When the world started pivoting to a remote-first culture, for many it was also time to shop for home-office essentials: a coffee maker for that boost of energy, an ergonomic chair to stay comfy all day and a new pair of headphones to tune into daily meetings (or tune out the neighbours).
But as we still get used to our new WFH lifestyle, it's important not to forget about the one piece of equipment that handles all of the work, binge-watching, gaming and studying you do: your laptop.
The good news is that if you're looking to further optimize your tech setup, there are plenty of options out there to suit every need. The not-so-good news? For the less technically savvy, buying a new laptop may seem a little intimidating.
With words like "RAM," "AMD" and "bezels," it can be easy to get overwhelmed. These tips and tricks will help you sift through all of the storage options, features and acronyms, so whatever it is you need to do, you can find the right laptop for the job.
Consider How Much Storage You May Need
One of the first things you should consider when buying a new laptop is how much storage (measured in gigabytes, or GB) you need. In order to figure that out, you'll have to think about what you're using your laptop for.
Generally speaking, the average person will be fine with between 250GB and 320GB of storage. To put this in perspective, 250GB of storage is around 30,000 average-sized songs or photos.
For those just looking to browse websites and watch Netflix, 250GB should be plenty. But if you're a photographer who keeps your images on your laptop, consider looking for greater capacity.
Think About Where You'll Be Working
The upside of working from home is that you can set yourself up pretty much anywhere. Gone are the days of sitting inside a dark cubicle where you're lucky to see a single ray of sunshine all day. At home, you can work from your couch, your patio or even in your backyard.
If you'll be sitting outside or in a sunny room, it makes a big difference to use a laptop that has an anti-glare feature. HP's 15-ef1020ca FHD model with an AMD Ryzen™ 4000 Series Processor, for example, has a non-reflective and low gloss screen, making it much easier to work outside without struggling with glare.
With its full HD display and included one year of 25GB Dropbox storage, you'll be able to get all of your work done and soak up a little sun while you're at it!
Figure Out What Size Screen You Want
Laptop screen sizes can vary, so understanding what you want before you start shopping is important.
If you're on the hunt for a smaller laptop that's easy to toss in your bag and carry around, consider one that has a 13-inch screen. If you want a bigger screen that you can work from home on, consider going with something around 15 or 16 inches instead.
Keep in mind that the measurements are diagonally from corner to corner, not across the screen horizontally.
Gaming? Find A Laptop To Help You Play
When you're done working for the day, it's always nice to relax with a little play. But what makes the best laptop for games?
Look for a gaming laptop equipped with an excellent graphics processor, like the HP Pavillion Gaming 15-ec1020ca. This AMD processor, the Ryzen™ 4000 Series, allows you to have top performance for gaming and content creation.
Plus, it has a backlit keyboard and integrated numeric pad so you can play in any environment.
Also, keep an eye out for an internal fan system so your gaming laptop doesn't overheat.
Look For Laptops To Inspire Creativity
If you work in a creative field, keep an eye out for a laptop that gives you the freedom to either type or use a touch screen.
With HP's ENVY x360 13-ay0008ca FHD convertible laptop, you can write, draw and select using the touch screen and then flip to the keyboard to finish up your work. Also featuring the AMD Ryzen™ 4000 Series Processor, it has the power to bring your ideas to life.
Look for an all-metal chassis as well, so your device will last as long as your creative ideas do.
Opt For Extra Application Add-Ons
If you're a student or have kids who are learning from home, take a look at the extra applications (like Microsoft Office) that come with your laptop.
Sometimes these applications are sold separately, so if you can find a device that comes with them, the work is done for you.
The HP 15-ef1014ca FHD laptop comes with a year of Office 365 Personal for free. That includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, 1TB of cloud storage and Skype.
Long-Lasting Battery Life Is Essential
For anyone working or learning from home, having a long-lasting battery helps us stay focused on the task at hand without the need to stay tethered to a wall socket or bolt to the nearest open plug for some power.
HP's 14-fq0038ca has up to eight hours of battery life so you can have an uninterrupted workday. Plus, it's fully equipped with HP fast charge. A powered down device will go from 0% to 50% battery in just 45 minutes, so in the unlikely event you run out of power, you don't have to wait very long to get back to work.
Keep An Eye Out For High Resolution-Screens
We've been spending a lot of time watching shows on our favourite streaming services, so making sure that your laptop gives you the best quality image possible is key.
When shopping for a display that will fit your needs, look for a resolution that is 1080p or higher. The higher the resolution, the more detail you'll be able to see.
That means you'll be able to see everything in perfect high definition no matter what you decide to binge.
The Higher The RAM, The Better
RAM, or system memory, is the part of the computer that stores everything that is currently being used on the device. In other words, if you're someone who likes to multitask (like having multiple tabs open at once), look for a laptop with a higher RAM.
The more RAM, the more your computer can do at once. That means you can be watching Netflix while also shopping for a new pair of shoes and checking Twitter all at once.
And if you feel like editing those pictures for your latest Instagram post, you can do that at the same time while your laptop remains at peak performance.
Make Sure You Check Out The Warranty
Life happens, and while you may be careful with your things, your laptop could become the victim of a spill or a drop and need replacing. Thankfully, most retailers have a variety of warranties available for the laptops they sell.
Whatever coverage you want will be completely up to you, but there are a few things to consider like your lifestyle, what you will be using the laptop for, if you'll be travelling with your device (when we're allowed again) and if kids will be using it.
Ensure An HD Camera Is Included
Whether it's a video call with friends and family or a meeting for work, the cameras on our computers have been getting quite the workout this past year.
If these are things you're doing on a daily basis, consider the quality of the camera on the laptop you're eyeing. Make sure that the device has an internal camera and look for words like "HD" or high definition.
That way you can look crystal clear in your next meeting, class or even on a virtual date!
You don't have to be tech-savvy to purchase the best laptop that fits your lifestyle. Keeping these tips in mind will make your search and purchase stress-free so you can get back to doing it all.
Whether you're working, playing or learning from home, HP has an ultra-fast, high-performance laptop to meet your needs, whatever they are.