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The modern market for mobile computers is so diverse that sometimes even a specialist has to spend a lot of time choosing a good and inexpensive laptop so as not to regret the purchase later. But what about a person whose life is only indirectly connected with the development of the technological process, and even more so will have to think carefully before deciding which laptop is better to choose for home in 2016? Indeed, unlike a stationary computer, it will not be possible to improve much. Therefore, it is important to immediately choose a device that you can work on for at least a few years. Next, I will tell you how to choose the right laptop for home, which ones you should pay attention to when choosing for home use or work and even games, but unfortunately it’s stupid to cram all this information into one article, so there will be a separate article for the most necessary needs.In the meantime, you will need to get acquainted with such characteristics and an interesting video below:

Tips for dummies on choosing a good laptop

Screen

This is one of the most important characteristics of a laptop, because it is impossible to change it, and the cost will be very different. Therefore, this criterion should be taken with great responsibility.

What diagonal to choose for a laptop?

Of course, we will get to the “stuffing”, but first of all, it is worth taking a closer look at various laptop models regarding the size of the display. It is important that you feel comfortable working and comfortable to wear it. In specialized stores you can find them with screens from 10.1″ to 18.4″. Which laptop to choose depends on its purpose.

  • If you need a laptop for mobile work in various conditions, then you should pay attention to models with a screen of 10.1 -13.3 inches.
  • In cases where you need a laptop for work and at home, it is better to choose options with a diagonal size from 14″ to 17.3. For this purpose, large screens are just more convenient so as not to strain your eyes.
  • Well, if you need a gaming laptop, pay attention to a diagonal of 15.6 inches and more up to 18.4.

Screen resolution

The quality of the picture that you see on the screen depends on its resolution, the higher this indicator, the better and, accordingly, the price of such a laptop will be higher. If you see devices of approximately the same price and screen size in the store, in most cases the resolution will be the same. Below I will present options for screen resolutions in all sizes, which may be different:

  • 10-11.6 - sometimes with 1024 × 600 and 1366 × 768 the picture quality is better, but if you have poor eyesight, taking such a small laptop with a large extension is stupid, because all the icons on the screen will be smaller, and this is an extra load on vision.
  • 13.3 - there are 1366x768, 1440x900, 1920x1080 Full HD costs only on ultrabooks for $800 - $1500
  • 15.6 - 1366×768, 1440×900, 1920×1080
  • 17.3 - 1600 × 900 and 1920 × 1080 in such Full HD diagonals is a very useful thing, but in most cases it costs gaming laptops.
  • 18.4 - only 1920x1080 and 4k these powerful gaming-only laptops start at $1,000 to $4,500

At the same time, the difference in resolutions can be quite significant. For the same screen size in different models, the resolution may differ significantly, as you can see in the list above. It is recommended to opt for laptops with higher values ​​of this indicator. Although, of course, here we are already talking about your financial capabilities.

What screen to choose for a laptop?

In addition to these aspects, when examining the monitor, it is desirable to examine the surface of the screen, it happens:

  • glossy
  • matte

Choosing a device with a matte screen surface will drain your budget a little more than buying a cheaper one with a glossy one. However, these investments can be considered expenses for one's own health. Matte monitor practically does not reflect in the sun, which minimizes its detrimental effect on human vision, fatigue. In addition, such a surface is easier to care for, but the saturation and brightness of the picture are lost, so the choice is yours. My advice is to choose a better matte screen, it's a pity that now it is almost never put on cheap laptops and the middle segment.

Which processor to choose for a laptop?

So we got to the main position that you need to consider when choosing a good and powerful laptop. You can determine that the device you have chosen is a laptop or ultrabook by the letter "M, U or H" in the brand / model designation of this laptop. For example, names such as Intel Core i3-6200U, or AMD Quad-Core A10-4600M indicate that these technological machines belong to the laptop family.

If you want to purchase an ultrabook, then you should look for the letter “U” in the name of the presented mobile devices. To date, processors for portable computers of this level are assembled only by Intel Core i3, i5 and i7, there is already the 6th generation, this can be recognized by the first digit of the marking, for example, now a lot of processors of the 4th and 5th generation are sold, looks like this so: Core i3 5010U 2100 MHz and Core i5 4200H 2800 MHz. Their highlight is that when they were created, the engineers of this company managed to achieve a significant reduction in energy consumption. Due to this, the laptop or ultrabook has acquired such thin forms and is noticeably lighter.

Choosing your first laptop based on the criteria for processor power should be based on the requirements that you place on it. For example, if your work requires a device with convincing computing performance, we recommend that you look at processors such as Intel Core i3, i5 or i7. In order for your portable computer to allow you to enjoy computer games, you need to look for an appropriate device with powerful discrete graphics.

You can also pay attention to laptops with processors from AMD A4, A6, A8, A10. And even here you will be able to save a lot if you do not need a super powerful gaming laptop, but you just want to take a model that can do the simplest and most popular things like watching movies, typing, working with office programs and ordinary household tasks, then I would recommend AMD, because of their good integrated video cards and of course the cost.

To date, the leading position in the market for processing devices for laptops and ultrabooks in terms of product quality is occupied by Intel processors. The most common fruits of engineering thought are 5th and 6th generation processors. The presented devices differ in technological process, 22 nm and 14 nm, respectively. In other words, the difference between the 5th and 6th generation processors lies in the intervals between the transistors of the device and the graphics cores (video cards) built into them. Processor performance will increase in proportion to the decrease in this interval. Moreover, energy consumption in this case decreases, sometimes it remains at the same level.

The first in the list of data is lithography, which is also a technological process. We have already decided on this - this indicator should be as low as possible. The next parameter is the maximum rated power. It indicates the amount of energy consumed at the moments of full load. Here, too, the smallest values ​​are important. The less the device needs to work, the longer you can use it without recharging. Type of memory supported - large values ​​are important for this indicator. It will be easier to decide on the choice of a processor for a laptop if you look at the specification of several models in advance and compare them according to the specified parameters. It is advisable to look for this data on the manufacturer's website, such information is not difficult to find on the net.

