Optimizing Your Microsoft 365 Experience: A Guide to Choosing the Right Laptop  

In the world of modern work where remote and hybrid experiences are evermore the norm, having the right tools can make all the difference in your productivity and efficiency. For many businesses that employ Microsoft 365, the suite of powerful applications for communication, collaboration, and productivity are the cornerstone of their operations. However, to truly unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365, its essential to choose a laptop that integrates with Microsoft’s applications to enhance the overall user experience.  

In this guide, we’ll explore key considerations for selecting laptops that are optimized for Microsoft 365, highlight specific hardware features that can enhance productivity, and tell you about Regroove’s top choice for a laptop that helps your end users get the most out of your Microsoft 365 subscription.  

Key Considerations for Choosing the Right Laptop  

When choosing a laptop to help your team get the most out of Microsoft 365, there are four key considerations to keep in mind:  

1. Compatibility: When choosing a laptop for your Microsoft 365 environment, compatibility is paramount to none. You’ll want to ensure that the laptop’s operating system, hardware components, and drivers are fully compatible with the latest versions of your Microsoft applications to avoid compatibility issues and maximize performance.  
    

2. Performance: Microsoft 365 applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel, and Microsoft Teams often require a certain level of performance to run smoothly, especially when handling large datasets or multitasking. Look for a laptop with a powerful processor, ample RAM, and fast storage options to ensure responsive performance.  
    

3. Display Quality: Since much of your work in Microsoft 365 may involve reading, editing, and collaborating on documents, a high-quality display is essential. Choose a laptop with vibrant, high-resolution displays that offer colour accuracy and ample screen real estate for multitasking.  
    

4. Portability: In an increasingly remote or hybrid work environment, portability is not only helpful for commuting, but key to safely traveling with your laptop while protecting the device from damage. Choose a laptop that strikes the right balance between performance and portability, with a lightweight and slim design that doesn’t sacrifice productivity.  

Additional Hardware Features  

While the key considerations above are most important when selecting the right laptop for your team members, there are some additional hardware features to keep an eye out for that can help increase your productivity:  

1. Touchscreen: A touchscreen display can greatly enhance productivity when using Microsoft 365 applications, allowing for intuitive navigation, editing, and annotation directly on the screen. Plus, touchscreens can be helpful when reading through lengthy documents, or scrolling through blogs and websites.  
    

2. Stylus Support: For users to frequently take handwritten notes, stylus support can be a game changer. A stylus can allow for the comfort of handwriting your notes while saving on paper and ensuring notes are kept together on your device. Plus, stylus support can be especially helpful for users that frequently sign or annotate documents.  
    

3. Long Battery Life: Since productivity doesn’t stop when you’re away from the office, be sure to choose a laptop with a long battery life to ensure uninterrupted work sessions. Whether you’re at home, on the road, or working from a coffee shop, long battery life is often more important than you think.  

Regroove’s Top Choice 

While there are hundreds of choices on the market that can meet the key considerations and additional hardware features listed above, we’re always the first to recommend the Microsoft Surface. This is what all Regroove employees use.  

As a flagship product from Microsoft, the Surface Laptop offers seamless, purpose-built integration with Microsoft 365 thanks to optimized hardware and software integration. With its premium build quality, high-resolution Pixel Sense display, and optional Surface Pen support, the Surface Laptop is an excellent choice for businesses looking for a reliable and versatile laptop for Microsoft 365.  

Hardware Support from Regroove  

Not sure about the best laptop for your team? We can help! While we recommend the Surface Laptop, we know that there are lots of cost-effective options on the market that can fit your team’s specific needs. Get in touch with us using the form below to find out how we can help you team select the right laptop and configure it to meet your operational and security needs!