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Rating of the best budget laptops. How to choose a laptop: a detailed step-by-step guide with photos

It's pretty hard 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 acceptable 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 is made of high-strength material and will last a very long time. 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). Special attention you should pay attention 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.

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 interesting video below:

Tips for dummies on choosing a good laptop

Screen

This is one of the most important characteristics 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. To ensure that your laptop allows 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 don’t need a super powerful gaming laptop, but you just want to take a model that can do the most simple and 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 this 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!

On the given 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

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 advice about 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. With regard to Apple and Sony - quite 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 operation 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 Intel processors fall under our gaze: 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.

You can get confused looking at the many models presented. The cost is not a determining factor - it is possible to choose the right device, taking into account any budget. Therefore, you need to decide on your preferences. Without sufficient experience, it is difficult to understand what qualities and functions should be paid attention to in the first place. Let's see what you need to consider in order for the purchase to be as useful and effective as possible.

Frame

The appearance of a laptop is its calling card. A beautiful model may be less technologically advanced, but it looks impressive in any setting and pleases the eye of the owner. However, design is usually given far less attention than performance, for good reason. The customer wants to get the most out of minimum investment. Therefore, often available models are made of plastic, have an impressive weight and a modest finish. Glossy cases look more effective than utilitarian shells with a matte finish. However, the delicate finish is easily scratched and loses its gloss. In addition, fingerprints easily appear on the surface from the touch of fingers. This is a problem not only of gloss, but also of the metal finish of laptops in a class above.

Models in higher price categories usually flaunt unibody cases. This is a monolithic and non-separable design, which deprives the user of any chance to upgrade or repair on their own. The case of such laptops most often consists of aluminum or alloy.

For example, Lenovo is actively developing a line of carbon fiber laptops. It is a very durable yet lightweight material. There are other options: Acer uses Gorilla Glass 3 on some of its models. The option is beautiful, but you should be very careful with it. Although a fall on the pavement will end sadly for any laptop, regardless of the finish material.

In recent years, the class has been actively developing. These are models that can easily turn from a tablet to a laptop or take some intermediate state. The advantage of this model is that it also has a flexible mechanism that will help you choose a comfortable position for the laptop, depending on the current task. Similar devices can now be found in most manufacturers:, or they will offer enough options. Prices for such devices are comparable to conventional models without a swivel screen mechanism.

The convenience of a keyboard often depends not on a specific manufacturer, but on the model chosen. Given the variety of devices on the market, the user can determine the type that is comfortable for him. The length of the stroke of the buttons, their response varies.

Having decided on the size, you need to look at the display resolution. The higher the pixel density, the clearer and better the picture will be. If we are talking about, in this case, a Full HD screen will be enough (that is, a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels). But even a similar aspect ratio will also look very decent.

The vast majority of entry-level models now come with HD screens. The resolution may vary depending on the aspect ratio, but most often it will be a picture of 1366 × 768 pixels. In an inexpensive device, this is normal. When a similar screen is in a multimedia laptop, it is better to look towards other models.

Now there are mostly models where the aspect ratio of the screen is 16:9 or 16:10. The first option will be convenient if the laptop is often used to watch movies. In this case, the video on the display is played without black bars at the top and bottom.

Another very important aspect is the type of matrix used. Screens are and. The first are good because they glare less. They are considered more convenient for professional use. However, glossy matrices of the latest generations, thanks to effective anti-reflective coatings, began to behave much better than older displays of this type. With their help, you can get a more spectacular picture, while not losing quality.

Sound

Usually the quality of a sound system directly depends on the size of the device and its price. From a thin ultrabook, you should not expect powerful bass and a wide stage; it is not intended for the role of a home media center. But a larger 15- or 17-inch model can offer a more advanced system. Typically, such gadgets are developed in collaboration with a well-known manufacturer: JBL, Beats, Harman / Kardon, Bang & Olufsen and others. To create a comfortable acoustic environment, a number of models are equipped with built-in or external subwoofers.

Battery

A lot of third-party parameters affect the operating time of a laptop. Even a balanced system with a capacious battery will not be able to work for a long time in game mode. Do not demand the impossible from the device. Increased heat transfer and high screen brightness can quickly discharge an 8-cell battery, not to mention a 4-cell battery.

It is worth considering that when buying a Unibody model, the possibility of further battery replacement in the future automatically disappears.

A number of devices have replaceable high-capacity power supplies that significantly increase the operating time of the laptop. Now Apple is considered the champion in terms of work time, which are able to stay away from the outlet for about 12-14 hours.

