Laptops

When deciding what laptop to buy consider your needs and budget. If you plan to use the laptop primarily for web browsing, email, document editing and other basic tasks a budget mainstream laptop around $500-800 will likely suffice. Top mainstream laptop brands we sell include Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer and Asus. Look for minimums of 8GB of RAM, an SSD storage drive for faster performance and a 13-15" 1080p display.

For Gaming or video editing, consider a higher-end laptop with dedicated graphics such as an Nvidia GTX or AMD RTX. Popular Gaming Laptop brands from us include MSI, Asus, Dell, Lenovo and Acer, generally starting at $1000.

If portability is important, ultrabooks like the Microsoft Surface and Apple MacBooks offer lightweight and thin designs with long battery life. Convertible 2-in-1 Laptops with touchscreens like the HP Envy or Lenovo Yoga series allow for tent, Tablet or regular standing modes. We also recommend considering the operating system between Windows or MacOS. Macs offer seamless iOS/macOS integration between Apple devices but tend to cost more. Windows laptops offer greater hardware variety and gaming compatibility but can be less optimised than other OS.

Most Laptops can operate and turn on without a battery installed as long as they are connected to a power source via their charging cable. When plugged in power from the AC outlet is supplied directly to a Laptop's components allowing it to function even with a missing, failed or dead battery.

However there are a few exceptions where a Laptop will not turn on without a battery, such as some very slim ultrabook, select gaming or high-performance models requiring a working battery in place as a safety precaution, older laptop models from 5+ years ago or faulty power jacks on damaged laptops.

Most modern mainstream Laptops will turn on just fine and remain usable by running directly off wall power. Checking Laptop manufacturer's specifications can clarify if a battery is absolutely required for properly powering on the model when the charger is connected.

When deciding between a Laptop and Desktop PC, there are tradeoffs to consider in portability, upgradability, performance and price. Laptops provide the benefit of a portable all-in-one system allowing use anywhere, with high end Laptops offering robust power in slim form factors and budget models for basic productivity and web browsing. However Laptop components are harder to upgrade and their compact size results in shorter lifespans.

Desktop PCs deliver far superior upgradability with standardized components not bound by size and thermal constraints. A desktop GPU or CPU can easily be swapped for a newer faster model and they also offer higher performance capabilities for intensive gaming, video editing and graphics work. Prebuilt desktops can be affordable however they lack portability and their Tower design takes up considerable space.

If your priority is frequent travel while still needing capable computing power, a high-end laptop would be the best choice. But if raw performance and easy upgrades are preferable for gaming or creative work, a custom desktop PC is likely the better option.

Some of the best Laptop Accessories to improve your experience include Laptop Stands, External Monitors, Wireless Keyboards and Mice, Laptop Bags and Sleeves, external USB Storage Drives, USB Hubs and Webcams.

Laptop Stands help raise the screen to eye level while improving airflow and cooling underneath. External Computer Monitors like those from Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, Apple and LG offer additional screen real estate for easier multitasking. Mice from Logitech and Microsoft allow for smoother and more ergonomic cursor control and scrolling versus most built-in trackpads while wireless Keyboards also offer more comfortable extended typing sessions.

Carrying cases like sleeves, messenger bags and backpacks keep devices safe during transportation while on the go. Portable external hard drives from Western Digital, Seagate and Samsung are great for backup and storage expansion. USB Hubs can expand a laptop's connectivity options for extra peripherals and external Webcams like from Logitech and Bonelk can provide sharper video conferencing quality.