There are many laptops to choose from. The decision will depend on what you need the laptop for, how much money you have, and what features are important to you.
Laptops vary in price depending on their brand name, size of the screen, weight of the computer, battery life and more. You can get a cheap laptop online or at an electronic store for less than $300 but there are some disadvantages- it might be missing some important features like bluetooth or HDMI port…etc.
It’s also worth considering whether your teen needs a Windows PC or Mac OS X based computer – they’re not interchangeable so make sure they know which one they want before buying.
Here are some tips to help you choose the right laptop or the best chromebook for your teenage child:
Screen size
Laptops with screens larger than 15″ are usually bulky and expensive. However, they offer a better resolution and bigger workspace which make them ideal for working on large documents, watching movies or playing games.
Smaller laptops (14″ screen) are typically more mobile but the limited workspace is a major limitation. They might be suitable if your teen doesn’t need to perform too many tasks simultaneously or watch movies on it, but for school assignments they will need something bigger.
Processor speed
Before you buy your laptop make sure that its processor can handle what’s currently being used on your home PC. If it’s a mainstream Windows or Mac OS X computer, the speed should be sufficient for all daily tasks unless you have multiple users accessing the system simultaneously.
Screen resolution
Higher resolution means sharper images and text – but laptops with high resolutions are more expensive and consume more power since there are more pixels on the screen. Make sure you choose the right resolution for your teen’s needs.
Hard drive size
Laptops with hard drives that are 320GB or more are good enough for most users. They can store dozens of movies, thousands of photos and all of your family’s data easily – while laptops with smaller hard drives don’t have much room left for multimedia files.
Battery life
The battery is one of the most important features of a laptop since it determines how long you can use your computer on a single charge. For example, an Apple MacBook Pro 13″ with 8 hours of battery life will have significantly better specs than a Windows computer that offers just 3 hours of battery life.
Weight & size
Laptops come in many shapes and sizes. The most portable laptops are usually ultrabooks that weight less than 3 lbs or tablets that can’t run desktop applications like iTunes, Photoshop or Microsoft Office. On the other end of the spectrum, large 17″ laptops are great for working on multiple tasks or watching videos but take up a lot of space and are quite expensive.
Portability should be considered depending on where you will use the laptop; if it’s mainly for school, portability is less important than screen size, battery life and other features.
CPU speed
For most home users, modern dual-core processors are more than enough. They can run movies, music or other multimedia files easily without lagging or heating up the system. The processor speed will also determine how well your computer runs video games – so it should be considered if you have a gamer in the house.
Memory
Ram memory is the second most important thing after a fast processor. Make sure your laptop has 2GB at least and 4GB for current operating systems – if it’s running an older version of Windows, you should consider getting a new laptop since Windows XP or Vista machines won’t be able to run any other software apart from web browsers.
Graphics chip
Intel graphics chips are more than enough for multimedia tasks, watching movies and streaming video. If you plan on playing games or editing videos, consider going with a NVIDIA or AMD graphics card. Macbooks have their own graphics chips inside, so you don’t need to worry about that.
Storage space
Having a solid state drive (SSD) is very important if you need a fast laptop – but they’re more expensive than hard drives that come with spinning platters. You can use an SSD instead of a regular HDD to speed up the system, but you’ll need to switch back to HDD if you plan on storing lots of multimedia files since SSDs are limited in size.
Operating system
Windows laptops are more popular amongst mainstream users – but if you’re running Mac OS X, you should consider buying an Apple computer instead. Windows laptops are also pricier than Macs that come with the same specs – but there are lots of great cheap Windows laptops for teenagers that don’t cost too much money.
Design
Most laptops come with a simple design or a standard black color, but there are also multiple other colors and textures available. If your teen wants to stand out from the crowd, choosing a unique-looking laptop is probably worth spending extra money on.
Laptop accessories
There are many options for buying accessories for your laptop including carrying cases, cooling pads, extended batteries, etc. But these are usually optional – most accessories won’t make a big difference when it comes to the overall experience.
Before you buy a new laptop for your teen, consider all of these features carefully and choose the right model that will fit their needs in terms of software, storage space, battery life and more.
How to configure a new laptop from scratch
1. Get a good laptop stand.
This is an investment that can really help you switch between different tasks and improve your posture throughout the day.
2. Buy a wireless mouse and keyboard instead of using your laptop’s built-in ones. You’ll avoid hand pain and even carpal tunnel syndrome this way – plus, most people just don’t like small and hard-to-use trackpads anyway.
3. Buy a mobile broadband card or mobile hotspot if you don’t have one already. Access to the internet will be limited otherwise – and it’s frustrating when you’re trying to watch Netflix on your laptop but there’s no wifi signal in the house, for example.
4. Get yourself an external hard drive to backup your system and data regularly. Just in case. It’s wise not to store all of your files on the laptop itself since they’ll take up too much storage space over time.
5. Clean the laptop by running a dust remover through its vents every now and then. This can help your laptop run cooler.
6. Make sure you get the right laptop bag that fits all of your accessories neatly inside. Including the mouse, external hard drive, power cord and other important things.
7. Get an extra-long power cord if you plan on moving around while your laptop is charging. It’s annoying when you don’t have enough length to move around freely.
8. Buy a protective laptop skin or cover for your device. They’re not only functional but also fun to use. So choose the one that suits your needs and tastes best.
9. Get an external hard drive with backup capabilities before you do anything else. They truly come in handy at all times and you’ll never lose any files again.
10. Get a laptop cooling pad if you’re going to use the device for many hours straight. It will help keep your laptop cool and avoid issues with overheating in the future.
Conclusion
The conclusion of the blog post is to help people know how they can protect their new laptop from viruses. It talks about antivirus software and anti-malware programs which will be helpful for someone who just got a computer! This article also gives some advice on what type of laptop you should buy based on your needs, budget, size preference, etc. If you still have questions after reading this article then feel free to contact us anytime–we’re always happy to answer any queries that readers may have!