Operating system

Currently, most of the new models on sale are running. If necessary, this system can be upgraded to a more recent version free of charge. For the corporate market, they still release devices with Windows 7 inside, but their number is very small. However, not only Microsoft develops its own versions of operating systems for customers.

Laptops were invented so that computers can be used mobile, that is, it is as simple and easy as possible to move them in space. The mobility of any device imposes restrictions on its size and weight. The limitation in size forces laptops to be made with a much higher density of elements than conventional computers.

It is the high density of the layout that creates the main difficulty in the manufacture of laptops. The fact is that all the elements used in modern computers emit heat during operation. At the same time, the stability of the operation of all components directly depends on the temperature regime - the stronger the element is heated, the less stable it works and the shorter its life.

In addition to heating, each element creates electromagnetic radiation, which also negatively affect the stability of the neighboring elements. And the denser the arrangement of computer elements, the higher their mutual negative influence. Everything is aggravated by the fact that the current level of production of computer elements does not allow the production of products with exactly the same heat release and thermal stability. For example, central processing units, even within the same production batch, have different heat dissipation rates.

Therefore, laptop manufacturers have to solve very difficult problems. It is necessary not only to properly design a laptop, but also carefully select microcircuits for their heat dissipation and ability to work stably in high temperature conditions. Therefore, the production of laptops is not only more expensive than conventional computers, but is only available to a limited number of manufacturers. Of course, we are talking about good laptops.

Not everyone who sells laptops makes them themselves. For example, HP orders its laptops from OEM manufacturers. In order to buy a good laptop, you need to know two things:

  1. Not all laptop vendors make them themselves.
  2. Not everyone who makes laptops makes good laptops.

The ideal option is to buy a laptop from a seller (the company under whose label the laptop is sold), who makes them himself. Or from a retailer who orders laptops from a good OEM manufacturer.

Notebook Specifications

Since a laptop is a mobile computer, its most important characteristics are as follows:

  1. Dimensions (size) - width, length, thickness (height). Smaller sizes make it easier to carry a laptop, for example, mini laptops with a screen of 11.6 - 12 inches can be carried in an ordinary women's or men's bag. A large laptop will have to be carried in a separate, special bag.
  2. Weight. The lighter the laptop, the easier it is to carry.
  3. Autonomy. This is the time that the laptop can operate on battery power without being connected to the mains. If the laptop can withstand 4, 5 or even 6 hours without recharging, this greatly simplifies its use outside the home or office.

Thus, the defining parameters of a laptop are the size, weight and battery capacity. All other characteristics, in the general case, can be neglected.

However, in order to buy the best laptop, you need to start from the usage model of this laptop. If you plan to use a laptop for intensive work with documents, for example, you are an accountant, then in addition to the three main parameters, you also need to consider the screen size. Since the size of the point of the image depends on the physical size of the screen. The smaller the screen size, the smaller the dot size.

What does small screen dot mean?

All elements of the image on the monitor screen will be very small. And if you need to work a lot with documents, then on a laptop with a small screen it will be harder on the eyes than on a laptop with a large screen.

Example. The Lenovo S205 laptop has a screen size of 11.6" (11.6 inches - the physical diagonal of the screen). And the Sony VPCEK2S1R laptop has a screen size of 15.5 inches. That is almost 4 inches (10 cm) more. However, they have the same screen resolution - 1366 x 768 They have the same amount of information on their screens, but the size of all elements (buttons, icons, letters) on the Sony VPCEK2S1R screen will be larger. 17 inches, at the same resolution, the image will be even larger, although more often on 17-inch screens a higher resolution is used, and the dot size is the same as on 15-inch screens.

And in the event that intensive work is expected on a laptop, then it may make sense to sacrifice a small size and in exchange for this get a more comfortable screen.

If you are going to type a lot on a laptop, then you need to carefully look at such an option as the keyboard. Today there are two types of laptop keyboards:

  • "Old", traditional - on it the keys are located close and between them there are gaps directly "inside" the laptop. There is a large rectangular cutout in the top panel of the laptop case, into which the entire keyboard is inserted.
  • "Island" in the last couple of years, increasingly appear on laptops. In the top panel of the laptop case, there are small cutouts for each key. In this case, the keys are located at intervals from each other.

"Island" keyboards are more convenient because it is more difficult to "miss", that is, to press the adjacent key along with the desired key. And such a keyboard lets less dust into the laptop. And yes, she looks prettier. In addition, it is more difficult to tear off the keys on an island keyboard, since their bottom edges are inside the case.

