A guide to buying laptops and computers Technology & Computing

A guide to buying laptops and computers

Not having access to a computing system can set you back in today’s fast-paced education sector and workplace world. So it goes without saying you need a desktop or a laptop to learn the necessary skills, discover new online computer courses, and even scale up for high-paying computer jobs that offer high salaries and perks. Here are the types of desktops and laptops that you can buy for home or office use.

Types of desktop computers
Desktop computers are broadly classified into your everyday full-sized, half-sized, all-in-one workstation and gaming computer.

Full-sized desktops
These are the most basic configuration systems designed for daily personal and professional use. From students to employees in an organization, commercial establishments to other consumer goods industries, desktop computers are the cheapest option for anyone who wants to use a computing system.

Half-sized desktops
This is a slimmer variant of your full-sized desktops where the CPU does not take as much space as a standard system. It is most ideal for places with limited area to fit in all the computer components of a fully assembled PC, be it for home or office use.

All-in-one workstations
All-in-one workstations are a unique space-saving concept that combines the CPU and the display unit as one component. In fact, Apple became one of the first computer companies to launch all-in-one workstations with its iMac series. These desktops, however, cannot be upgraded as there is no space within the unit to replace modules specifically designed for the computer.

Gaming desktops
Gaming PCs are the most expensive and powerful computing systems for home and commercial purposes. These systems support high-end graphic cards, enhanced memory, and even 4K quality resolution output required for playing most games you can purchase and download today. In fact, many custom gaming desktops boast hardware and software specifications that even your PlayStation or Xbox consoles cannot support.

Types of laptop computer
One of the biggest advantages of using a laptop is portability. Unlike a desktop computer, you don’t have to stay connected to a terminal. Instead, all the hardware and software components are built into the laptop, supported by a battery pack.

Standard laptops
Much like your basic computer, standard laptops boast minimal hardware and software upgrades that you’d need for studies, work, entertainment, or other productivity tasks. These systems are suitable for basic use and run for up to 8 hours on a full charge. Most standard laptops support universal education, productivity, and multimedia applications.

Gaming and creator laptops
Gaming and creator laptops boast all the hardware and software components necessary to support high-end games, productivity suites, multimedia design apps, and even tools for video or sound production. Gaming and creator laptops carry a hefty price tag depending on the configuration.

Ultrabook
The MacBook Pro falls under the category of Ultrabooks designed specifically for peak performance. We are talking about features like thunderbolt 4 connectivity, thin bezels, advanced Wi-Fi connectivity, and peak battery support. Ultrabooks are also designed to run quietly and are built with durable yet lightweight materials. HP is an alternative in windows laptops that also falls under the Ultrabooks category.

2-in-1 convertible notebooks
2-in-1s are cool as you can use the device as a regular laptop or flip it around to turn it into a fully functional touchscreen tablet. Some even come with a detachable screen that allows you to use the entire screen as an iPad. This makes it a lot easier to get tasks.

Chromebooks
Chromebooks don’t require a rigid OS and mostly contain web-based applications supported by the google chrome OS. They are also quite lightweight and designed mainly for academic use. Chromebooks are also cheap, making them ideal for school and college-goers.

You also require a number of computer accessories and peripherals that can be wirelessly connected or accessed using the various ports on computing systems to get specific tasks done. Wireless keyboards, mouse, headphones, and webcams are just some of the basic accessories in your tech arsenal.