Despite the plethora of tablets and mobile devices on the market, business professionals still depend on good old-fashioned laptops / notebooks as general workhorses. Here are a few things to consider when purchasing your next business laptop:
Size and Weight
Do you plan to take your laptop with you very often? If so, you need one that is convenient to carry. It may be better to choose something that is light in weight, with a screen size of 13 or 14 inches. Larger 17-inch screens can be cumbersome to transport, and a little too big for using on a train. If you require a larger screen in the office you can always plug the laptop into a separate monitor.
Operating System
The operating system is actually very important, but is often forgotten. It is good sense to try and match your laptop to your desktop computer, as your software will remain compatible and document transfer will be very straightforward.
Processor
It is unlikely that you will need the latest processor, as high-end processors are more suited to intense laptop activities such as gaming or video editing. If you are browsing the web, checking e-mail, using Skype and working on office documents, then a slower processor such as an Intel Core i5 is more than enough.
Ports
It's easy to be enticed by thin and affordable laptops, but they can have serious disadvantages, one of which is the lack of ports. Ports are necessary as they make your laptop even more functional or useful, allowing you to attach external devices such as printers, memory cards, monitors etc. Make sure you have at least 3-4 USB ports, WiFi capability and the ability to connect to a monitor to it in case you want to use it as a desktop machine.
Battery
If you tend to travel a lot, you will need a good battery life. Aim for something in the region of 4-6 hours when searching for your laptop. It can also be useful to have the ability to purchase a second battery, as this allows you to effectively double your work time while travelling.
