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Our editor has been reviewing business notebooks since 2000. Here, he shares his thoughts on what separates the great choices from the also-rans via five easy mistakes
While most people now understand what ChatGPT, Midjourney and other online generative AI services can do, there is far less understanding about local AI. That is, AI tasks which can be performed locally on a notebook using the built-in processor.
Microsoft brought local AI to the world’s wider attention when it announced Copilot+ PCs almost two years ago in 2024. Every notebook that qualified for this needed a neural processing unit – an NPU – that could operate at 40 TOPS or higher.
What matters here is that if you buy a business notebook that doesn’t have an NPU – that doesn’t meet the Copilot+ PC criteria – then you won’t be able to perform certain tasks on your computer.
At the beginning, these tasks were extremely basic: things like creating images or adding advanced blur effects to web calls. Now, I’m seeing manufacturers include their own AI software that allows users to analyze locally held documents. Users can then ask questions about their own work in natural language and get an answer. They can even use their own notebook to generate a first draft of a monthly report based on the latest data.
It’s still early days for local AI, but these tools are already time-savers that avoid sending sensitive, commercial information over the internet.
The days of business notebooks being upgraded on a strict three-year cycle are now long in the past. Often notebooks give good service for four years, maybe even five, so it makes sense to specify them for that lifetime.
This also avoids the annoyance for a worker where they’re given a notebook that doesn’t feel fast enough from the start. It actually turns that annoyance into delight: there’s nothing quite like knowing that your employee values you by giving you a great system to work on!
In practice, thinking three years into the future means:
You should also map out what the “end of life” looks like for your chosen notebook. Does your chosen supplier refurbish old notebooks so that they can be reused? Can that supplier help to securely wipe your data? These are great questions to ask at the point of purchase.
There is a natural tendency to order a tranche of notebooks and then work out who they’re best suited for after the event. You particularly see this in smaller businesses, where the nominated equipment buyer might be tempted by Black Friday deals or a convincing salesman.
It is far better to map out your users’ needs and then match the notebooks to them. The simplest example of that is for salespeople. They need a machine that will project the right image of your company to clients, but it must also deliver for battery life, speed and portability.
But that’s a simple example. Every different job role demands different weapons. For instance, some roles may benefit hugely from a touchscreen. Others from a durable design (this is where semi-rugged laptops may be a good choice) or a 2-in-1 convertible form factor.
If this sounds like it’s getting terribly complicated, then may I bring your attention to the next section…
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While you should think incredibly carefully about what notebooks you buy, once they’re rolled out to users you want to think about them as little as possible. And that means simplifying day-to-day management, it means minimising support calls.
The latter, incidentally, can be helped by local AI, as it enables users to ask questions about their own notebooks (so long as the manufacturer takes advantage). For example, a user can ask how to change microphone settings on their specific notebook, rather than wasting time searching on the internet or submitting a support ticket.
There are various other ways to simplify life for your IT team, including third-party mobile device management software, but there are other tactics to consider. For instance, it makes sense to settle on one manufacturer because this means the support software will be the same – both for end users and your IT staff.
Bearing in mind that hardware failures will inevitably happen, it’s very useful to have spare parts and even whole spare machines in the cupboard. It could be the difference between a key worker being offline for a few hours and a few days. This, again, is a great reason to standardize on one manufacturer.
Larger organizations should also consider buying notebooks that supports either Intel’s vPro or AMD’s Ryzen PRO out-of-band management. In emergencies this can be a life-saver.
No matter what size of business you’re buying for, the final thing to consider is the warranty. It makes sense to specify this for the same length of time that you intend to use the notebook for, and to buy this at the point of purchase. This is also when you’re most likely to get the best deals.
The great news is that you no longer need to spend hours poring over specifications. For the vast majority of users, any modern processor from AMD or Intel will provide the speed they need. Looking for a “Copilot+ PC” badge is a handy shortcut, as it guarantees a level of battery life, performance and build quality. The only thing to be careful of is that Qualcomm-powered laptops, while fast, may not be 100% compatible with the software you use in your organization – particularly if you use custom apps.
If you’re buying an Intel-powered laptop, “Evo” branding does a similar job, but doesn’t guarantee support for local AI. You can get around this by looking for both “Evo” and “Copilot+ PC” branding.
Rather than spend a huge amount of time on “speeds and feeds”, take a good look at your users’ usage patterns. It’s no longer enough for most people’s notebook to have a webcam, for instance: you need to make sure that they will look professional on calls, and that others can hear them clearly. In short, check out the webcam, microphone and speakers, don’t treat them as tickbox items!
Also consider factors like the display and the keyboard: if you wouldn’t be happy using them, why should your employees?
While it still makes sense to focus on users’ needs rather than “speeds and feeds”, I advise most buyers to understand what processor they’re buying as it does make a difference.Â
For instance, Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 processors have confusing names, where a Core Ultra 5 can be faster than a Core Ultra 7 processor. As a simple shortcut, look for “H” or “HX” at the end of the processor’ name if you want power, but if battery life is your absolute priority then look for one that is just a number (eg Core Ultra 7 355).
Although this article has focused on notebooks alone, they aren’t the only thing to consider. You should be looking at the place of work and ensuring that it’s comfortable for users as this reaps double dividends: happier employees and more productive ones.
So, think about docking stations, monitors, keyboards, mice and more. Here again it makes sense from a management, “keep it simple” perspective to choose a single manufacturer.
Finally, good luck! I hope whatever you choose serves your organization well for years to come.
Updated on 27 February 2026 to include information on the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors.
