We've been getting a lot of questions on laptop recommendations lately, so here's some tips on which features to look for in your next machine. Choose your laptop features following these categories first, then you can filter based on price. Otherwise, you're staring at a whole bunch of choices that don't compare well with each other. At the end of the guide we offer some specific suggestions.
Screen-size / Portability
Don't start shopping based on price alone. Decide early on which form factor will work best for you. Do you want something lighter and more portable? Would you rather have a larger screen? Will it sit on your desk 90% of the time? Will you be hooking a monitor up to it?
11-12" - 2 in 1
Laptops that double as or convert into tablets. You'll sacrifice CPU power, but you trade it for the versatility and portability.
13-14" - Ultrabooks
These are all about portability and productivity. They are thin and light, but pack a decent CPU in. I had always been a 15-17" laptop guy, but I've been converted to the ways of the ultrabook. Being able to get meaningful work done on the couch, at a customer site, or the local pub without lugging around a backpack is very convenient. I carry mine in one of these sleeves http://amzn.to/24UjzZ7 There are some ultrabooks (generally 14") that will have a little more performance (CPU with more cores or dedicated graphics cards), and with these check reviews on battery life to make sure it falls within your estimated time without a power cord threshold.
15-15.6" - Traditional
It's the most common sized laptop, and they can cram more tech into it at better price points versus an ultrabook. In some cases they will be easier to upgrade than ultrabooks. They will also vary greatly in price, as you can get budget friendly components or higher end gaming rigs. If eyesight is of concern, then this is probably going to strike the best balance.
17" - Desktop replacements
As the name indicates, these pack the punch of a desktop in laptop form. It is nice to travel to a client site, plop down in an empty cubicle with a decent size screen, and know that you can throw any computing task at it (even video editing). Then after that 10 hour day you can scarf down some room service and game in the hotel room. Just keep in mind they are quite heavy, so your back might want you to get a rolling bag for it.
Hard Drive / SSD
Wherever possible go with a SSD for storage. The cost per gigabyte is higher for sure, but the productivity gains you'll get will be well worth it over time. It will mean less time waiting for your computer to reboot, installing programs (Windows updates :-), or even just launching apps. A very good ROI. There are configurations available where you have an SSD with smaller capacity to install Windows and frequently used programs, as well as, another larger capacity hard drive to store data. If you do decide to skip the SSD route, try to get a 7200 rpm drive vs. 5400 rpm drive. You're other option is to buy a standard disk then upgrade to SSD later, but be sure to check online to see how easy or difficult your specific model is to upgrade. Of course, if you get stuck we can help :-)
Other storage
You can try using cloud storage, or getting a dedicated NAS (network Attached Storage) device to handle long term storage. It's something to consider if you're having a hard time justifying the cost of a larger SSD (500 GB or 1 TB) that meets your current storage needs, or you're tired of the hassle of transferring all your data every time you upgrade. Maybe you have a lot of music, pictures, or videos you've kept over the years? You can get those into the cloud and not have to worry about transferring them from computer to computer every time you upgrade. I uploaded my music to Google Music many moons ago and haven't had to cart that data around. Plus I can access it on any connected device (ie tablets and phones). Same goes for my photos and home videos. I manage them all via Google Photos. Call us if you'd like assistance going cloud, or check out our recommendations page for a solid NAS device. We can help with that too :-)
Screen and Screen Resolution
This one is going to come down to personal preference and a touch of battery life. The higher the resolution the more the machine is going to have to work, so battery life will be a factor. We'd recommend not going below FullHD or 1080p (1920 x 1080) these days. The higher resolutions screens (QHD, UHD, 4k) look amazing, but beware they will drain your battery faster and will push your graphics card harder in games. Also, some manufacturers are putting touch screen options on the higher resolution displays. So, if that's a feature you're looking for, check the specs more closely when configuring your device.
