Choosing a laptop for business use

Today's laptops are increasingly replacing desktop PCs as office workstations. As such, they come in more configurations than ever. 

And when it comes to choosing laptops for business, you've got different questions from a private buyer. Far from being concerned about streaming music, editing photos and so forth, the features that you're interested in are more likely to be to do with robustness and cost of ownership.

How do you go about choosing one? As one of the major Bristol IT support companies, we'll share a few simple guidelines on making your laptops a lasting purchase. 

Get the laptop basics right. Your basic spec is essential for speedy functioning on the move. As a processor, look for the latest i3 or i5 processor; accept no less than Core 2 Duo. For RAM, consider 2GB a minimum, 3GB would not be pushing the boat out. If you're going for a hard drive rather than the breakthrough solid-state drives used in the latest ultra-portables, look for at least 200GB storage.

Don't be wowed by extras. First and foremost, look for a good core processor (as above) and proven technology. Many 'new' laptops are simply old ones dressed up with a few peripheral features to shift sub-standard stock. As for laptops in multiple colours, there's no business benefit there; if anything, they'll be more likely to get stolen.

Don't stress about the OS. While the latest version of Windows 7 is the preferred option for most businesses, the truth is that your laptop's operating system doesn't matter quite as much as it used to. With more and more software and services being delivered via networks thanks to cloud-based computing, the OS is less of a cornerstone component and Google's Chrome OS is not far away. 

Where to buy your next business laptops? 

If you're in our core market, companies from 30-300 employees in the Bristol area, your probably have your own supplier. But don't overlook http://ebuyer.com, which allows you to search laptops by spec levels and compare prices. 

And don't overlook IT equipment leasing. Because leasing makes so much sense in terms of cashflow and the difficulties of raising credit, we are one of several companies now offering IT equipment leasing plus IT support in one monthly-priced bundle named Chorus Harmony.

If you have found this article helpful and would like to know more, our Bristol IT support team can be contacted on 01275 398900 for further information.