Shopping for laptops fucking sucks ‘cause I don’t know shit about computers. I’ve never had a computer with a functional webcam or microphone or the ability to play computer games made later than 2005 or a speaker that could play anything loud enough to hear from more than a foot away. How the hell should I know what I want?!
wow that would be such useful advice if only desktop PCs were small and portable and did not require desk tops on which to place them and I could take them with me when I traveled
I know this is a haha funny post, but for anyone who needs it, here's a quick-and-dirty of what you're most likely going to see while shopping for a computer/laptop (w/Examples)!
- Cores/Intel Cores (Ex. i3, i5, i9)= Processing Speed= how fast your internet and other programs run. More cores is better.
- Hard [Disk] Drive(HDD)/Solid State Drive(SSD) (Ex. 250GB, 480GB, 2TB)= How much you can store on your computer (files and apps and programs). A Terabyte(TB) is 1,000 Gigabytes.
*HDD is cheaper and more storage while SSD is faster, more durable, and uses less energy.
- Memory/RAM(Random Access Memory) (Ex. 4GB, 8GB, 16GB) = How many different things your computer can do At The Same Time.
Ex. A computer with 4GB of RAM will probably shit itself if you try to play a game with with the internet open.
- Video/Graphics Cards (Ex. NVIDIA, Intel HD Graphics, AMD) = How much visual complexity your computer can handle without throwing a tantrum. Only important if you play video games, do digital art, or watch a lot of movies on your computer. (When you're watching a video and it pixelates and lags when the action stuff happens, that's a bad/small graphics card)
Also, DO BUY REFURBED LAPTOPS!
Especially with CoVid and the international whatever capitalism is doing stuff going on new laptops have become crazy expensive. Like I was looking at buying one right as the pandemic started, didn't have the money and now the same laptop is like 200€ more expensive.
But if you like only need it for casual stuff, like writing, youtube, playing music, playing games that aren't as demanding (like Stardew Valley), a refurb device is just fine. And if you get it from a reputable source they will have given it a once over and it will have a warranty. Mostly for a year, some places. offer two years for a few more bucks.
And on top of that, depending on the device, some refurbed models are hardly used. They are from companies that gave out laptops to their employees who also had desktop PCs. Obviously that changed too, so refurbed Laptops are also getting expensive and scarce. But if you find a refurbed laptop that fits your needs, you're also helping reduce electrical waste. It's a big pain in the ass to properly recycle electronics, which is why it's often not done. And let's be honest. Not everyone needs the newest, flashiest device.
It's just important that the place you get it from is reputable, check reviews and other websites. Maybe even check if someone on reddit talked about. And heck, you can even get a high spec laptop from refurbed places, only they are most likely almost just as expensive as new, but still. Support refurbed stuff.