Basic laptops are suitable for browsing the Internet, communicating on social media, occasional work in Microsoft Office programmes, or playing non-demanding games – and all this at extremely affordable prices.
The processor (or CPU - Central Processing Unit) is the brain of a laptop, where most calculations take place. For routine office work, an Intel Core i5 processor is sufficient.
Atom, Celeron and Pentium
Series with less power, suitable for performing simple office work, but not for demanding tasks.
Core M
The new series of energy-saving chips used in some ultrabooks. They are more powerful than Celeron and Pentium processors and provide passive cooling, making devices with this type of processor absolutely silent.
Core i3, Core i5, Core i7
These series are designed for performance at a higher level. Core i3 processors are sufficient for everyday activity, whereas Core i5 and Core i7 processor are recommended for more demanding tasks.
The processor family is generally considered the rival to Intel Core. For work in standard office programs, the A4 and A6 series are sufficient.
The E series is used in basic laptops.
Processors in the i3, i5 and i7 series come with a processor number consisting of four digits and a letter. The first digit indicates the generation. With regard to the future, it pays to choose the most recent generation.
1st generation - Nehalem
2nd generation - Sandy Bridge
3rd generation - Ivy Bridge
4th generation - Haswell
5th Generation - Broadwell
6th generation - Skylake
The end letter provides information about the processor's performance:
H - High performance graphics
HK - High performance graphics, unlocked
HQ - High performance graphics, quad core
MX - Mobile Extreme Edition
MQ - Quad-core mobile
M - Mobile
U - Ultra-low power
Y - Extremely low power
Frequency is given in GHz and indicates the number of clock cycles the processor can perform per second. A higher frequency means a more efficient processor.
The most important part of the processor, which is responsible for all computing operations. The more cores a processor has, the more tasks it can process at one time.
Unlike desktop computers, a laptop's display cannot be replaced, so it's important to make the right choice. Pay attention to the following specifications when choosing a display.
If you travel regularly with your laptop, we recommend a display size of up to 14". On the contrary, if you will mostly use your laptop in one place, go for a bigger display size of 15" or more (1" = 2.54 cm).
Resolution indicates the number of pixels displayed in an image. The more pixels, the higher the resolution, and thus the sharper the image. While higher resolution brings better picture quality, it also makes increased demands on the graphics card.
The most widely used resolutions:
Resolution | Number of pixels |
---|---|
720p | 1280 x 720 pixels |
HD Ready | 1366 x 768 pixels |
HD + | 1600 x 900 pixels |
Full HD | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
WQHD | 2560 x 1440 pixels |
WQXGA | 2560 x 1600 pixels |
3K | 2880 x 1620 pixels |
WQXGA + | 3200 x 1800 pixels |
4K | 3840 × 2160 pixels |
Laptops, mobile phones and televisions currently use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, which can be further divided into TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) and STN (Super-Twisted Nematic) displays. Today's laptops are equipped exclusively with TFT displays, which are divided into the following types:
An older LCD technology that is still widely used. Compared with IPS, TN displays are cheaper to produce, have higher brightness, faster response times, and slightly lower demands on battery life. The downside, however, is worse viewing angles.
A cutting-edge technology that offers true colour reproduction and wide viewing angles of 178°. IPS displays are more expensive to produce, and so are often found on laptops in higher price ranges. Compared with TN displays, they have lower contrast and slower response times.
VA displays combine the advantages of TN and IPS technology. They feature high contrast, wide viewing angles (although not as good as IPS), and true colour reproduction.
Glossy displays offer more striking colours compared with matte displays, but they are less suitable for travel and work in direct sunlight, where they are almost unusable. In an appropriately lit room, however, they provide a rich colours and vivid images.
If you travel frequently or sometimes work outside, choose a laptop with a matte (or anti-glare) display. While they can't compete with glossy displays for colour intensity, they come into their own when used in bright sunlight.
Type
The type of storage has a big impact on the overall speed of a notebook. There are two types of storage: HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and SSD (Solid State Drive). For work with an emphasis on speed, we recommend SSDs as they offer fast data access, silent operation, and greater durability. Systems with an SSD respond much faster, and all programs and games run faster.
HDDs store data on rotating plates, which is read by the read head. They offer higher capacity for the same price compared with SSDs.
With no moving parts, SSDs are many times faster than HDDs. They also offer greater shock resistance. As a result, they are perfect for portable laptops.
