock frequency of which will not exceed 2000 MHz.

• Resource-intensive programs will require four or more cores, and 2,500 MHz will be exactly the indicator that will allow the user to effectively "deal" with the inexorable onslaught of the endless pressure of data.

• Don't forget about the ultra-fast microprocessor memory. The larger the cache size, the faster the data processing takes place.

• The newer the socket type, the higher the bus frequency, the speed of data exchange with the motherboard depends on it.

• Well, the last reasoned argument in favor of a productive solution to the question "how to choose a processor for a laptop?" - software of the future and the Core intel i3 processor - a promising tandem of "rapport" between the software product of the relative future and the capability of the installed processor in the present. Average price and great opportunities ... The choice is yours!

Of course, for those who consider themselves a confident user, this article is not what the inquisitive mind of an expert was looking for, but you, dear reader, should take into account that the capabilities of a computer do not always correspond to its intended purpose. Why would a student need the colossal resources of an 8-core CPU, or who said that to play Warcraft, you need to enlist the support of a 3.2 MHz processor?

If the buyer is counting on a long term use of technology, then it is necessary to foresee such a moment as the irrepressible "evolution" of the software ... In this case, it will not be superfluous to have a new CPU on a portable device - Intel i7. After all, upgrading the hardware of a laptop is associated with a lot of inconveniences, since in most cases it requires the intervention of a specialist.

Working memory: the shortest excursion for the uninitiated

Solution to the question: "How to choose a laptop for home?" should rely primarily on foresight. Indeed, in the future, a portable device can become an assistant for each family member or it will definitely be used in many ways. Therefore, the "margin of safety" of the computer's RAM must be appropriate.

A simple example. There are minor children in the family - they will download resource-intensive games, a small child will want to watch cartoons, a wife is not averse to talking to a friend on Skype, and a husband cannot live without online football broadcasts. As you can imagine, the RAM must cope with all this so that the laptop does not slow down or hang. Today, laptop computers are equipped with four gigabyte memory sticks, which, in general, is the standard for a modern computing machine.

Nevertheless, the user always has the opportunity to independently expand the amount of RAM. In order to add additional "gigabytes of operability", you need to know what type of memory is used in your device and whether the operating system is capable of working with the established potential for speed capabilities.

Graphic reliability

A good gaming laptop always comes with a powerful graphics card. Modern shooters, adventure games or simulators are quite voracious applications. And if the user expects to get the most out of virtual battles, then the graphics chip simply must meet the requirements of today's gaming industry.

Typically, the mid-range gaming laptop means the use of a one gigabyte graphics module. Representatives of the lineup have two gigabytes of video memory, and even more. Of course, the nominal size of a video chip is not the only parameter for the productive capacity of a compact computer. If you want to get a high-quality solution to the question: "Which laptop should you choose for gaming?" - then you should be guided by several more concepts:

• The memory bus width is measured in bits and is one of the important speed indicators of the video performance of the graphics adapter.

• Texture fill rate - so to speak, the value of the realism of the visual perception. A unit of the efficiency of a picture displayed on the screen, that is, a parameter that determines the number of displayed pixels per second of time.

• The discreteness of the video card allows you to count on a forced upgrade in the future, since the integrated graphics chips are practically devoid of replacement options.

• The type of video memory also affects the efficiency and performance of the graphics played by the laptop.

"Iron" data security: laptop SSD

How to choose a hard drive, and what type of drives should you give your preference to? This is a serious enough question. After all, the user must count on the fact that his data will be reliably stored, and the favorable work will be expressed in the high-speed ability of the installed disk - information storage.

SSDs are incredibly efficient and less volatile than their mechanical counterparts. However, due to the significant difference in price and the minimized indicator of the nominal volume, HDD technologies often lose.

However, some modifications of laptops can accommodate two types of drives. For example, SSD - 256 GB for the operating system and 1 TB HDD for data storage today is the best option for connoisseurs of speed and relative unlimitedness in the accumulation of information arrays.