For an entry-level laptop, these processor models are suitable

  • Intel- 3825U 1900 MHz or better quad-core Intel Pentium N3540 (2.16 - 2.66 GHz)
  • AMD- A6 6310 1800 MHz, better find AMD A8-6410

If you do not have any special requirements for it, then these processors will cope with your home tasks 100%.

For a mid-range laptop, such models are suitable

  • Intel- Intel Core i3-5005U (2.0 GHz) or Intel Core i5-5200U (2.2 - 2.7 GHz)
  • AMD- AMD Quad-Core A8-7410 (2.2 - 2.5 GHz) or AMD Quad-Core A10-8780P (2.0 - 3.3 GHz) - these are all 4-core processors

Well, for a gaming laptop, the choice is obvious.

  • Intel® Core™ i7-5700HQ and Intel Core i7- 6700HQ (2.6 - 3.5 GHz) are the most powerful processors that are put in laptops and pull out all the new toys well!

What amount of RAM to choose?

When wondering how to choose the right laptop for work, it is also important to pay attention to the amount of RAM. It should be noted that for comfortable work you need at least 4 GB of RAM. Some craftsmen, however, manage to increase the memory by 2 to 4 GB with 2 GB. However, here you need to be able to work in such a way that there is enough volume, and it would not be required to use virtual memory. Otherwise, the hard drive will work in enhanced mode, and the whole system will start to work much more slowly. At the moment, a standard laptop has 15 diagonal slots for 2 slots and it will be better if they are all occupied by 4 + 4, which will give us 8 GB which will last for several years, but if you want to buy it later, you can only do it if you tighten this process, it is worth knowing that over time their cost increases especially after the release of a new generation of memory. In short, the more the better!

At this time, there are 3rd generation strips called DDR3 1333 Mhz and 1600 Mhz, but there are already 4th DDR4-2133 MHz.

What size hard drive to choose?

Large volumes are also important for this parameter. The larger the numbers indicating the amount of hard disk space, the more data you can store here. The weak point of a hard drive in any portable system is performance. It is possible to help correct the situation by adding RAM, or using a solid-state SSD drive that is 10-15 times faster than an HDD! By the way, if the idea of ​​replacing a hard drive with a solid-state SSD drive visits you even before purchase, then, in principle, you can ignore the size of the hard drive, because this drive has a small capacity of 120-512 GB, although models with 1 TB have already appeared, but their cost is still sky-high, although at the end of 2015 there is talk of a price reduction. Although some laptops have two disk slots, so you can put an SSD and an HDD in one unit, as is often the case, Windows and the main programs and games that are often played are put on a solid state, and important information is stored on the other.

Number and variety of connectors

For comfortable work with a laptop, 3 USB ports will be enough. Although there are devices with more and fewer such outputs. It is desirable that at least one of them be USB 3.0, through which you can already connect an external hard drive and some other devices today. Most laptops have an HDMI output for connecting to a TV screen. The standard situation for a laptop is a combination of a headphone and microphone output in a single connector. If this moment is fundamental for you, look for an option with two connectors. In addition, all devices are equipped with a connector that allows you to connect to the Internet via a cable, and a connector that allows you to connect a monitor to the device (VGA, D-SUB). In addition, they must be able to read an SD memory card. By the way, the performance of devices in which you can insert the body of an SD card completely can be improved using Readyboost technologies for Windows 7 and Windows 8. In this case, you will no longer need to remove the card from your laptop during work to achieve the maximum effect.

Well, if between us, then laptop manufacturers put everything according to the standard and therefore everything is almost the same for everyone.

Most often you can find laptops that have 4-8 cell batteries with a capacity of 4400-5600 mAh. The higher this indicator, the longer the laptop will work without recharging, but you need to know that such a device will already weigh a little more. Therefore, it is worth choosing what you need more weight or autonomy. Plus, now the consumption of new spare parts is so small that even a 3-cell battery lasts up to 2-3 hours without recharging while reading. Yes, and we can not choose this indicator, alas!

Rating of the best laptops of the year

The best laptops under 20,000 rubles

  • HP 15-ac000 - recommended for home
  • ASUS X552EA
  • ASUS X551CA - the best Windows option for home use
  • DELL INSPIRON 3542
  • Lenovo G50-70

The best laptops under 25,000 rubles

  • DELL INSPIRON 3521
  • ASUS X502CA
  • ASUS X552EA
  • DELL INSPIRON 3542 - also an interesting model, but an amateur design
  • Lenovo G50-45
  • HP 15-r100 - beautiful and reliable laptop

The best laptops under 30,000 rubles

  • ASUS X554LJ is a great choice for work
  • Acer ASPIRE E5-511G-P4Q4
  • Lenovo IdeaPad S510p
  • DELL INSPIRON 5558
  • The HP PAVILION 17-e000 is the best choice for the money if you don't move around much with it

  • ASUS X550LD
  • Acer ASPIRE E1-570G-53334G50Mn
  • DELL INSPIRON 3542
  • ASUS X555LN is the best buy
  • HP PAVILION 15-p200
  • Lenovo G50-70
  • HP PAVILION 15-p000

Top best laptops under 40,000 rubles 2015

  • HP PAVILION 17-g000
  • ASUS X555LD
  • ASUS K551LN is the best buy
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Z5070
  • DELL INSPIRON 5558
  • Lenovo IdeaPad G505s
  • Lenovo THINKPAD Edge E555
  • Acer ASPIRE E5-551G-T2LT

The best laptops under 50,000 rubles

In recent years, the choice of a good laptop for work and entertainment has become so extensive that an inexperienced buyer can easily get confused in all this diversity. In order to make the purchase of a new device easy and pleasant for you, we have compiled a number of useful and detailed recommendations. From this material, you will learn everything about how to choose the right laptop for home and work according to the main characteristics in 2017. For clarity, all popular classes of devices will be considered, all their characteristics will be analyzed in detail, and the most attractive global brands will be selected.

