Are you interested in carrying out research work in your desired field? Are you confused about which computer to choose? Do you desire a computer to help you conduct research efficiently? In this article, we’ll review the three best computers for researchers. Don’t have the time to read? For us, the Apple MacBook Pro is the best for researchers.
Research often involves several activities, which can be tasking. Before conducting research in any field, you need access to various information sources. In addition, you will also need data collation, analysis, consolidation, and arrangement. These activities can be effectively carried out with a computer, thus asserting their relevance to research.
This article, therefore, will review the best computer for researchers. We will also discuss some factors to consider when choosing a computer for research work.
3 Best Laptops for Researchers
Here are the 3 best selection of laptops suitable for your research works.
1) Editor’s Choice: Apple MacBook Pro
Suitable for data scientists, Apple MacBook Pro is a smart laptop that offers high performance and portability. Its high-speed output makes this laptop an excellent choice for technical work like 3D modeling. It’s ideal for data scientists who need to work efficiently with applications like IBM SPSS. Apple data protection is arguably the best! It’s a good deal if you have sensitive data.
It is ideal for long hours and offers a stunning display thanks to its transparency and brightness. It’s also great to have a trackpad! It is very responsive and meaningful, making it easy to navigate through your work files. It also has a remarkable battery.
The Touch Bar is a great addition, especially for people who like things unusual and use Safari. It improves the laptop’s aesthetics, lets you access quick buttons, and acts as the feature’s key bar. The laptop base can get hot if used on the lap for long periods. Everything works fine otherwise!
Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz and the 2.9 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor make it faster and a great option for anyone looking for complexity and speed.
Pros
- Ideal for data scientists
- Powerful battery with up to 10 hours of battery life
- It comes with a 1TB SSD
- Touch ID sensor for quicker logging in
Cons
- Great for research but not so for gaming
- Poor battery life
2) Best for Data Analysis: ASUS VivoBook
This light and thin laptop is ideal for high-end tasks. Another benefit is its sleek design, which makes it an excellent choice for those with a lot of congestion. The boot speed of the laptop is impressive thanks to the solid 2.8 GHz 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor. The keyboard is very stiff and feels good. The backlight is bright and has three brightness toggles, which you can adjust to suit your needs. You can also modify your internal including screen as per your requirement.
It is a great experience to use due to its high PPI. It is luminous and does not reflect light indoors or outdoors. It does not heat up quickly due to its dual fan thermal design. Fan noise isn’t too loud either. Additional air vents are provided on the board to provide a better experience. Harman/Kardon audio accreditation provides excellent sound quality.
This lightweight and small gaming laptop is ideal for high-end tasks and a smooth user experience. It also has a fast charging system, and you can configure it depending on the use that you are giving it. For example, if you always have it connected, there is a function that prevents it from overcharging the battery and stays between 55 -60%, and so it passes it, stops charging, unloading, charging again, etc. This prolongs the life of the battery.
It’s also great that it has a numeric keypad for those who use excel. The screen has good color. Starts in less than 5 seconds and restarts for the same time.
Pros
- Thin and light
- Powerful CPU that can do anything you want
- Ideal for gaming and media
- Intelligent cooling system
Cons
- The screen has a poor viewing angle
- Battery life could be better
3) Our Budget Pick: Acer Nitro 5
This laptop from Acer is ideal for data analysis courses and researchers. It has an 8 GB RAM that can contain enough data to perform simple statistical and ML/DL modeling of small datasets. The GPU, however, is quite efficient. Any package/software used for data analysis (R/MatLab/SAS) can be run on this laptop.
A laptop like this can still handle large data sets, but you can also upgrade it to 16GB. All you need to do is remove the screws to install an upgrade. This laptop model is not slow as it has a Solid State Drive. It will take about five times lesser time to load the SSD than a regular laptop with an HDD.
Finally, this laptop comes with an intermediate GPU (GTX 1650), which has significantly more CUDA cores than a laptop with 1050Ti/MX150/MX250. Strangely, it will still cost around the same price. This is a model with a dGPU such as the 1650GTX. It is essential if you are looking to start a parallel processing task.
Pros
- 256 gigabyte SSD
- Inexpensive
- Powerful 9th generation Intel core processor
- RAM is upgradeable
- Built-in Alexa
- Also amazing for gaming
Cons
- Battery life could be longer
Factors To Consider When Choosing Computers For Research
Computers come in different sizes and with several features, so choosing the right one for conducting research can sometimes be challenging. However, here are some factors to consider when thinking of purchasing a computer as a researcher:
Computer size
The size of a computer is essential for a researcher and should be able to meet the researcher’s or student’s needs. The computer’s size also determines its screen size, weight, and how portable it is. Since size can neither be upgraded nor reduced, choosing the right one from the start is essential.
For a researcher, mobility is integral, so choosing a lightweight and compact laptop computer will be a great decision. With a portable laptop computer, you can obtain, analyze and collate information even as you move around. However, researchers who desire high graphic power and extensive display output can choose larger-sized laptop computers.
Screen quality
Most computers have different screen quality, some of which have beautiful displays, while others produce low-resolution output. As a researcher, you spend long hours staring at your computer screen, so choosing a screen comfortable for your eyes is highly beneficial.
Computers with high display resolutions are ideal for researchers as they provide a clear view of academic resources, journals, and online publications. As an added advantage, computer screens with the touchscreen feature can bring ease during research writing as note-taking and diagram sketching is simplified.
RAM
A computer’s RAM stores the software, application programs, and operating system used by a computer. For researchers, a computer with 16GB RAM will be ideal for carrying out the required actions. Such is possible because the higher the RAM, the more applications the computer can run simultaneously. So for you to effectively multitask when writing your research work, purchase a computer with a high RAM capacity.
CPU
Every computer requires a CPU to carry out actions making it a crucial factor in your research success. The CPU of a computer determines how well it performs the desired tasks. In choosing a computer as a researcher, look for the ones with CPUs that provide optimum performance, especially when multitasking and multimedia functions are concerned.
SSD
In computing, SSD refers to the storage, which is also key to researchers. Usually, research involves a vast amount of data collation, analysis, and arrangement, most of which should be saved on your computer for future reference. It would help choose a computer with a high SSD capacity as it offers you adequate space to store as many academic resources and files as possible.
Operating system
The operating system of a computer should also be considered when research is concerned, as it influences the research outcome. Choosing an operating system is often based on preference and the research area. However, a Linux OS will be an excellent choice as it connects easily with a typical cloud workflow. On the other hand, the Windows OS may require a few additional features to synchronize adequately with a cloud workflow.
Final Words
Computers have made several aspects of life relatively easy, including research for college students, professors, and scientists in general. However, not all computers can effectively research, so there are factors to consider when purchasing a computer for research.
These factors include the computer’s size, RAM, SSD, screen quality, processor, and operating system. So if you are looking for the best computer for researchers, the Apple MacBook Pro is just what you need. This computer will efficiently meet your research needs, whether a student or a scientist. With this knowledge, you can choose the best computer to conduct research effectively.