It is worth noting that for the majority of buyers who asked themselves the question: "How to choose a laptop for a student?" the most acceptable configuration, taking into account exactly the SSD-disk. Because the mobile lifestyle of young people is highly dependent on favorable conditions for autonomy and data processing speed.

Laptop communication capabilities

The number of connectors for peripherals can be completely different. The budget class of laptops is necessarily equipped with several USB ports, and may also have COM and VGA connectors. In a word, there are a lot of configurations. However, the optimal communication connector layout should be considered, which, in principle, is not difficult to do.

Laptop internet

How to choose the most suitable model from the variety? Simple enough! The main thing is the presence of a network card. It is desirable that the device has at least one wireless module: Wi-Fi or Bluetouch.

Multimedia

To view high quality video on a large screen, your laptop must be equipped with an HDMI connector. For lower resolution S-Video, DVI port can be used.

Extended capabilities

If it is necessary to use external drives, the user can count on a comfortable connection via the e-Sata connector. The presence of a built-in card reader will also be an absolute plus, since today literally all portable devices use memory cards of various formats.

"Energy independence" of the laptop

The most important advantage of portable technology, of course, is its autonomy. The type and nominal capacity of the rechargeable battery determines the duration of the device's operation when an external source of electricity is unavailable. The cost of a laptop often depends on the manufacturability of the applied energy saving scheme.

The compactness of the device and the duration of autonomous operation are two warring camps of the general "usability of war". The screen resolution and its diagonal are the main consumers of the life-giving energy of the battery. However, the work of a mechanical type of drives, the autonomous use of an optical drive and the number of simultaneously used programs - all this inexorably leads to a loss of energy. The only effective way to maintain "electrical independence" is to lower the display brightness, disable background applications and, of course, provide for a comfortable transition to an additional autonomous power source.

Practical accessory and alternative energy source

Question: "How to choose a laptop bag?" -is directly related to the above paragraph. Indeed, the operating potential of the battery depends on the ambient temperature. Transporting a laptop in winter in a string bag is a funny example, however, a laptop bag without insulation is practically as effective as nothing. Although it saves you from reprehensible laughs from the side. The capacity of the accessory should be limited by the size of the portable device.

Reliable shoulder straps, straps and impact-resistant tabs will significantly increase the chances of getting out of a crowded minibus with your device intact. It is worth noting that some bags for carrying laptops are equipped with special additional batteries, and can also be equipped with gadgets of various operating principles that are capable of generating electrical energy. Therefore, it makes sense to acquire not only an aesthetic continuation of your laptop, but also to enlist some technological energy support.

And finally: common mistakes in the selection process

Of course, the material of the article only superficially touched upon a difficult and crucial moment - the purchase of a portable device. The main criteria for making the right choice were mentioned, and, most likely, in the future you will be taken into account. However, the list of typical mistakes made by an ordinary buyer may make you look a little differently at the question: "How to choose a laptop?"

• You should not buy a portable device for the sake of fashion trends. Believe me, a laptop as a banal replacement for a desktop PC loses significantly.

• You can't put super versatility into a compact laptop shell. In any case, something will be missing in it! To be honest, there is a lot ... So do not indulge yourself with the illusion that a "fancy" laptop is able to solve literally all life's problems.

• The diagonal of the screen must strictly correspond to the situation of use. Why carry a heavy 17 "laptop with you, if 15" is enough. If we assume that you need a device to view e-mail, surf the web and communicate in social networks, then it makes sense to focus on energy efficient 12 ”.

• The autonomy of work can be increased, but if you only knew how inconvenient it will be to use the device. Additional power will reduce comfort while working and add weight for transport.

• Question: "Laptop or tablet, what to choose?" - may seem a little strange. With a clear gain in compactness and ease of use, a touchscreen gadget can significantly lose to a laptop in performance and functionality. However, only the price is able to dot all the “i's”. Powerful modern tablets have long surpassed budget laptops in all respects.

Now the choice is yours!