The unit contains two storage types in one, giving you the best of both worlds – the large capacity of a HDD and the speed of an SSD. This makes them a suitable solution for gaming laptops.
A combination of a standard HDD with SSD memory. Smaller NAND flash memory (SSD) is used for the most frequently used programs, such as the operating system, and memory for data is provided by the HDD.
A memory capacity of up to 64 GB is installed on cheaper laptops.
The greater the capacity, the more programs, photos, videos and other data you can store. Typical HDD capacities are 500GB, 1000GB (1TB), or 2000GB.
Rotation speeds (measured in RPM, or revolutions per minute) for HDDs stand at 5,400 or 7,200 per minute. Discs with a speed of 5400 are less powerful, but they are also quieter and produce less heat.
Keyboards differ in terms of the layout and shape of the keys. If you frequently work with numbers, we certainly recommend a model with a numeric keyboard. For working at night or in darkened rooms, choose a laptop with a backlit keyboard.
So-called chiclet keyboards are adapted for comfortable typing during long texts. They feature an improved key shape that helps prevent typos.
Intelligent touchpads, which are found on more expensive laptops, support gestures similar to a touch device, allowing for easy scrolling or zooming.
A pointing device consisting of a small rubber joystick. It is placed between the G, H and B keys and is an alternative to the touchpad.
USB
Used to connect a mouse, external keyboard, flash drives, external drives, optical drives, etc. At present, even cheap laptops come with at least one USB 3.0 connector in addition to USB 2.0.
The most widely used digital connector for transferring video and audio simultaneously in high definition. Used, for example, to connect a laptop to a television, external monitor or projector.
Digital connector used to transfer video and audio in high definition. Common on professional and office laptops.
Analogue connector used for transferring images.
For connecting your notebook to a wired network (local as well as Internet). We recommend a fast gigabit LAN (1000 Mbit/s).
Wireless technology that comes as standard with every laptop.
Used to connect wirelessly to other devices and equipment, e.g. headphones or speakers.
For connecting headphones, speakers or microphones.
Allows you to easily transfer a large amount of photos from your camera or mobile device.
The vast majority of laptops are sold with a pre-installed operating system. Some laptops, however, are sold without an OS, leaving the selection in your hands.
For home use – Windows 7 Home / Windows 10 Home
For work – Windows 7 Professional / Windows 10 Pro
While glossy displays offer high-quality colour reproduction, they can be almost unusable in direct sunlight
It is good to have at least one laptop USB connector on the right-hand side, especially if you want to connect a wired mouse.
It is important that the fan does not blow directly towards your hands, as this can lead to health problems in the long term.
Protection
There is a wide range of useful accessories available for office laptops, from software and internet security, to useful equipment such as mice, headphones, speakers and external storage.
Both types have their advantages – HDD offers greater capacity for the same price, but SSDs are much faster.
If you want to store large amounts of music and films, then go for a HDD. If your priority is speed and fast response times, go for an SSD.
These days an optical drive is not necessary, as CDs are no longer a popular storage medium for files and programs. If you have a collection of films on DVD, you can purchase an external DVD drive, which you can connect to your laptop via USB.
While the classic laptop design is suitable for most people's needs, convertible devices, which feature a flippable or detachable display, are designed for those who require more flexibility.
Convertible device modes:
Laptop - perfect for work, word processing, etc.
Stand - suitable for video calls, watching films
Tent - similar to Stand mode. Suitable for video calls, watching films, etc.
Tablet - for comfortable Internet browing, wherever you are
Convertible notebooks are devices with flippable or detachable displays. They are more flexible and lighter than standard laptops and offer several different modes of use.
Laptop - perfect for work, word processing, etc.
Stand - suitable for video calls, watching films
Tent - similar to Stand mode. Suitable for video calls, watching films, etc.
Tablet - for comfortable Internet browing wherever you are
HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. It offers digital output with integrated sound (or network transmission) and is often used to connect laptops with other devices, such as TVs. It enables multi-channel audio and can handle up to 4K resolution (HDMI 2.0).
Denotes the distance between the lower left and upper right corner of the screen, quoted in inches (1" = 2.54 cm). Models with larger screens provide more working space, whereas notebooks with smaller screens are more suitable for work on the go.
Glossary
Matte or glossy display?
Glossy displays offer striking colours, but can be almost unusable in direct sunlight. As a result, they are best avoided if you plan to travel with your laptop or use it outdoors.
Matt and anti-reflective (also known as Antiglare) displays offer less vibrant colours but allow you to work even in direct sunlight.