Laptops & Notebook Computers

The etree Laptop Guide: Find the Perfect Mobile Companion

Laptops are an integral part of our daily lives. Whether for work in the office or home office, studying, creative projects, gaming, or simply surfing and streaming on the couch – these mobile computers are true all-rounders. However, the market diversity is huge: countless models, brands, technical specifications, and price ranges make choosing a challenge. Which laptop is the right one for you? This guide is your comprehensive navigator through the laptop jungle. We explain the most important terms, decode the technical components, highlight different usage scenarios, and provide valuable tips to help you make an informed decision.

1. Laptop, Notebook, Ultrabook & Co.: All Terms Explained:

Before we dive into details, let's clarify the terminology:

• Laptop vs. Notebook: There used to be subtle differences, often related to size and weight. Today, the terms laptop and notebook are largely used synonymously. Both refer to a portable computer with a foldable screen, integrated keyboard, and touchpad. We will also use these terms interchangeably in this guide.
  

• Ultrabook: Not a separate device type, but originally a trademark introduced by Intel for particularly thin, light, yet often powerful laptops that had to meet specific criteria (e.g., long battery life, fast wake-up). Today, the term generally stands for high-quality, very portable devices.
  

• Convertible / 2-in-1 / Hybrid: These devices are a mix between a laptop and a tablet. Their screen can usually be folded completely back or detached, allowing them to be used like a tablet (often with a touchscreen and pen input). Practical for flexible usage scenarios.
  

• Gaming Laptop: A category characterized by particularly powerful hardware (processor, graphics card, RAM), often featuring a striking design with lighting, and special displays with high refresh rates. Goal: Maximum performance in demanding PC games.
  

• Business Laptop: Devices tailored to the needs of business users. Features often include robustness, long battery life, good keyboards, and enhanced security features like a fingerprint sensor or TPM chip (Trusted Platform Module).
  

• Chromebook: Laptops that run on Google ChromeOS instead of Windows or macOS. They are often inexpensive, start quickly, and are designed for web applications and cloud storage.
  

• Netbook: An older category of very small, cheap, and low-performance laptops, primarily intended for simple tasks like Browse and email. Largely replaced today by tablets and affordable, more powerful laptops/Chromebooks.

2. The Most Important Step: What do YOU need your laptop for?

The crucial question before buying is: What do you mainly want to do with your new laptop? Your individual requirements determine which features and performance class are truly important. An honest self-assessment will save you from disappointment or unnecessary expenses later.

Here are the most common usage areas and their typical needs:

• Everyday & Multimedia: Do you want to surf the internet, write emails, edit Office documents, use social media, and stream movies or series? A solid all-rounder with balanced features and a good price-performance ratio is often sufficient for this.
  

• School & University: Portability is often crucial here. A lightweight device (13-14 inches) with long battery life for lectures and library visits is ideal. A good keyboard for long texts and sufficient performance for research and standard applications are important. Convertibles can be practical for taking notes.
  

• Work & Business: Requirements vary depending on the job. Often, productivity, reliability, security, and mobility are paramount. Long battery life for meetings, a comfortable keyboard, sufficient ports (possibly for a docking station), and robust construction are sought after. Low weight is essential for field service or frequent travel.
  

• Creative Work (Image/Video Editing, Design, Music): Performance is king here. A powerful processor, a dedicated graphics card, plenty of RAM, and a fast, large SSD are mandatory. Equally crucial is a high-quality display with high resolution and accurate color reproduction.
  

• Gaming: Maximum performance is the focus. Current games require top-tier processors and, above all, powerful dedicated graphics cards. Plenty of RAM, a fast SSD, and a display with a high refresh rate (Hz) are essential for a smooth gaming experience. Good cooling and a robust keyboard are also important.

3. The Inside Counts: The Most Important Hardware Components Explained

A laptop's performance and suitability largely depend on its hardware. Here's an overview of the crucial components:

• 3.1 Processor (CPU): The processor is the central processing chip and is crucial for the overall speed and responsiveness of the laptop, especially when running software and multitasking (multiple programs simultaneously).
  

