I need some advice on what specifications I should be searching for. Windows 98 was still in use when I last purchased a laptop, and twin-core Intel processors had recently become available. Pause for laughs.
Now I need to get one for my child, but I am not sure what’s a good buy and what is not. So if you could please educate me on what constitutes a good laptop today, I would appreciate it.
What I would do is set a budget and let them choose, because this will make them feel more independent, and it also eliminates the need for you to study, and the research will most likely be more comprehensive because they will have more time and motivation to purchase a nice laptop. My parents did it when I got my first phone, laptop, etc. back in the day, and I ended up with considerably more suitable equipment as a result.
I totally agree. He did this for his gaming console and phone, and I understood the specifications. He is doing his investigation, but I am asking so I can assist him determine whether the laptop meets his requirements.
I know he doesn’t need terabytes of storage or a high-end graphics card because he will not be gaming on it. I just want to make sure it’s not too slow, so processing speed is important that is all I know. What constitutes a typical CPU today? I tried inquiring at BestBuy, but the employee was so arrogant that I wanted to call his mother and teach him manners.
I consider myself smart, but am not up to date on technology that I do not utilize. I admit I should be more informed, given how quickly it evolves. Still, that is no excuse for being treated harshly by a “Geek Squad” kid.
Fair enough, and sorry for underestimating you. As for specs, I’d recommend 16GB+ of RAM—8GB is okay for a Chromebook, but not ideal otherwise. DDR5 is faster and more common now, though DDR4 is still fine if you’re looking at refurbished options. For storage, 256GB is the minimum, but 512GB is better. Both RAM and storage are more affordable nowadays, so getting more often doesn’t cost much.
As for the CPU, I am not too familiar with AMD, but higher numbers are better for Intel. I would avoid the i3, as it might be underpowered. If you want to do any gaming, a separate graphics card is a good idea, but I can not recommend specific ones. Screen size, resolution, camera, and dimensions should be pretty straightforward to figure out.
The most informative response that I have received in such a short way. Thank you.
I work for Geek Squad at my local Best Buy, and I completely agree with you. Two of our computer employees were laid off because they were both impolite and talked over others.
I hope you were able to speak with one of the managers at your local Best Buy, since I am confident they would be able to assist you quickly.