LAPTOPS
Laptops are electronic devices that process user’s data to the desired output. Nowadays, many laptops have flooded the market, but it all depends on the user’s needs, processing speed, cache, clock speed, and memory size and type, i.e., HDD or SSD of a laptop computer that makes it stand out as the best or among the best laptop in the market if a laptop is to be classified among the outstanding in the market, it should have the following key features:
- Performance
A good laptop should have a big RAM that can support complex programs, depending on the intended purpose, e.g., gaming or programming, or even for business purposes. A good ram should not allow lagging while working and should support multitasking and switching between tasks easily and efficiently. A good RAM should be at least 4 GB to support the most complex business and gaming software and programs.
- Display
A good laptop should have high picture quality, which is measured in pixels per inch. A good laptop should display about 1080P, which should be the standard pixel quality for all programming and business, programming and gaming machines, which require better quality for long hours on the screen. Also, a good screen should have a good refresh rate to prevent eye strain and anti-glare, common in laptops with low refresh rates, and with people who work for long hours on the screen.
- Storage
Hard disk drives have been widely known as storage devices for most traditional laptops and computers as they are cheap even for large amounts of space. Nowadays Solid state devices, commonly known as SSD, are taking over the market because data is stored on interconnected flash memory chips that retain the data even when there’s no power flowing through them, unlike HDDs, which store data on spinning platters, which make it slower when retrieving stored data, unlike SSDs, which store data on flash-like devices, making it much faster to retrieve data.
- Clock Speed
A machine’s speed, whether a laptop or computer, is measured in Hertz (Hz). A good laptop that is expected to perform hard tasks, e.g., gaming and programming, should have a clock speed above 3 GHz, or a standard 2.4 GZ, for business laptops.
- Internet Connectivity
A laptop that is not expected to be used at home all the time should have a built-in Wi-Fi receiver that will allow you to work even when away from home, provided there is a wireless network. Also, a Wi-Fi card can be installed and used on laptops where the signals are weak as the built-in version is sometimes weak on networks that are some distance away.
- Battery life
Good battery life is essential if you don’t want to be tethered to a desk or charging port when using your laptop. You should go for a laptop with a battery life of at least six hours or more if you like moving while using your laptop.
Some of the best laptops on the market today are:
- Dell XPS 15 (2020)
The best laptop for programming overall
CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 |
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti |
RAM: 8GB – 64GB
Screen: 15.6″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS – UHD+ (3840 x 2400) |
Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD
- Apple MacBook Air (2020)
A brilliant laptop for graphic design
CPU: 10th generation Intel Core i3 – i7 |
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics |
RAM: 8GB – 16GB |
Screen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) 2,560 x 1,600 LED-backlit display with IPS technology |
Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD |
Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches (30.41 x 21.24 x 1.61cm; W x D x H)
- Huawei MateBook 13
For portability, performance, and price, this is a brilliant all-rounder.
