Online poker has been around almost as long as the internet. As soon as people realized they could make the computer deal cards as values at random, the idea was born. Now, everyone has a chance to use their laptop for playing poker from the comfort of their home.
But, when it comes to selecting a good laptop for this purpose, things are not as clear cut. Generally, even fully animated online poker is not hardware intensive. You don’t need a gaming laptop to play.
What you do want is comfort. You need to have a nice overview of the game and to quickly respond to what is happening on the digital table. This enjoyment is what makes or breaks a poker laptop.
Thankfully, there are a lot of options available and those who know what they want can quickly find an appropriate model.
Offline vs. Online Gaming
It is a misconception that online gambling should look and feel as much as the ‘’real thing’’ as possible. No, it should be better and easier.
Because there is no way for you to see other people’s faces without them wanting that, you will need to have other avenues of enjoyment and skill. You need to know exactly what the chances are and what the rules of the game you are playing are.
Independent reviewers like those from BeastsOfPoker will tell you where to find the best games and teach you some tricks on how to win. But, the hardware you will be playing on is all on you.
Additionally, you want to have a good overview of everything that is happening on the table. This is something often impossible on a larger poker table in real life.
All of these aspects may inform you about the qualities you want in a poker laptop. You need good picture quality, good sound, and easy access to the game.
What Should You Look for in a Laptop for Poker?
Aside from looking for a functional laptop, there are several features to focus on if you know that you’ll play a lot of poker on the device.
Primarily, there is the size of the screen. While there are netbooks and petite laptops with 10-inch screens, you will want something bigger. If you are already using a laptop and not a phone or tablet, you want the real estate that comes with that choice.
Similarly, you will want to have a good keyboard. Ideally, you want to be able to click on most commands without needing to lean forward.
Finally, if you don’t like carrying a mouse around in the laptop bag, you will need a good trackpad. While most online poker games can be played with only the keyboard, some will need a ‘hands-on approach’’.
Thankfully, there are now even touchscreen models that circumvent this issue entirely.
Screen Size
While online poker games can be played on any screen resolution, the applicable playing area will usually be rendered in 720p to allow everyone to play. This means that you don’t need a huge screen to see everything, just a medium one.
A good option is the HP Pavilion x360 with a 16-inch diagonal including the bezels. Also, this model can be used in touchscreen mode, allowing you to play directly on a good-size screen.
You can go down as low as 14 inches or as high as 18. But, anything below that will make the screen too small for most people and anything above that will make the laptop too heavy to move around easily.
Approachable Keyboard
Most modern online poker games will have touchscreen commands integrated. But, you don’t need these to play if you find it easier to use a keyboard.
The switches (a.k.a. buttons) on the laptop should be clicky and tactile, allowing you to know exactly when you have pressed the button and when you have missed.
Something wide and clearly visible like the Lenovo Flex 5 is very easy to use. And, this model is also a touchscreen, if you like using it that way.
Good Trackpad
Finally, the quality of the trackpad shouldn’t be disregarded. While this feature can never be as quick as a mouse, it shouldn’t bother you using it. It is best to get something wide and responsive, allowing you to reach and use it easily.
Thankfully, you don’t need to look far to find quality. Something like the Acer Aspire 5 is a good choice, and it has a widescreen as well.
When it comes to poker laptops the Acer Aspire is a sensible option as it is a good and reliable office laptop that is comfortable to use over extended periods, and it has more than enough features to comfortably play poker on it.
