Compare laptops by how you will use them, not by spec sheets
Laptop names are a maze of model numbers, and two machines with the same price can feel completely different. Tell your todo.is agent what you will do on it, your budget and must-haves, and it compares current models using specs and independent reviews, then explains the trade-offs in plain words.
The prompt
- Compare laptops for me. I will mostly use it for [WHAT YOU DO ON IT]. My budget is [BUDGET] and I'm in [COUNTRY]. Must-haves: [MUST-HAVES]. Find 5 to 6 current models that fit, using the makers' spec pages and independent reviews. For each give processor, RAM, storage, screen (size, resolution, brightness), weight, ports, battery life from review tests, build and keyboard notes, known problems and a typical price with links to 2 stores. Explain which specs matter for my use and which don't. Recommend the best 3 with a one-line reason each. Excel file plus a short summary.
What to change
- [WHAT YOU DO ON IT]: e.g. "university notes, Zoom and some photo editing" or "coding and running Docker".
- [BUDGET]: e.g. "under $900" or "€1,200 to €1,500".
- [COUNTRY]: So prices and stores are local, e.g. "Germany".
- [MUST-HAVES]: e.g. "under 1.4 kg, 16 GB RAM, Windows, HDMI port".
Example result
- Laptops for university, under €1,000
- Use: notes, browsing, Zoom, light photo editing. Must-haves: under 1.4 kg, 16 GB RAM, all-day battery.
- What matters for you
- • 16 GB RAM: yes, many browser tabs and Zoom at once
- • Battery: the most important spec for long days on campus
- • Screen brightness: 400 nits or more if you study near windows
- • Processor: any current mid-range chip is plenty. A top chip adds cost, not speed you will feel
- • Graphics card: not needed for your use
- The best 3
- 1. Model A, 14-inch ultrabook · best overall
- Light (1.2 kg), around 14 hours in review battery tests, bright screen, good keyboard. Only 2 USB-C ports, so you may want an adapter.
- 2. Model B, 13-inch ARM laptop · best battery
- Runs cool and silent, very long battery. Check that the apps your course needs run on it before buying.
- 3. Model C, 14-inch 2-in-1 · best for handwritten notes
- Touchscreen and pen support, 1.35 kg. Battery is shorter (about 9 hours in tests) and the screen is dimmer.
- Also compared
- • Model D: great value but 1.6 kg, over your limit
- • Model E: 8 GB RAM in your budget, which will feel slow in a year
- • Model F: gaming laptop, heavy and short battery
- Before you buy
- • Look for student discounts on the maker's site.
- • Check the exact configuration: the same name can ship with 8 or 16 GB RAM.
- • Buy from a store with a good return window and test the keyboard in the first week.
- Specs, battery test results, weights and store links are in the Excel file. Prices change often.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and describe what you do on a laptop, your budget, country and must-haves.
- Send it in todo.is or by WhatsApp. Add a link to any laptop you're already considering.
- Your agent compares current models with specs and reviews, then recommends 3 and explains why.
- Ask "compare 1 and 2 only" or "track the price of model A" to keep going.
Tips for a better result
- Describe tasks, not specs. "Video calls and Excel" tells your agent more than "fast processor".
- Battery claims from makers are optimistic. Ask for numbers from independent review tests.
- Check the exact model code. One laptop name can come in very different configurations.
- If you're not in a hurry, ask your agent to watch prices for a few weeks and message you on a drop.
compare laptops: FAQ
- How much RAM do I need in a laptop? 16 GB is a comfortable amount for most people today. 8 GB works for light use; video editing, coding with containers or big spreadsheets benefit from 32 GB.
- Mac or Windows laptop: which is better? It depends on the apps you need and what you already use. Your agent can check whether your key apps run on each and compare similar models.
- Are laptop reviews reliable? Independent reviews that run their own battery and screen tests are the most useful. Your agent links its sources so you can read them.
- Does the agent buy the laptop for me? No. It compares models and gives store links. You buy it yourself.
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