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Choosing the right business laptop is more than just comparing clock speeds, storage sizes, and prices. The right laptop should help employees perform their work, keep data safe, be reliable, and offer the performance needed for the role.

At NOK Smart, we recognize that different businesses have different technology needs. A laptop that is right for an accountant may not be right for a graphic designer, software developer, sales executive, or CEO. That is why we believe that businesses should make laptop buying decisions based on employee roles, workload, security, portability, and value.

Start With the Employee’s Role

One of the most important things to consider when choosing a laptop is the employee’s role. Different roles will have different needs and place different demands on the laptop.

An employee who primarily works with email, documents, spreadsheets, the web, and video conferencing will not need the same laptop as someone who works with large data sets, engineering software, or graphic design tools. Before buying a laptop, businesses should analyze the employee’s role to determine:

– The level of security needed

This analysis will help businesses avoid buying too powerful (and therefore, more expensive) laptops for employees who do not need them and ensure that employees have the performance they need to do their work.

Pay Attention to the Processor

The processor, or CPU, is one of the most important factors in a laptop. It determines how quickly the laptop can perform calculations and run applications.

For many business applications, a modern mid-range processor will be more than enough to handle day-to-day workloads. Employees who work with particularly intensive applications, however, may need a more powerful processor with more cores to help it quickly handle complex calculations.

When choosing a processor, businesses should focus less on the processor’s name and pay more attention to its generation, number of cores, performance class, and the applications the employee will be using.

Choose Enough RAM for Multitasking

RAM is one of the most important aspects of a laptop. It determines how much data the laptop can store and access at one time, which directly impacts the laptop’s performance.

An employee who regularly switches between a web browser with multiple tabs open, a spreadsheet application, a communication application, a presentation application, and other business applications will need enough RAM to keep all of these applications open and running smoothly.

For many employees, this means choosing a laptop with enough RAM from the start, as it may not be possible to upgrade the laptop’s RAM later. At NOK Smart, we recommend that businesses consider the employee’s current and future needs when choosing a laptop’s RAM.

SSD Storage Can Improve Everyday Performance

Storage is another important consideration for business laptops. Many modern laptops use SSDs, or solid-state drives, which offer much better performance than traditional hard drives. Faster storage can help laptops run applications and load files more quickly.

At the same time, businesses should also consider how much storage the employee will need. An employee who primarily works in the cloud may only need enough local storage to run business applications, whereas an employee who works with large files, videos, engineering software, or databases may need much more storage.

Consider Portability and Battery Life

Not all employees work in the same place. Some employees, such as sales executives, managers, consultants, and executives, may need to bring their laptops with them to meetings, client sites, and other locations. For these employees, portability is an important consideration.

Businesses should consider the following in laptops:

Lightweight laptops with long battery life can be particularly useful for employees who need to work outside the office. At the same time, employees who primarily work inside the office may benefit from a larger laptop with a bigger screen and more connectivity options.

Don’t Overlook Display Quality

Many employees spend the majority of their time looking at a laptop screen, which is why display quality is such an important consideration. Businesses should consider the employee’s role when choosing a screen size and resolution. An office employee may be perfectly happy with a standard business laptop, whereas a designer, architect, or engineer may need a larger screen with a higher resolution.

Business Security Should Be a Priority

Business laptops often give employees access to company data, customer information, and business applications. As such, businesses should consider laptop security when choosing hardware. Some things to consider include:

Hardware security should be considered alongside other cybersecurity measures, such as software encryption and network security. A secure laptop is only one part of a larger cybersecurity strategy.

Durability Matters for Long-Term Value

When it comes to laptops, the cheapest option is not always the best option. Businesses should consider how much the laptop will be used, how often it will be transported, and how long the business expects to use it before replacing it.

A more durable laptop may offer better value over time by reducing the risk of hardware failures and reducing the need for replacements, particularly for businesses that use many laptops.

Think About Connectivity

Modern employees often need to connect their laptops to monitors, projectors, docking stations, network hardware, storage devices, and other peripherals. Businesses should consider what connectivity options the employee will need. This may include:

Choosing the right connectivity options can help businesses maximize the value of their laptops and make it easier to connect them to other devices.

Standardize Where Possible

For businesses that buy more than a few laptops, standardization can make laptops easier to manage. By standardizing on a few different laptop configurations, businesses can make it easier to support, maintain, and replace laptops.

At the same time, businesses do not have to standardize on a single laptop configuration. Many businesses find that it is useful to have standardized configurations for different employee roles, such as office roles, mobile roles, and intensive roles that require more powerful hardware.

Consider the Total Cost of Ownership

When considering the cost of a business laptop, businesses should think about more than just the purchase price. They should also consider the cost of maintenance, support, accessories, warranties, downtime, and replacements. A more expensive laptop that requires less maintenance and offers better performance and security may offer better value in the long run.

Choose Hardware Based on Business Needs

Business laptops should be chosen based on the needs of the business. The right laptop should help employees perform their work, keep data safe, be reliable, and offer the performance needed for the role.

At NOK Smart, we can help businesses choose the right hardware for their needs. From individual employee laptops to enterprise-wide hardware selections, we can help businesses make smart technology buying decisions that support their employees and operations.