Column: Storage and processor are main factors in buying laptops

Individuals or organizations in the market for Windows-based laptop computers seem to dwell over such purchases more than just about anything else. Everyone wants to know if they’re getting a good deal and wants to make sure they’re not getting rooked. While criteria change over time, as of this writing there are two main factors most folks should consider when looking for a machine.

The first issue is storage. Manufacturers will have models equipped either with solid-state drives (SSD) or old-fashioned hard-disk drives (HDD) — often called spinning disks.

On a byte-for-byte basis, SSDs are more expensive than spinning disks. Today the smallest size typically available for a spinning disk is 500 gigabytes, while SSDs are as small as 128 GB. For many folks, 128 GB is just barely enough, especially considering the life of a laptop is at least three years and storage requirements are only going up. For businesses and government organizations, where data is stored in the cloud or on servers, 128 GB is plenty.

SSDs are much faster than spinning disks and thus provide better performance. But even today, spinning disks are good enough for most folks, so that’s a good place to save some kala. Manufacturers are, however, moving away from spinning disks.

The second issue is processor. Which brand of processor should you get? For Windows-based laptops, it’s the age-old question of Advanced Micro Devices versus Intel. For years, information technology professionals shied away from AMD, often with no good reason. The fact of the matter is that both vendors make extremely reliable processors.

AMD processors are almost always cheaper on a bang-for-the-buck basis. The challenge is comparing processors by both vendors; cpu benchmark.net provides a reasonably impartial comparison of processors and is easy to use.

For most folks AMD is a fine alternative. Last year’s Intel shortage really helped to point this out. Still, on the higher end, for specialized users who need extreme performance, Intel is a better option.

If you’re buying a new laptop today, get at least 8 GB of RAM. Sure, you can get by with 4 GB, but that’s not something to scrimp on.

What about brands? Over the years, no manufacturer has consistently stood out year in and year out with superior products. It really is a “flavor of the month” scenario, where a certain manufacturer might be better with this quarter’s batch but totally suck next quarter.

John Agsalud is an IT expert with more than 25 years of information technology experience in Hawaii and around the world. He can be reached at jagsalud@live.com.