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Working as a freelancer is fun and having a high-performance laptop plays a major part in allowing one to keep going. The amount of work you handle each day depends on the computer’s performance to a great extent.
Right from memory and storage to graphics and processor, every single component must be powerful and reliable enough to help you keep pace with productivity.
Well, the first thing that you might struggle with while buying a laptop is to decide – whether Mac or Windows. Whatever computer you purchase, there are a few things that you should consider to make the best buying decision.
Storage
A minimum of 256 GB storage capacity is required for freelancers to store large volumes of data. You can consider laptops or computers with dual storage options that include a hard drive and a solid-state drive.
When you purchase a new computer, get one with an SSD installed within. Laptops that integrate SSDs are more expensive than those installed with hard disk drives. The SSD drives are non-mechanical; they are significantly faster in reading and writing data to the disk. Since SSDs store data in integrated circuits, they are efficient.
512 GB SSDs can store a lot of applications with large music files, high-resolution digital designs, and high-definition videos, allowing freelancers in all fields to work efficiently.
Tip: If you ever find any difficulty storing data, delete unnecessary apps, redundant files, user and application caches to optimize storage.
Memory
The recommended minimal memory for freelancers is 8GB; however, anything bigger than that can boost your performance multifold. If you are a graphic designer or a programmer who works in resource-heavy applications, having a computer with 16GB memory is optimal.
A 4GB RAM computer will struggle to run more than two apps and a couple of browser tabs together. You will be clicking and waiting most of the time, which will be a productivity hog, and you will not be able to meet the deadlines.
A 16 GB RAM will allow you to run multiple high-end games while playing a game all at once. Web developers may already know that this is the minimum requirement if they have to work from home as a freelancer.
Tip: If you find difficulty running high-end programs, restart your computer to help it reclaim memory.
Processor
Some top-performing processors from the house of AMD and Intel are AMD Ryzen 5, 7, 9, and Intel i5, i7, i9. The processing power of your computer works hand-in-hand to give you the best and smooth performance. With so many generations available in the market, the decision to select the best processor becomes difficult.
Hang on, go for one that has been launched within the last two years, and the internet is overflowing with such information. You can get detailed information on brands, launch date, processing power, and more from the web.
The graphic designers, copywriters, programmers, and other freelancers must get at least Ryzen 5 or Intel i7 for handling various tasks effortlessly and efficiently. Processors such as Intel Pentium, Intel Celeron, or AMD Athlon are designed to handle basic computing tasks.
Tip: If programs are running slower, disable startup programs that are consuming a high volume of processing power and other CPU resources.
Screen Size
A minimum of a 15-inch screen with a high-resolution display is what you should get to handle your tasks effectively. Anything bigger than that will give you a more immersive experience while working.
For graphic designers, a large screen means adding more precision and clarity to your digital designs. Even if you are a gamer or a coder, having a large screen can add volume to your workspace, making it easier for you to deal with complex tasks seamlessly.
If you are planning to buy a laptop, make sure that the screen size doesn’t add weight to the device; hence carrying it to work will pose a challenge. When it comes to portability, Apple MacBooks wins a place over Windows laptops, even if both the devices integrate similar specifications.
Tip: If you are using a MacBook, you can use your iPad as a second screen, while you can connect external monitors to Windows laptops or desktops as an extended display.
Let’s know about some of the best laptops available for freelancers to help them make better decisions.
MacBook Air 2020 – Intel
Display: 13.3-inch screen with Retina
Processor: Intel Core i5 quad-core
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Storage: 512GB SSD
Battery life: 12 hours
Weight: 1.29 kg
Lenovo ThinkPad Flex 5
Display: 14 inches Full HD touchscreen
Processor: Intel i5 (10th Generation)
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Storage: 256GB SSD
Battery life: 9 hours
Weight: 1.66 kg
Acer Swift 314
Display: 14-inch IPS LCD Full HD
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4700U
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Storage: 512GB or 1TB SSD
Battery life: 11.5 hours
Weight: 1.21 kg
