What Laptop Should I Get?

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Are you in the market for a new laptop? If so, you should know that now’s a great time to go shopping for electronics.

But don’t just pull out your wallet and splurge on the latest device: There are some things you need to consider. You should know a thing or two or three about the specific laptops you’re looking at.

How Long Do Laptops Last?

Laptops are not built to last forever. Expect yours to work at an optimum level between three to five years. After that, you’re likely to see some functionality fade as its memory starts to get used up.

Another issue is compatibility. Manufacturers eventually make older model laptops obsolete due to updates and other tech advancements in the operating systems, which we’ll touch on a bit later.

What To Look For In A Laptop

In this article, we’ll go over some laptop specifications that you need to be familiar with when shopping for one.

The first thing that you should want to nail down are the features that the laptop has. Some of the things to look for are:

Best Features To Consider

  • Ports: How many ports does it have? You’ll need to know this when you consider the many accessories you’ll need. 
  • Does it come with Microsoft 365 and Office.
  • Does it come with an adaptor? Make sure it does.
  • Mouse: Is the mouse one that you can scroll freely with? How’s the navigation?

Exterior

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The laptop’s exterior is another aspect that you’ll need to study thoroughly. Laptops typically come in “clamshell” exteriors or the 2-in-1 variety, which includes the portable nature laptops and tablets.

The 2-in-1 models typically give you more ports than the clamshell options, which is very important when it comes to connectivity.

Know Your Operating System

The operating system is the engine of your laptop. When you buy a computer, the operating system, known as the “OS’ will determine everything from your speed, display to software and hardware compatibility and memory.

Screen Size

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Laptop screen sizes come in different sizes, typically up to 19 inches. Depending on how you’ll use your laptop (gaming, photo editing, etc.), you may need a large or small size.

When choosing a screen size, be mindful that the larger you go, the most limited your packaging options will be. The device will also be heavier as you add more size.

Memory

The more random-access memory (RAM) you have, the more processing power and speed you’ll typically have. This is very important if you plan to run several programs at once.

You’ll see some good deals with 4 to 8 gigabytes (GB), but you’ll want to keep in mind that those with 64GB and higher will typically handle most of anything you throw at them.

Battery Life

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One of the most important factors in a good laptop is the battery life. You can typically guage the battery life of any laptop by going into its settings. 

To make sure of your battery power, run a diagnostic test to see how old your battery is and how many hours it has become it needs to be recharged.

Shop these quality laptops.

Final Word

There you have it: Everything you need to choose a laptop that you can live (and work) with.

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Tee Johnson: Tee Johnson is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AtlantaFi.com, Atlanta’s independent hyper-local publication focused on news, restaurants, events, jobs, neighborhoods, and lifestyle. A 15+ year Atlanta resident and longtime journalist and content creator, she covers Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care, and Money with a practical, Atlanta-first lens. Before launching the site, Johnson worked as a substitute teacher in Atlanta Public Schools and later in corporate roles at Home Depot’s Vinings offices. A marketer by training with a degree in business management, she grew frustrated with the fragmented, hard-to-find information about what was actually happening in the city. That gap led her to create AtlantaFi as a curated, one-stop resource for the pulse of Atlanta—#ATLHAPS—without the national noise. Editorial decisions remain independent; the publication does not accept products, meals, or services in exchange for coverage. As Editor-in-Chief, she oversees original local reporting and curated practical guides that help residents, visitors, and businesses discover and engage with the city. Readers turn to her work for timely event roundups, dining and neighborhood insights, business and travel updates, and straightforward money and lifestyle coverage grounded in firsthand observation of Atlanta. A devoted lover of all things Atlanta, Tee enjoys pickleball, a good margarita or bourbon, and walking the Atlanta Beltline. She can be reached for editorial inquiries at tjohnson@atlantafi.com (serious inquiries only).

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