• Manufacturers: The dominant manufacturers are Intel (with its Core i3, i5, i7, i9, and more recently Core Ultra series) and AMD (with its Ryzen 3, 5, 7, 9 series). Both offer processors for all performance classes. Direct comparison is often complex; tests and benchmarks help with classification.
  

• Performance Classes: Within the series (e.g., Core i5 vs. Core i7), there are performance differences. Generally: a higher number (i7 > i5) and a newer generation (e.g., 14th Gen Intel vs. 13th Gen) usually mean more performance.
  

• Cores & Threads: Modern CPUs have multiple cores that can process tasks in parallel. More cores are often better for multitasking and demanding applications. Threads simulate additional cores and can further improve parallel processing.
  

• Clock Speed (GHz): Indicates how many processing cycles are performed per second. A higher clock speed (base and boost clock) often means more performance but is not the sole criterion.
  
  
• 3.2 Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is the fast temporary storage where the laptop stores data it is actively accessing (e.g., open programs, documents). Too little RAM causes the laptop to slow down as it has to offload data to the slower hard drive.
  

• Capacity:
• 8 GB: The absolute minimum for smooth use of Windows and simple applications. Sufficient for basic office work and Browse.
• 16 GB: Today's "sweet spot" for most users. Provides enough reserves for smooth multitasking, more demanding applications, and most games. Highly recommended.
• 32 GB or more: Sensible for power users, professional creative work (video/photo editing, 3D rendering), demanding gaming, and virtual machines.
  

• Type & Speed: Currently, DDR4 and the newer, faster DDR5 standard are common. Speed (MHz) also plays a role but is usually less critical than capacity.
  
  
• 3.3 Graphics Card (GPU): The GPU is responsible for calculating and displaying images on the screen. There are two types:
  

• Integrated Graphics (iGPU): Integrated directly into the processor. It shares RAM with the CPU and is sufficient for everyday tasks, office applications, web Browse, or video playback. It also operates power-efficiently. Examples of integrated graphics units include Intel Iris Xe or AMD Radeon Graphics.
  

• Dedicated Graphics Card (dGPU): A separate chip that is significantly more powerful than integrated solutions. It is essential for modern gaming, professional video and image editing, 3D modeling, and other graphics-intensive tasks. Manufacturers are mainly NVIDIA (with the GeForce GTX/RTX series) and AMD (with the Radeon RX series). The most important aspects are the performance of the graphics processor, as it performs the actual computational work for graphics rendering, and fast graphics memory (VRAM) to quickly provide the data needed by the GPU.
  
  
• 3.4 Storage (Hard Drive): This is where the operating system, programs, and your personal data (documents, photos, videos) are stored long-term.
  

• Drive Type: SSD is always mandatory!
• SSD (Solid State Drive): Uses flash memory chips, is extremely fast, silent, energy-efficient, and resistant to shocks. An SSD as the primary drive (for OS and programs) is indispensable today for a smooth user experience. Fortunately, this is now standard in most laptops.
• HDD (Hard Disk Drive): These are mechanical hard drives with rotating platters. They are significantly slower, louder, and more sensitive to shocks than SSDs. In new laptops, they are rarely used as the primary drive, at most as additional, cheap mass storage for large amounts of data in larger devices.
  

• SSD Technology: NVMe (PCIe) SSDs are significantly faster than older SATA SSDs. Look for NVMe if possible.
  

• Capacity:
• 256 GB: The minimum, quickly becomes tight if you install more than just the operating system and a few programs.
• 512 GB: A good standard size for most users, offers space for OS, programs, and a decent amount of data.
• 1 TB (1000 GB) or more: Recommended if you store many large files (photos, videos), install many games, or simply want to be on the safe side.
  
  
• 3.5 Battery: Battery life is crucial for mobile usability.
  

• Capacity: Usually specified in Watt-hours (Wh). More Wh potentially means longer runtime but is not the only factor.
  

• Manufacturer Specifications: Advertised runtimes (e.g., "up to 12 hours") are often measured under idealized conditions. Expect around 60-80% of this value in practice with normal usage.
  