Popular laptop brands

So, the first step is to decide which company to choose a laptop, and then decide on the parameters. As with clothing or cars, the manufacturer plays a very important role in choosing a computer. The very name of some companies inspires confidence among buyers in the quality and flawless operation of the goods they purchase. First of all, this applies, of course, to corporations. Apple. Their line of ultrabooks, dubbed the MacBook, regularly receives high marks from critics, awards from reputable specialized publications, and also appears in all kinds of television shows and movies. The quality of each Apple device is indeed impeccable, but for all this magnificence, you have to pay quite a big price.

If you do not want to sacrifice design, quality and performance, but at the same time you need an inexpensive laptop, then you should pay attention to the brand ASUS. First of all, this company specializes in the production of components for desktop computers, so it definitely does not need to take experience. Perfect fit of parts, durable case, good matrix, well-coordinated work - all these are laptops from ASUS. Yes, the prices for their products cannot be called the lowest on the market, but they are still more attractive than Apple ultrabooks.

Another popular brand that has been on the market for almost 80 years is Hewlett-Packard. It is hard to imagine that the company once started with the production of measuring instruments, because now among its products you can find many inexpensive but good laptops for home and office. The manufacturer's arsenal includes both inexpensive solutions for a wide range of customers, as well as business-class models. Products HP gained wide popularity due to the excellent quality of laptops and attractive price tags for each of them.

Almost at the same time, the companies started their work DELL and MSI. Even devices from these famous brands are a bit similar to each other. And it's not about the design, because it is individual and very attractive for each manufacturer, but in the very approach to the release of new devices. For example, if you need a gaming laptop, choose one of these companies, because each of them has a number of productive models at a reasonable cost. Also, both manufacturers flexibly adapt to the buyer, offering excellent options in the middle and lower price segments.

However, if you need the most budget laptops, then it is better to pay attention to Acer and Lenovo. Each company's product line offers the simplest devices, costing $2-$300, multimedia-class solutions, the average price of which is $1,000, and progressive gaming laptops, the high price of which is fully justified by their capabilities. None of the firms are afraid of bold experiments, thanks to which they are surrounded by a huge army of fans. All the same, Acer is able to offer an incredible 21-inch gaming laptop worth $ 5,000, the number of technological innovations in which exceeds even the wildest expectations and assumptions.

When choosing a laptop company, you can pay attention to all the manufacturers we represent, each company produces good devices in all price segments. If the budget is low, you can give preference to Lenovo, DELL or HP, but if you are a connoisseur of sophistication and style, then it is better to choose from Apple and Asus!

We determine the type and class of the laptop

In the process of choosing a laptop, the user needs to decide on many different nuances. In addition to the brand, specifications and optimal price range, the buyer must also clearly establish for himself the purpose for which the device is purchased. So fans of the game will not get what they want from ultrabooks, and fans of lightness and autonomy will definitely not be delighted with the weight and size characteristics of gaming models. The advice of experts and professionals will help you decide on the choice of the optimal laptop.

Netbooks

Among all the varieties of laptops that are on the market today, lovers of compactness most often prefer netbooks. Due to their minimal size and weight, they do not take up much space in a backpack or bag and are perfect for working at breakfast in a cafe or while traveling to work on public transport. The screen diagonal in such laptops varies from 10 to 12 inches, but most often you can find 11-inch solutions on sale.

Another significant advantage of netbooks is their autonomy, but the downside is not very good performance. The processor installed in netbooks is only enough for office applications and a browser, and even then the latter will not be able to “keep” many open tabs due to the small amount of RAM. But if the capabilities of a laptop are not important to you, and size plays a significant role, then finding something more attractive is almost impossible.

Ultrabooks

However, an alternative, if desired, is still possible to find. It can be, among other things, ultrabooks. This is a class of thin and light laptops with a good processor, high-quality screen, comfortable keyboard and minimal thickness. In some models of ultrabooks, the manufacturer also installs sufficiently high-performance video adapters, which, although they do not impress with graphics in games, but most modern projects are able to “pull out” at minimum and even medium quality settings. The main advantage of this class of laptops is their lightness and small size. The screen diagonal in ultrabooks is usually larger than that of netbooks of the order of 13-14 inches, but if you wish, you can easily find compact solutions.

transformers

Transformers are also a very interesting solution. According to reviews of laptops of this class, they are very convenient for those users who are looking for a universal solution for all occasions. Depending on the dimensions, hardware and transformation method, such models can look like regular laptops and tablets. In the latter case, this allows you to save on the purchase of a second device.

Budget devices

Still wondering which laptop to choose for occasional home use and low-demand tasks? Pay attention to the budget segment. You will definitely not see anything outstanding in such devices: cheap plastic and not very good assembly, a small amount of RAM and an average display, a slow drive and an inefficient processor. This option is suitable for users with very limited financial resources, as well as people looking for a good "typewriter" that will not be used too often.

Average price range

If you want to choose the right laptop for work, then you need the middle price segment. For a moderate cost, such devices will offer you good performance, a good matrix, nice body materials and quiet operation. In addition, office models usually have good autonomy, which is important for users who are rarely "at the outlet". They are also suitable if you have not yet decided which laptop to choose for studying at school or university.

Professional Models

Web designers, photographers, editors and people of other creative and not very professions need productive models with excellent screen quality. At the same time, when choosing hardware, all attention is mainly paid to processor power, because for most tasks the simplest video card or even an integrated graphics core will be enough. So for processing pictures you need a bright display with excellent color reproduction, and editing video and rendering models will require significant processor power and a large amount of RAM.

