Shopping for a new computer can be intimidating. There are so many models to choose from and so many specs to decide on.
"They get really excited when they come in here. [Customers have] called us the Disneyland of tech," said Alan Linzaga, a sales associate at Micro Center in Tustin, part of a small chain known for their larger selection.
Laptops are popular for their portability.
"It's really just if you need to do on the go work," said Linzaga.
For basic web browsing, word processing, and streaming, look for a laptop with an entry-level processor like an Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5. Plus, 32 gigabytes of RAM to handle Windows 11 and at least 1 terabyte of storage for files and photos.
"Intel chips, they're pretty much the best ones you can do for productivity," explained Linzaga.
"AMD, they kind of stick more towards like your gaming, but you can still do productivity, so it's kind of one of those best of both worlds scenarios," said Linzaga.
New this year: Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips, adapted from smartphones.
"So those are all more designed for anything that's power efficient, but you still need to use to get the job done," said Linzaga.
For gaming, video editing, and multitasking, step up to an Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor and look for a laptop with a dedicated graphics card.
"Mainly because when you're gaming, you're rendering stuff out more, and your processor can do it, but it'll do it at a much slower and lower resolution overall," said Linzaga.
For specific models, Linzaga likes the Acer Swift Go and Lenovo Legion 5 for about $1000. For $500, he likes the Dell Inspiron 15 .
"It's good for just daily word processing. You want to get your kid a laptop. You want to play some really light games. Do the job just fine," concluded Linzaga.
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