Graphics
If you will be doing any gaming or video editing, a dedicated graphics card will benefit you greatly. This is in addition to the "Integrated GPU", which all laptops these days have. The newest Nvidia series (2016) is 1050 or higher. This latest series is a huge jump in performance and amazingly more efficient than previous models. You'll be able to find well priced models with a 1060 in them, and they will be able to run even the most current games well at 1080p/FullHD. If you're eyeing a QHD, 4k, UHD screen, then make sure you have at least a 1070 or 1080. A 1060 can run games at those resolutions, but you'll be more future proof with a 1070. Given all that, there are still "new" laptops on the market with older generation GPUs. Do NOT go below a 950M as it's not a good bang for the buck right now. And of course, if you aren't editing video or gaming, then skip dedicated graphics altogether. Save your money and get a machine with more RAM, SSD, or CPU instead. An "Integrated" GPU is more than capable of playing back content on screen or to a TV/projector, and if it's a current generation Intel computer it should be able to play 4k video to your TV.
Processor/CPU
Generally, I'd recommend sticking with an Intel i3, i5, or i7 processor. They offer great flexibility for various computing tasks (multi-threaded or single thread bursts) at reasonable power draws (read less battery drain). An i3 (especially current generation) will handle the majority of users computing tasks (web browsing, Excel, Word, Quickbooks, Video Conferencing/Skype) and be easy on your battery. If you tend to multitask with a lot of windows/tabs open, or stream a lot of content then you should bump up to an i5. If you do creative work (Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop) or plan to game some, a bump up to the i7 with 4 cores is likely in order. Now if you are eyeing the smaller "2 in 1" style of laptops they may not have i3 as options, but they will have CPUs geared towards power saving. I've seen the more recent models with i3, and I'd recommend those for slight edge in speed vs battery life.
RAM
Aim for at least 8 GB of RAM where possible. 8 GB is usually enough even if you're a multi-tasker or gamer, but if you're a power user and or doing graphic design, the more RAM the better. In most laptops the RAM is the easiest and cheapest thing to upgrade, so if you find the right price point you can get less RAM and upgrade it yourself. Use a site like http://www.crucial.com/ to make sure you get the right combination of "sticks", and if you have to replace 1 stick of RAM with 2 that's alright you now have a spare parts bin. If you need help upgrading...let us know :-)
Battery Life
As we've alluded to, your processor, screen size, and GPU will all impact battery life. Check reviews for ACTUAL battery life. Don't always trust manufacturer claims. I've traveled for work a lot and generally always found an outlet, so I've never put that much weight on battery life. That's just me…
Durability
This category is more about price point than anything else. Lower cost does come at a price, and if you're sticking to name brand manufacturers it will come down to the materials used in the frame and screen. So expect plastic frames at low price points and generally less able to stand up to wear and tear. If you're tossing it in and out of a bag a lot or expect to travel a lot with it, consider builds with metal and/or carbon fiber construction.
AND NOW...SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
Dell Inspiron 13.3 FHD - This ultrabook is well built and well-reviewed. It's also touch screen, so, they've labeled it a 2-in-1, but it's a bit big to think of it as a tablet too. We spotted this one at Costco too for a few extra bucks.
Dell Inspiron 7559 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop - If you're looking for a budget gaming machine, or really even a quality budget laptop this is a great combination. You get a 256 GB SSD which is sometimes only found on mid-tier laptops. SSDs are great for most use cases. They speed up restarts dramatically. Ever had to wait 10 minutes after a windows update before your machine is usable? It'll be up and available in seconds with an SSD. The only drawback to traditional hard drives is the size to price ratio, but we find that most users are in the 100-150 GB storage range typically. Though, this particular laptop is easily up-gradable if you run out of space later on.
MSI VR Ready GE72VR Apache Pro-009 17.3 - A desktop replacement with a Nvidia 1060 in it. It's also got a SSD and a 1 TB hard drive installed. Go with the 256 GB SSD. That way you can install some of your commonly used programs along with the OS. The 1 TB hard drive can be used for other apps & data. We have been using a MSI Leopard Pro desktop replacement for the last year with great success. Durability-wise we wouldn't take it on the road frequently, but for the price point and specs it's good for the occasional trip. Be ready to uninstall a lot of bloat-ware though.
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