Gaming

Last in line, but not least, are game models. These are necessarily laptops with Intel processors and discrete cards from NVIDIA, because it is precisely such hardware that can provide the best gaming experience. At the same time, such devices must necessarily have a large IPS matrix with a diagonal of 15.6 inches or more, as well as a resolution of at least Full HD. The price of such laptops, of course, is high, but you can play the latest games at high graphics settings absolutely anywhere.

Main selection criteria

Before going to the store, you need to understand well how to choose a laptop according to your own parameters. If you have already decided on the device class, then you need to select the processor, video card, drive type, display diagonal and case materials. Most manufacturers today offer several modifications of their devices at once, so if the buyer can independently decide which chipset is better to choose for using a laptop and which options for graphics, RAM and built-in storage it is best to combine.

Housing and mount

Appearance and build quality is perhaps the first thing you need to pay attention to when buying a laptop. Even the most productive and autonomous models will not give you the desired pleasure from working if the device almost crumbles in the twisting test, and the display unit constantly wobbles when typing.

In most cases, such problems are observed in plastic cases, although in expensive laptop models this material can be of very high quality. But the best all-metal models, the strength and durability of which are at a very high level.

Special attention should be paid to the display hinges. They should be tight enough so that the screen can remain static even with slight movements of the laptop on the table, but at the same time provide the ability to easily open the device. Ideally, the situation should be the same as in Apple's ultrabooks: they can be easily opened with one hand, but after that the display unit is fixed motionless.

Choosing a diagonal and screen manufacturing technology

If you plan to work at a PC for a long time, then you definitely need a laptop with a good screen, since the poor quality of the matrix will quickly tire your eyes. The choice of screen diagonal depends mainly on your needs. If the laptop will be used as a desktop PC most of the time, then you can afford to take a device with a 17.3-inch diagonal. But for regular trips, even classic 15.6-inch models are not suitable, and it is better to stay on more compact options.

The two most popular mobile display technologies today are TN and IPS. Moreover, thanks to a significant reduction in the prices for the production of the latter, they regularly began to appear even in inexpensive laptops for simple work. The advantages of an IPS matrix are excellent color reproduction, perfect white color display, and good viewing angles. The disadvantages include only the high cost of devices on which this type of matrix is ​​\u200b\u200binstalled. TN panels are more common and have a low cost, but their main disadvantage is very poor viewing angles.

CPU

The central processing unit is the main component of any computer. Today, the buyer can choose between chips from AMD and Intel. The first attract attention with low cost. If you want to buy yourself an inexpensive laptop, then for the minimum price you can find exactly the solution based on AMD processors. Intel, in turn, has better performance and economy, but their price is slightly higher.

  • For budget laptops, manufacturers use Celeron and E series chips.
  • Office solutions are already equipped with Pentium and A4-A6, respectively, and
  • In the middle class of devices, Intel Core i3-i5 or A8 from AMD work.
  • The gaming segment is completely occupied by Intel products, because so far AMD has nothing to oppose to the high-performance mobile Intel Core i7 chips of the Skylake and Kaby Lake families.

For a more detailed picture, we will compare the advantages and disadvantages of Intel and AMD processors:

AMDIntel
Advantages Advantages
Affordable costFast work in applications
Good value for moneyLow power consumption
MultiplatformMore optimized

applications and games

Easy adjustment to the motherboardThe latest generation with the “K” index has good overclocking potential
Ability to overclock by 10-20%Excellent job

with RAM

Stable work
Durability
Flaws Flaws
Higher power consumptionWith the release of a new line of processors, the platform also changes.
Short service lifeHigh price
Cache memory 2 and 3 levels operate at a frequency lower than that of IntelRequires good cooling

Given the pros and cons of each of the manufacturers, it is preferable to choose, of course, Intel. If the laptop is not selected for complex tasks (working with office programs, watching videos and surfing the Internet) and the budget is not large, then AMD will be more than enough!

Graphic arts

The video adapter, as you know, is responsible for displaying the image on the screen and working with graphic applications. If you want to not only surf the Internet and watch movies, but also run advanced games, then you need a laptop with a good discrete graphics card. The same AMD releases them, and NVIDIA already competes in this field. Alas, but here the former lose to the latter in terms of performance. But in terms of cost, AMD is still the most attractive option.

Quite the opposite picture is observed in the integrated graphics market. Here, at a lower price, AMD outperforms Intel in terms of performance. Not in vain, the latter recently decided to conclude a deal in which AMD will install its graphics chips in processors from Intel.

The most popular video cards:

  • NVIDIA (GeForce GTX 960M, GeForce GTX 980 SLI, GeForce GTX 1060, Quadro M4000M)
  • AMD (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire, Radeon R9 M485X, FirePro W7170M)

If you are not going to run modern games, we advise you to pay attention to such options in terms of price-performance ratio: Radeon R7 M445, GeForce 920MX, GeForce GT 940MX!

RAM

Today, when choosing a laptop, you yourself can decide how much RAM you need, because the same model is offered in several configurations. For normal office work, you will need no more than 4-8 gigabytes of RAM, but more complex tasks, like editing or rendering, use significantly more RAM. As for its class, it is best to pay attention to DDR4, although models with LPDDR3 still do their job well.

Built-in memory

In addition to the volume, the user can also select the type of drive. Again, for maximum laptop speed, you should prefer an SSD drive over a hard drive. However, this option significantly raises the price of the device, so in the budget segment it can only be found in a small amount (32-64 GB). In this case, there will be no other options but to pay attention to the speed of rotation of the spindle. In laptops, it can be 5400 or 7200 rpm, and a higher figure will provide a higher read / write speed. As for expensive models (professional or gaming), you can buy them without an SSD only if you install a solid state drive yourself.

For fast and efficient work, it is preferable to buy a laptop with a 128 GB SSD drive, if you do not plan to store a lot of movies and photos on it, then this data storage is enough for you!

