Tips for Laptop Shopping in Kenya
No matter your reasons for wanting a laptop, you have to find one that suits your needs and your budget. Fortunately, that’s not so hard to do as you may ahve thought it was. You don’t need to be tech-savvy (majority of the population isn’t), as long as you stick to the basic considerations.
Here are things to look into when buying a laptop:
Screen Size
Portability is obviously better with a smaller screen. Most laptop screens range from 11 to 17 inches, with the whole system sized to fit the display. Thus, smaller laptops are more lightweight and compact than their larger counterparts.
If you don’t move the laptop a lot, you should be fine with a 15-inch model. Otherwise, you’ll get the perfect balance of space and portability with a 13- or 14-inch screen.
For children under twelve, an 11.6- or 12.5-inch display will be easier to handle. If the laptop is going to stay on your desk most of the time, get a 17-inch.
Resolution
Aim for a minimum screen resolution of 1920 x 1080, which is also known as 1080 or full HD resolution. A higher resolution means reading web pages will be a lot easier.
Battery Life
If the laptop will mostly be used away from an outlet, get one with an 8-hour battery life. Gaming laptops are naturally an exception.
Operating System
Chromebooks are right for children, but for everyone else, a Windows or a macOS will work the best. Chromebooks are particularly popular in schools because they’re easier for children to use and are difficult to infect with malware.
If you can’t decide between Windows and macOS, consider the main advantages that each offers. Windows, for example, is more affordable and gives you plenty of options, such as laptops with touchscreens. The macOS, on the other hand, is known for better security and superior photo and video editing software.
2-in-1
If a touchscreen is important o you, get a 2-in-1. These days, you will find many 2-in-1 laptops, which let you switch from tablet mode to clamshell mode and back, depending on your need or preference. Again, if you must use touchscreen, get a 2-in-1. Otherwise, a typical clamshell-type will offer better value for your cash. Clamshells with touchscreens are higher priced and have shorter battery life than non-touch displays.
Key Specs
Finally, for a Ksh. 52,000 laptop, the minimum you should get are an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, 500 GB HDD storage, and a 1080p screen. For a budget in excess of Ksh. 100,000, you can aim for a Core i7 processor and a minimum RAM of 16GB.