• Influencing Factors: Actual runtime heavily depends on usage (display brightness, running programs, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, component performance). Powerful gaming laptops often have very short battery life under load.
  
  
  

4. The Window to the Digital World: All About the Laptop Display

The display is your primary interface with the laptop. Its quality significantly influences the user experience.

• 4.1 Size & Resolution:
  

• Size: Measured in inches (diagonal). Common sizes are 13.3", 14", 15.6", 16", and 17.3". Smaller displays = more portability, larger displays = more workspace. 14-16 inches are often a good compromise.
  

• Resolution: Indicates the number of pixels.
• Full HD (FHD, 1920 x 1080 pixels): The absolute minimum standard today. Sufficient for most applications.
• QHD / QHD+ (approx. 2560 x 1440 pixels or more): Offers a significantly sharper image, good for larger displays and detail work.
• 4K / UHD (approx. 3840 x 2160 pixels): Extremely sharp, ideal for professional image/video editing and high-resolution media. Requires more power and battery.
• Apple's Retina Display: This is not a specific resolution but a marketing term for Apple displays with such high pixel density that individual pixels are no longer discernible from a normal viewing distance.
  
  
• 4.2 Panel Technology: Determines the screen's image quality, viewing angles, and response time.
  

• IPS (In-Plane Switching): The most common type in higher-quality laptops today. Offers good color accuracy and wide viewing angles (colors remain stable even when viewed from the side). Ideal for all-round use, multimedia, and creative work. Response times are usually good but not always the fastest.
  

• TN (Twisted Nematic): An older technology, often found in cheaper laptops or very fast gaming displays. Advantages: Very fast response times for fast-paced games and often cheaper. Disadvantages: Limited viewing angles from the side, often lower color accuracy and contrast than IPS.
  

• OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode): Offers perfect black levels, extremely high contrasts, and brilliant colors. Each pixel emits its own light. Disadvantages: Potential risk of burn-in with static images over long periods, often more expensive, and can consume more power. This standard is increasingly found in premium laptops.
  
  
• 4.3 Surface:
  

• Matte (Anti-Glare): Reduces reflections from light sources. Ideal for working in bright environments or outdoors. Colors sometimes appear slightly less vibrant than on glossy displays. The preferred choice for productive work.
  

• Glossy (Glare): Often offers subjectively richer colors and higher contrasts. However, it reflects strongly, which can be annoying in bright environments. Frequently found on touchscreens or cheaper models.
  
  
• 4.4 Brightness, Contrast & Color Accuracy:
  

• Brightness: Measured in nits (cd/m²). Standard laptops often have 250-300 nits, which is sufficient under normally lit room conditions. For good readability in bright rooms, 300-400 nits are recommended. If the laptop is occasionally used outdoors, at least 500 nits should be available, depending on the light incidence. More is better.
  

• Contrast: Describes the ratio between the brightest white and the darkest black the display can show. The higher the value, the more plastic and vivid the overall image appears.
  

• Color Accuracy / Color Gamut Coverage: Important for creatives. Indicates how much of a specific color space (e.g., sRGB for web, Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 for professional photo/video editing) the display can represent. High coverage (e.g., ~100% sRGB or >90% DCI-P3) is crucial here.
  
  
• 4.5 Refresh Rate: Measured in Hertz (Hz). Indicates how many times per second the image is updated.
  

• 60 Hz: Standard for most laptops. Absolutely sufficient for office, web, and video applications.

• 120 Hz, 144 Hz, 240 Hz or more: Only important for gaming. Enables significantly smoother display of fast movements and reduces motion blur. The higher the Hz value, the smoother the image runs.
  
  
  

5. Form Factor & Externals: Size, Weight, Ports & More

Besides the internals, external factors also play an important role.

• 5.1 Size & Weight: The display size largely determines the overall size of the laptop. Consider how often you will transport the device.
  

• 10-13 inches: Very compact and light (often under 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs). Ideal for maximum portability, but with a smaller screen and often smaller keyboard.
  

