Choosing a laptop is no simple task. The market is flooded with countless models with a wide range of names and labels, which can be overwhelming. Some models even have names consisting of 7-8 seemingly random characters. Eventually, you realize that the key is to focus on the series name, but this understanding only comes with time. Recently, I had to buy a replacement for the editorial laptop, which was already several years old and performing worse and worse. My first thought was to buy a Mac, but despite my good impression of this computer, I changed my mind because the prices had become so unreasonably high after Apple’s exit from Russia that these computers could hardly compete anymore. I had to look at other manufacturers. I reviewed many models, including those from ASUS, Lenovo, and Toshiba. It was difficult to decide, but I made my choice. Now, I’ll share how the process went and what disappointed me after the purchase.

What I Needed the Laptop For
As usual, when buying any piece of equipment, it’s essential to understand what you need it for. I do a lot of video work, but I have a powerful desktop computer that covers all my needs for that. I didn’t want to shift this part of my work to a laptop since it would increase the cost by 2-3 times or more. Therefore, the focus was on working with texts, which I write all day long for several websites, editing photos without going overboard, and general household use. In short, I needed a computer I could use on the road and take with me on vacation.

Does the Processor Matter in a Laptop?
There’s a rivalry between iOS and Android. A similar competition can be seen in the world of computer processors, where AMD and Intel go head-to-head. After reading reviews and other materials, I decided to go with AMD. Thanks to the unique features of the new architecture, it is considered safer than many Intel models. The laptop manufacturer wasn’t important to me; it was the processor that mattered.

I didn’t chase after the top-tier chipset since I needed a business laptop. On one hand, more power is always welcome, but on the other— as I mentioned earlier— I didn’t need a super-powerful laptop. High performance also comes with a higher price tag and negatively affects battery life, and for me, it was crucial that the laptop runs for a long time without shutting down right when my publication schedule is on the line.

Good Specifications for a Work Laptop
I rarely play games, but I have a console for that. If I ever want to play on the laptop, the AMD Ryzen 3 processor has integrated graphics, which should be sufficient for less demanding games. Additionally, it’s reasonably priced, which is important when choosing an everyday laptop.

More crucial to me than games was a large storage capacity for saving work-related photos and videos for viewing during vacations or business trips. That’s why I chose a model with a 256 GB SSD, again avoiding the extra cost of the 512 GB version, even though it was available. The base configuration came with 8 GB of RAM, but if needed, it can be upgraded to 32 GB. I’ll figure out if the current memory is enough only after a few months of use. But the possibility of an upgrade is definitely a plus.

Which Laptop to Choose
With the specifications decided, the next step was choosing the manufacturer—essentially selecting the case in which everything would be packed. I chose ASUS, specifically the L1400 model from the ExpertBook series. It has its flaws, and in my opinion, quite significant ones, but I couldn’t find anything better for the same price from other manufacturers. The prices were similar across different sellers. I ordered it from one of the well-known marketplaces. What attracted me the most was that I had prior experience with ASUS (and had no major issues) and its high-quality screen and compact size. I don’t like large laptops, and 14 inches is more than enough for me. To me, this is exactly what a business laptop should look like—a category that includes computers purchased for work. This model also has many ports, although it lacks an SD card slot. That’s a downside, but I have a convenient USB Type-C card reader adapter that I use. Here are all the ports on the case:

• 3.5mm combined audio jack
• 3x USB Type-A
• USB Type-C (in my case, without laptop charging capability)
• RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet
• Kensington lock
• Power connector
• VGA port
• HDMI 1.4