When sourcing laptops for your London business it is not always as simple as finding the cheapest option available. With a range of elements to consider, rolling out laptops that are unsuitable for whatever reason may end up costing your business more in the long run through lost productivity or lack of security.
These are some of the most important aspects to think about when looking for a suitable laptop model for your London-based business.
Mobility
When choosing laptops for your London business you should consider the mobility and portability of the device, in relation to how your London business operates.
For example, do you spend a lot of time on the move or working remotely on-site? Is a laptop the best option or would a more portable device such as a tablet or iPad be more suitable?
The best laptop for portability and remote workers would be the HP Spectre x360, which is a laptop/tablet hybrid and useful for frequent video callers.
Screen Size vs Portability
Consider the screen size carefully as the biggest screen is not necessarily the best option.
As the screen goes up in size, the portability of the device is reduced. Which is more important will depend on the nature of your business in London and the sort of tasks your staff would typically complete.
If you spend a lot of time travelling and mainly need the device for checking emails, a smaller and more portable device or laptop would be most suitable.
If you need the laptop for intricate design work and graphics processing, for example, working on schematics, technical drawings, 3D models and artwork, you will need a larger high-resolution screen.
For the top-end graphics laptops for your London business, you will be looking at the Dell XPS 15 with OLED touchscreen and GeForce RTX 40 series GPU, or the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420.
Battery Life vs Performance
Higher-end functions, such as high-resolution graphics, will result in a shorter battery life, so it is worth considering how the laptop will be used in your London business.
For example, if the laptops will be mostly based at a desk and plugged into the charger then battery life is less of an issue compared to those London businesses whose staff are frequently on the move.
Some of the best laptops in terms of battery life include the HP dragonfly G4 and the Acer Aspire 3.
Processor Speed
The processor capability is important depending on the nature of your work in your London business.
For more simple tasks such as word processing and web browsing, an Intel core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor will be fine.
If your team are typically involved in more processor-hungry roles, such as graphic design and video editing, then you will be looking for either an Intel core i7 or the AMD Ryzen 7.
Cost of the Device
When rolling out a laptop device across a whole business with multiple users to think about, keeping the costs down is important but this does not necessarily mean that you should always get the cheapest option.
Consider carefully what performance your team will need to fulfil their roles and find a laptop that meets those requirements whilst being in line with the budgetary limits of your London business.
Remember that higher processing speeds will lead to better productivity, quicker working and more of a smooth running process when it comes to your London business, so cutting down on the budget for devices at the cost of performance may be something of a false economy—you may save a few hundred pounds but the long term cost of working on slower machines could result in several thousand pounds of missed revenue.
Operating System
One of the main operating systems for London businesses is Windows, but it is worth considering what operating system you will use and what is already in use by your colleagues.
Having the same OS as the rest of your team and regular contacts can make compatibility and collaboration easier. For example, if half of your team is already using MacOS then it may be worth getting devices that match this system.
Will You Require Managed Services for Your Devices?
When sourcing IT equipment such as laptops it is important to consider whether or not you would need a managed service provider to handle the day-to-day running of your London business.
For example, will you rely on the standard antivirus software that comes with the device for the security of your business, or is a more robust solution required, such as a managed cyber security service?
In terms of the daily troubleshooting and housekeeping with the new laptops you have sourced, will the existing IT departments be able to handle the increased workload or will they become overloaded, resulting in reduced productivity across the board?
Contact Lyon Tech
At Lyon Tech, we provide a range of solutions for London businesses. This includes fully remote working through cloud services with unlimited data storage, data communications, video conferencing, IT governance, and 24/7 support desks.
We also provide a range of cyber security services, such as live infrastructure monitoring automated intrusion detection systems, penetration testing, staff awareness training, and rapid deployment teams in the event of a data breach.
If you are looking to source the best technology for your London business but are unsure which devices and solutions will be most suitable for your needs, get in touch with our team today and we can discuss the range of options with you.
