The process of choosing a laptop for programming can be challenging. Many programmers get confused when researching the many available options. With the advancement in technology, many laptop models can be used for programming.
Some of the factors you should consider when buying a laptop for programming are mobility, processing power, display, storage type and capacity, and the keyboard. These factors play an essential role in the functioning of a laptop. Given that programming is a complex process that demands large memory, you should get a computer with these features.
Mobility
Mobility is one of the most critical factors you should consider. Laptops come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Therefore, you should know how portable your computer should be. When a laptop is portable, it can be easily carried from one point to another.
If you won’t be carrying the laptop around and intend to station it at a particular working area, you can consider getting a 15-inch laptop. Such laptops have more screen estate and improved specs for multitasking. On the other hand, if you travel a lot or work in different locations, a 13-inch will be an ideal pick. These laptops are portable and have longer battery life.
Processing Power
Another essential factor you should consider is the processing power. Programming demands a powerful laptop that processes information quickly. It is important to note that the CPU plays an essential role in determining a laptop’s processing speed. Different processors have different specifications that define a laptop’s performance. Therefore, considering these specs is crucial in choosing a laptop with the best processing power.
Some of the most important specs to consider include; the number of cores, cache size, thermal design power, and frequency. Generally, a good Intel Core i5 processor with a frequency of about 3GHz will work well. You can get a laptop with better specs if you intend to use it for more complex programming.
Display Capabilities
You should also consider the display capabilities of a laptop before buying one. The screen of a laptop is one of its most crucial features, especially for programmers. The process of developing apps involves spending long hours in front of the screen. A good screen makes it easy to pay attention even to the smallest of details.
Mostly, laptops have a 1366 × 768 display which is not good enough, to be honest. This level of display can’t sustain the demanding screen estate for multitasking. Furthermore, it will produce poor and sketchy texts, making them hard to read. This is why you should get a laptop with excellent displays capabilities.
Storage Type and Capacity
It is also important to consider the storage type and capacity when buying a laptop for programming. When it comes to storage type, getting a solid-state drive should be your first priority. An SSD will give you more performance improvements over an average hard drive. With an SSD, every operation will be faster. Operations like compiling code, booting up the operating system, loading projects, and launching apps will be quicker.
The recommended size of an SSD is 256GB, which is typically the baseline. However, if you fancy a better version, you can get a 512GB or 1TB SSD. If you don’t want to spend a lot on an SSD, you can get a smaller one that’s cheaper. In cheaper SSDs, the OS lives alongside your applications. Documents like project files will frequently access it. This gives you the freedom to rest your remaining files in a large external hard drive.
The Keyboard
When it comes to programming, the keyboard is very important. You can compromise on your keyboard quality since you use it to key in various codes throughout the day. It is recommended that you go for laptops with a relatively compact keyboard layout. Before buying a laptop, you should try out its keyboard and test if it will work for you. Make sure that the keyboard keys are easy to reach and comfortable to press on. If you intend to work in low-light conditions, you should get a back-lit keyboard. This will help you see the buttons clearly while you work on your codes.
Summary
The Surface Laptop 3 is an excellent laptop for programming. It has incredible features that make the coding process more accessible and straightforward. However, you could experience some challenges when using it for app development. This is because the app development process demands certain features that the Surface Laptop 3 doesn’t have.
Similarly, the Surface Pro laptop is suitable for programming. This laptop has a faster processing speed that is necessary for programming. Furthermore, it has a quicker programming speed for easier processing. When buying a laptop for programming, there are several factors you should consider. Some of them include; mobility, processing power, display, storage type and capacity, and the keyboard.
