Buying guide for laptops & desktops for your office

Storage

Hard drive

The hard drive is where your computer stores your permanent data like the operating system, software programs, photos, videos, music and more. Hard drives range in size from 320GB to 2TB. For basic use, 500GB is fine. But if you've got folders and folders of photos, or if you plan on running lots of programs, choose at least 1TB.

SSD

SSD or "Solid-State Drives" are the latest technology in internal storage. They're smaller, lighter and faster than regular internal drives and have no moving parts so they're less susceptible to failure and help prolong battery life. Solid-State Drives can be found in the newest laptops, desktops and Ultrabooks.

Battery life

If you'll be working out of the office, choose a longer-lasting battery – some can last up to 9 hours. Also, heavy processing functions such as gaming and movies will drain your battery more quickly than writing a word document.

Laptop Types

Everyday

Most laptops fall into this category and range from basic to high performance depending on the features you choose.

Ultrabooks

Ultrabooks are a step up from netbooks – they've got more processing power and more advanced features than netbooks (like fast Solid-State Drives) but are smaller and lighter than laptops. Some models come with an optical drive so you can watch DVDs.

Convertibles

Convertibles, also known as 2-1s, allow your laptop to be converted to other forms. Common forms include tent mode in which the monitor folds back about 225 degrees. There are also 360 convertibles in which the monitor flips back the full 360 degrees allowing the laptop to work more like a tablet. Lastly there are detachables in which you can literally pull the monitor off of the keyboard allowing you to have a very portable tablet.

Commercial PCs

Commercial laptops are usually more expensive than their consumer counterparts—they're generally of a higher build quality, meaning more metal and less plastic allowing them to take on more abuse before breaking. They also are free of manufacturer included software, which keeps your computer running quickly. Commercial laptops also change designs less frequently. This allows finding replacement parts much more accessible in the instance something does go wrong. Lastly, commercial laptops have an optional docking station allowing you to quickly plug in your laptop to multiple monitors, printers, and other accessories without having to replug in multiple USB cords. To read the full difference please read the full article by clicking here.

Tower PCs

The tower desktop is the most common PC and offers the greatest range of features. Lower-end desktops are usually less expensive than lower-end laptops while still offering basic everyday performance. Desktops offer the most connectivity options and are also highly expandable.

All-in-one

Rather than having a separate tower and monitor, all-in-one desktops combine these features into one space-saving design. Some have a touchscreen display, and many come with a wireless keyboard and mouse.