Nearly all of todays businesses rely on computers and the internet for at least some aspects of their work
. This may include simple tasks like sending and receiving emails, producing invoices and web browsing, to more complicated tasks such as web design and social media marketing. A business of any size can take advantage of what this technology has to offer and the initial outlay neednt be expensive.
If you are primarily an office-based business then a desktop PC is an absolute must. However, those who travel or will be working from home as well as within the office will most likely need to invest in a decent laptop that enables them to check on the progress of orders etc. from any location that has an internet connection. In addition, most modern laptops now come with a remote desktop PC connection that means you can access any information you may need from your desktop PC without the need to clog the drive on your laptop with unnecessary documents.
If you think you would benefit from owning a laptop for work then it is generally best to opt for a business computer over a consumer model, although the lower price tags can sometimes be tempting. This is because a business computer has been designed with business use in mind and often comes with quality components, a longer warranty and greater life expectancy. There is usually good technical support available and you can make use of the special business features that are often not available on the consumer models.
In terms of speed and memory an Intel or AMD dual core processor should be adequate for most general business use. However, if you plan to use any complex design or data analysis software then it is advisable to choose a Quad core processor such as the Intel Core I7s. Choosing a model with around 4GB of RAM should be sufficient if you need to run several applications at once and generally a 500GB hard drive will be more than enough space. Remember, if you opt for a remote access set-up then you will not need to store so many files on your laptop in the first place.
Some other useful features you may want to think about are Solid State Drives and 3G connections. A Solid State Drive can be costly but because it has no moving parts it is the ideal choice for those who like to use their laptop on the road and will guarantee a longer lifetime for your laptop. Some models now come with a built-in 3G connection, although you should price the data plans carefully.