Notebook performance

Notebook performance (speed) depends on the following characteristics:

  • CPU frequency. The higher the frequency of the processor, the faster the laptop will work.
  • RAM size and frequency of RAM. The more RAM, the faster the laptop will run. However, increasing the size of RAM affects the speed non-linearly. The greatest tangible effect is the increase in memory size from 1 GB to 2 GB. But the increase from 2 GB to 4 GB already feels much weaker.
  • Disk read and write speed. It affects the speed of the laptop as much as the frequency of the processor. The hard drive, today, is the bottleneck in the computer. On mechanical hard drives, linear read speeds are slightly over 100 MB per second. And the write speed is much lower. In real, working conditions, the read and write speed is only tens of megabytes per second. Good SSD (electronic) drives have read and write speeds two to three times faster than mechanical ones.

However, you need to understand that high performance is reflected in the autonomy of the laptop. The more powerful the laptop, the less time it can run on battery power.

Inexpensive laptops

If there are strong financial constraints, then Acer and Lenovo laptops should be considered first. At the same time, it is better to buy a less stuffed Lenovo than an Acer with more "tasty" stuffing, if they have a close price. With equal filling, Lenovo will cost more than Acer.

Myths related to laptops

Gaming laptop

Often sellers in stores offer to buy a "gaming laptop". In fact, there are no gaming laptops. There are powerful laptops on which many games are called "do not slow down". These are models with processors in 2 or 4 cores, with 4 or 8 gigabytes of RAM and a discrete ATI-AMD or nVidia graphics card.

You need to understand that a gaming computer is not so much the amount of RAM as its frequency. Not so much the number of cores as the frequency of those cores. 2 GB of RAM at 1.3 GHz and two cores at 3 GHz is better than 4 GB at 800 MHz and four cores at 2.4 GHz.

And for a gaming computer, a video card is very important, not by company, but by performance. Also important is the sound card. And the screen.

Due to design limitations of laptops, it is not possible to install memory, processor and graphics card that meet the real gaming requirements. So, if someone tells you - this is a "gaming laptop", then either he does not understand the issue or deceives you.

Powerful laptop is good

There are laptop models with a quad-core processor, an nVidia (or ATI) video card, and 8 gigabytes of RAM. This laptop runs Windows 7. It's certainly nice. However, you need to understand that the price for this is cruel:

  • Large weight - usually these laptops weigh more than 3 kilograms.
  • Large size - usually these laptops are larger than 17 inches in diagonal. It is over 40 centimeters long and about 30 centimeters wide.
  • Short battery life. If such a monster lasts three hours on the battery, it's still good. Forget about going anywhere with it without a charger.

Big laptops are bad

By large laptops, I mean not powerful laptops, and specifically large ones, that is, 17 inch laptops. With a 17 inch screen. Not all laptops of this format are powerful monsters. There are also sane models, with integrated graphics and economical cool processors. The autonomy of such a sane model can reach up to 4 hours. But the size and weight of course you can’t get anywhere, it remains. However, a laptop with a larger screen also has the advantage of a larger image. And if the same matrix is ​​used as on 15-inch screens, then there is more resolution and, accordingly, more information on the screen.

There are situations when a large screen is more important than size and weight. For example, if you need to work a lot with documents on a laptop. So a big laptop is not always a bad laptop.

Cooling laptop stand

When buying a laptop, sellers try to sell a bunch of other rubbish in addition to the load. To "improve" the performance of the laptop. One such useless gadget is a laptop cooler. Indeed, the laptop heats up and the heat generated by its components must be removed. But the stand will not help here.

The body of a laptop is usually plastic. The stands are also plastic. Plastic is a poor conductor of heat. In order for the temperature of the laptop to change through the stand, it must be made from something very cold. From ice for example. If you put the laptop on a piece of ice, it will cool even through the plastic case.

However, the very idea of ​​a laptop stand makes sense in some situations. If you put the laptop on some kind of soft surface - a thick tablecloth on the table, a blanket on the bed, in this case it is better to put something flat and hard under it. To ensure that the ventilation holes in the laptop case are not blocked by a cloth. But in such a situation, any solid, even object of a suitable size will do - a large book, a piece of plywood, a wooden cutting board from the kitchen, a piece of thick cardboard. There is no need to buy anything special.

