Why There Are So Many Types of Laptops (and How to Choose Between Them)

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If you’ve looked at laptops for sale recently, you’ve probably discovered that there are practically infinite options available to you. There are laptops designed for business. There are laptops designed for school. There are laptops designed for gaming and other specialty applications. And within these categories, there are literally hundreds of variants to choose from, offered by dozens of major brands.

How is it that we have access to so many different types of laptops? And how are you supposed to choose between them?

The Diversity of Laptops

There are many different types of laptops available in part to fulfill consumer demand. Most people need a laptop for daily use, but people need laptops for very different reasons. If you’re using a laptop for playing video games, mining cryptocurrency, or video editing, you need a machine that’s capable of great processing power. But if you’re simply using a laptop to create documents and occasionally access the internet, you’d probably be happier with something smaller, lighter, and less powerful.

Laptop manufacturers and distributors know this, so they’ve attempted to create a laptop for every conceivable customer persona. They also know that custom building a laptop from scratch isn’t something that the average person can do, so they try to make prefabricated builds as appealing as possible to as many people as possible.

How to Choose Between the Laptops Available

What strategies can you employ to effectively choose between the laptops available?

•       Write a list of priorities. There are many priorities to juggle when buying a laptop. Do you get something fast with incredible performance, even if it means spending extra? Do you want a longer battery life instead of a big, backlit screen? Would you be willing to sacrifice the portability of your laptop if it meant having some upgraded core specs? Each individual is going to answer these questions differently, so consider them carefully and write out your list of personal priorities.
•       Learn your stuff. You don’t need to be a computer whiz to buy a laptop that suits your needs, but it helps if you understand some of the terminology. For example, you should be able to understand and articulate the difference between random access memory (RAM) and a graphics processing unit (GPU). You should also understand industry thresholds for things like battery life. The more knowledgeable you are about the individual components that make up your laptop and the features that make it distinctive, the more appropriate your final decision will likely be.
•       Establish your budget. Next, set a budget for yourself. If you had unlimited money, you could purchase any laptop you wanted – but you probably don’t, so be ready to make some sacrifices. The more money you spend, the more powerful your final laptop will be, but don’t spend so much money that it jeopardizes your personal financial position.
•       Choose a major brand. Generally speaking, it’s better to work with a major brand when buying a laptop. Not only will this entitle you to higher quality materials and craftsmanship, but a larger brand is more likely to stand by their product and make things right if anything goes wrong. There are many major brands to choose from, so do your due diligence and compare them.
•       Try a custom build. Don’t be afraid to try out a custom build. If you can’t find the perfect laptop on the market, you may be able to construct one from scratch, using a custom laptop builder offered by a major brand. In this scenario, you’ll be able to choose all the components you want and avoid all the components you don’t need so you can get a laptop at the right price.
•       Compare actively. If you don’t try a custom build, you should compare prebuilt options as actively as possible. Compare and contrast laptops at different price levels, with totally different sets of features, and speculate about how each one might contribute to your success. If you get the option to try these laptops in person, take advantage of it; the tactile experience of using a laptop is sometimes different than what you picture in your head.
•       Strike when prices are favorable. If you’re willing to be patient, you can find a great deal on a laptop. Take your time, watch for sales, and make a final purchase whenever you see prices drop significantly. Of course, if you have an urgent need for a laptop, you may not have the luxury of waiting.

With these tactics, you should be in a much better position to secure the laptop you’ve always wanted. It may not have every top-of-the-line component available, but it should be perfectly appropriate for what you need.