How to Choose a New Computer 2023 Edition
One of the most important purchases an entrepreneur will make is their computers. However, most entrepreneurs are not equipped to make an informed decision, they end up buying the wrong thing, often based on price, which just ends up costing them more, sooner or later.
This blog will take you 6 minutes to read but will save you time and money in your computer purchase. After you read this article, you will be able to go into any store, online or in a big box, and buy a business computer you will be happy with.
The Minimum – if you read nothing else, read this section
There are three main specifications you should concern yourself with when buying a new computer: CPU, RAM, and storage. Compared to your brain, CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the raw intelligence of your brain, RAM is how many things you can think of at one time, and storage is how many memories you can recall. The minimum CPU you should buy is an Intel Core i5, sometimes written as Ci5. If you have a bigger budget, buy an i7; it will serve you for a longer period of time.
The minimum RAM you should buy is 8GB (eight gigabytes), probably 16 unless you are on a super tight budget. 16 for sure if you are buying a laptop that cannot be upgraded such as Surface or MacBook.
The minimum storage you should buy is 250GB SSD (two hundred and fifty gigabyte solid state disk), probably 500GB unless you are on a super tight budget. Don’t be duped into buying a 1TB HDD (one terabyte hard disk drive). An HDD is a spinning storage device, vs SSD which is a solid-state storage device, much like RAM. HDDs are not common in 2023, like for the 2021 version of this blog, but still, something to watch out for.
Again, buy a minimum of 500GB of SSD if you are buying a laptop that cannot be upgraded.
Here are a couple of examples of computer specs for sale from a local box store:
Acer Swift
Intel Core i5-11300H Processor
16GB RAM
512GB SSD
$849.99
HP 15-ef1033ca
AMD Athlon Gold 3150u processor
8GB Memory
512GB SSD SATA hard drive
$509.99
The first computer has all the recommended minimums, while the second computer is not okay. Don’t be fooled by the price and the AMD processor. There are two problems with buying a low-spec computer. First, it will probably suck right out of the gate, and second, if it doesn’t suck now, it will suck later. The i5, 16GB, 512GB SSD computer will last you for five years, a lower spec computer will last two, and the i7, 16GB, 500GB SSD will last you seven.
Caveat: These recommendations apply to buying a new computer in the present (January 2023), or whenever you read this blog in the future. Buying a used or old i5, 8GB, 256GB SSD will not give you the same mileage.
A Word About CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Unlike a car, there are no restrictions on how fast a computer can go; but similar to a car, replacing the engine, or CPU, is not easy and often not feasible. Buy the fastest CPU you can afford.
| CPU Model | CPU Type | PassMark Score |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-10400 @ 2.90GHz | Desktop | 12,362 |
| Intel Core i7-10700 @ 2.90GHz | Desktop | 17,184 |
| Intel Core i5-1155G7 @ 2.50GHz | Laptop | 11,085 |
| Intel Core i7-11850H @ 2.50GHz | Laptop | 21,745 |
A good place to measure the speed and power of your CPU is PassMark. Go there and search the CPU model number of any computer you are considering and find the CPU Mark. A good CPU Mark for a laptop processor is 8000 or above, and for a desktop processor is 12000. See table for a couple of examples:
Windows
If you are buying a PC, one other important specification to consider is what version of Windows it comes with. Our recommendation is to buy a computer with Windows 10 Pro.
Windows 10 Pro is especially awesome when you have a Microsoft 365 Business account. 365 integrates your email, OneDrive, Teams, and Azure security with your computer login seamlessly. It is such an amazing pairing! Buying a computer that comes with Windows 10 Pro is challenging these days, but not impossible. Here’s a CDW search with a bunch of options.
Windows 10 Home is okay, but Windows 10 Pro is preferred. Windows 10 Pro costs more because it has greater security features (enabling security not security hurdles), and more flexibility for business integration. That being said, if your computer came with Windows 10 Home, for $130 you can easily upgrade it right from the Windows Store.