Notebooks by manufacturers

Personally, I divide all laptop manufacturers into two categories - the big four and everyone else. The big four are Lenovo, Sony, Asus, Samsung - companies that sell great laptops. Each of them has its own advantages, for example, Sony is beautiful laptops, and Lenovo is the cheapest of the four. But in principle, you can buy any laptop from any of these four companies without going into details.

All the rest is a pretty big list. Some of these "everyone else" make very good laptops, like Toshiba, but from a pragmatic point of view, I personally see no reason to buy laptops from any label other than the top four.

I put Acer a little apart from "everyone else", there is a very serious argument in its favor - low price. But it makes sense to buy Acer only if the issue of price is primary and there is not enough money even for the cheapest laptop from the top four.

Laptops Lenovo (Lenovo)

Although Lenovo is a Chinese company, it makes good laptops. The fact is that in the early 2000s, Lenovo bought the production of laptops from IBM. Factories, laboratories, personnel. So you can think of Lenovo laptops as IBM laptops, and they were good laptops. Discreet, not pretentious, maybe even unprepossessing in appearance, but reliable and productive. And the Ideapad and Thinkpad trademarks have survived since the days of IBM.

Notebooks

A line of laptop models aimed primarily at home users and small businesses (SOHO sector). Price range from cheap to inexpensive. Almost all models in this line are priced under $1,000. Most models are priced under $700-800.

Thinkpad laptops

A line of laptop models focused primarily on the corporate market. More expensive and fancy than the Ideapad line. On models, these lines can be, for example, carbon fiber cases, fingerprint scanners, etc.

In general, a Lenovo laptop (Lenovo) is a very good choice. In terms of price, consumer characteristics and workmanship, probably no one else can argue with Lenovo. With equal filling, Lenovo will be cheaper than Sony or Asus. And although it is more expensive than Acer, but the quality of design and assembly is higher than that of Acer. In general, Lenovo is a laptop for those who are more important to "go" and not "checkered".

Laptops Sony (Sony)

Although Sony itself does not make laptops, it does not order them from just anyone - for Sony it makes laptops for example Samsung, and this is a high level of laptop production. So, buying a Sony laptop is an almost risk-free option.

Laptops Vaio (Vaio)

Sony Vaio laptop one of the best options in terms of workmanship and warranty period. And perhaps the best option in terms of appearance. Sony pays a lot of attention appearance devices it sells. Sony is not only about the workmanship, but also the visual and tactile pleasure of use. To the greatest extent, this applies to white laptops. In fact, today only Sony offers a large selection of laptops. white color.

Black laptops do everything, but as good as a black laptop is, having a white one in your hands is a slightly different experience. But the extra charge "for the name" in this case is the highest.

However, Sony has a budget line of Sony Vaio models - the E series. These are models with prefixes VPC-E (VPCE) and SVE. for instance VPCEH2E1R, VPCEG1S1R, SVE1512D1RW. These models have a cost in the region of 550 - 700 dollars with a 24 month warranty. The Sony Vaio E series is a very good option - high quality at an affordable price. However, with a caveat - it is better to look for white models. Black ones are not worse, you can just buy a black one from Lenovo, and it will either be a little cheaper or a little more stuffing for the same money.

Note 2015. Sony has sold its notebook business to another Japanese company. And while the release of new models is suspended. But Sony laptops are still on sale and Sony will fulfill all warranty and service obligations.

Notebooks Asus (Asus)

Asus is a company that makes its own laptops. Moreover, she makes them not only for herself, but also for other companies - it is also an OEM manufacturer. Asus laptop (Asus) is one of the best options in terms of workmanship and warranty period. Buying an Asus laptop means, with a probability close to 100%, the possibility of using it for years and years without knowing the hassle and without encountering any problems.

Asus laptops (Asus) are of high quality design, manufacturing, and perhaps the second, after Sony, extra charge "for the name." I believe that Asus is worth the money and I advise you to buy Asus laptops - it's safe. But I myself, for myself, maybe buy a Lenovo :)

Samsung laptops (Samsung)

Another manufacturer from the big four - Lenovo, Sony, Asus, Samsung - companies that sell great laptops. Samsung makes laptops not only for itself, but also for others - it is also an OEM manufacturer. The Samsung laptop (Samsung) is one of the best options in terms of workmanship and warranty period. You can buy a Samsung laptop just as safely as Asus Lenovo, Sony.

A Samsung laptop can also be attractive for the price - Samsung is averaged approximately between Lenovo and Asus.

Notebooks Acer (Acer, Eiser)

Acer is another company that makes its own laptops. She makes them not only for herself, but also for other companies - she is also an OEM manufacturer. And in general, she makes good laptops, but this is already the second tier. An Acer laptop is an option only if the primary selection criterion is price, if there are very strict conditions on the amount that can be spent on a laptop.