• 14 inches: A good compromise between portability and usable screen area. Often still quite light (1.3 - 1.8 kg / 2.9 - 4 lbs). Popular among students and business users.
  

• 15-16 inches: The standard for all-round laptops. Offers a comfortable screen size and keyboard. The weight is usually between 1.8 and 2.5 kg (4 - 5.5 lbs).
  

• 17 inches and larger: More like desktop replacements. Large screen, often powerful hardware, but heavy and less mobile.
  
  
• 5.2 Ports: Pay attention to the number and type of ports to connect your peripherals (mouse, keyboard, monitor, external hard drive, etc.).
  

• USB:
• Type-A: The classic, rectangular USB port. Still widely used. Look for version 3.0 or 3.1 for higher speeds than the older USB 2.0 standard.
  

• Type-C: This is the newer, small, oval connector. It is versatile. It often supports higher data rates via USB 3.1, 3.2, or USB4 and allows connecting external monitors. Power Delivery (charging the laptop via USB-C) is also possible.
  

• Thunderbolt 3, 4, or 5: This standard also uses the USB-C connector but offers even higher data rates (up to 40 Gbps or more), allows connecting multiple monitors and external graphics cards. It is mainly found in premium and creative laptops.
  

• Video Outputs:
  

• HDMI: This is the standard connector for most monitors, projectors, and TVs.
  

• DisplayPort: Often offers higher performance than HDMI (higher resolutions/refresh rates). Ensure the external display device also has this port. An adapter might be necessary.
  

• Network (LAN): Also called Ethernet (RJ45) port. Responsible for wired network connections. Due to their design, they are becoming rarer in thin laptops, requiring adapters (USB-C to Ethernet).
  

• Memory Card Reader: SD or microSD card reader. Practical for photographers and videographers. However, external USB adapters can easily add this feature.
  

• 5.3 Wireless Connections:
  

• WLAN (Wi-Fi): Look for current standards for high speeds and stable connections. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is widespread and recommended. Wi-Fi 6E uses an additional frequency band (6 GHz) for less interference. Wi-Fi 7 is the latest standard with even higher potential. In any case, your router must also support the standard for your laptop/notebook to use it.
  

• Bluetooth: The standard for connecting wireless mice, keyboards, headphones, speakers, etc. Look for current versions (e.g., Bluetooth 5.x). Compared to older ones, these primarily offer greater range, higher data rates, and improved energy efficiency. The latest standards (from 5.2) also bring better sound quality with lower power consumption via LE Audio and new features like Auracast for audio sharing.
  
  
• 5.4 Input Devices:
  

• Keyboard: Very important for frequent typists. Look for a comfortable typing feel like key travel and actuation point, a sensible layout (possibly with a numeric keypad), and ideally backlighting for working in low light.
  

• Touchpad / Trackpad: Should be sufficiently large and respond precisely to inputs and gestures. Keywords like "Windows Precision Touchpad drivers" are often a good sign for sensitive usability.
  
  
• 5.5 Other Features:
  

• Webcam: Particularly convenient for regular online meetings, as no external webcam is required. 720p cameras usually offer moderate quality. For better video quality, 1080p (Full HD) models are preferable. Also, look for a physical slider (Privacy Shutter) over the camera to better protect your privacy.
  

• Microphones: Unless you use an additional headset, multiple microphones (array) often improve voice quality during calls.
  

• Speakers: Quality varies greatly, from tinny to surprisingly good. For good sound, external speakers or headphones are usually the better choice.
  

• Security: Fingerprint sensor or IR camera for facial recognition (Windows Hello) enable fast and secure login.
  

• Materials & Build Quality: Plastic casings are lighter and cheaper, but aluminum or magnesium alloys feel more premium, are more stable, and often offer better heat dissipation.
  

• Cooling: Especially important for high-performance laptops for gaming or creative work to avoid overheating and performance throttling. Pay attention to fan openings and test reports on noise levels under load.
  

• Upgrade Options: On some laptops, RAM and/or SSD can be upgraded or replaced later. However, this is becoming rarer in very thin and light models as components are often soldered. A maintenance hatch facilitates access to essential components if upgrading is desired.
  