Autonomy of work

By and large, it depends on the class of the device. For example, with the same body size and battery capacity in budget and gaming models, the battery life between them can vary significantly. In inexpensive and office solutions, the average figure usually ranges from 5 to 8 hours, and gaming laptops can last from half an hour to three (depending on the load). Today, you can already find ultrabooks on the market, the energy-efficient platform of which allows you to work from the battery for a whole day.

Wireless interfaces

You will not get much variety in the choice of this parameter. If you are not interested in some too old laptop, then it definitely has Wi-Fi with support for all current formats (including ac), as well as Bluetooth version 4.0 and higher. The first module is required to connect to a wireless router and access the Internet, and thanks to the bluetooth module, you can easily transfer files between devices and connect all kinds of devices (mice, headphones, and even printers).

But what is not very common in laptops is 3G. With this module, you can access the network from absolutely anywhere where there is operator coverage, even if you cannot find available Wi-Fi networks there. Is it worth it to overpay for such an option? If you need it all the time, then yes. Otherwise, it will be much more profitable to buy a separate USB modem.

Connectors

The number of connectors in a laptop largely depends on the class of the device. For example, due to the size and features of the case in netbooks and ultrabooks, the set of ports can be minimal. In many of the latest models of compact devices from ASUS and Apple, there are several USB Type-Cs at all, and all other connectors can be obtained using special adapters. If you are buyers of a laptop with a full body size, then you need to pay special attention to the set of ports. The case must have full-fledged video inputs (at least HDMI and VGA), at least 3 USB Type-A, Ethernet, a card reader, and audio (preferably not combined). For gaming and professional laptop models, even more ports may be required (connecting peripherals, external drives, and so on).

Operating Systems

Most modern laptop models are equipped with operating systems of the Windows family, and approximately 85% of them boast the most current version 10. A small part of laptops is also offered with Linux OS, and if the user is forced to pay a slightly higher price for a pre-installed Windows than for a similar device without an installed system, then Linux is distributed completely free of charge, therefore it does not affect the cost in any way.

The third popular market player is OS X. This system is present only on Apple devices. The choice of a particular OS depends, again, on your goals. So for professional work with graphics, it is better to choose a laptop with an Apple system, because many useful applications are written only for it. Gamers should pay attention to Windows 10, which has become even more attractive to gamers with the release of the Creators Update.

Even the most expensive and powerful laptop won't last long if you don't take proper care of it. For uninterrupted and coordinated operation of the device, it is necessary to periodically perform a number of standard procedures:

  1. Cleaning. Dust gradually accumulates in the cooling system and on other components inside the case. Over time, dirt, debris, and even food remains also appear under the buttons on the keyboard. All this negatively affects the operation of the laptop, causing sticky keys, overheating, freezes and other problems. Timely cleaning will help avoid these problems, and ensure a long life for your device.
  2. Thermal paste replacement. Another procedure that you need to follow to prevent overheating, spontaneous shutdown, and even failure of your PC components. Depending on the frequency of use, the replacement of thermal paste in a laptop should be carried out on average every 2-3 years. At the same time, it must be applied in a very thin layer, because your “generosity” in this case will not eliminate overheating, but will aggravate it.
  3. Removing garbage from the OS. Reinstalling the OS in many ways speeds up the operation of devices, do it once a year or use garbage cleaning programs, for example: Clean master.

Useful Features

Absolutely any modern laptop model for home use or professional work has a number of additional keys that can be used for the following tasks:

  • adjust sound and screen brightness
  • opening a browser and/or email client
  • player control and so on

But you won’t surprise anyone with such features of mobile computers, and therefore manufacturers often offer customers other interesting and useful functions. For example, gaming laptops often have a series of macro recording keys that are very useful in games, and Apple has added a Touch Bar to older models of its new MacBooks instead of the usual function keys. Some laptops are equipped with small subwoofers to improve sound quality, others are equipped with a mechanical keyboard, and others are able to track users' eye movements.

Of course, many of these add-ons will not be needed by the average user, but others, on the contrary, can become extremely useful. So gamers, in addition to the macro recording already mentioned above, will like laptops with two HDMIs and older 10-series cards from NVIDIA. An ordinary user will not understand the expediency of such a set of ports, but a gamer will immediately note for himself a completely ready-made configuration for VR.

Conclusion

Thanks to a wide variety of models, choosing a laptop for home, work or study in 2017 is now possible without any difficulty. The main thing is to initially set a clear goal for the purchase and designate an approximate budget that you can spend on a computer. Then you need to pay attention to the laptop parameters that are important to you by filtering the models available on the market by them.

Modern trends in life dictate new rules, and now the best assistant for most of us is a laptop. Therefore, it is very important to choose for yourself a really high-quality and suitable device for all requirements.

In this article, we will try to give practical recommendations on how to choose a worthy portable friend. The main characteristics of laptops will not be ignored, since it is almost impossible to choose the right laptop without taking into account the parameters.

For convenience and quick transition, a summary is given:

Notebook manufacturer

Such a characteristic as a laptop manufacturer is not prevailing when choosing. This follows from the fact that almost all laptop manufacturers do not have any distinctive characteristics regarding the hardware, as they use identical products from well-known manufacturers of video cards, processors, hard drives and other components. The only thing left for the manufacturer is the organization of a good cooling system, high-quality assembly, the proper appearance of the device and a very small list of other trifles. Therefore, you can safely choose from all well-known manufacturers: Apple, Sony, Lenovo, Asus, HP, Acer, Samsung, DELL, etc. Regarding Apple and Sony, this is a rather controversial issue, since they like to increase the cost “for the brand”, but the quality is also appropriate. A well-known and reliable grant is Asus, and with very affordable prices for products for the mass consumer.


I recommend that before choosing a particular model, read the reviews and user reviews, so as not to run into an unsuccessful model in terms of cooling or build quality. Unsuccessful models and even lines slip through all manufacturers without exception.

Choosing a laptop in 2013. Hardware specifications

When choosing a laptop, hardware specifications are the most significant and difficult factor. First of all, it is necessary to discard all aesthetic tastes and focus on the insides of the device in order to weed out all non-suitable models.

