This article will give you all the tips you need to ensure you buy a laptop with the screen type you need. Not all laptop screens are created equal and with new technology coming out every day its important you make sure you assess the features of your prospective laptop properly.
1. Size
What size screen do you need? 10”, 15”, 17”…Well, this depends on why you need the laptop in the first place. Is it for travel, for home, for school or work? Will it be a desktop replacement (therefore not get moved much) or will it be sliding in and out of your bag multiple times a day? It is also important to consider the amount of time you will spend directly looking at the screen and if you will be hooking it up to an external monitor. The point is, assess your needs and choose a screen accordingly. If in doubt, go for a 15.4 inch screen which is the perfect compromise between weight and portability. Make sure you test the weight of any laptop before you buy it and your shoulder will thank you for it!
2. Display Resolution
Resolution refers to the number of pixels in each dimension that can be displayed on screen. The more pixels the better the picture quality. For example, 1024 x 768 is the minimum resolution you would hope to achieve even on an old laptop. Ensure your laptop has the resolution settings you require and in this day and age, this also means ensuring the resolution is backwards compatible with any optical output devices you have such as projectors. It’s now a common occurrence for old school projectors to not work with newer laptops. Be safe not sorry and check!
3. Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio means the width of the screen compared to its height. A common aspect ratio is 4:3. If you are going to be watching movies on your laptop, I highly recommend you buy one with widescreen capability. Again it depends on your individual needs for the laptop. If you are a gamer you might find a widescreen laptop is just plain annoying in which case look at the standard aspect ratio.
4. Backlighting
A backlight is a type of illumination used on a LCD screen. This is usually the biggest drain on a laptops power and the type of backlighting technology used will impact how long your battery will last. It’s worth checking the technology used on your proposed laptop and its effect on the battery. Most laptops will allow you to change the brightness to reduce the drain. Additionally laptops use different methods and finishes to achieve anti-glare/reflective effects. The names vary but mostly they all do the same thing. The best thing to do is to view the screen in action (play a dark movie clip etc.) before making your decision.
5. Graphics Card
Ok so not technically the screen itself but a nonetheless vital component. The graphics card is the bit of hardware inside your laptop which generates the images and shows them on your screen. If you are going to be using your laptop for hardcore gaming or design, you may need to ensure it comes with a better graphics card than your average laptop. Additionally, not all laptops come with an additional video output port to connect projectors (especially some of the smaller notebooks) so make sure you have what you need before buying.
These are the main 5 things to consider when buying your laptop screen (and therefore your laptop). Test things out and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions as per the above pointers. Good luck!
For solutions and advice you can call our Technology Consultant Birmingham.
