How to choose the right storage before buying a laptop
importance of laptop
In today’s technological age, laptops are not just for typing or internet browsing. It is also being used for studies, office work, entertainment, creative work and AI tools. Therefore, the most important question when buying a laptop is how much storage will be required. If the storage becomes low, the system will become slow and you will have to delete files frequently. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand your needs.
Storage for general use
If you use the laptop for email, web browsing, online classes, document editing, video streaming and general office work, then 256GB storage is suitable for you.
However, there are also laptops available with 128GB storage, which may seem fine for initial use, but software updates and application sizes increase over time. Due to this, the storage fills up quickly and the speed of the system is also affected.
Therefore, experts believe that 256GB storage is a better option for basic users. If you choose a laptop like a Chromebook, where most of the work is done on the cloud, 128GB may also be fine for general use.
Storage for multi-tasking and AI use
Nowadays, users are not limited to just browsing. Opening multiple tabs at once, working on spreadsheets, holding online meetings, streaming music, and using AI tools require more storage and better performance.
AI based applications and large software take up more space. So, if you want your laptop to function smoothly for years to come, it would be wise to choose an option with more storage.
Storage for creative work and gaming
If you’re a photographer, video editor, graphic designer, content creator or gamer, the 256GB storage will fill up quickly.
Nowadays, high-resolution photos and 4K videos take up a lot of space. Many triple-A games demand 50GB to 150GB of storage. In such a situation, after installing just a few projects or games, the laptop’s memory can fill up.
For these types of users, it is better to have at least 1TB of storage. If you do professional video editing, 3D designing or hardcore gaming, you may need 2TB or more of storage.
upgrade storage
Changing the storage in earlier laptops was easy. You could expand storage by installing a new hard drive or SSD, but many ultra-thin and premium laptops these days have storage soldered to the motherboard. This means that it becomes almost impossible to increase the storage later.
If you are thinking of buying a laptop with less storage, first ensure whether that model has the facility to replace the SSD or not. The option for storage upgrades is still available in gaming laptops.
cloud storage usage
If you don’t need a lot of local storage, cloud storage can be a great option. Nowadays, most people save photos, videos and documents on the cloud.
Services like Google Photos and iCloud have solved the storage problem to a great extent. With this you can access your files from anywhere.
Now even software like Word, Excel and photo editing are available in web version, which reduces the need for more storage in the laptop. However, keep in mind that cloud storage requires internet.
Formula for choosing the right storage
– Browsing and office work only: 256GB is enough
– Students and multi-tasking users: 512GB is better
– Creative professionals and gamers: at least 1TB
– Advanced video/3D/high-end use: 2TB or more
Don’t overlook storage when buying a laptop, as this determines the speed, performance and lifespan of your system. Always decide keeping in mind your needs, budget and future use.
Comments are closed.