Before evaluating the hardware characteristics of a device, you need to give a clear answer to the question: what do you need a laptop for. That is, give it an assessment in terms of positioning. You can arrange a gradation of laptops according to many parameters, but conditionally it is better to single out a few basic ones in terms of performance:

  • entry level performance. They are positioned for working with text, watching videos, simple games and other similar types of tasks. Their main advantage is their low price;
  • Average level of performance. Such laptops can already perform more resource-intensive tasks, in addition to the tasks described above, you can add the ability to play most games at medium settings, the ability to work comfortably in some graphics packages, which, as a result, makes it more suitable for replacing a home PC. Their price is slightly higher than entry-level laptops, but there are much more features;
  • High level of performance. This includes expensive laptops that can show fairly high performance in demanding games and programs. Such laptops can become an almost complete replacement for a home PC, but of course with a number of drawbacks.

So, we have completed the conditional gradation. Here it is important to understand the fact that entry-level performance laptops will be a very acceptable option for some, and even mid-range laptops will not be enough for some. Therefore, we go directly to the hardware characteristics so that everyone can model the necessary device for themselves.

Choosing a processor for a laptop

Choosing the right processor is the key to success. We will not go too much into the wilds of specific models, but will briefly talk about the main series.


It is worth noting that the processor in any system is responsible for computing performance, that is, to a greater extent for the work of programs aimed at this. For example, with a more powerful processor, unpacking files, converting videos, any types of encoding will be much faster, the work of almost all types of programs (data processing time in them) depends on the processor. Now regarding specific lines from leading manufacturers AMD and Intel:

  • If you need a laptop for undemanding tasks, then you should choose among the Intel lines - Celeron, Pentium or, at worst, Atom processors. In some cases, you can pay attention to the Intel Core i3 of those that are less productive and cheaper in price. If the processor is from AMD, then here we are looking at the Trinity A4, AMD E, AMD C series. Both Intel and AMD products look good in this class.
  • When it comes to the middle class of laptops, here we see Intel processors: again, Intel Core i3 and some of the not very productive Intel Core i5, which are affordable. From AMD: Trinty A6, A8 and in some cases A10. Phenom is not recommended.
    In this class, it is recommended to take a closer look at AMD Trinity processors, especially in conjunction with an AMD video card. These laptops at an affordable price will give the best performance in this class. So if you want a cheap gaming laptop, AMD Trinity is for you. But do not build illusions about these processors: they will show the best gaming performance for their price, but not sky-high and are only suitable for medium games.
  • Gradually, we got to the class of high-performance laptops, here we will demand the best from Intel and AMD. Unfortunately, AMD has almost nothing to oppose to its competitor in this class (the maximum is A10, and even then it will not be entirely correct here). From the Intel series, these are the top-end Intel Core i5 and i7. A powerful gaming laptop on these processors is a rather ambiguous thing. Often, it is better to complete the desktop and buy a mediocre laptop. It won't cost much more, but you'll get both crazy desktop gaming performance and good laptop portability.

But if you are serious about buying a gaming laptop and expect decent performance from it, then look at models from $1200. At the same time, everything must be balanced, and most importantly here– powerful discrete graphics card.

Video card for laptop - integrated or discrete?

To choose a video card for a laptop, you again need to build on the positioning classes. If the tasks set for a laptop are not high in relation to gaming performance: simple games, watching movies and listening to music, as well as working in simple programs (text editors, etc.), then an integrated (built into the processor) video card will be enough for you . Therefore, for the budget and middle class, laptops based on AMD Trinity are very good. AMD Trinity processors have the most powerful integrated graphics, it is in terms of integrated graphics that they have no equal. As a result, in the price range up to $600-700, it is better to give preference to the integrated graphics of these processors, but, again, if the tasks are mainly computing rather than gaming, then integrated graphics from Intel will be acceptable in some variations.


Rising to a slightly more expensive middle segment of $700-1200, we can already talk about discrete video cards. Here, in terms of graphics, a bunch of AMD A10 + Radeon HD 7670 video card will look good and affordable. In this case, the work of both the integrated video card and the discrete one will be implemented in a joint mode using Dual Graphics. This bundle will be good for graphic loads (games, high quality movies, etc.). If you need more computing performance, then some discrete Nvidia video card with CUDA, paired with an Intel processor, will look better here.

Moving into the segment of high-performance laptops from $ 1200 and far up, we completely forget about integrated graphics - it does not belong here. Of the high-performance laptops, Dell Alienware can be noted, but there is too much pathos, for which they want to tear off a very large sum. But the performance is impressive: two HD7990M video cards in Cross Fire mode.

There are also less pretentious, cheaper models. It is desirable that they have a video card installed somewhere GTX650M and higher in performance, otherwise it will not even be possible to parody a comfortable game and work in graphics-demanding applications.

Other hardware specifications

The rest of the hardware characteristics of the laptop include the amount of RAM and the amount of hard drive.« There is no such thing as too much RAM» - it follows from this that it is worth choosing models with a large amount of RAM on board. But if you arrange the gradation by class, then the following dependence can be distinguished:

  • For entry-level laptops, 2-4 GB will suffice;
  • For mid-range laptops, 6 GB of RAM will be quite optimal (if there are no specific tasks present);
  • For high performance laptops, 6-8 GB or more is required.

If we talk about the size of the hard drive, then everything is purely individual. For one, 250 GB will be enough, and for the other, 750 GB will not be enough. But, as the golden mean, you can call the volume of 500 GB.

Display selection

When choosing a display, you should, again, start from the positioning of the laptop. When it comes to the diagonal, the golden mean is exactly 15.6 inches, such laptops can boast both the convenience of working in stationary conditions and good portability. If the bias goes to portability, then you should look at models 10-13 inches. If you plan to buy a desktop laptop (desktop laptop for home), then you can raise the bar to 17 or 19 inches.


