Best Laptops For Programming – A Complete Guide for php

 Programming can be a lot of fun, but you’ll need a laptop that is designed for your craft.

I’m not what you call an expert “programmer” or “coder” as such, but I do know a fair bit of PHP, HTML and CSS. I find that having the right laptop to “code” on, speeds up tasks and processes, which in turn increases productivity.

What to Look For In A Laptop For Programming

One of the first components that you must consider is the hard drive. Many modern laptops are equipped with an SSD drive, which is also known as a solid-state drive. In terms of performance, an SSD is much better than a standard hard drive because it’s much better at accessing stored information.

For programming, you’ll want to consider getting a 256GB SSD, but you can also get good results from a 1TB standard drive. When you’re trying to program an application, speed is extremely important. You’ll spend a lot of time sifting through various files and folders.

Since a SSD can access information very efficiently, you won’t have to spend too much time waiting for files to load. Due to the increase in speed, it’s almost always better to choose a smaller SSD over a larger standard drive.

Whenever you click to open a file on your computer, the hard drive must sift through millions of data bits, which is why it takes a few seconds to load. An SSD stores information much more efficiently than a standard drive, so it’s able to access the information quickly.

Memory or RAM

A computer’s memory can be thought of as an extension of its hard drive. The memory is very important because it stores the information that your computer needs to function. When programming, memory is important because all applications use memory to store operating instructions.

Once you’ve finished writing some code, you’ll need to execute the code as a program, and your computer uses RAM to store the directions that tell the program what it should do. You can think of memory like a bucket, and it’s used to hold the instructions for your software programs.

Memory is also important because it allows you to run several different programs at the same time, and when you have enough memory, the programs will run smoothly.

A suitable amount of memory for a programming laptop is about 8GB, but ideally, you should consider getting a model that comes with 16GBs of memory.

You must also realize that there are different types of RAM. For example, DDR4 RAM operates as a higher frequency, so it’s much faster than DDR1 RAM. A higher number yields faster speeds.

Processing Power

When shopping for the best laptop for programming, you must understand that the CPU is extremely important. Like the brain inside of your head, the CPU handles every aspect of functioning that your computer engages in. The processor is like the brain for your computer.

The CPU is responsible for handling millions of bits of information, and if your laptop doesn’t have a good CPU, the other components are almost useless. The power of a CPU is measured in Gigahertz, but a higher number doesn’t equate to a better processor.

A newer processor might have a lower speed in Gigahertz than an older processor, but in terms of performance, it could be far superior. If you want the best possible programming experience, consider getting a laptop with an i5 or i7 processor.

All processors have cores, and the higher number of cores offers optimal speed and performance. If you don’t want an Intel processor, you can get a laptop that has a newer AMD processor.

Comfort Features

When shopping for a laptop for programming, the specifications are very important, but many consumers don’t look beyond the specs.

The process of programming applications involves sitting in front of a computer screen for long periods of time, which is why comfort features are essential. The best laptop for coding should have built-in features for comfort.

The keys should be easy to press and comfortable, and the screen should be big enough to reduce eye strain. Programming can be difficult with a small screen because you’ll have trouble seeing what you’re doing.

What About Graphics?

A graphics card is what your computer uses to handle games and graphics. For most programming purposes, the graphics card isn’t terribly important.

In fact, you should be able to get away with a low-end graphics card. Most of the newer CPUs, such as the i5 and i7 processors, come with integrated graphics, and although they’re not good for dedicated gaming, they should work well for programming purposes.

By going with integrated graphics, you can use the money that you’ll save to get a better processor, which is much more important for coding. If you must get a dedicated graphics card, consider something that has one or two Gigabytes of video memory.

What About Battery Life?

To determine the importance of battery life, you’ll need to consider where you plan to use your laptop. Many programmers find that they’re able to focus better when working in quiet, serene environments.
For example, you might be able to perform your best work on a quiet park bench.