The laptop is truly a dream come true. Before its invention, the only way to carry around computer information was in the form of CDs or floppy disks, which were cumbersome and easily damaged. Now we have laptops, computers that can go with us wherever we go without sacrificing much on power or memory.
As everyone knows, there are some fantastic brands of laptops on the market, but not all of them are created equal. If you’re looking for a reliable laptop that doesn’t break the bank, HP and Dell are two highly recommended brands.
If you’re wondering about the difference between these two manufacturers and their products, look no further than this article! Let’s get started!
Dell vs HP Laptops: What to Look For
- Price: Though you can find bargains from both manufacturers, neither offers laptops that are so cheap that they’ll break after a year’s use. If you’re on a budget, get something used or refurbished from eBay and Craigslist. Only buy new if you’re certain it will last you a few years.
HP’s laptops tend to be more expensive, with the low end models in the $500-700 range and high-end models starting around $1200. As for Dell, you can find laptops from them that start at $200 all the way up to about $2000 or more! For most people who aren’t looking to spend that much money, you can find a good quality laptop in the $500-$1200 range.
Both manufacturers make great quality products, so if price is a concern, you won’t go wrong by choosing either. That said, Dell is known for having more affordable laptops than HP. This is because they sell their laptops at a discount to big retailers like Walmart and Amazon, but still cut no corners in quality.
- Screen Size: Both Dell and HP make laptops of all screen sizes, from 5 inches to 17.3 inches. If you’re going for portability, look at smaller models with around 11-14 inch screens. Anything larger than 15 inches will be heavy and difficult to cram in a backpack. If you’re always going to be at home or have a car large enough for transporting laptops, larger sizes are better since they offer crisper images and more space for programs.
HP’s most popular size is around 14 inches while Dell’s is 15 inches. If you’re looking for something really small, HP offers a 13.3-inch option.
- Processor Speed: This is the component that determines how quickly your laptop can process information and handle demanding games or software. If you’re on a budget, look at cheaper options with speeds between 1-2 GHz (GHz is equivalent to billion cycles per second). If you want something that can handle any game or program with ease, look at laptops with speeds of 2-3 GHz or above.
HP laptops are generally faster than the Dell counterparts, since HP’s base speed is 2GHz compared to Dell’s 1.6GHz. However, you can find some cheaper options from CAD that offers speeds as high as 3.3GHz for minimal cost.
- Graphics Card: The graphics card is the component that makes a laptop enables it to run demanding programs and games. If you’re going to be using your laptop for gaming or animation, you’ll want a graphics card with 2-4GB of RAM (graphics memory). If not, something in the 1-2GB range will suffice. Also, look at the processor speed of the graphics card as well, since it’ll affect how quickly it can do its job.
Most HP laptops come with 4-5GB of RAM on their graphics cards, which is pretty good for most people who aren’t into gaming or animation. You can find a few with lower or higher RAM, but they tend to be more expensive. As for Dell, you can find graphics cards from them that have 2GB of RAM and don’t cost much more than those with 1GB of RAM.
- Warranty: Usually 90 days on parts and one year over labor are the usual warranties given by manufacturers that aren’t Apple. In fact, Apple offers a one-year warranty on all their laptops. If you’re going to be using your laptop for gaming or animation, look for extended warranties.
HP and Dell both offer free annual hardware service with a one-year standard warranty. However, HP also gives its customers the option of extending this by another year for a fee.
- Packages: HP has more options for their packages than Dell does. For starters, you can get the standard package with a laptop itself and its charger. Or they offer a deal where you can get an extra battery (which is very handy if your day doesn’t have time for recharging). You can also choose from different size hard drives and better RAM on some models.
HP has more options than Dell for packages because HP is the number one seller of laptops in the US, selling upwards of 7 million units a year to customers around the world. Also, there are different types of “packages” available at Amazon, including an option that has three batteries (one for your laptop and one for each other electronic device you carry). That way you don’t have to worry about running out of juice during a long day.
- Weight: Generally, HP laptops weigh more than Dell laptops. Since both manufacturers specialize in offering the best products for a reasonable price, it’s up to shifting trends and personal preference as to whether that matters to you.
A Dell laptop weighs about 5 pounds while a comparable HP laptop will weigh around 6-7 pounds. This difference is negligible for most people, but may be more significant if you’ll have to lug it around campus often or on long trips.
Conclusion
Dell and Hewlett Packard are two of the oldest computer companies in America. They both have a long history that spans decades and they’ve each had their ups and downs. If you’re looking for powerhouse performance, then go with Dell laptops-they offer more RAM than many other models on the market, as well as Intel Core i processors that can be overclocked up to 600MHz.