The average lifespan of a laptop may be 3-5 years. Of course, most laptops last longer than this but they start to lose their utility and performance starts to lag.
So, whether you like it or not, your laptop has a shelf life and you’ll eventually have to get a new laptop. Yet, how do you know when to replace your machine? Well, there are some clear tell-tale signs that you can look out for when it’s time to switch things up.
Let’s now delve into six signs it’s time for a new laptop. Some of them will be pretty obvious, while others may surprise you!
1.Your Laptop Gets Super Hot
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Is your notebook getting too hot after a long period of use? Is there any part of its chassis that feels too hot to the touch? Is your computer making a lot of noise? Or are your games and apps operating too slow?
When your laptop becomes older, it might acquire heat-related issues that manifest themselves in several ways. The internal components might have become old and worn out. After all, as much as these devices deal with the digital realm, they are mechanical devices.
If you have a low-cost notebook, its cooling system may be inadequate, and components may obtain heat stress more than they can handle. Likewise, dust can build up in your computer’s cooling vents, which can clog its system. When the system is clogged, the fans may start working overtime.
You aren’t meant to open or service many computers nowadays at all, and there’s little you can do about it. It’s conceivable that professional repair shops can assist. Yet in all probability, slowing down and overheating on older laptops is one of the main indicators that you need to upgrade.
2.Your Computer Won’t Turn On
This is an ultimate nightmare scenario for a laptop owner: you push your power button but nothing occurs.
There are several simple troubleshooting measures you may do in this circumstance. To begin, connect your laptop to the power supply and try to turn it on again.
Also, check to see if anything is loose, and you could even swap power outlets. If you’re using an extension, try the main wall outlet.
In any case, if your laptop still won’t turn on after performing some simple troubleshooting, you will need to decide if you want to use a repair shop or dealer for professionals to service it.
So at this point, assess the advantages and disadvantages, given the cost of repair. If an essential component within the laptop has failed, such as the CPU, replacing it might be costly. In the end, a new computer might be the better option than forking out money to repair an older and slow laptop.
3.Your Screen Isn’t the Same as When New
Another apparent thing to check for is a malfunctioning display, which may impact your whole laptop experience in a negative way. For instance, the screen might now flicker, which isn’t going to be great for your eyes, or your sanity. There might also be a physical issue within the laptop causing this problem, which happens a lot with dropped laptops.
If your screen has a severe problem of any type, it’s often the case you will need to replace it with a new one at a repair shop. Nevertheless, purchasing a new laptop may prove to be more prudent in the long term. Of course, if you have a high-end laptop, changing the screen is probably the best option.
4.You Want a More Portable Laptop
Another consideration is that if you have an older model laptop, it’s going to be chunky and pretty hefty. Because of advancements in modern laptop technology, laptops are now much more compact and lighter.
Thus, if you often take your laptop while on the move and are tired of hauling about a huge and cumbersome computer, buying a new laptop makes sense. It will almost always bring you something sleeker and simpler to carry with you.
That may be enough of an incentive to upgrade, but newer laptops have a much better battery life. In fact, 20 hours or more battery life these days, which is a huge bonus for individuals who need to use their portable for extended amounts of time when traveling.
5.You’re Having Hard Drive Issues
Does your laptop use a hard drive? Well, solid-state drives (SSD) have long since supplanted hard drives due to their superior speed. You’ll notice a significant performance improvement when you opt to get an SSD-driven laptop.
However, modern laptops can still include hard drives. Hard drives, in addition to being slower, include actual moving components, making them even less ideal for laptops than desktop PCs. This is since you can drop a notebook, rattling your hard drive and ruining its functionality to all manner of degrees.
So put in simple terms, if you use your laptop on the move, you might want to look at laptop computers with solid-state drives. And then, if you need any extra capacity, consider buying an external hard drive.
6.Your Battery Is Flat
The capacity of a battery decreases over time when you exhaust the battery charging often. Even with cheap new laptops, the battery power may remain for several hours on one charge. Yet, this battery life diminishes pretty fast over the course of a few years.
You may get to the point where you have a laptop with a battery that lasts under ten minutes! There are even some instances of a laptop not functioning without it having to be plugged in all the time to a power outlet.
The apparent remedy might be to replace your battery. But, this isn’t always practical since certain laptops feature a power pack that isn’t user-replaceable. So the question of how to upgrade your laptop with a new battery could well be irrelevant.
In any case, considering the average repair costs, you might be better off buying a new laptop. The hassle of dealing with manufacturers and warranties might be a major inconvenience. Sometimes, you just need to upgrade and move on.
What to Look for in New Laptop Computers?
So now you have five indicators that can suggest you need to invest in a new laptop. The issue is, once you’ve figured this out, how do you know what to choose next? For example, do you get a new Lenovo laptop as you are familiar with the user interface, or do you check out some other brand?
Well, choosing the same brand that you had before isn’t always going to work as well as you think. As technology changes at such a pace, brands that you thought of before as poor quality, may have changed leaps and bounds.
Let’s now check out a few factors to think about when searching for a new laptop. These are some of the fundamentals, but you can go a lot deeper into the specs if you like:
Laptop Size
Your laptop’s capability to fit into a small bag and be carried wherever you go has to be one of the most crucial characteristics to consider. If mobility is a priority, you should seek out a laptop with a smaller screen and a super-thin design. Of course, the more lightweight it is, the better.
You might see the term ultrabook thrown around, and it refers to these types of super portable laptops. But many standard laptop designs now are showing these characteristics. Try to find a laptop that weighs below 1.5 kilograms and has a screen size below 13.3 inches for exceptional portability.
Check the RAM
RAM is essential for computer efficiency and is vital for anyone that multi-tasks a lot on their computer with different apps. For instance, you often might be editing photos while running word documents and running multiple tabs on your web browser.
If you have more RAM, the faster your laptop will deal with data, meaning multiple apps, no problem! For various high-powered applications, we recommend you have at least 8GB RAM. If you are only concerned with writing and standard web browsing, 4GB is enough.
Screen Quality
It makes sense to choose a laptop with a bright, easy-to-read screen. Please note that shinier displays often reflect ambient light. Also, keep in mind that a touch screen laptop will have a shiny screen, so consider the benefits and drawbacks.
Screen resolutions are also crucial for how you intend to utilize your laptop. Full HD screens are 1920 x 1080 pixels. So Full HDs will provide excellent visuals as well as plenty of space for you to see different windows.
Other Considerations
You also should think about checking out the:
- CPU
- Battery life
- Storage
- USB ports
Once you’ve come to a conclusion about all of the factors, you can go deeper into the specs and performance by checking out reviews. Or can find more information on manufacturer websites.
Know When You Need a New Laptop
We mentioned six of the most obvious signs that you need a new laptop in this post. So, if you are experiencing many of these signs, you’ll know it’s best to move on and enjoy all the benefits of the latest cutting-edge technology.
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