You can run into troubles like Windows Vista pre-installed on a model with 1 gigabyte of RAM - Sony and Asus put at least 2 gigabytes in this situation. This increases the price, but allows you to use a laptop. Acer saves on everything, often going too far. A node or part of a laptop that died after a couple of years can also happen to an Acer laptop.

But cheap. There are hardly any laptops cheaper than Acer at the sight of which you don’t want to cry.

Notebooks eMachines

A cheap computer label created in the USA in the late 90s. Gateway was bought out, then Gateway itself was bought by Acer. Today eMachines laptops are Acer laptops.

Packard Bell laptops

On the Russian website of the company, they write about 1926 as the year the company was founded, about the fact that the company was one of the first manufacturers of personal computers back in the 80s. But this is all marketing slyness. In fact, Packard Bell is a resold trade name several times. Initially, it belonged to the Americans, then the Israelis bought it, then the Japanese.

The marketing ploy with this name is that many people confuse it with such giants as Hewlett-Packard, Pacific Bell, Bell Lab. And they believe that they are buying equipment from one of these giant firms.

It is now owned by Acer. Accordingly, Packard Bell laptops are Acer laptops.

MSI Notebooks

In general, good laptops. But more expensive than Acer and no better than Lenovo - Samsung - Asus - Sony. I don't see the point in buying MSI. Unless you really like a particular model, and the big four do not have a similar model.

Notebooks Toshiba (Toshiba)

Toshiba (Toshiba) is one of the few companies that makes laptops itself and it makes good laptops. But there are two arguments against:

  • In Russia, there are few authorized Toshiba laptop repair centers (Toshiba) and this can greatly increase the cost of repairs, if any. And it will complicate the exchange or repair under warranty.
  • Price. With equal stuffing and workmanship, the price will be higher than, for example, Lenovo or Samsung.

The Toshiba laptop is an option only for the big fan of this firm.

Notebook HP (Newlett-Packard)

The corporation is very serious. Makes very good printers. Laptops are ordered from OEM manufacturers, but the choice of manufacturers is careless. Weird with construction and design. As a result, the quality is from very average to below average. The price is low, but in general the money is not worth it. If you need a cheap laptop, it is better to buy Acer - there is a higher chance of getting a normal copy. At least it will be a first-hand laptop, from the manufacturer, and not from an intermediary.

Not an option under any circumstances. No way as the Americans say.

Apple laptops (Apple)

There is such a marginal company specializing in the production of pontoon techno stuff. Image markup to the price, Apple is simply shameless :) while the consumer characteristics of Apple laptops are below average.

A laptop macbook Air or macbook Pro is an option for those who are "checkers, not to go" and "show-offs are more expensive than money" :). And I don’t care that you will have half as much as the owner of Lenovo or Samsung, for twice the price :). Moreover, your macbook with a high degree of probability can be manufactured by Samsung :)

Moreover, the owner of an Apple laptop also gets permanent "hemorrhoids" for his money. Any little thing, easily achievable with a regular laptop, can lead to hysterical dancing with tambourines in the case of an Apple macbook.

They are beautiful, I do not argue. However, a laptop is not needed in order to admire it - I think so. And from the point of view of use, any technique under the Apple label is a pitchfork to the side :)

Notebooks DNS

It is important to understand that DNS laptops are laptops sold under the DNS label. Because in general, laptops of all major manufacturers are sold on the DNS network.

It's even worse than HP. They also order from OEM manufacturers, but it seems that they are somewhere in the fourth or fifth echelon. A normal laptop in terms of workmanship is impossible at the prices at which they are sold in the DNS. A DNS laptop can be extremely tempting for the price, but the owner is very likely to run into problems with it.

How to extend the life of a laptop

It is important to understand that repairing a laptop is much more expensive than repairing a regular computer. Therefore, the more carefully you use a laptop, the longer it will serve you without repair and thus cost you less.

Laptop connectors

The standard set of connectors for a modern laptop includes:

HDMI- digital video and audio output. You can connect a TV or a large monitor through this connector. The connector is designed for frequent use and for connecting / disconnecting while the laptop is running. However, keep in mind that HDMI cables are usually very rigid and if the HDMI cable is not parallel to the connector, but at an angle, then it will "turn out" the connector. If this happens frequently, the HDMI connector will become loose and may have bad contact. Therefore, before plugging the HDMI cable into the laptop connector, position it so that it continues in line with the connector.