Resolution is important here. It would seem that the higher the resolution, the better. But not everything is clear here, especially in the case of laptops with weak hardware. If an entry-level laptop (in terms of hardware specifications) runs with a display resolution of 1920x1080, then its graphics subsystem (which is most likely integrated graphics) will simply die, even when watching movies in high quality. So balance is very important here. If this is an entry-level laptop, then with a diagonal of 15.6 inches, a resolution of 1366x768 pixels would be the best option.

For mid-range laptops, you can aim at 1600x900, but 1366x768 is also a good option, in this case the hardware will reveal itself even more effectively.

For a class of high-performance gaming and home laptops, it is reasonable to select a resolution of 1600x900 and higher, that is, you can aim at Full HD - 1920x1080, since the iron allows you to "pull" it.

Displays with IPS matrices have the best image quality, so it is preferable to select laptops with such displays. But if in budget options you come across other types of matrices, you should not “twist your nose”. Now any of the matrices have a fairly good image quality.

Extra options

Additional factors include the weight and dimensions of the device. This is worth paying close attention to when choosing a laptop. For some, the battery life of the device will be the most important parameter. This characteristic is best evaluated by reviews and reviews of various laptop models, since developers do not always provide objective information regarding this parameter.

There should also be a standard set of interfaces for communicating with the outside world - Wi-Fi, USB, 3G, a sufficient number of USB ports, for some quite specific interfaces will come in handy, such as Thunderbolt, used mainly in Apple laptops. Here, too, everything is purely individual, and you need to determine, according to the characteristics, what you need and what you don’t.


conclusions

It remains to summarize all of the above. Of course, all the parameters and nuances of choosing a laptop could not be described. The most important thing is to clearly define the tasks of the future laptop for yourself, soberly assess your budget for the purchase and the capabilities of laptops in this price range. These factors are the key to a successful purchase.

Good luck with your laptop choice! If you have any questions about your choice, you can leave them in the comments.

It is rather problematic to imagine modern life without mobile and stationary gadgets. Someone uses them for work, youth and schoolchildren - mainly for games and communication. One of the most popular devices are laptops. We will consider the rating and main characteristics of the best of them below. Let's start the review with samples designed for work, which are compact, easy to transport and high performance.

Asus device (Zen book UX-305LA)

This brand offers laptops, the rating of which is one of the highest in its field. This model is optimally suited to solving any everyday issues at work. The unit is characterized by high performance, has a thin body (only one and a half centimeters). Its mass is 1300 grams.

The elegant case of the computer is made of aluminum, has an attractive and original appearance. There are several configurations with Intel Core I3/15/I7 processors to choose from. The modification is equipped with a dual-core chip, the bandwidth of which is 244 Hz. Fast operation and informativeness of the device are provided thanks to 4 MB memory (cache) and compatibility with Windows-10. The screen diagonal is more than thirteen inches, and the drive has a capacity of 512 GB. It is also possible to connect an additional installation with a capacity of up to 8 GB.

Laptop for work Acer Spin 7

This model meets all the requirements for the modern needs of a business person. The device differs in especially compact dimensions (case thickness makes only 1.1 cm, and weight - 1.2 kg).

Among other characteristics, the following parameters can be noted:

  • fourteen-inch touch screen;
  • the presence of a protective glass on the display;
  • high body strength;
  • swivel design allows you to transform a laptop for work into a tablet compatible with Windows 10;
  • Processor "Intel Corr. M";
  • battery life without recharging is at least eight hours.

The gadget has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of file storage. Specialists have equipped the unit with high bandwidth and a wide range of coverage when connected wirelessly via Wi-Fi.

Lenovo (Lenovo V310)

These laptops, whose rating is one of the highest in the domestic market, are distinguished by an affordable price. Computers are not as light as previous samples, but they are quite mobile and productive. The thickness of the body of the apparatus is 2.2 centimeters with a mass of 1.8 kg.

The keyboard, made of high-strength material, will last a very long time. It is possible to activate the fingerprint scanner as an additional protection against unauthorized persons. Inside is a dual-core Intel Core i5-6200U processor with 4 GB of its own memory. In addition, there is a pair of drives with a capacity of 1 TB (HDD) and 128 GB (SSD). Particular attention should be paid to the continuous operation of the battery, which is twelve hours. This allows you to fully use the computer all day without worrying about charging the device.

Model MSI PX60 6QD

The description of the laptop of this model should begin with the exterior. It is a stylish metal case, equipped with original white backlit keyboard. This solution allows you to work even when the general lighting of the office is turned off. The display is 15.6 inches with FHD resolution.

The efficiency of the mobile computer is provided by the processor of the sixth class Intel Core i7 6700HQ. "RAM" has a capacity of 8 GB with the ability to expand to an indicator of 32 units. The drives represent two elements: a 2 TB HDD and a 256 GB SSD. The device can be used as a game console, thanks to the built-in NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M graphics card with a video memory capacity of 2 GB GDDR5.

In addition, these laptops (the rating represents them in the leading positions) are complemented by surround sound and a built-in speaker system, as well as support for the interaction with a TV panel. In fact, this is not only a device for work and play, but also for watching TV shows, as well as movies in high quality.

Sample HP ENVY-13-D101ur

Below are the main parameters of this gadget:

  • thickness - 13 millimeters;
  • weight - 1.5 kilograms;
  • processor - Intel category i7-6500U (two cores, base group - 2.5 GHz, 4 MB cache);
  • operational capacity -8 GB;
  • file filler - 512 GB;
  • screen size in inches - 13.3;
  • matrix resolution - 1920 * 1080.

Thanks to these characteristics, the device is easily transported and performs maximum tasks.

Most Popular Gaming Laptops


Modification of DELL INSPIRON 7559

The following is a description of the laptop, which is one of the top three among gaming counterparts. Weighing 2.7 kilograms, it is equipped with a 4-core processor and 16 gigabytes of RAM. Its features include the ability to access an interactive network at speeds up to 1000 Mbps, as well as a powerful internal network card, a liquid crystal display with a resolution of 2160 by 3840 pixels.

