Choosing a New Computer

Core Idea

For office work, focus on three things: 16GB of RAM, an SSD, and a screen you can look at for hours. Processor brand does not matter as much as the ads say. A five year old processor with 16GB and an SSD feels faster than a new processor with 8GB and a hard drive.

Do not buy a computer with 4GB of RAM. Do not buy a computer with a hard drive instead of an SSD. Those two rules will save you from most bad purchases.

Videos

How It Works

RAM is for multitasking. 8GB is enough for email, documents, and light browsing. 16GB lets you keep many tabs open without slowing down. 32GB is overkill unless you edit video or run virtual machines.

Storage holds your files and programs. SSDs are fast. Hard drives are slow. A 256GB SSD is fine if you use cloud storage. Get 512GB or more if you keep many files locally.

The processor matters less than you think. Any Intel i5 or i7, AMD Ryzen 5 or 7, or Apple M-series chip from the last three years works for office work. Avoid Intel Celeron and Pentium, and AMD Athlon.

Summary

Get 16GB of RAM. Get an SSD. Get a screen size you can work on (14 inches for travel, 15 or 16 for mostly desk use). Ignore the rest.

A computer with 16GB RAM and an SSD will serve you well for years. A computer with 8GB and an SSD is fine for light use. A computer with a hard drive is electronic waste.

Practical Steps

• Set a budget.
• Start with 16GB of RAM as your minimum.
• Look for "SSD" in the storage section. No hard drives.
• Choose a screen size based on where you work most.
• Check the weight if you carry it often.
• Read reviews about keyboard and trackpad comfort.
• Buy from a store with a good return policy.
• Ignore extended warranties from the checkout screen.

Common Mistakes

• Buying a computer with 4GB of RAM to save money.
• Getting a hard drive because it has "1TB" and looks like a deal.
• Overpaying for a processor while skimping on RAM.
• Buying a 17 inch laptop that weighs ten pounds.
• Choosing a 12 inch screen to save money and hating tiny text.
• Buying based on a sale without checking the specs.
• Assuming a 200 Chromebook can run Windows software.
• Keeping a slow computer for years instead of replacing it.

Resources

• Choosing a New Computer Video 1
• Choosing a New Computer Video 2
• Choosing a New Computer Video 3
• Choosing a New Computer Video 4