Laptop Computer System Selection Guide

• What is the minimum specification for a laptop computer to suit your needs?
• Create a custom specification checklist for you.
• Avoid spending too much.
• Confirm you have included all the right components.
• Copy the results and see which laptop computer suits you.

Laptop Computer Selection Guide

Click in the check boxes or select values on the right for each row that describes your usage. Click the Get Results button to generate the computer system specification results.

Additional Laptop Computer System features to look out for

• Energy Star 4 or 5 computers for energy efficiency
• Computer Power Management Features enabled

How to connect to the Internet?

If an Internet connection exists on the premises then the new computer needs to join the network using Ethernet or Wireless Ethernet.
Ethernet connection can be made with Category 6 cable.
Wireless Ethernet Wifi is standard on most laptops, Wifi ability on the network uses a Wifi enabled router or wireless access point. The wifi network name and password is needed for a connection.
There are multiple wireless network standards available A B G N. G is most popular and also handle B protocols. N is fastest but a relatively new standard. All wifi components need to work to one standard.
If the building is very hard to cable and the solid walls are too thick for wifi, then Ethernet adapters can use the house mains wiring as a communication medium. These are expensive and relatively slow.

For a new Internet connection the options include dial up, ADSL, cable, Fibre, mobile 3G and WiMax. Appropriate hardware and possible cabling need to be considered.
Investigate if VOIP telephony can reduce your overall communication costs.

Which Operating System to choose?

This depends on if there are any special requirements for your software choices. General computing can be achieved with Linux, Microsoft Windows 7 or Apple Mac OS X.

Cheap Laptop Computer Options

• Choose just the amount of performance required.
• Ignore the fastest processor i7 or fastest graphics card GTX 4xx / Radeon 59xx.
• Consider open source or Internet based software.
• Chromebook computers for light computing needs can be cheaper than laptops.
• Linux operating system (free) can be $150 AUD cheaper than Windows 7 Home Premium or Mac OS X.

Laptop Selection Product Examples

Click on laptop images for more information

Dell XPS 9350-1340SLV 13.3 Inch Laptop (Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD, Silver) Microsoft Signature Image	Lenovo ThinkPad T470 Laptop Intel Core i5-7300U Processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 180GB SSD, Black - 14" - Black - 20HD004BUS	ASUS C302CA-DHM4 Chromebook Flip 12.5-inch Touchscreen Convertible Chromebook, Intel Core m3, 4GB RAM, 64GB Flash Storage, All-Metal Body, USB Type C, Corning Gorilla Glass, Chrome OS
Acer Aspire E 15, 15.6" Full HD, 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 8GB RAM Memory, 256GB SSD, E5-576G-5762	HP Notebook 15-ay011nr 15.6-inch Laptop (6th Gen Intel Core i5-6200U Processor, 8GB DDR3L SDRAM, 1TB HDD, Windows 10), Silver	Microsoft Surface Book 13.5" i5 256GB Multi-Touch 2-in-1 Notebook (Silver)