The best laptops for photographers, engineers, students, and everyone else
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, 01-28-2015 at 04:37 AM (1114 Views)
Shopping for a laptop can be extremely frustrating at times. Even when you already know the ins and outs of personal computers, there are so many different aspects to consider with laptops. Weight, battery life, and cost come into play right off the bat, and when you factor in specific work requirements, the number of decisions can be more than a little overwhelming. Thankfully, we’ve already done the legwork for you. If you’re on the hunt for a new laptop, look no further.
In these round-ups, we break down exactly what’s important when you’re buying a new laptop, and offer a handful of recommendations. Whether you’re a college freshman looking for a deal, or an engineer looking for a portable super computer, we’ve got you covered here, so let’s jump in.
Best laptops for engineers (best mobile workstations)
Whether you’re designing complex structures in AutoCAD or crunching data in R, engineers need as much horsepower as possible. If you want to work efficiently on the go, you definitely need a machine with a beefy CPU, a discrete GPU, and RAM to spare. These portable workstations are certainly on the pricey side, but being able to get real work done away from your desk is invaluable.
Best laptops for video editing
While video editing has traditionally been relegated to massive desktop machines, laptops have become increasingly viable alternatives in recent years. Quad-core CPUs and surprisingly powerful GPUs are easily found in modern high-end laptops, and with the introduction of Retina-caliber displays, you’ll be able to see every little detail even when you’re away from your 30-inch monitor at your desk. Add in loads of RAM and a super-fast SSD, and video editing laptops will do well by any editor.
Best laptops for photo editing
If you’re out shooting and editing photos in the field, you definitely want to have a powerful laptop by your side. Obviously, you’ll want fast storage and lots of RAM for managing high resolution images, but there’s more to consider. You’ll need to see every nook and cranny in your photos, so a nice big display with high pixel density will make your life a whole lot easier. But if the added cost and heft don’t fit your lifestyle, there are some damn fine ultrabooks available as well. Whether you’re a budding amateur or a seasoned pro, there’s definitely photography-compatible laptop here for you.
Best laptops for business
Too often, employees get stuck with underpowered laptops, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If you’re in charge of your company’s IT purchases, or you’re in a position to pick your own work laptop, you can snag some outstanding hardware for under $1000. These affordable business laptops certainly aren’t going to run Far Cry 4 on ultra settings, but these are rock-solid machines with shockingly reasonable price tags.
Best laptops for college students
Laptops are extraordinarily popular on campus, and it’s easy to see why. Taking notes, quickly accessing your body of academic work, and easily collaborating with your classmates is very enticing. But before you buy any ol’ machine, you need to consider the weight, battery life, and asking price. There are definitely trade-offs to be made between those three factors, but this selection of college-appropriate laptops should cover just about any student.
A laptop for everyone
Whether your budget is $300 or $3000, there’s a laptop here for everyone. High-end production machines and low-cost workhorses alike, picking out the right laptop is all about finding the right balance for your needs. CPU, GPU, RAM, display, battery life, weight, bulk, and price are always going to be pulling at you in different directions. Even with an unlimited budget, there’s not a single laptop to fit every single lifestyle. So read through these round-ups, take your time weighing your specific needs, and you’ll be more than ready to buy when the time is right.
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