Pros/Cons of Purchasing a Laptop with Preloaded Software

A few weeks back I had an issue with my desktop pc, my R9 280X has made it’s dew and died suddenly. And while waiting for a replacement graphics card I decided to buy a laptop to have as a backup for work in cases like this. So here we will share some personal insights on making a choice of purchase based on a software platform and pre – installed programs.
When purchasing a new laptop, you have to consider the manufacturer, the configuration and the price. However, many people disregard presence of preloaded software, so here are a couple of information about it.

License or No License

Of course, it is not the same whether you buy a laptop without OS which is cheaper and customizable, but also more basic and in need of further development in order to reach full functionality, or one with pre-installed software which already has everything you need and is ready to use right after being purchased. Moreover, its full license enables users to upgrade their system at will, which is handy and useful. With laptops without OS or barebone laptops, you have to do all this on your own and install both the operating system and all software.

Different Operating Systems

In the world of modern computing, there are three operating systems most people use – Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X or Linux. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages and is aimed at certain types of users and professions.

For instance, Microsoft Windows is a great example of world-wide usage – more than 80% of users use it on their desktop and laptop computers – that supports various software, drivers and hardware. However, unlike OS X and Linux, it has problems fighting malware and viruses and is more expensive, so getting a laptop with already installed Windows makes the OS price quite lower. Also if you wait until the end of this month, there will be available laptops with new Windows 10 on them.

On the other hand, Mac OS X is, in addition to being easier to set up, use and modify, more stable, secure and less prone to viruses, while simultaneously having access to a big library of free applications and software. It is, alas, initially more expensive, grants less support and is compatible with fewer hardware options.

Finally, Linux is, unlike previous two, completely free, packed with more management options and supports almost every piece of hardware you have. Also, it is more secure and enables more free open-source software. But, its main disadvantage is complexity – with so many distributions (Mint and Ubuntu being my favorites), certain drivers can lack support, prove to be inadequate or sometimes require high technicality with management and troubleshooting.

Business Users and Their Choices

Concerning business users, a choice of software packages is essential. Being able to perform your everyday operations on a high level means the difference between success and failure, so solid software should not be overlooked when purchasing a laptop. Most users focus on Microsoft Office package that includes not only the vital programs every business person needs – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, OneNote – but also support for other software and compatibility with other programs, such as Adobe Photoshop and Reader.

You want your laptop to be able to support both your hardware and software requirements, especially if you, by a chance, passed some advanced Word, PowerPoint, Adobe, even CAD in this case, you might want pay attention that the software you get on a laptop could be insufficient for the advanced functions that you acquired. In that case, you should either just focus on hardware aspects of the laptop when purchasing it or get a more advanced version of the software package.

Cautionary Tale: Lenovo-Based Problems

Last year, Lenovo distributed laptops with problematic pre-installed software that included adware which modifies search results by inserting ads into them. Being more vulnerable then ever, Lenovo users complained, showing that even the most trusted brands can make mistakes and cause problems to its users. So, when picking between purchasing a laptop with or without pre-loaded software, choose carefully and rely only on trusted information and your own knowledge.

Final words

So in the end what will you get is a pure consequence of personal preference, the information above is here just to help you as much as they can in helping you lean towards a certain product. Almost all manufacturers have several categories of laptops and for me, in particular, I like to leave the brand choice for the end because hardware specs are similar per category. Firstly I look at the hardware, software, price and then the manufacturer.

Author’s Bio: Although a Physics graduate, Marcus opted for work in fields of technology, marketing, and web.  He is also an author at Technivorz blog. He likes an occasional game or two and has seen Star Wars films 44 times. You can reach him via Facebook, Twitter

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