Work remotely in the UK

Moaning about the office can be therapeutic. Constant criticism of the temperature, space, and snack selection is something that binds a workforce and helps everyone get through the day. It’s really not that bad, though.

The office definitely has its faults, but you quickly notice all the little comforts that it affords as soon as you start working from home. Yes, it’s nice to roll out of bed and join a meeting in your pyjamas, but you’ll quickly realise that the grass isn’t always greener at home.

Working remotely can actually be a real struggle, especially if you’re not fully prepared for the transition. A constant supply of snacks and drinks is a good place to start, but you also need to invest in all the devices and products that help you to work efficiently in the office. That means you’re going to have consider dropping some cash on a desk chair, keyboard, mouse, set of headphones, and even a laptop.

You could try and persist with a basic and uncomfortable set-up, but old habits die hard, and complaining is an inevitability. Except this time, there may not be anyone to complain to, and you’ll just be shouting at the wall, with nothing but your echo and maybe a disapproving pet for company.

What is the most important device for working from home?

Everyone is going to have different priorities when it comes to kitting out a home office with essentials products. For some, a chair is going to be top of the list. You will be sitting on the thing all day, so we get it.

If you expect to be working in a noisy environment, then a set of noise-cancelling headphones is going to come in handy. Likewise, if you suffer from joint pain, an ergonomic keyboard and mouse combo should be something to seriously consider. We understand that everyone has different needs, but the most important device for your home office is a laptop. Sorry, this isn’t up for debate.

Unless your employer has provided you with a laptop that you can take home, you could probably benefit from upgrading to something that can handle your workload. Fortunately, there are absolutely loads of impressive devices on the market that offer power, performance, and portability. It’s simply a matter of finding a model that works for you.

What are the most important laptop features?

Finding the right laptop for you is not easy, but the process can be made a little easier by understanding what makes a laptop tick. There are important inner components that every laptop has and it’s important to know what they are:

CPU — This is the central processing unit, sometimes called – quite simply – the processor. This is like the brain of the laptop. It controls and communicates with all of your laptop’s functions – including how fast it operates. If you’re a video editor or graphic designer – or do anything that means installing and running big-time software – you should look for a machine with a solid CPU processor.

GPU — This is the graphics processing unit, otherwise known as the graphics card. This is responsible for your laptop’s visuals. You might not need eye-popping graphics for answering emails or working on spreadsheets, but for design work, choose a machine with a powerful GPU.

RAM — This stands for random-access memory, and it gives your computer short-term memory for running various applications at the same time and using them as and when you need to access. This basically controls the speed and dexterity of your laptop. We recommend 8GB of RAM as a good starting point if you’re a multi-tasker or use the laptop for creative work.

Storage — Laptops usually come with one of two types of storage space – hard-disc drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD) storage. HDD is essentially a piece of metal inside the machine that holds all of your info. SSD stores the info on little flash-memory chips. A HDD typically holds far more than SSD, but HDD is much slower than SSD. It’s worth noting that there are also cloud and external storage options.

Display — The first thing that catches your eye on any computer is its display. We recommend a 1080p resolution as a base level. Some laptops also have touchscreen capabilities.

Other features to look out for are size and weight, as you don’t want to be left with something that is not portable if you need to travel for work. Also, you should research battery life and ports, particularly if you plan on using add-ons and other devices in collaboration with your laptop.

What is the best laptop for working from home?

It’s always nice to have options when making a purchase, but too much choice can pose a problem. How are you supposed to know which laptop is best for you when everything looks good in its own way? It’s important to do your own research, but we’ve done most of the hard work and lined up a selection of your best options to make the whole process much easier.

We’ve tracked down the very best laptops from top brands like Apple, Dell, Microsoft, and more. These devices have been chosen because they offer everything that you need for working from home, with something for every budget. We’re not going to pick a favourite, because all of these devices offer features that improve the remote working experience.

These are the best laptops for working from home in 2021.