Notebook computers have widely supplanted the desktop PC, especially among private, non-business users. Whether for home working, gaming or everyday use, there's a laptop tailored for every need, a range of experts have told dpa.
Their tips can be summarised in a few basic, step-by-step choices.
-- Type of device. Detachables, convertibles, ultrabooks: the classifications used by manufacturers can help one to make a first selection based on practicality.
Whoever travels a lot should perhaps choose an ultrabook. "They're lighter and smaller than a notebook, but in terms of computing power in no way inferior," says Ralf Gaida from German consumer products tester Stiftung Warentest. The disadvantages: No DVD drive and a limited number of connection ports.
Detachables or convertibles, also known as 2-in-1s, combine tablets and laptops. "Convertibles combine both worlds and have, for example, significant battery life," says Timm Lutter of German IT association Bitkom.
The screens are touch-sensitive and are either detachable or can be folded down so that the laptop essentially becomes a tablet. The disadvantage: "A hybrid can never be as good as if you'd bought both devices separately," says Gaida.
-- Case and battery. In the lower and mid-range of the market, a plastic housing is standard. Metal is more sturdy, but costs more. As for battery life, three hours is the lower limit, says Gaida. Six hours is reasonable and eight to 10 hours is the maximum to be expected.
-- Slots and connection ports. "One should look for modern connections," Lutter advises. These include several USB ports, memory card readers and a HDMI port.
-- Display. "A good display is always expensive," says Peter Krajewski from German computer magazine Chip. The quality depends not only on the resolution, but also the contrast, brightness and colour imaging.
For occasional users, a screen of 11 inches may be sufficient. "Notebooks from 13 inches are more writing machines which let you enjoy still images and the occasional movie," says Krajewski.
Frequent users are better off choosing a 15-inch screen, which will also come with a correspondingly bigger keyboard. Whoever edits pictures or plays games is best to buy a model with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels), Krajewski advises. Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), also known as 4K, would suit professionals and hard-core gamers.
-- What's inside. Ultimately the usefulness of the notebook will be governed by the processor, the hard drive and the memory. The still relatively new SSD (Solid State Drives), also known as flash drives, are faster and more robust than the conventional spinning-disc hard drives, but they're more expensive and generally of lower capacity.
A terabyte or more of memory is found only on spinning-disc hard drives, but that much space is really only necessary for people with lots of photos, videos or music. Normally, 250 GB is sufficient, says Lutter.
Hybrid drives combine conventional hard drives with a few gigabytes of SSD storage. The most important programmes can then be stored on the SSD part to ensure quick start-up and working times while still maintaining plenty of memory on the hard drive.
-- The processor. At the heart of the laptop is the processor. Entry-level laptops which are mainly used for surfing or one or other office application generally come with basic Intel Celeron or AMD-E processors, Krajewski says.
If multiple applications are to run smoothly side by side, it's better to choose an Intel Core I5 or Core I7 processor. This also applies for users who want to use the laptop for gaming or photo and video editing.
Especially for 3D games and graphics applications, a separate graphics chip is needed. In addition, the working memory of the computer should be at least 8 gigabytes.
-- Price. A basic entry-level laptop can be had for around 300 euros (330 dollars). Devices that perform well in all areas can be had for as little as 500 euros.
The top of the range, which includes high performance ultrabooks, cost between 1,000 and 1,500 euros. Good laptops for gaming don't come any cheaper than that either, but for that price you get the latest technology.