VGA- analog video output. You can connect a TV or an external monitor through this jack. This connector is not intended for frequent use and for connection while the laptop is running. As with the HDMI cable, the correct placement of the VGA cable relative to the connector is important. Angular mechanical loads on the connector must be avoided.

USB- through this connector can be connected a large number of external devices. From a mouse or keyboard to a TV tuner. The connector is designed for frequent use and for connecting / disconnecting while the laptop is running. Some devices are connected to the connector via a cable, and this cable can be quite rigid. So, as with the HDMI cable, it is important that the USB cable is properly positioned relative to the connector. In addition, you cannot connect multiple USB devices through an external USB hub that does not have its own power supply. The fact is that not only the signal is transmitted via USB, but also power for the USB device. And if you plug a hub into the USB connector, and plug several USB devices into the hub, this can lead to damage to the USB connector or even the entire controller due to overload in the power circuit. Of course, you can connect two or three flash drives through a hub. Or a mouse and flash drive. But it will be risky to connect an external HDD and, for example, a WiFi adapter at the same time.

RJ-45 (ethernet)- A network cable is connected through this connector. Connecting a cable to this connector is possible while the laptop is running. But the connector is not designed for frequent use. If you stick a cable into it every day, it won't last long.

Laptop case

Laptop cover (screen). The laptop screen is usually attached to the body with two hinges. These hinges have limited mechanical strength, so you need to open and close the screen carefully, without much effort. You need to open and close the laptop screen by the middle, and not by the corner. When you pull the screen around the corner, the load on the hinges is transferred unevenly - more on one hinge, less on the other.

Laptop case. On most laptops, the case is plastic, which means that it has little mechanical strength. If you do not want to damage your laptop, you need to avoid shock loads on the case. As well as bending loads - for example, putting a laptop on an uneven surface. Put something heavy on the laptop. You need to be careful about placing the laptop along with other items during transportation - so that neighboring items do not press on the laptop case and do not bend it.

Moisture protection. Notebook cases are not protected from moisture in any way (with the exception of special models). Therefore, you need to carefully ensure that liquid does not get inside the laptop. Moisture inside the laptop can lead to failure of the motherboard, and replacing it is expensive.

Laptop temperature. Notebook components operate in a harsh temperature regime. To extend their lifespan, you need to avoid overheating the laptop. The most common causes of overheating laptops:

  • The laptop lies on the bed (sofa) directly on the blanket (plaid, etc.). Under its own weight, the laptop sinks into a soft fabric and this fabric blocks the ventilation holes in the case.
  • Cooling in laptops is active - the fan draws air through the internal volume of the case. This causes dust to enter the case. Gradually, it deposits on all internal elements of the laptop. And this degrades heat transfer. Accordingly, the elements of the laptop begin to overheat.

If you need to place your laptop on a soft surface, put something flat and hard under it, such as a piece of thick cardboard.

Check the degree of dust from time to time inner space corps.

Laptop disks

laptop hard drive. This is the most vulnerable component. This is due to the fact that the disk is a rotating mechanical device with a very high density of the rotating and stationary parts of the disk. Even not very strong vibration of the laptop case or shaking it, hitting the case can lead to mechanical failure of the disk. Do not place a working laptop on a highly vibrating surface. Do not place a working laptop on a shaking surface (for example, in a moving vehicle). A working laptop should not be abruptly moved, pushed, shaken, or turned over.

However, instead of a mechanical drive, you can install an electronic SSD drive. It has no mechanical moving parts and therefore cannot be damaged as easily as a mechanical one.

Summary

The main parameters of laptops

The characteristics of laptops that most affect the consumer quality of laptops:

  • Notebook manufacturer. The best laptops are sold by Lenovo, Sony, Asus, Samsung and Toshiba. But if you want to buy a Toshiba laptop, please make sure that there is an authorized Toshiba service center in your city before buying.
  • Notebook dimensions. The right laptop should fit in a regular men's or women's bag. That is, to have a size slightly larger than a regular hardcover book.
  • Notebook weight. A proper laptop should weigh less than two kilograms.
  • Laptop autonomy (battery life). A good laptop should have at least four hours of battery life.

