Contents
If you’re working from home either for an employer or to run your own business, it’s essential that you have a reliable laptop. While some people manage to work entirely from a smartphone or tablet, it’s not ideal.
A laptop has the power you need
When you need to use a device for regular work, computing power is important. No matter your mobile device, nothing compares to a laptop.
At a basic level, you need ample disk space, RAM, and processing power. You also need a laptop that is built to last and can handle being constantly used all day. If you use it every day for eight or more hours, an entry-level laptop probably won’t meet your needs, which means you’ll have to pay attention to specifications.
Thankfully, you can find laptops on sale just about anywhere with a variety of specs. However, make sure you stick to reliable models, like HP business laptops. If you buy an off-brand laptop or one made by a manufacturer that has a poor reputation, you could end up with a dud.
Laptops are easy to connect to external monitors
Unlike a smartphone, it’s easy to connect a laptop to a larger, external monitor. Most people use a monitor because it’s easier to see, but you can also create a dual-screen experience.
Having a big screen from which to work is important. You might be used to scrolling on social media using a small screen, but that won’t cut it for work. For example, when people use smartphones and tablets to check and write emails, they often miss important pieces of the conversation. It’s easy to skip over additional replies and with a small screen, it’s hard to reply to every point someone has made. This can lead to miscommunication and frustration.
On a laptop, you can open an email and reply line-by-line at the same time so you won’t miss any important information.
Laptops are portable
Although smartphones win the award for having the most portability due to the fact that you can put them in your pocket, laptops are just as portable when you’re able to carry a bag. Laptop bags come in a variety of designs, including backpacks, briefcases, and satchels. They’re easy to carry, and you can just grab one when you walk out the door.
You can take your laptop virtually anywhere you want to work. For instance, you can move to various rooms in your house, spend a day working from a beachside café, or go to the library for some quiet work time.
With a laptop, you don’t need Wi-Fi to work on everything, which means you can find a quiet space on a hiking trail to get some work done if that’s what you prefer.
Laptops have better cybersecurity than smartphones
Cybersecurity is essential to prioritize, and that’s easier with a laptop than a smartphone. For example, if you work from home and your employer requires you to use certain software when you log onto a public Wi-Fi network, you probably can’t do that with your smartphone. In fact, your employer might even have a company rule against using your personal devices for work.
Another way laptops are more secure than smartphones has to do with their ease of use. When you install a VPN on your laptop, which is highly recommended, it’s easy to turn it on and off and with icons in the top bar, you’ll always know if you’re connected.
With a smartphone, you don’t have that same luxury. Your VPN might place an icon at the top of your device, but it’s not going to be visible all the time. If you make the mistake of logging into a company account without first activating your VPN, it could be a problem.
Don’t ruin your tablet – get a laptop for work
If you choose to use a tablet instead of a laptop, consider that it will wear your device down much faster. If you use your tablet or smartphone for other purposes, like relaxing to watch movies, it’s better to keep it separate.
Using a mobile device for work will create more wear and tear and there’s a chance you’ll have to repair or replace it sooner. Mobile devices aren’t made for heavy use, so find some good laptops on sale and get a quality device that will support your needs long-term.