Laptop Buying Guide

Windows is the most popular of the three main operating systems, so if you’ve used a PC before, chances are it ran on Windows.

Windows 10 has a familiar look and feel, with innovations in security, personalisation and productivity. It’s powerful yet easy to use, with all your files and important documents within easy access. If you’re looking for a new PC for university, gaming or creative computing, Windows is a great place to start.

Works with all your devices: Whether you’re using a smartphone, tablet, 2 in 1 or PC, Windows works the same way. Navigation and finding files is simple, regardless of what device you’re using.

Windows 10 works with the software and hardware that you already own, so you don’t need to buy new programs or devices.

Throughout the supported lifetime of your device you’re protected against viruses, malware and phishing attacks.

The gamer’s choice: Windows has the most games available and is the only real choice for a gaming PC.

If you’ve never used a PC before, it can take a while to learn the layout and navigation.

OS X is an operating system exclusive to Apple computers. It features a clear desktop layout that’s focused on ease-of-use and stability. If you’re new to computing or prefer simple navigation, OS X is a good choice.

Works with all your Apple devices: OS X is designed to work flawlessly with other Apple devices, so if you have an iPhone or iPad transferring files, contacts and apps between them is simple. They share a similar layout too, so you’ll be much more at home and find navigation easier.

Ideal for design: Some of the most popular design software, such as Photoshop and InDesign, is optimised for OS X and can give you improved stability and performance.

Some popular software and accessories aren’t compatible with OS X, so if you want to use a specific piece of software or accessory, you may need to find an alternative.

Chrome OS is a web-focused operating system that’s designed to get you to your online content as quickly and as easily as possible.

Anything unnecessary has been removed, making it ideal for people that want a simple way to get online.

Easy web-access: Chrome OS makes it easy to get online and to your documents - ideal for web-based computing

Google Play: Chrome OS is the only operating system to give you access to over 1 million apps – Google Play is the same app store used by Android smartphones and tablets

Most PC software isn’t compatible with Chrome OS, so it isn’t a great choice for anything other than web-based computing

Every laptop we sell has at least a dual-core processor. This allows it to handle several things at once so you can move quickly between different windows, with more apps and tabs running at once. Quad-core processors are great for running demanding software quickly, such as photo editing and music production programs. Modern creative software is optimised to run best with multi-core setups.

This is measured in GHz, and determines how fast the processor runs. A higher clock speed means your laptop can load software and files faster and that it will run smoother during normal use.

Some processors feature Turbo Boost (Intel®) or Turbo Core (AMD) technology, which increases the speed of the processor to match the task at hand. This means the laptop consumes less power during light computing tasks, which reduces power consumption and increases battery life.

Before tasks are managed by the processor, they queue up in the memory cache. A bigger memory cache allows the processor to work through demanding tasks quickly. You only really need to worry about this if you plan on running professional-level creative software like Cubase or Photoshop - if you are, look for 4 MB and over.

Before they reach the processor computing tasks are stored in the RAM, where the processor picks them up and makes them happen. More RAM allows the processor to take on more at once - vital if you use demanding software.

A hard disc drive is the most common type of laptop storage. Laptops are available with a wide range of different HDD capacities to suit any requirement. If you want to save a lot of films, music and other large files, look for a laptop with at least a 1 TB hard drive.

Unlike HDDs, solid-state drives have no moving parts. While they have lower capacities than normal hard drives they’re much thinner and run much faster, making them ideal for high-performance computing. However, they are more expensive than other drives, so tend to be featured on more premium or performance-focused laptops.

Solid-state hybrid drives combine the capacity of a HDD with the performance of an SSD. They work by storing your most accessed information in a solid-state memory cache so that it can be reached much quicker when needed. This gives you faster loading, saving and booting so you can enjoy quicker and more responsive computing. They aren’t quite as fast as solid-state drives but have higher capacities and don’t cost as much, making them the ideal compromise for everyday computing.

An embedded multi-media card is flash storage (the same technology used in memory sticks) that’s attached to a device’s motherboard. eMMC storage is most common on tablets, but is featured on some laptops, 2 in 1s and Chromebooks. It’s a great solution for smaller devices, although it doesn’t offer the capacity and performance benefits that other storage devices do.

If you want a perfect mix between portability and visibility, a laptop with a 14” screen is ideal. Smaller screens, such as 11.6” and 10.6”, are even easier to carry around but may be too small if you spend a lot of time typing documents or looking at spread sheets.

Laptops with 15.6” screens are the most common and are great if you’re spending more time working at a desk than on the go.

The largest screen size available today is 17.3”. While laptops with this screen size can be difficult to carry around, they offer the clearest view of your content and are great for multimedia.

Full HD screens (1080p) feature a higher number of pixels than screens with standard resolutions. This allows them to display much more detail, which makes them ideal for watching films and gaming. Even everyday computing such as browsing the web and writing essays benefit from sharper text and more detail, so if you’re going to be spending a lot of time on your laptop a Full HD screen is worth it.

A lower resolution screen doesn’t show the detail needed for high-end media work, so if you need your laptop for graphic design or media editing, a Full HD screen or better is a necessity.

4K screens are even more detailed than Full HD screens. They have the same number of pixels as the most advanced 4K TVs, but in a much more compact package. If you love film or subscribe to 4K media streaming services, you can see the highest-quality content at its absolute best. However, laptops with 4K screens are quite expensive as dedicated graphics and very powerful processors are needed to display content with this much detail.

You control your phone using a touchscreen, so why not navigate your laptop the same way? It makes browsing video apps, scrolling through social media, navigating websites and more effortless.

