The very first MacBook Air was released back in 2008 and turned the idea of laptop design upside down. It turns out that a portable computer can be light and compact, and still hidden in a sturdy aluminum case. It took Windows laptop manufacturers a long time to repeat the successful format, and today most of the models are really cool – compact and metal. However, the quality of even the most sophisticated and at first glance cool laptops varies greatly, and they don’t write about it in the specifications.
In this article, I will tell you what to look for when choosing a laptop and some life hacks to evaluate your choice. The guide is focused on the middle segment from 45-50 thousand to about 100 thousand rubles. When choosing very inexpensive models, another rule is relevant – if only it works stably, but this is not the topic of this article.
Bright screen and quality keyboard
In the first place in importance are the screen and controls, since it is with them that you have to interact during operation. Close attention should be paid to the display coating. Three options have become widespread: a beautiful-looking glossy glass, a practical matte finish and a useless gloss.
- Glossy glass is a choice in the expensive segment from 100 thousand rubles. With it, the laptop looks more premium, and the case becomes more rigid. But the glass glares under directional light sources and on the street. To somehow compensate for this, the maximum brightness should be from 400 cd / m² (you can find out about this from the specifications or from the reviews).
- Matte finish – not so beautiful, but practical. It, on the contrary, does not suffer from glare at all, regardless of the maximum brightness, although it is better to choose models not dimmer than 250 cd / m². But matte matrices are recessed into the frame and look unassuming. Wipe such screens with extreme care, as a dirty cloth or excessive pressure instantly leave scratches.
- A glossy finish without glass combines the disadvantages of the two above options. And there are no benefits. I strongly do not recommend taking just a glossy screen, since this is becoming less and less common.
The type of matrix is equally important, but everything is much simpler here. Optimal and concurrently the most common are IPS-matrices and their varieties with a resolution of at least 1920 × 1080 pixels. Manufacturers often specify 100% sRGB coverage in the specifications, however, if you are not working with an image, you should not chase this. An increased frequency above 60 Hz is a whim, but also not a defining moment. It is much more important to check a specific sample for the absence of dead pixels and highlights on a white background before buying a laptop. Black highlights are common for IPS, but they should not be conspicuous. If you notice something, most likely you got a defective copy. Laptops with OLED do not suffer from glare and boast a much richer picture, but to this day remain rare and very expensive. You should forget about TN and not consider such laptops at all. VA-like matrices (VA, SVA, MVA, UWVA and WVA) can hide both good IPS-like screens and faded TN, so each specific case requires additional study.
The keyboard must be backlit. This will make it much easier to work in the evenings, even if you use blind dialing. Regarding the touchpad, manufacturers of Windows laptops have significantly improved the quality over the past few years – they have made them accurate and with mandatory support for multi-finger gestures (multi-touch). For convenience, I advise you to look for models in which the touchpad occupies at least a third of the entire inner panel (topcase) in height. To do this, just look at the pictures on the manufacturer’s website.
Charging via USB-C
Another attribute of a modern laptop can be considered charging via symmetrical USB-C using the Power Delivery standard. This is very convenient, since smartphones, headphones and other gadgets are usually equipped with the same USB-C. Because of this, Power Delivery compatible adapters and even portable batteries are common and relatively inexpensive. And yet, it is possible to buy a compact powerful GaN-charging with several ports, and “settle” a standard laptop power supply at home.
- To the point: What are GaN chargers and how do they differ from conventional adapters
Some laptops come with an old-fashioned round-plug power supply, but still support Power Delivery. You can understand this from the specification of the connectors. Opposite USB-C, there should be a Thunderbolt 3/4 or Power Delivery compatibility mark, or a full function statement. The latter also implies support for image output via DisplayPort and, of course, data transfer.
Form Factor and Case Materials
The stereotypical Windows laptop from the past is a plastic colossus, woven from walking relative to each other and creaking parts. Forget and in no case do not buy anything like this, despite their low cost and an impressive range in the portfolio of almost every manufacturer. Today it is worth looking exclusively at metal models, usually made of aluminum alloys. Less common are other metals, such as magnesium alloys in Lenovo’s ThinkPad line. In any case, a modern laptop should be light, strong and very pleasant to look at.
However, the metal case is different for the metal case. Some manufacturers make the material too thin in pursuit of cost and weight reduction. It is not easy to understand this without direct acquaintance with the laptop, weight can be considered the only indirect criterion. For example, a sturdy 13-inch Windows laptop is unlikely to be lighter than 1.1 kg, 14-inch models are no lighter than 1.3 kg, and 15-inch models are no lighter than 1.5 kg. There are exceptions, but rarely, so for complete certainty, you should look for a review or twist the desired model in your hands.
Another characteristic that is not so easy to assess from pictures on the Internet is the quality of the hinge. The screen of a good laptop should be opened with one hand and should never shake during use. It is also almost impossible to understand this from the characteristics, only if the manufacturer does not emphasize this. The advice is the same: study good reviews or look for a similar model in the demo zone of the store.
Intel EVO – Guaranteed Good Laptops
A kind of solution to the problem of floating quality was the Intel EVO program. It makes a number of requirements aimed primarily at improving the user experience. Equally good performance on mains or battery power, a bright and calibrated display, a precise touchpad, and impressive battery life are just some of the criteria. Trusting Intel is definitely worth it, since at one time the Ultrabook concept brought to the market thin and light, but at the same time productive and energy-efficient Windows laptops. Their more advanced descendants become representatives of Intel EVO.
- To the point: Two identical laptops, but one is better. Pay attention to Intel Evo
Unfortunately, AMD doesn’t have its own standard like EVO, although Ryzen chips are by no means worse than Intel Core, and in places they are superior. That is why AMD-based laptops can be taken, but the choice should be made a little more carefully.
Source: Trash Box
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