Secondary parameters of laptops

Notebook characteristics improve the consumer quality of notebooks:

  • Laptop connectors. A proper laptop should have at least USB and HDMI ports. The presence of HDMI will allow you to connect a TV through a laptop using a laptop as a media player. You can also connect a large external monitor via HDMI.
  • Physical screen size (diagonal in inches). The smaller the screen size, the smaller the laptop, but also the smaller the image on the screen.
  • Laptop screen resolution(in dots horizontally and vertically). A good laptop should have a resolution of at least 1366 x 768 dots (pixels).
  • SSD drive. An electronic disk instead of a mechanical one greatly improves the consumer quality of a laptop. Firstly, such a laptop can be safely used in a moving vehicle and carried around the room without turning it off. Secondly, SSD drives have a higher read and write speed, and this is reflected in the speed of the laptop. Thirdly, SSD drives have less power consumption, which means that the laptop will last longer on battery power.
  • RAM. A good laptop should have at least 2 gigabytes of RAM. This is due to the fact that modern Windows operating systems (Vista, 7, 8) "devour" hundreds of megabytes of RAM for their own needs. And many application programs are no less voracious, such as browsers Google Chrome, Mozilla FireFox, can take up more than a hundred megabytes of RAM. In general, the more RAM, the faster the laptop.
  • UEFI Secure Boot. If the laptop is sold with Windows 8 preinstalled, be sure to find out if it is possible to disable the UEFI Secure Boot option. If this option is not disabled, then there will be problems installing other operating systems on the laptop.

Which laptop to choose

Choosing a laptop is not easy. The main thing is to clearly understand what you need from a laptop. How will you use it. Determine your priorities - which laptop features are important to you and which are not. Therefore, it is necessary to raise the question not in the abstract - which laptop is better? Specifically, which laptop is best for me?

If you are an accountant and do not often need to use a laptop outside the home or office, then you can buy a 17 inch laptop. It will have a large size and weight, but a large screen and keyboard. It will not be difficult to work on it for a long time.

If you are on the road every day and you need to use a laptop during the day, in different places and in different conditions, then the main selection criteria are size, weight and autonomy.

If you plan to install Windows XP on your new laptop, then before buying, find out if there are drivers for this model under Windows XP. The fact is that now hardware manufacturers have already stopped writing drivers for Windows XP. In particular, Intel stopped making Windows XP drivers for its latest GMA 3600 integrated graphics controller.

If you plan to install a Linux operating system on your new laptop, then, before buying, find out if there are any "contraindications" for this laptop model. Not all laptops are compatible with Linux.

It will be very difficult if you plan to install the Mac OS operating system on your new laptop. In this case, you will have to choose the model very carefully.

If you are buying a laptop for a student, then it might be better to buy a laptop cheap. Children are not very careful with technology, and if your child "kills" a laptop, it will not cost you so much. If a kid kills a $400 Acer it won't be as bad as an $800 Sony.

In general, buying a cheap laptop is not a bad idea. You just need to understand some marginal possible prices regarding the consumer parameters of the laptop. And if the price is below this limit, then the laptop has poor workmanship. For example, for an 11-12 inch laptop, the price of $ 400 means at least very decent workmanship. And the same price for a 15 or 17 inch laptop means the workmanship is below average or even bad.

The least risky option is to buy a laptop from one of the four companies - Asus, Lenovo, Sony, Samsung. If you buy a laptop from any of these companies, there is a very high chance that it will serve you for a very long time without creating any problems.

Touchscreen laptops (with touchscreen)

Do not confuse a touchscreen with a touchpad! The touchpad is a mouse replacement, a touch-sensitive rectangle next to the keyboard. A touchscreen is a touch-sensitive laptop screen.

There are interesting laptop models on which the screen is equipped with a touch panel. Such screens are called touch screens or, more briefly, touchscreens. Touch screens are familiar to all of us from devices such as smartphones. For portable devices without a keyboard and mouse, a touchscreen is a must.

However, a touchscreen can be handy on a laptop too. Especially if the laptop uses a GUI optimized for use on touchscreens - Windows 8 Metro, Linux GNOME 3, Linux Unity. Or it may be convenient when using some specialized application program. But even in the usual case, the touchscreen can be more convenient than the touchpad.

In general, the idea is interesting. Of course, such models are more expensive, but perhaps the convenience of using a touch screen compensates for the higher price.

Here are some models of laptops with a touch screen (touchscreen):

  • Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 15
  • ASUS X550CA and ZENBOOK UX302LG
  • HP Specter 13 Pro
  • Dell Inspiron 7737
  • Acer Aspire V5 15

Update 2015

Sony has sold its notebook business to another Japanese company. And while the release of new models is suspended. But Sony laptops are still on sale and Sony will fulfill all warranty and service obligations.

