Find the right screen size

Screen size is one of the most obvious features of a laptop. Again, it depends on the usage, which size is advisable. If you want a device that is as mobile as possible, you can opt for a smaller 13, 14 or 15 inch screen. If you want to work with it as comfortably as possible, or if it should be a gaming notebook, the larger models with 17 inches are recommendable.

Advantages of smaller notebooks (up to 15 inch) Advantages of larger notebooks (over 15 inch) compact comfortable operation light Replacement for a desktop PC suitable for mobile use gentle on the eyes

Table 2: Advantages of smaller and larger notebooks

Laptops with a 15 inch screen diagonal are not only smaller but also lighter than 17 inch laptops. Also pay attention to the weight! If you use the laptop as a space-saving replacement for a desktop PC, size and weight are less important. If you want to work on the move, however, this is an important factor. The larger the screen, the more comfortable it is to work and surf, but the larger the screen size, the heavier the laptop becomes.

Touch screen - yes or no?

Since Windows 8, the Microsoft operating system also supports touchscreens. Convertibles in particular - laptops with detachable or foldable keyboards that can also be used as tablets - are equipped with a touch-sensitive screen. However, conventional notebooks are also increasingly relying on touch screens.

Before buying a laptop, you should consider whether you need a touch screen or not. With a convertible, the touch screen is of course essential. For a normal laptop a touch sensitive screen is less important. However, it can be useful if you work on the road a lot and don't always have a mouse with you. The touchscreen is then usually more comfortable and more accurate than the touchpad.

DVD drive - is that still necessary?

Many current notebook models come without a DVD drive. Since most of the software is available for download today, this is not a problem. However, if you still have older programs on CD or DVD that you want to continue using, a DVD drive is useful. If this is not the case, you can also do without it and save both the price and the weight of the notebook. If you later find that you do need a DVD drive or burner, you can also use an external device. External DVD burners are available from around 30 euros.

Which connections are important?

Which ports are important? when making a purchase decision, you should also consider the ports that your notebook needs. The most important thing is that there are enough USB ports. How many ports you actually need depends on how many devices you want to connect. While you can use a USB hub to provide additional connections, a laptop should have at least two. USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 provide fast data transfer, but USB 2.0 also provides smooth transfer, but takes a little longer.

A USB 2.0 device will usually connect easily to a USB 3.0 port and vice versa. For printers (USB B-Type) and for mobile phones and digital cameras (Mini-USB), things look a little different: Devices with USB 2.0 plugs can be connected to USB 3.0 sockets. However, this does not work the other way round.

If you want to connect your laptop to a larger monitor or TV, you'll need an HDMI connection. If your monitor or TV still has a VGA port, you can still connect it to the HDMI output of the notebook using an adapter.

MacBooks from Apple have a Thunderbolt interface. It bundles all of the transmission channels for picture, sound, power, and data into a single port.