The device is ergonomic, equipped with a filling that provides optimal quality at high settings. The device has 4 GB of native memory and options for installing drives from 128 GB to 1 TB.

In conclusion

The most popular laptop brands in the domestic market are Asus and Lenovo. This is due to the good characteristics of computers, affordable price and original design.

The modifications discussed above are also in demand. It is worth noting that the gaming model must have a voluminous video card, responsiveness to various actions, and reliable protection against overheating. This is due to the fact that modern video games load the device to the maximum. Which is the best laptop in this area is difficult to determine. However, the most popular models are those whose parameters were described in the article.

To date, the number of different laptop models has reached a huge number and it is not surprising to get confused in choosing a portable PC. In today's article, we will tell you 7 simple tips for choosing a laptop. Focusing on them, you can more accurately determine what exactly you need from a laptop.

Most people, when choosing a laptop, proceed from the price-quality ratio. There are, of course, those who care about the appearance, not the content, or vice versa, some buy the most sophisticated model, although the only task of this laptop will be to open a browser or an office application. That's from the tasks for which the laptop will be intended and should be taken into account when choosing. And the tasks can be very different: from watching movies to working with 3D objects.

So, here are some tips for choosing a laptop:

Tip #1. First, decide what screen size you need to work with. On the market there are models with a diagonal of 10 to 18 inches. Devices with a screen of 10-12 inches belong to the class of netbooks. Basically, they are designed to work on the network and with documents. The performance of netbooks is usually lower than that of full-fledged laptops, but they have a long battery life. Some netbooks can work up to 15 hours without recharging. Also, the pluses include compactness and small size. Netbooks are suitable for those who constantly move around for work, often go on business trips and just people who want to be mobile anytime and anywhere.

The next category is laptops with a screen size of 13 - 14 inches. Such models are also very popular. They are almost as compact as netbooks, but have better performance. Screen sizes allow you to comfortably surf the net, watch movies and work with documents.

Classic laptops have a screen diagonal of 15 inches. Such a laptop is quite comparable in performance to a regular PC, and the user is not tied to a power outlet. Battery life can reach 5 hours or more when using a reinforced battery, or 2 to 3 hours when using a standard battery.

Laptops with a screen larger than 17 inches are purchased as a replacement for a desktop computer. They are heavy and battery life is no longer than 1-1.5 hours. A big plus of such a laptop is a large screen that allows you to comfortably work with any applications: office, graphics, games. Usually, such models are equipped with productive hardware: a fast processor, a lot of memory, a powerful video card, and a capacious hard drive.

Tip #2. The main part of any computer is the processor. And if RAM is called the brains, then the processor can probably be called the heart of the laptop. When choosing a laptop, pay attention not only to the frequency of the processor, but also to the cache values. Cache is a fast memory used to exchange data between the CPU and RAM. We will not go into technical details (look on the Internet if you are interested), remember only that the larger the cache, the better. Now about the number of cores. Here it is impossible to safely say that the more, the better. Not all applications can work with a large number of cores, so do not chase the latest. And, again, choose based on tasks. For office work, a laptop with a single-core processor is also suitable. To work with graphics, video, 3D models, two or more cores may be required. The latest Intel Core i3, i5, i7 processors are mostly dual-core, but there are "pebbles" that have four cores.

Tip #3. The amount of RAM greatly affects the performance of a laptop, since all applications are partially or completely loaded into this same memory. To date, two DDR2 memory standards and the faster DDR3 are common. Most laptops are equipped with 2 GB of memory or more. It's almost standard now. Since the same modern Windows 7 "eats" a considerable part of the "RAM". Remember, if you buy a laptop with 4 GB of RAM and are going to put Windows XP 32 bit on it, then the system will see only 3+ gigabytes. Therefore, either leave the "seven" or install the 64-bit version of Windows XP.

Tip #4. HDD. Everything is simple here - the more the better. A large hard drive will allow you to store a huge amount of information, collections of movies, music, photos and more. The only thing worth paying attention to is the HDD spindle speed. As a rule, laptops are equipped with drives with a rotation speed of 5400 rpm. There are faster ones, with a frequency of 7200 rpm. The higher the rotation speed, the faster you will access information. There are also laptops with solid state drives (SSDs). There are no disks at all. An SSD drive is such a large and expensive flash drive. So far, such drives have not received wide distribution in our country.

Tip #5. The video card in a laptop can be built-in or discrete. The built-in video memory uses part of the RAM for its work. This type of memory is suitable for office applications, watching videos, etc. If you plan to run “heavy” applications and modern games on a laptop, then we recommend choosing a laptop with a discrete video adapter.

Tip #6. When choosing a laptop, pay attention to what operating system is installed on it. If the description contains the inscription DOS, then this means that no “OS” is installed at all. This will allow you to install the system yourself. Basically, the latest version of the OS from Microsoft, Windows 7, is installed on laptops. Linux OS (Ubuntu, Mandriva, etc.) can be installed on netbooks and some laptops. Therefore, before buying, check this issue with sales consultants.

Tip #7. And the last tip for choosing a laptop: pay attention to ports, connectors and other interfaces. For full communication over the network, you may need a built-in camera and microphone. Wi-Fi module, network port, as a rule, are present in all modern laptops. The number of USB ports matters. If there are few of them, then there may be problems connecting external devices. In addition, one of them is usually used to connect a mouse. More expensive models come with one or two fast USB 3.0 ports. A plus will be the presence of HDMI, DisplayPort ports, which are used to connect to plasma panels and LCD TVs. VGA output is available on all laptops. Some laptop models are equipped with a card reader and a fingerprint scanner.

We hope that these tips will help you in choosing a laptop that will last for many years. And if you have any problems or need laptop repair, then contact our service center.

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