A laptop is a portable computer that you can use anywhere. It’s one of the most popular computers available today, since it’s easy to carry from place to place and use in many different situations.
The first laptops were created in the 1980s, but they were much larger and heavier than modern laptops. Over time, various features have been added to laptops, making them more versatile than ever before. Here are some of the most important features of a modern laptop.
Random Access Memory or RAM
RAM is the most important feature in a laptop. It’s what allows the system to run multiple applications and open multiple files at once.
RAM stands for Random Access Memory, which means it can be accessed randomly, or at any time in any order. The more RAM a computer has, the faster it will be able to work.
More RAM Allows for More Applications to Be Run
RAM is the place where your computer stores information that it’s currently working on. When you open a program or document, your PC copies that file into RAM so that it can work on it. Once your PC closes the program or document, it no longer needs the information in RAM, so it moves the data back to its permanent location on your hard drive (or SSD).
The more RAM you have, the more things you can have open at once and still run smoothly. For example, if you’re watching HD video on YouTube and checking email at the same time, your computer will need more RAM than if you were just doing one thing at a time.
When shopping for a new laptop, check out how much memory comes standard with each model the higher this number is, the better off you’ll be when multitasking. 4GB RAM and above is ideal for any laptop.
Keyboard Quality
If you’re a writer, you probably spend most of your time at the keyboard. When you’re shopping for one, find a laptop for a freelance writer. This has keys that respond well when you press them; they should feel neither too stiff nor too soft. If they don’t give good feedback when pressed, the laptop’s keyboard is not the best quality.
Backlighting
This is an optional, but laptops for writers and gaming with a backlit keyboard is a nice feature that makes typing in low light easier. The soft glow of light coming from underneath each key can make it easier to see what’s on the screen in dark rooms. It’s also less harsh on the eyes than regular overhead lighting.
If gaming is your thing, then look for a laptop with responsive keys. Gaming requires fast reflexes and a quality keyboard is essential for any gamer.
Central Processing Unit or CPU
The central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of your computer. It handles all instructions it receives from hardware and software running on the computer. As with a human brain, the CPU has to perform billions of calculations per second in order to function properly. Without the CPU, your laptop would not be able to function at all.
The speed at which a CPU can perform calculations is measured in gigahertz (GHz). The higher the number, the faster the computer will be. Most laptops are capable of running at speeds of 2 GHz or more.
Screen Resolution
The display on your laptop is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a laptop. It’s where you’ll be spending most of your time, so make sure you get a screen that’s large enough, has great color quality and is bright enough for all the tasks you need to do on it.
Display resolutions are measured in pixels. The higher the pixel count, the sharper the image will be. Most laptops have displays with resolutions between 1366 x 768 and 1920 x 1080 pixels. The best displays have Full HD or Quad HD resolutions of 1920 x 1080 or 2560 x 1440 pixels.
Resolution isn’t everything though, as there are other factors that determine how good a display looks such as brightness and contrast ratio (the difference between how dark blacks look compared to how bright whites look).
Size
The size of a laptop is measured in inches and depends on what you need. If you need to carry it around from place to place, a small and lightweight laptop will be more convenient. However, if you need to use it for work purposes, then a large screen is more suitable.
The size of the laptop screen can range from 11″ to 17″, with 13″ being the most common size. Larger screens are good for viewing photos and videos but can be hard to carry around with you.
Storage
A laptop’s storage is the amount of space on a hard drive where you can store your files. A hard drive’s capacity determines how many photos, videos, songs and documents you can access at once.
The more storage there is on a laptop, the more you’re able to keep in one place. Laptops also have built-in memory; a type of storage inside the computer that’s separate from the hard drive that can be used to store files temporarily while they’re being worked on or while the computer is turned off.
Battery life
Battery life is the amount of time a laptop (or other portable device) can be unplugged and used before the device needs to be recharged. Battery life is measured in hours (h).
The battery life of most laptops is between two to five hours, depending on how the laptop is being used. For example, a laptop with an Intel Core i5-430M processor will have a battery life of 2.5 hours when performing tasks that use little battery power (such as word processing or Internet browsing) but will have a battery life of 1.75 hours when performing more intensive tasks that use more battery power (such as playing games or watching movies).
It’s also worth considering whether you need a long lasting battery for frequent travel, or if it will just be used around the house or office. You should look for a minimum of 5 hours from full charge in order to make sure that your laptop won’t run out of power during use.
