Which notebook suits me? decision support
If you want to switch from a desktop PC to a mobile solution, the question arises: "Which notebook suits me?" Of course, this cannot be answered generally, since each user - depending on the area of application - has different requirements for the device. We present several types of notebooks and give tips for buying them.
Decision support: differences between notebooks
If you have not yet worked with laptops, we will give you a first overview of what needs to be considered:
- The screen size: There are notebooks from 13 inches upwards. The smaller version is called the netbook and starts at 7 inches. In another article you can read the exact differences between netbook and notebook. If you only run standard programs such as the browser and Office, small displays are also suitable.
- The display: If you look for notebook displays, you will find matt and glossy models. Matte displays reflect less when exposed to sunlight. There are also notebooks with touch displays. This allows you to conveniently operate the notebook on the screen with your finger.
- Battery life: An important factor in notebooks is the battery life. If you use your device mobile, you should pay attention to a good value here. The Dell XPS 13 performs particularly well in our test in this regard.
- The rest of the inner life: Depending on the price range, you get fast SSD hard disks, lots of RAM and different operating systems. We show you three sample models for different applications in the following sections.
Inexpensive notebooks for office applications
If you only want to use common applications such as the Office package, browser applications and e-mail traffic on the device, there are already entry-level notebooks from Lenovo for less than 300 euros.
- With 500 GB hard disk space and expandable 4 GigaByte RAM, you can manage data such as music and pictures on the notebook. You get additional storage space via an external hard drive.
- The price segment includes webcam, USB 3.0 connections and HDMI. At just under 1.8 kilograms, the notebook is quite light and is suitable for on the go. A battery life of up to five hours is sufficient for simple use.
- As on most devices in this price range, the laptop is equipped with a Windows operating system. Regardless of whether version 7 or 8 is preinstalled: Both can be updated to the latest Windows 10.
- The 13-inch notebook fits in larger handbags and backpacks. The matte display proves itself especially outdoors when exposed to sunlight.
- If you need an affordable notebook for everyday use and on the go, Lenovo offers good entry-level models.
Noble and slim: MacBooks from Apple
If you want to invest more and have little space in your pocket, you can find a lightweight companion in the Apple MacBook from around 1450 euros.
- With a 256-GigaByste SSD hard drive and 8 GigaByte RAM you can run even more demanding programs quickly.
- The notebook has a USB-C port as an interface. The matching adapters are available separately. With a weight of only 920 grams and a runtime of up to 13 hours, you can work with the device ideally on the go.
- The MacOS operating system is preinstalled on the 12-inch notebook. This is generally only available on Apple devices.
- If you need long battery life and have no problem with the high price, the MacBook from Apple is well suited for you. As an alternative with significantly more performance, there is the Macbook Pro series from Apple.
Gaming notebooks for mobile gamers
If you play outside the home more often, you can get the Acer Aspire from around 660 euros or a gaming notebook from MSI from 720 euros.
- If you want to run graphics-heavy games on the notebook, you should choose at least 15 inch screen size and not save on the graphics card. Newer games like "Witcher 3" already require around 50 gigabytes of storage space. The hard disk should also be large enough.
- The device from MSI, for example, can properly display newer games with the Full HD resolution and the NVidia GeForce GTX 850 M. If you want to play the latest games in full resolution with all graphic additions smoothly, you have to invest more money.
- Make sure you have a good fan and overheating protection on a gaming notebook. In general, however, you also have to reckon with a higher weight.
If you don't like any of the models presented, you will find the laptop recommendations with Windows 10 in another article.