• Optical Drive (CD/DVD/Blu-ray): Almost never installed nowadays. If an optical drive is needed, an external USB drive must be used.
  
  
  

6. The Software: Which Operating System Suits You?

The operating system (OS) is the fundamental software that controls the laptop and provides the user interface. The choice affects the available software and user experience.

• 6.1 Microsoft Windows: The most widespread operating system for laptops.
  

• Advantages: A huge selection of compatible hardware and software, high flexibility, familiar interface for many users. Due to the sheer number of laptop manufacturers supporting Windows OS, almost infinite hardware configurations are possible.
  

• Disadvantages: Due to its wide distribution, the system can be more susceptible to viruses and malware. Good protection through additional antivirus programs is therefore very important. Programs like Bitdefender, Avira, or Norton can help here.
  

• Versions: Windows Home (standard for private users), Windows Pro (additional business and security features), Windows in S Mode (restricted version that only allows running apps from the Microsoft Store).
  
  
• 6.2 Apple macOS: Exclusively found on Apple MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops.
  

• Advantages: The OS is considered very user-friendly and stable, offers seamless integration with other Apple devices (iPhone, iPad), strong performance in creative applications, and a solid security concept.
  

• Disadvantages: The OS only runs on costly Apple hardware, there is less software choice than with Windows (especially for games), and fewer hardware configuration options are available.
  
  
• 6.3 Google ChromeOS: The operating system for Google Chromebooks.
  

• Advantages: Very fast boot-up, simple operation, high security (as it is web-based and has a smaller attack surface), automatic updates, often very affordable device prices, good battery life, integration of Android apps.
  

• Disadvantages: Heavily reliant on an internet connection and cloud storage, no installation of traditional Windows/macOS programs possible (only web apps, Android apps, Linux apps in a sandbox), less powerful for demanding tasks.
  
  
• 6.4 Linux: A free, open-source alternative.
  

• Advantages: High flexibility and customizability, large selection of distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora), strong focus on data protection and security, often resource-efficient (can revitalize older hardware), excellent for developers.
  

• Disadvantages: Often requires more learning and technical understanding, commercial software and game support is lower than on Windows/macOS although it is constantly growing, driver support can sometimes be problematic.
  

7. Buying Advice by Use Case: Concrete Recommendations

Based on typical requirements, more specific recommendations for features can now be derived:

• The Ideal Laptop for Everyday & Multimedia:
  

• CPU: Intel Core i3 / AMD Ryzen 3 (sufficient) or Core i5 / Ryzen 5 (recommended)
• RAM: Minimum 8 GB, better 16 GB for more future-proofing
• GPU: Integrated graphics
• Storage: Minimum 256 GB SSD, better 512 GB SSD
• Display: 14-16 inches, Full HD (1920x1080), IPS panel (matte or glossy according to preference)
• Battery: Good runtime (aim for >8 hours real usage)
• OS: Windows, ChromeOS (depending on need)
  
  
• The Perfect Companion for School & University:
  

• CPU: Intel Core i3/i5 or AMD Ryzen 3/5
• RAM: 8 GB or 16 GB
• GPU: Integrated graphics
• Storage: 256 GB or 512 GB SSD
• Display: 13-14 inches (for portability), Full HD, IPS, Brightness >300 Nits (for various environments)
• Weight: Preferably under 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs
• Battery: Very important, long runtime (>10 hours advertised)
• Extras: Good keyboard, possibly touchscreen/pen support (Convertible)
• OS: Windows, macOS, ChromeOS (depending on field of study/budget)
  
  
• The Optimal Tool for Work & Business:
  

• CPU: Intel Core i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 5/7 (possibly Pro versions)
• RAM: 16 GB (standard), possibly 32 GB
• GPU: Integrated graphics usually sufficient, except for graphics-intensive professions
• Storage: 512 GB or 1 TB SSD (NVMe preferred)
• Display: 14-16 inches, Full HD or QHD, IPS, Matte, good brightness
• Weight & Battery: Depending on mobility needs (light and long runtime for travel)
• Extras: Very good keyboard, precise touchpad, sufficient ports (possibly Thunderbolt/docking), security features (Fingerprint, TPM, webcam cover), robust build, quiet operation.
• OS: Windows Pro, macOS
  
