SPECIFICATIONS
Business laptops may not be the sexiest players in the PC market, but the number of units the big laptop manufacturers ship each year is considerable; they represent a significant segment.
The line between tablets and laptops is also blurring. Once the two were separated by operating systems, but there are now several tablets aimed at businesses that run true versions of Windows. Some of these tablets even have physical, detachable keyboards. But make no mistake, business laptops have their place in the commercial world, and choosing the right one can determine whether you run a company that's successful or one that suffers from too much downtime. We will walk you through essential business features, the parts you'll need, and, more importantly, how to distinguish between a business laptop and a consumer model.
The ABCs of CPUs and RAM
Dual-core processors, particularly the Intel Core i3/i5 series or AMD E-series and A-series APUs, are the norm in business PCs, though quad-core processors, such as the Intel Core i5/i7s and the AMD A-series, are available for more strenuous business applications. Intel-based ultrabooks by definition use ultra-low-voltage processors, which help keep the laptops thin, while extending battery life to approach 8 or 9 hours and beyond. Even though some midrange business laptops may not qualify as ultrabooks under Intel's strict definitions, many thinner and lighter laptops use the same CPUs and other components.
Look for at least 4GB of RAM. Anything less is not worth the few bucks you save. Graphics-based users and spreadsheet ninjas will welcome 8GB of memory to help speed project work, but 4GB is plenty for the rank-and file worker. The right amount of memory allows you to do multiple things: Open up more programs and windows at once and perform multimedia processes (like editing photos) faster.
Storage: Plenty to Go Around
Optical drives are less critical for consumer PCs these days, given the proliferation of streaming multimedia content and the ability to download content directly to hard drives. But IT managers are reluctant to let them go, because you may need it to burn copies of projects for your clients, and you'll still need to read the occasional CD or DVD sent to you by a supplier or customer. You can, of course, hook up an external DVD drive to any laptop without one. Blu-ray drives are only necessary if you need to view movies as part of your work. Their usefulness as a data-transport medium was squashed by the ubiquity of broadband Internet.
Do Your Really Need High-Powered Graphics?
Most business PCs come with integrated graphics, whether from Intel, AMD, or Nvidia. Integrated graphics are fine for business laptops, since you won't be playing 3D games on the system. (Installing games is the easiest way to make a system unstable, which is bad news for a system meant for productivity.) Most professionals who require discrete graphics will use them for specialized tasks like GPU acceleration in Photoshop, high-definition video creation like in Adobe Premiere, or 3D graphics visualization used in architectural drawings and CAD software. Mobile workstation-class laptops will usually come with some sort of discrete graphics, either for their 3D capabilities or to drive multiple monitors.
LCD screens with 1,366-by 768-resolution are still available if you're trying to save some money on your laptop, but your eyes will thank you if you upgrade to at least a 1,920-by-1,080 display with In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology. The 1080p screen will give you more space for showing spreadsheets, and the IPS display is better at displaying colors over a wider viewing angle. QHD and 4K displays should be considered for graphics and scientific work, and are seen on the top tier of high-end laptops.
Stay Connected
A strong wireless connection is vital if you want access to valuable information on the Web and real-time emails at all times. Every laptop these days has some flavor of Wi-Fi built-in. It gets you terrific throughput, but you have to find a hotspot or an unprotected network in order to surf the Web. Look for dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi for the best flexibility for your IT organization. 802.11ac Wi-Fi runs primarily on 5GHz networks, but will work with 2.4GHz networks as a fallback. Offices in high-density buildings may wish to use the less populated 5GHz bands, as the 2.4GHz channels get more crowded. On top of that, you have to worry about security and nefarious activities going on within these networks. However, don't discount Ethernet entirely: you'll still need it for some hotel rooms and offices that don't have Wi-Fi.
A strong wireless connection is vital if you want access to valuable information on the Web and real-time emails at all times. Every laptop these days has some flavor of Wi-Fi built-in. It gets you terrific throughput, but you have to find a hotspot or an unprotected network in order to surf the Web. Look for dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi for the best flexibility for your IT organization. 802.11ac Wi-Fi runs primarily on 5GHz networks, but will work with 2.4GHz networks as a fallback. Offices in high-density buildings may wish to use the less populated 5GHz bands, as the 2.4GHz channels get more crowded. On top of that, you have to worry about security and nefarious activities going on within these networks. However, don't discount Ethernet entirely: you'll still need it for some hotel rooms and offices that don't have Wi-Fi.
That's why many business laptops are shipping with mobile broadband wireless modems, built-in. They work in tandem with available cellular networks to bring broadband speeds to your laptop wherever there's a cellphone signal available. Many laptops have these modems integrated for a nominal fee. Data plans, on the other hand, don't come cheap. Depending on whether or not you have an existing cellphone plan, rates can run as high as $60 to $80 per month. 4G LTE wireless will give you transfer speeds rivaling a Wi-Fi connection, and it's available from the top cellular networks with the most coverage, notably AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Mobile hotspots are also available in case you don't want to buy internal modems for all your employees; consider carrying one if you only need mobile Internet part-time.
Battery BlissA big battery can be your best friend on a lengthy flight or a long commute. Business laptops usually come with multiple battery options.
Some enterprise-class laptops have two to three different kinds of batteries (4-, 6-, and a 9-cell). The more "cells" you buy, the longer the battery life. A big battery adds some heft, but being able to run the system unplugged from dawn 'til dusk is worth the weight gain. Some ultrabooks and ultrabook-style laptops have non-removable sealed batteries. Look for a system with removable batteries if you need more than 6 to 8 hours before you have a chance to recharge.
If battery life is important to you, you should look for a tablet or ultraportable with a removable battery slice that slides underneath the base. Combined with its extended-battery offerings, the battery slice can help deliver battery life in the 19-to-24-hour range. Just be forewarned that these extra life batteries can weight your system down by an extra pound or more.
Where Do Tablets Fit In?
Price and portability are arguably the biggest reasons why businesses should consider tablets. Some tablets are selling for less than $500 and can easily adapt into a corporate environment. While specialized (read: expensive) tablets have been in the vertical markets, like healthcare, for years, the ubiquity of the iPad means that people are used to carrying a computer that doesn't have a physical keyboard. Look for Windows 8.1 (as opposed to Android or iOS) if you need to run in-house or third-party apps that were originally created for PCs. True enterprise-class tablets running Windows 8 are still evolving, but people expect their work computer to work the same as their personal tablet. Apple fans will have to be content with using the iPad for business, as a tablet-optimized version of OS X doesn't yet exist.
Price and portability are arguably the biggest reasons why businesses should consider tablets. Some tablets are selling for less than $500 and can easily adapt into a corporate environment. While specialized (read: expensive) tablets have been in the vertical markets, like healthcare, for years, the ubiquity of the iPad means that people are used to carrying a computer that doesn't have a physical keyboard. Look for Windows 8.1 (as opposed to Android or iOS) if you need to run in-house or third-party apps that were originally created for PCs. True enterprise-class tablets running Windows 8 are still evolving, but people expect their work computer to work the same as their personal tablet. Apple fans will have to be content with using the iPad for business, as a tablet-optimized version of OS X doesn't yet exist.
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