What to Look for When Buying Tech
SaveThis article explains what to look for in computers so you can make a more informed decision for your next big tech purchase.
By Xavier Royer
I recently wrote an article about what type of tech to bring to campus, giving an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of different types of computers and tablets. It occurred to me while writing that distinguishing between one laptop and another can be daunting for the average person. I gave a price range recommendation in my prior article, but this article will explain what I look for in computers to help inform readers for their next big tech purchase. This article is great for students who are buying their college computer, but is also just generally accepted computer buying advice for anyone who stumbles across this article.
Specs
Specifications, or specs, are all the acronyms buyers come across that tell you what hardware is in the computer, thus the expected performance. This is always my starting point, and I'll go over part by part what I look for.
Processor/CPU
This is the part of the computer that does the bazillion little computations that make the computer work. It's what turns commands into outcomes, and is the most important component. Without going into too much detail, any midrange processor from the last few years from either Intel or AMD would be just fine for the typical university student. For Intel, this would be an i5-1xxxx (ex. i5-12700), with AMD's equivalent being their Ryzen 5 series (ex. Ryzen 5-3600). For students who want that extra power under the hood, Intel's i7 series and Ryzen's 7 series would be a solid investment.
Storage
Not to be confused with "memory," storage is how much stuff you can save on the device. HDDs are slower disks that used to be the standard model a decade ago. However, SSDs have slowly overtaken the market and are currently just as common as HDDs. SSDs load much, much quicker, but tend to be more expensive. The costs of SSDs have come down a lot over the last five years, however, and I think one could get a 500 GB SSD at a reasonable rate. HDDs are not bad, however and a 500 GB HDD is a better value than some of these 256 GB SSDs I occasionally see. While most people probably do not need a full terabyte, I would not recommend buying anything with less than 500 GB of storage of either kind. Storage is the easiest component to compensate for, either with external solutions ike flash drives, or by fully replacing it later.
RAM
This actually is memory. RAM is basically how good a computer is at multitasking. Eight GB is fairly standard in 2023. I think its plenty for most people, though, performance may decrease with a fair amount of chrome tabs open alongside a few other programs (OneDrive can be a HOG). 16 GB is usually the next step up, and is more than enough for most people. I think 16 GB is worth a small increase in price, but not a drastic one. Four GB is garbage that should be illegally to make in 2023 because it's instantly outdated e-waste.
Do I Need a Graphics Card?
Gaming computer will often feature a GPU, an optional component that has dedicated processing power for visual rendering, like video games and video editing. Engineering and maybe computer science majors will really want to consider this, but for the typical student I would consider this beneficial but not strictly necessary.
Build Quality, Feel, and Gimmicks
Any big tech purchases should be preceded by playing with a demo model. Students are hopefully going to be using this device for four years or more. Things like hating the keyboard or trackpad can really affect someone's opinion of a product and thus their attitude going into assignments that require that device. To this day, I still bring my own mouse from home for use on campus because I hate the stock Dell mouses that you often see at workplaces.
Another tip: without setting off the alarm (maybe have an associate with you), pick the laptop up. You can learn a lot about a computer just by holding it. Is it annoyingly heavy to move? Did the frame bend under its own weight where you lifted it? You want something solid if it is going to be going to and from class with you all the time? When it comes to screens, keep in mind wider screens might be nice, but they also take up more table space and add more weight. All these preferences, some of which you may have no opinion on until you physically interact with the device.
Lastly, be really certain if you buying a device for a gimmick like a touchscreen or that it flips 270 degrees. These features usually have not only higher prices, but other downsides as well. For example, touchscreens tend to use a lot of RAM, and the super flippy laptops are usually either too heavy to make it practical or cut corners in other ways to get the weight down. If you have a specific reason for a feature like that, go for it, but I would not buy something with a weird gimmick for no reason.
Xavier Royer
I am currently a full time instructor at a William Penn University, a small private university in Iowa. I am the lone political science faculty member there. In my time teaching, I have already connected with an incredible cohort of students in ways I could never have expected. Partnering with SAGE will allow me the opportunity to help even more students across the globe navigate those tricky questions.Articles & Advice
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