Most work laptops are replaced not because they broke, but because they became slow. Three choices at purchase decide how soon that happens.
Memory: 16 GB is the floor
A browser with twenty tabs and a video call already uses more than 8 GB. With 16 GB a laptop stays comfortable for four to five years. Video and 3D need 32 GB, as in the Kestrel Studio 16.
Screen: the thing you look at all day
- 14 inches is the balance between a bag and a spreadsheet.
- A resolution above Full HD makes text sharper and eyes less tired.
- A matte or anti-glare coating matters near a window.
Weight and battery
If the laptop travels with you, every 300 g counts. The Kestrel Air 14 weighs 1.2 kg and runs up to 18 hours, so the charger can stay at home.
Storage
256 GB is enough if your files live in the cloud. For photos and local projects take 512 GB: you cannot add storage to a thin laptop later.
A desk setup
At a desk, a 27-inch monitor with USB-C connects with one cable and charges the laptop at the same time.