Touch control is fast, fun, and works the same way it does on your mobile phone so you’ll pick it up in seconds.

AC WiFi is the fastest way to connect to the internet. Any laptop with AC WiFi can work with fibre optic broadband to give you the fastest connection speed possible - perfect for streaming HD videos and gaming online.

AC WiFi is available in all laptops over £349, so regardless of your PC needs you can get the best from your network connection.

USB ports let you connect your laptop to a number of different accessories and devices including your external mouse, printer, camera and mobile phone.

USB-C is a new type of USB port. It is smaller and has no ‘right way up’, so cables and devices can be plugged in first time, every time. USB-C is backwards compatible with older USB ports too, although you’ll need an adapter to connect devices with USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports.

USB 3.1 is a variety of USB-C, which features the fastest data-transfer speeds ever from a USB port. Although currently not that common, USB 3.1 is worth looking for if you regularly transfer large files between your laptop and other devices, such as uncompressed images or external storage.

HDMI connections allow you to easily connect your laptop to any modern TV or monitor. It’s the same connection used by DVD players, games consoles, SKY TV boxes and other home entertainment systems. HDMI ports transmit Full HD video signals, so you can enjoy detailed video on any TV or monitor, even if your laptop has a lower-resolution screen. Along with video, HDMI transmits audio so you only need to connect one cable to your TV.

VGA ports are an older type of video output although many monitors and TVs still support it. Unlike digital HDMI and DisplayPort connections, VGA uses an analogue video signal which can’t display content in Full HD. VGA doesn’t support audio either, so you’ll need a separate cable if you want sound. If you regularly need to connect to an external screen, consider a laptop with an HDMI port instead as VGA is normally not included on the latest computers and screens.

If you regularly use your laptop on the go, a longer battery life is useful. A laptop with 10 hours or more of battery life gives you the freedom to work all day without charging - ideal for taking notes in meetings, checking emails on the commute, or watching a film during down time.

If you spend a lot of time away from home or travel into university, a lightweight laptop can really help reduce the weight you’re carrying. You might be surprised at just how light some of the latest laptops are.

Laptop design has improved dramatically over the last few years, with some particularly design-focused machines becoming incredibly desirable for their looks alone. If you want a beautifully designed laptop, the latest ultra-portable models are impressively thin and made entirely from premium materials, so you’ll stand out wherever you go.

A dedicated graphics card is a processor with the specific role of handling visuals. They are available in varying specifications and range from those designed to give you improved multimedia playback, to high-performance cards made to run the latest games at their absolute best.

If you plan on gaming, editing videos or creating visual media, a dedicated graphics card is vital as most games and demanding visual software won’t run correctly without one.

Windows 10 features some great new features and all of our laptops are designed to run perfectly with the new operating system. Some go further and feature a dedicated button for Cortana, which gives you fast access to the new personal assistant app built into Windows 10.

If you want to really make the most of the latest Windows operating system, look out for laptops with an Intel® RealSense™ camera. This advanced webcam allows you to use Windows Hello, the all-new facial recognition system that unlocks your laptop when you sit down in front of it and locks it again when you move away.

If you want to listen to music and watch films on your laptop, look out for improved audio from Bang & Olufsen, Beats Audio, Harman Kardon or Skull Candy. Along with high-quality speakers, laptops with improved audio also feature more options to fine tune the sound to your preferences. Branded audio is a great feature for anyone that loves music.

Creative software lets you edit photos, cut videos, record music, design professional-looking visuals and more. Whatever project you’re about to take on, we have software to help you create something to be proud of.

Educational software includes everything you need to help you and your family develop their education or learn something new.

In store and online we have software bundles that offer big savings over buying separately.

You can also save if you buy Office or security software at the same time as a new PC, Mac, Phone or Tablet. There are too many offers to list here, so have a look at the product pages or ask in store to find out more.

Home Delivery: Choose your software and have it delivered, just like you would any other item.

Collect in store: Reserve online and collect your software in any of our stores.

The Cloud:
The Cloud is another term for online storage. You can access the Cloud from any online device, so you can save a file at work, edit it on your phone and finish it at home.

Cloud storage is great for expanding the storage capacity of your laptop or smartphone to give you almost unlimited space for music, films and documents.

External storage
External storage gives you huge amounts of space to store data. External hard drives are ideal for backing up large amounts of data from a desktop PC, while portable hard drives are perfect for slipping into your laptop bag and carrying with you for extra storage space on the go.

From occasional photos to large volume document printing, a printer can make education and business much easier. If you’re heading off to university, an all-in-one printer can save you trips to the library to print, scan, and copy, so that handing in hard copies of projects is easier.

In order to keep your new laptop protected and looking its best, we have a huge range of cases and bags to keep it safe when you’re out and about.

An AC router gives you the fastest connection speed possible from your home network. Most new computers and phones feature AC WiFi so upgrading your router can improve the quality of video streaming and speed up downloads as well as everyday browsing.

We have solutions to any networking problems you have, call in and speak to one of our knowledgeable colleagues to find out how to fix it.

We want you to get the best from your new PC. Our Kit Insurance gives you the peace-of-mind to use your laptop wherever and whenever you like.

If your laptop breaks down outside of the manufacturer’s warranty or through accidental damage, we’ll repair it within 14 days and give you a loan laptop to use in the meantime. If we can’t repair it, we’ll give you a brand new one at no additional cost.

You also get a yearly health check, data recovery, virus removal, and 24/7 help and advice from the experts at our contact centre.

When you get home simply turn your new laptop on and follow the instructions on the screen.

If you’d rather open the box and your laptop just work, we can set it up for you the way you like. We can create your user account, download apps, install updates, load software and do anything else you need.