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Top qualities to consider when choosing a laptop for remote work

Top qualities to consider when choosing a laptop for remote work

If your laptop can’t keep up with your work needs and is dragging your productivity down, it’s time to get a new one. But what qualities should you look for when choosing a laptop for remote work? Being able to work in your PJs in the comfort of your own bed is one of the greatest perks of working from home. Working remotely is not so great, though, if you’re stuck with a laptop that’s slow and inefficient.

Top Qualities to Consider

Choosing a laptop for remote work doesn’t have to be difficult. Just keep these key features in mind and you’ll be sure to find the perfect laptop for your work from home needs.

  • Size – When it comes to laptops, size matters. Choose a laptop size that will allow you to comfortably perform your tasks. If you’re a graphic designer, you might want to have a bigger display. However, if your work mostly entails writing, blogging, or doing reports, you probably need a standard-sized (11.6- to 15.6-inch) laptop.

Why do laptop’s size and weight matter?

You should take these characteristics into account if you’re going to work remotely from several different locations. If you’re not planning on traveling, then you can use the biggest and the heaviest work-from-home laptop. But a 12-pound laptop can be an inconvenience, considering most airlines have a 15-pound limit for carry-on's.

Apart from size and weight, consider the laptop’s build quality. Carbon fiber is the most popular material used in budget laptops, while premium models are built using anodized aluminum. Both materials should be able to withstand the 194 F (90 C) heat.

  • CPU – By any given standards, Intel Core processors offer the best performance, especially when it comes to multitasking and multimedia tasks. Core i3-based laptops are generally found in budget systems, while Core i5 makes up the majority of mainstream business computers. If you want top-of-the-line performance, a Core i7 or even Core i9 CPU is ideal for you.
  • RAM – More RAM allows for more applications to run simultaneously and for data to be quickly accessible by the system anytime. Nowadays, 8 GB is recommended for most users. But if you’re dealing with many applications and assets at any given time, consider 16 GB and above.
  • Storage – Consider a laptop with a solid state drive (SSD), which offers a lot more speed than a hard disk drive when it comes to booting your system and loading programs. It also runs silently and can be installed without adding too much weight and bulk to the laptop.
  • Battery life – Even if you’re plugged in the whole day since you’re working from home, it’s good to factor in the battery life of your laptop. Note that there are many variables that affect battery life, such as screen resolution, brightness, and the number of applications running in the background. Look at the capacity of the battery in watt-hours (Wh) or milliampere-hours (mAh); the higher the capacity is, the longer the battery can last, the longer the battery can last.

Battery life is undoubtedly one of the critical characteristic features of a computer. If you plan to work from different locations, longer battery life means higher reliability of a laptop. You won’t have to take your charger with you. Besides, longer battery life can provide a lifeline if there is a power outage.

What’s the optimal battery life for a good work-from-home laptop?

The longer, the better. Some laptops (new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro) can hold the battery for up to 18 hours. But it comes with a price tag. More affordable options, such as RedmiBook, have an 8-hour battery life, which is enough for an entire workday.

Top recommended laptops for your work from home needs

When you work from home, having a great laptop is key to being productive. But with so many options on the market, it can be hard to know which one is best for you. To get you started, here are some recommendations for the best work from home laptop.

  • Chromebooks
    • Chromebooks are budget-friendly laptops that guarantee long battery lives and come with fast processors for web browsing and running productivity apps. They’re lightweight and compact, which is perfect for those times you need to move around your home or to another location. In addition, Chromebook laptops usually have quiet and ergonomic keyboards. With their built-in Chrome OS, Chromebooks are fast and secure, and will keep you working efficiently.
  • 2-in-1 laptops
    • Lightweight laptops with a tablet touch screen allow for unparalleled flexibility and mobility. Most 2-in-1s also have HD displays backed by high-speed processors and integrated graphics to enhance your video conferencing experience. What’s more, they’re usually paired with a stylus, making them perfect for note-taking, photo editing, and other creative tasks.
  • Microsoft Surface laptop
    • Microsoft Surface laptops are considered top performers in the premium laptop market, as they offer great balance and portability. They handle general computing superbly with no slowdown and noise, even if you’re running 10 applications and have multiple browser tabs open. Other great integrations include an excellent keyboard and trackpad and an ideal screen ratio that’s perfect for productivity tasks.

Choosing a laptop for remote work is an investment, so you should know what to look for and what to consider before purchasing one. While it’s tempting to get all the great features, it’s more important to have a laptop that’s reliable and best suited for your needs, especially when you can’t afford to deal with hardware issues while working from home. If you want to learn more about the best technology tools to support remote working, call us today to learn more.

Contact Beringer Today!

There are many details to consider when purchasing a laptop for remote work. If you need help understanding the right features that your employees need for capability and efficiency, then reach out to Beringer Technology Group today.

Beringer Technology Group, a leading Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and CRM for Distribution also provides expert Managed IT ServicesBackup and Disaster RecoveryCloud Based Computing, Email Security Implementation and Training,  Unified Communication Solutions, and Cybersecurity Risk Assessment.


theProfessor

theProfessor

Rob is the CTO of Beringer Technology Group, and focuses his efforts on software development, cloud engineering, team mentoring and strategic technical direction. Rob has worked with Beringer since 2005, and has influenced every department from Development, Security, Implementation, Support and Sales. Rob graduated with his MBA from Rowan University in 2012, earned his Bachelors of Computer Science in 1997, and is current with several Microsoft technical certifications. Rob is very active, and loves to mountain bike, weight train, cook and hike with his dog pack.