Choosing the right laptop can be a difficult thing, especially for business owners and IT managers. Indeed, making the right choice is crucial for productivity and efficiency. But where do you start? We’ll tell you!
Key Considerations When Choosing the Right Laptop
Business owners and IT managers (as well as all mere mortals) have questions when faced with purchasing laptops. With all the diversity of remote work and varying mobile needs, choosing the perfect device can become a real challenge. There are just too many options out there!
In our quick guide, we aim to demystify some of those questions and highlights some key factors businesses need to consider when shopping. This will ensure optimal performance and durability in every device purchased.
Dynamic Duo of Form Factors
Just like snowflakes, no two companies are the same. Why should devices be any different? When purchasing business laptops, there are three important questions to ask yourself:
- What size and shape will work best for your team?
- How much abuse can they take before breaking?
- Are there any additional features that could improve productivity?
Answering these questions will help you narrow down your search for the perfect devices. Think Ultra-light (travel-friendly), Mid-Size Modern (standard office use), or Desktop Replacement (heavy duty apps). You want to find a device that suits your employees’ style of working while still being productive.
Brain Power – CPU
The brain of any computer is the CPU, making it a key player in performance rates. Although it may seem too technical to understand, just remember this: fast processors integrated with graphics cards handle multitasking and daily operations better than others.
If the computer can’t handle the work, neither can your employees! Invest in a CPU that meets your needs; Intel’s core-based CPUs are known for their high performance and efficiency.
Hard Drive – Internal Storage
We all know that nothing lasts forever. But we gotta make it last as long as possible! That’s where choosing between either an SSD or HDD comes into play. The first is faster and more durable than the second which is comparably slower and less durable.
By installing an SSD on these laptops, programs will load instantly while also operating quietly! It doesn’t stop there, though; battery life should shoot through the roof when compared to an HDD-equipped laptop. Not only does buying an SSD laptop optimize performance and reliability, but also saves you money in the long run as well.
RAM – Working Memory
For those who have dealt with RAM before know its value entirely! Multitasking requires resource-intensive applications paired with enough RAM to support them. A minimum of 8GB should keep operations running smoothly and your business laptop devices efficient.
Understanding the specifics of your line-of-business application is key when determining the ideal RAM capacity for your teams’ devices. You don’t want too little OR too much!
It’s also important to keep in mind upgradability and compatibility with future software updates. Otherwise, you may dig yourself into a hole, spending more than you want to down the road.
Price – Your Budget
Regardless of what it is, it’s essential to set a budget before buying anything. This way, you can allocate resources optimally and cost-effectively across your organization. However, you need to think about performance, quality, and long-term support as well when setting this budget.
If all these are factored into the budgeting process however, procurement and management will streamline throughout the entire company. With standardized laptop choices comes easy consistency and support.
Consulting IT professionals while making these decisions will give you an advantage as they’re familiar with products that suit your objectives and constraints best.
Durability and Reliability
Specs are important, but so are reliability and durability! Business-class laptops typically have better warranties than consumer-grade ones in general, though. You might also want to consider MIL-STD-810G certification if durability is important to you!
Finally, spill-resistant keyboards paired with impact-resistance features could save you hundreds down the road in repairs or replacements alone.
Connectability and Portability
Being able to connect with other devices is an essential feature in modern business laptops. Bluetooth 5.0 makes this possible, as well as Wi-Fi 6 that is currently the best wireless standard available.
USB-C ports, HDMI outputs, SD card readers can also be used to connect external devices. Lighter laptop designs make it easier for people who are always on the move.
Ergonomics and User Experience
An uncomfortable computer will just slow you down. So consider ergonomics when buying a new laptop — especially one where you’ll be typing for hours on end. This includes desktops, too!
Security Features
You want your business to be safe and secure… right? Then, you need to know about the security features of your laptop.
Premium laptops used for businesses include advanced security measures like biometric authentication (face and fingerprint recognition), TPM (Trusted Platform Module) chips for hardware-based encryption, built-in privacy screens that block visual hacking, and more.
You can also find self-encrypting drives (SEDs) and BIOS-level security enhancements in some models, so make sure you’re not at risk of a data breach.
Manageability and Deployment
When there are so many devices involved, efficient management is important. Business laptops usually come with remote management features, which means your team doesn’t have to be physically there to help troubleshoot technical issues.
This usually includes Intel vPro technology for remote access which allows your team to take control of the device on their own computer. It should also have central device management software support for enterprise-level security policies, compatibility with mobile device management (MDM) solutions and seamless integration with existing IT infrastructure.
Warranty Coverage
Warranty coverage is pretty straightforward when it comes to selecting laptops for business use since they typically all come with extended warranties compared to consumer-grade devices.
Some brands offer better packages than others, though…
So before making a purchase, check the specifics and look into the availability of technical support resources such as dedicated support teams, online knowledge bases, etc. A broken laptop won’t do you much good if you don’t know how to fix it yourself.
