The showcases and online stores are filled with "Discount" signs at this time, but among so many promotions lies a common trap: computers with 2020 hardware sold at current prices. Today, choosing a computer is more complex than a few years ago. The arrival of Artificial Intelligence to Windows (Copilot), new versions of browsers, and office software have raised technical requirements. Buying cheap can mean having a slow and useless machine in less than a year. For years, 8GB of RAM was sufficient for office and home tasks. Now, that amount has become the main obstacle to productivity. When opening multiple tabs in the browser, working with heavy spreadsheets, and making video calls (Teams or Zoom), 8GB quickly becomes saturated. The system resorts to the hard drive as auxiliary memory, which slows down the entire machine. New AI features require available memory. Without enough RAM, these tools may not work or could cause the system to crash. To protect your investment, the minimum recommended today is 16GB of RAM. Whether for students or administrative professionals, anything less is betting on planned obsolescence. But RAM is not the only key factor. The processor is another fundamental point, and here many buyers get confused. What should you check in the specifications? Beyond the brand, the intelligence of the chip is important. Intel and AMD have released processors with NPU (Neural Processing Units), designed for AI tasks and to free up the main processor, preventing freezes. In Intel, look for the Core Ultra family (series 5 or 7), which offer a good balance between performance and energy efficiency. If the budget is limited, a Core i7 from the 13th or 14th generation is still a solid option. In AMD, the Ryzen AI series (7000 or 8000) stands out for its multitasking performance and energy efficiency, competing equally with Intel and sometimes surpassing it in integrated graphics. If you are an advanced user, content creator, or work with Adobe (Premiere, Photoshop, After Effects) or 3D rendering, the recommendation increases: 32GB of RAM is ideal. Adobe consumes a lot of memory, and this prevents unexpected crashes. Another relevant aspect is storage. Don’t pay extra for laptops with 2TB or 4TB internal storage. Opt for 512GB or 1TB for the system and programs. For large files, invest in high-speed external SSDs (USB-C). They are more economical, protect your data, and facilitate mobility. When analyzing year-end offers, don’t just focus on the price. A laptop costing Q3,500 with 8GB of RAM and a basic processor will cost you time and frustration. Investing a little more in 16GB of RAM and a modern processor with NPU ensures you have a fast and useful machine for several years. Thinking about replacing your workstation with an iPad? We will address that topic in another newsletter. Any questions about a model? Write to me for help optimizing your tech investment. Source: republica.com