We don’t love Windows 11, it is Microsoft’s sacrificial operating system, testing on all the contented sheep that don’t know any better who are shopping at Costco and Best Buy. If you already have a Windows 11 computer, it’s not the worst thing ever, running the latest updates and upgrading it to Windows 11 Pro makes it acceptable.
Mac vs PC
This is mostly preference. Our experience is that Mac is 30% more expensive for similar specifications but will last a little longer than top PC brands. Mac, in the past, hasn’t been as good for business, but now that most business, especially small business, is done in the cloud, Mac is no longer a limiting factor. When buying a Mac, you’ll want to buy the new Apple M1 or M2 processor.
Regarding PC brands, in most cases, this is also preference, but we recommend sticking to Lenovo and Dell; secondary HP, or Acer; if you buy the minimums, you’ll be fine.
Desktop vs Laptop
Ask yourself, do you really need to have a mobile computer? For a lot of business people, this is the case, but there is an argument for leaving work at work. The best argument for the desktop is that it will be significantly more powerful and faster for the same, or less, dollar amount spent on a laptop. It is also easier and less expensive to connect multiple screens to a desktop computer vs a laptop. Imagine having only one eye and one ear and one hand for input, that’s what it’s like to have only one screen on your computer compared to two or more.
Of course, you can always add a docking station to a laptop to give yourself more screens and ease of coming and going.
Also, as previously mentioned, upgrading a laptop these days is a pain; brands like MacBook and Surface can’t be done; while other models require many tiny screws to access the guts. Upgrading the RAM and SSD on a desktop is relatively easy and can extend the life of your computer by one to three years.
Screen Considerations
Obviously, size matters, but that is not the only thing that matters. The other thing that matters is screen resolution. Resolution is the viewable detail or definition and is measured by the number of tiny LEDs across the screen horizontally and then vertically. 1920 x 1080 (aka HD, aka 1080p) is the most common resolution for screens, and you should not buy anything less than that, including in your laptop. Higher resolutions are ok, but the difference is often unviewable to the naked eye until you get into large televisions.
In a laptop, you’ll want to consider portability vs visibility. A 15″ laptop is pretty bulky, but the screen size and full keyboard are great; a 12″ laptop is awesome for travel, but not so awesome to work on day in and day out.
For desktop monitors, 24″ and 1920×1080 resolution is pretty standard right now, and often cheaper than 22″ monitors because of mass manufacturing. I have not found a need for higher resolution monitors unless your profession is graphic design. Also, when buying a desktop and monitors, make sure that your monitors and computer have common connections. Most desktops will have DisplayPort and/ or HDMI, make sure your monitor has the same.
Where to Buy Your Computer
First check with your I.T. service provider, they can likely sell you a computer that meets all the minimum standards at a competitive price. I have sold over 1000 computers in the past couple of decades and have not had one computer returned.
If you want to do the leg work yourself, no problem, that is why I wrote this guide. A good place to start is the online stores of the various brands dell.ca, Lenovo Canada, Microsoft Surface, and cdw.ca. CDW is a global online store for business for all things computer; even if you don’t buy a computer there, use them for comparison pricing.
For Mac computers, we recommend their online store at Apple Canada and highly recommend the Apple Refurbished Store. We don’t recommend that you go to their retail store unless you want to feel sub-human, they are so pretentious.
Wherever you buy your computer, buy the minimums or better. Don’t get stuck with a low-performing laptop that you can’t upgrade.
Other Pitfalls to Avoid
We have already talked about minimums and buying used. Definitely avoid cheap and AMD; you don’t necessarily have to avoid AMD, but if it is cheap and AMD, then avoid that. A good starting point is $800 for any laptop or desktop, although it’s pretty hard to go to the box store and buy a business desktop, or any computer Windows 10 pro, these days. If you buy a desktop, don’t forget to buy monitors to go with it.
Avoid Chrome books and cloud books, even Pixel Book. These are sub-standard laptops designed only to run cloud apps. You’ll regret it after a month or two.
I hope this blog has helped you. My intent was to enable anybody to make an informed decision about buying a computer. If buying a new computer is still overwhelming, Pluto Micro is here to help.