  
• The Power Machine for Creatives:
  

• CPU: Intel Core i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9 (latest generations)
• RAM: Minimum 16 GB, better 32 GB or 64 GB
• GPU: Dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce RTX, NVIDIA RTX A-Series (formerly Quadro) or AMD Radeon Pro) with sufficient VRAM (min. 6-8 GB)
• Storage: Minimum 1 TB NVMe SSD, possibly additional large HDD or second SSD
• Display: 15 inches or larger, High resolution (QHD/4K), IPS or OLED, high color accuracy (near 100% sRGB, high Adobe RGB/DCI-P3 coverage), high brightness.
• Extras: Good cooling, many fast ports (Thunderbolt), SD card reader.
• OS: Windows Pro, macOS
  
  
• The Ultimate Gaming Notebook:
  

• CPU: Intel Core i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9 (current, high-performance models)
• RAM: Minimum 16 GB, better 32 GB DDR5
• GPU: Powerful dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series / AMD Radeon RX 7000-series - depending on budget and desired resolution/settings)
• Storage: Minimum 512 GB, better 1 TB or more NVMe SSD (fast loading times!)
• Display: 15 inches or larger, Full HD or QHD (4K demands extreme GPU power), High refresh rate (120 Hz+), low response time, ideally with G-Sync/FreeSync support. Matte preferred.
• Extras: Effective cooling (crucial!), high-quality keyboard (mechanical or good membrane-based), sufficient fast ports.
  
  
• Budget Tip: Used & Refurbished Laptops: For price-conscious buyers, students, or as a second device, used or professionally refurbished laptops can be a good alternative. Here you often get high-quality business devices of older generations at a fraction of the original price. Pay attention to the condition (especially battery) and reputable dealers with warranty. You can also find a selection of refurbished laptops with us. Feel free to take a look!
  
  
  

8. After the Purchase: Tips for a Long Laptop Life

A laptop is an investment. With the right care and use, you can maximize its lifespan:

• Battery Care: Modern lithium-ion batteries dislike extremes. Avoid constant full charging (100%) or deep discharging (0%). An ideal charge level is between 20% and 80%. Many laptops offer software tools to limit the maximum charge. Don't leave the device constantly plugged in when full, especially in high ambient temperatures.
  

• Temperature Management: Heat is the enemy of electronics. Ensure adequate ventilation, do not block ventilation slots (e.g., on soft blankets). Clean the fans regularly of dust. Avoid operating or storing in direct sunlight or at very high ambient temperatures (>30°C / 86°F).
  

• Cleaning: Keep the keyboard and screen clean. Use microfiber cloths and special cleaners for displays. Compressed air can help remove dust from the keyboard and fans.
  

• Transport: Use a suitable, well-padded laptop bag or sleeve to protect the device from bumps and scratches.
  

• Keep Software Updated: Regularly install updates for the operating system and important programs. This not only closes security gaps but often improves performance and stability.
  

• Security: Use good antivirus software (on Windows), strong passwords, and be cautious with downloads and email attachments.
  

• Turn Off Unneeded Features: Disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or reduce screen brightness when not needed to save battery.
  

• Useful Accessories: An external mouse, an ergonomic keyboard (for stationary use), a docking station, or a USB-C hub can significantly enhance comfort and functionality.

When is a new purchase worthwhile? The average lifespan of a laptop is often 3 to 6 years. A new purchase usually makes sense when:

• The performance is no longer sufficient for current software or your requirements.
• The operating system no longer receives important security updates or newer versions are no longer supported.
• The battery has significantly degraded and replacement is too expensive or not possible.
• Repairs (e.g., defective display, motherboard) would be uneconomical.
• New technologies (faster ports, better displays, etc.) offer significant added value.

Sometimes, an upgrade (more RAM, larger SSD – if possible) can breathe new life into an older device and be a cost-effective alternative to buying new.