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 |
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 |
RAM: 8GB |
Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD |
Size: 21.1×28.6×1.2cm |
Weight: 1.3kg |
OS: Windows 10
- Dell XPS 17 (2020)
The best large-screen laptop for programmers
CPU: Up to 10th Generation Intel Core i9-10885H |
Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 with Max-Q |
RAM: Up to 64GB DDR4-2933MHz |
Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe |
Size: 248.05 x 374.45 x 19.5 mm |
Weight: 1.48kg |
OS: 2.11 kg
- Dell Inspiron 14 5000
A great laptop for programming if you’re on a budget
CPU: Intel Core i5-8265U (quad core, 3.9GHz Max Turbo Boost) |
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForceR MX150 2GB GDDR5 |
RAM: 8GB |
Storage: 256GB SSD |
Size: 32.4×23.2×1.9cm |
Weight: 1.48kg |
OS: Windows 10
- Lenovo ThinkPad P1 (Gen 2)
Professional-grade premium performance
CPU: Six Core Intel Core i7 / Xeon |
Graphics: Nvidia Quadro T1000-T2000 |
RAM: 8-64GB | Storage: 256GB-4TB |
Size: 36.2×24.6x17mm |
Weight: From 1.7kg |
OS: Windows 10 Home / Pro
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Windows programming on Microsoft’s own hardware
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 / AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 7 |
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics / AMD Radeon Vega 9 / AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB |
Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) / 15-inch PixelSense (2,496 x 1,664)|
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB SSD
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)
A brilliant compact graphic design laptop
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – 10th-generation Intel Core i7 |
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 |
RAM: up to 32GB |
Screen: 13-inch Retina display with True Tone |
Storage: 256GB – 4TB SSD
- HP Envy 13
A premium all-metal laptop for coding work
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5-i7 |
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 |
RAM: 8GB – 16GB |
Screen: Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) |
Storage: 256-512GB SSD
- Google Pixelbook Go
An excellent Android development platform capable of running full-fat Linux
CPU: Intel Core m3 – Intel Core i7 |
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 |
RAM: 8GB – 16GB |
Screen: 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) or 4K LCD touchscreen |
Storage: 128GB – 256GB eMMC
DESKTOPS
Unlike laptops, desktops are bulky and are used on office or home tables. They do not have built Wi-Fi receivers and require connecting to the internet via Ethernet cables or installing a Wi-Fi PCI of Wi-Fi card. Desktops are best used in offices and homes because, unlike laptops, they are relatively cheaper in price. They are best used for research purposes and gaming because of their dedicated graphics card. This is because gamers need to be able to run high-performance games without running into any issues. Besides, video and audio editors need a powerful processor to handle high-resolution files, and specific programs (Adobe Premiere, Final Cut, etc.) needed to get their work done. Many people nowadays prefer laptops because of their portability and speed, but many desktop computers offer more power than a simple laptop.
What to Look For In a Desktop Computer
For starters, you’ll want to think about the OS that suits you, i.e., MacOs or Windows. However, as much as windows are relatively cheaper than macOS, mac is termed by many as easier to use than windows, but it all lies in a person’s preference. However, windows computers are more compatible with various programs and external devices.
Depending on the intended purpose, you’ll want to think about how powerful you need the computer to be. Intel core I generation is featured on most computers. Namely, core i3, i5, and i7 will depend on the user’s intended use of the machine. Additionally, gamers and visual media professionals need to consider the computer’s graphics card, with the Nvidia GeForce RTX series being the highest-end graphics cards available today.
RAM and storage space should also be considered, with regards to HDD or SSD and the amount of space required, for storing music, movies, games, editing tools, programs, etc.
Some of the best desktops available today are:
1. Dell OptiPlex 3050 Micro
Cheap work PC from Dell
CPU: 7th Generation Intel Core i3-7100T |
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics |
RAM: 4GB |
Storage: 500GB HDD |
Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet |
Dimensions (W x D x H): 18.2 x 3.6 x 17.8 cm
2. iMac (27-inch, 2020)
A formidable upgrade
CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i9 |
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300 – Radeon Pro 5700 XT |
RAM: 8GB – 128GB 2666MHz DDR4 |
Screen: 27-inch (diagonal) 5120 x 2880 Retina 5K display |
Storage: 256GB – 8TB SSD
3. Microsoft Surface Studio
The ultimate all-in-one?
CPU: Intel Core i7-6820HQ |
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M |
RAM: 32GB |
Storage: 2TB SSD |
Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet |
Dimensions (W x D x H): 25 x 22 x 3.22 cm
Ex UK machines which are also known as refurbished. Refurbished laptops are not only revised and updated to eliminate signs of wear and tear and deliver superb performance but also come backed with a rock-solid warranty, so you can always have the peace of mind knowing that your investment is in safe hands. whether a laptop or desktop computer
Brand new, which comes directly from the manufacturer to the consumer depending on your machine choice, whether a laptop or desktop computer.