Today there are new, interesting options in this area. These are convertible laptops (with a detachable screen) and tablets with a full-fledged computer platform.

Microsoft Surface Pro- a tablet, but we can say that this is a completely full-fledged laptop only without the lower half (keyboard). A laptop display inside which is all the computer stuffing. Based on the Intel hardware platform. Windows 8 operating system. The keyboard is wireless and is mounted together with a tablet stand.

Transformer laptops

This is a laptop with a detachable screen and this screen can be used as a tablet. There are two types of such laptops:

  1. The main hardware (computer), Intel or AMD platform, is located in the lower half of the laptop. And in the screen half, the AWP platform and Android OS. That is, in tablet mode, this is a regular Android tablet. And in the full version, this is a laptop with a full-fledged OS - Linux or Windows.
  2. The main hardware (computer), Intel or AMD platform, is located in the screen half of the laptop. And the bottom contains only the keyboard, additional batteries and connectors. Such a laptop is a full-fledged computer, both fully assembled and in a tablet version.

Note. Do not confuse convertible laptops with Android tablets that have a docking station with extra batteries and a keyboard. So far, the AWP hardware platform cannot be called a computer platform because it is not supported by full-fledged operating systems such as Linux or Windows.

Microsoft Surface Pro tablets and convertible laptops are a very interesting option to buy. They have an important advantage over traditional laptops - the ability to work in tablet mode, which gives serious advantages to mobility. You can work on a tablet in conditions in which you cannot use a laptop.

But there is also a minus. Screen and keyboard size. All these laptops have a screen no larger than 10 - 11 inches diagonally. Yes, and the size of the keyboard, including the size of the buttons is also small. This makes them uncomfortable for long, serious work. However, this drawback can be compensated by connecting an external monitor (or TV) and an external (USB or Bluetooth) mouse and keyboard.

Update 2017

In Russia, the trend towards cheaper models on the market continues. Washing out expensive high-quality models from the market. Disappeared from the sale of laptops from another good manufacturer - Samsung.

In fact, today the choice comes down to three labels:

  • Lenovo

Another trend is an exception to the design among the cheapest models:

  • Hatches for replacing the disk and RAM.
  • Removable battery.

Now the battery is stuffed inside the case. And to replace the disk, you need to remove the entire lower or upper half of the case.

In general, it's not fun. It also adds an almost complete absence, in the budget segment, of some variety in design and filling.

If you review 20-30 models in the price range between 20 and 30 thousand rubles (approximately 300 - 500 dollars), then almost everyone will be like twins. Both outside and inside.

Almost all laptops in the region of 20 tr. dollars is worth processor Pentium N3710.

Almost all laptops in the region of 30 tr. dollars is the processor Core i3 5005U or 6006U.

In all total - 4 GB of RAM. Many have only 1 memory slot. Moreover, the memory can generally be soldered to the motherboard.

Closer to 30 tr. There are models with a discrete graphics card. And in this, too, everything is the same - usually it's GeForce 920M.

Batteries are set to the bare minimum. Already close to 2000 mAh. Although you can still find a laptop with a battery in the region of 3000 mAh.

On the other hand, if you look. Today, in 2017, you can buy a fully functional laptop for just $250. Five years ago, this was impossible - the cheapest cost around $ 500.

A couple of models that I would recommend to buy:

Around 20 tr.

  • Acer Extensa EX2519-P0BD- in August 2017 exactly 20 tr. Pentium N3710, 4 GB RAM. Sad black case, but the battery is more fun - 3500 mAh.
  • ASUS X541SA, 90NB0CH2-M05440- in August 2017 exactly 23 tr. Pentium N3710, 4 GB of RAM, soldered on the board! Sad battery. But a cheerful white body and good (for this segment) acoustics. And a FullHD display. It also has a USB 3 type C connector.

Around 30 tr.

  • ASUS X540LJ, 90NB0B12-M11240- in August 2017 exactly 30 tr. Core i3-5005U, 6 GB RAM. So-so battery (2600 mAh). But a cheerful white case, a discrete graphics card, a USB 3 type C connector.

Apple laptop alternatives around $1,000:

  • Microsoft Surface Laptop. Outwardly, it looks no worse than Apple. Even the skin is glued near the touchpad. 4 GB RAM and 128 GB SSD. A screen with a resolution similar to that of an apple "Retina". No PWM in the display.
  • Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5. The screen is only FullHD, but 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD NVMe drive. No PWM in the display.

Ivan Sukhov, 2013, 2015, 2017


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