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Thanks to the power of modern technology, laptop computers provide amazing flexibility and convenience for today’s computing needs. Whether you’re looking to stay entertained while traveling, to continue your novel wherever inspiration may strike, or to finish important business projects while out of the office, there is a laptop to fit your needs and budget. With diverse size and component combinations available, however, it may be tough to know which laptop is right for you. To make the shopping process simpler, we’ve drawn up this guide to get you on your way.
Laptop computers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Sizes start small, with ultraportable 11 or 12 inch displays, and continue up through 17”or bigger screens. While most laptops today are still the traditional clamshell shape, some newer machines have come out with swiveling or detachable screens. Choosing the right laptop will depend on your needs. Some of the most popular types are gaming laptops, chromebooks, ultrabooks, Macbooks, touch screens, and notebooks. We've outlined the differences below to give you an idea of which size and shape is perfect for you:
Gaming laptops: These are laptops geared for gamers. They come with great graphic cards and good processors needed for undisturbed gaming. They generally have 17inch screens for high visibility and because they are not used in conventional environments they tend to be more creative in style.
Chromebooks: This is a laptop that runs Chrome OS, a Google operating system. They are ultra thin and light and are designed to be used while connected to the internet. Because these laptops don’t have a lot of hardware, they are much lighter and great for travel. These are perfect for people who want to convenience of a tablet in a laptop form.
Ultrabooks: These are Intel trademarked notebooks offering longer battery life. Their minimalistic design is aimed at providing a lightweight computer that can be taken anywhere. A great balance between portability and performance, these make for great business laptops.
Macbooks: These are Apple powered notebooks offering all the state of the art technology of Apple in a lightweight efficient unit. These are available in Pro - perfect for developers and designers, and Air - great for everyday use. These are quality notebooks renowned for style and performance.
Touch Screen: Touch screen laptops have the added advantage of interacting with them by physically touching the screen. Great for supervised use with youngsters or ‘drawing’ your art right on the screen!
Notebooks: These are lightweight laptops, designed to fit into briefcases and in some cases purses to make business portability easy. They generally offer a good battery life and are a perfect way to take your office wherever you go.
Ultraportable laptops: Ultraportable laptops are the smallest and lightest of the bunch, weighing under three pounds with 11-12 inch screens that draw very little power. They typically have great battery life because of their small screens, and are the best option for everyday carry computers, for travelers with limited luggage space, or for people without access to power outlets for extended periods of time. A convenient machine for the on-the-go lifestyle!
13 inch laptops: 13 inch machines are a sweet spot of portability and ease of use. Still lightweight enough at 3 to 4 pounds to easily carry around, 13” laptops have screens and keyboards that are large enough for lots of typing or for putting together that important business presentation . Consider a 13” machine if you plan to do a lot of work on your laptop and travel with it regularly.
Mid size 14 / 15 / 16 inch laptops: Laptops with 14, 15, or 16 inch screens are great computers for business professionals or regular users who want a display and keyboard that are similar in size to a desktop computer. At 5 to 6 pounds, they are an excellent combination of portability and functionality for the occasional traveler.
17 inch and larger laptops: 17 inch and larger laptops are considered desktop replacement machines, and are designed to spend most of their time in one location. The advantage of a large laptop over a desktop is that the monitor, keyboard, and other components are in a single, space saving unit that can be easily moved around if needed. Great for college dorm rooms or for people that love to game or watch a lot of movies, high quality 17”+ laptops have impressive displays because of their size.
Clamshell laptops: This is the standard laptop design that opens and closes like a book, where the screen and keyboard are inside when closed. The monitor and keyboard are always connected, which means that they never get lost!
Adjustable / Convertible laptops: Some new laptop designs have screens that pivot around the body of the laptop, to mimic a drawing pad, or that disengage completely to become a tablet. These laptops have touch screens and are great for artists or people who desire the portability of a tablet but appreciate the added convenience of a keyboard.
Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:
ASUS: Taiwanese manufacturer ASUS draws their name from Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology. In 2013, they were the world’s fifth largest PC and laptop vendor by unit sales.
Toshiba: The Japanese company Toshiba was founded in 1938. Today they are a $60 billion global company with a world renowned laptop reputation.
Lenovo: The Lenovo brand started in just 2004, but by 2013 they were the world’s largest PC and laptop vendor by units.
Acer: Acer, a Taiwanese personal computer manufacturer, was the fourth largest PC and laptop vendor by units in 2013.