I've received a number of emails from listeners recently looking for laptop recommendations. There is no shortage of devices on offer, but how can you find something that suits your needs without breaking the bank?
The important things to consider when buying a laptop are:
- Budget
- Purpose
- Screen size
Once you've established your budget, think about what you want from a laptop. If you're just looking for something to answer emails and watch Netflix on, your requirements would be very different to someone looking to use heavy editing software or play video games.
RAM: My hard and fast rule is, never settle for less than 4GB of RAM.
Internal storage: Internal storage is no longer as important, in the era of the Cloud, but 500GB is usually a good number to look for.
Processor: In terms of a processor, don't think you need to go for the biggest one as that can drain your battery. An Intel Core i3 or i5 should do the job unless you're after something very heavy duty.
Screen size: Screen size is important too, as this will contribute to the weight. If you're after a laptop that will replace your desktop and stay in your home, 15.6-inch is ideal. If you'll be taking the laptop with you, 13 or 14-inch is probably better. The smaller the screen, the more expensive the device, however.
Recommendations:
HP Stream 14" - €299
If you're a student or use a lot of cloud-based programmes, this is an ideal device for you. It runs Windows 10, 4GB of RAM and a 32GB SSD. This isn't the most practical device for those looking to work off heavy software programmes or need to store files on the hard drive.
Lenovo Ideapad 110 15" Celeron - €389
Lenovo make some great machines and is generally underrated. This Ideapad has a 15-inch screen, a 1.6GHz processor and 4GB of RAM. There's a 500GB hard drive too. It runs Windows 10 and has a lovely screen.
This ticks many boxes and is excellent value for money.
HP Pavilion 15-aw084sa 15.6" - €479.00
If your budget can stretch to €480, you can get even more bang for your buck. This machine from HP has a Dual-core 2.9GHz processor and an impressive 8GB of RAM. There's also 1TB of storage built in. The keyboard is backlit and there are Bang and Olufsen speakers too.
Acer Aspire 15.6" - €579
Acer has an impressive range of laptop devices and this one is certainly worth considering if your budget is less than €600. Just like the other two computers above, this runs Windows 10 but has 6BG of RAM and an Intel Core i3 Processor. There's a 128GB SSD hard drive. This means the machine will power up without any delay.
If you have any tech questions, email jkelly@newstalk.com.
