Laptop specs explained – 5 things to look for in a computer

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When choosing a new desktop or laptop computer, it’s essential to understand the specs and features listed by each model. That way, you can fully understand and ensure that you’re selecting the right laptop for your specific needs. Knowing how much RAM you’ll need, what processor to choose, and whether or not you require a graphics card are all essential questions. This blog post will explain critical components to search for when picking your new laptop.

The Best Laptop Specs for Remote Workers

Laptops used to come with an unreasonably high price tag compared to mainstream desktop computers. Over time, the desktop’s cost advantage diminished, making laptops much more prevalent amongst businesses.

With the majority of the population working remotely, it’s crucial to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck when investing in a quality laptop. So, let’s look at the five top specifications that you should be sure to take note of when buying your next business laptop.

Processor Speed – The processor is considered the brain of the laptop. By investing in a high-quality processor, you can be sure it will run much faster. An Intel i3 will suffice for a dependable laptop, but an i5 will guarantee fast speeds and is our recommendation. Laptops with an i7 chip cost quite a bit more, although they’re much better suited to running design software.

Screen Size and Resolution – The size and resolution of your screen will have a massive impact on your entire experience. It’s best not to go any smaller than a 13-inch screen, although you can live without 4K displays if you’re not in the professional design industry. Concerning HD resolution, full will typically suffice. If you spend a long time in front of the computer, a higher resolution might be worth the investment.

Storage – Your storage space refers to the available space for storing files. It’s best not to go any lower than 256GB for a solid state drive (SSD), which helps laptops run faster. You also should not go less than 1TB for a traditional hard drive.

Memory – The random access memory (RAM) allows you to juggle various applications simultaneously. More RAM provides a speed boost; these days, 8GB RAM is the absolute minimum that any business executive should aim for. You will typically need 16GB or 32GB for high-end machines.

Graphics Card – Graphics cards are typically used for gaming or image editing, meaning you can live without them if you only need to browse the web, stream video, and use email. However, if you’re planning on using one or more external monitors, you should ensure that your laptop’s video system can support your respective configurations.

Our Top Laptop Recommendation

The Dell Latitude 7320 is a premium business laptop powered by 11th-gen Intel Core Tiger Lake mobile processors. The 7320 can be configured as a 2-in-1 convertible or clamshell laptop. Being one of the thinnest 2-in-1s in the 13-inch class, it has a sleek design and offers a comfortable keyboard and touchpad. Like other laptops in the Latitude 7000-series, a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports double as DisplayPort and provides the fastest transfer rate. Here’s a list of some of the varying specification options for the Latitude 7320: Processor 

  • Intel Core i5 1135G7
  • Intel Core i5 1145G7
  • Intel Core i7 1165G7
  • Intel Core i7 1185G7

Display Size 

  • 13.3 inches

Storage

  • 128GB (SSD)
  • 256GB (SSD)
  • 512GB (SSD)
  • 1024GB (SSD)

RAM

  • 8GB
  • 16GB
  • 32GB

Graphics Card 

  • The Latitude 7320 has an integrated graphics card.

The Dell Latitude 7320 also comes with Bluetooth 5.1 and WiFi 6 as standard, LTE mobile broadband connectivity, and an optional smart card reader. Dell also brought to light the 14-inch 7420 and 15.5-inch 7520 in its Latitude 7000-series at CES 2021.

Final Thoughts

Your laptop is one of your most crucial and fragile devices, and it more often than not plays a prominent role in your everyday life. Take some time to consider the nature of your job. Your roles and responsibilities should help to give you more insight into the best laptop for your business.  If you’re interested in learning more about how you can better optimize your business operations, our team is happy to offer insight and guidance into your technology. As a full-service outsourced IT department, we provide a technology blueprint to help businesses get where they want to be. We design our services to scale with your business as it grows. We act as an extension of your business as your complete IT partner, providing our services with your best interests in mind. Learn more about how we can help you today by seeing if you qualify for a free IT consultation.