10 Top Previews Pick The Perfect Laptop That You Need
The top laptops for court reporters in 2023 are finally here! We’ve done extensive research, speaking with dozens of court reporters and experts to narrow down our list of the best laptops for court reporters.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current laptop or purchase one from scratch, the five notebooks below will keep you satisfied in the courtroom for years to come.
Table of Contents
What is court reporting?
Court reporting is a field that’s growing by leaps and bounds. As litigation becomes more prevalent, there’s more demand for written records of hearings and trials. Many court reporters are actually self-employed and work as independent contractors; working in your own business is appealing to many people who want flexibility, autonomy, and some degree of control over their hours.
Consider whether you enjoy working alone or prefer collaborating with other professionals on projects; many court reporters like to create an atmosphere conducive to both types of personalities.
How to Choose the Best Laptop for Court Reporters?
A laptop can make all the difference when you’re at work, and this is especially true if you’re a court reporter. Picking the right one will help ensure that you can take down everything that happens in court without missing anything or wasting time. Use this guide to learn how to choose the best laptop for court reporters in any situation!
Step 1: Choosing the Right Size
The size of a laptop is another factor that you have to take into consideration. What will you be using your laptop for? If you are going to use it while on-the-go, then you will probably want something more compact and lightweight. If not, if you plan on using it at home, then it doesn’t matter as much how big or small it is.
Step 2: Intel vs. AMD Processors – Which is Better?
There are two basic types of laptop processors: Intel Core and AMD. Each has its own upsides, so it’s important to look at which one best fits your needs. Although many people think that Intel processors are better than AMD, there are a number of factors you should consider before deciding which one you want on your computer.
Let’s take a look at what each processor offers. The first thing to understand is whether or not your operating system (OS) supports an AMD-based processor; currently, Apple only supports Intel chips. If you plan on using an Apple product, then make sure you stick with Intel chips because they are fully compatible with all Mac devices as well as iPads and iPhones—in other words, going with an AMD chip will result in having to purchase new devices or software if/when switching over from Windows-based machines.
Step 3: Brand Considerations
While there are plenty of great laptops available on the market, it can be difficult knowing which one is right for you. That’s why we compiled a few tips below on what to look for when choosing your next laptop. At a minimum, make sure that your new computer has these key components which are following.
Step 4: Choosing Between Windows and MacOS
Even though Apple’s computers are generally more expensive than Windows-based PCs, some court reporters prefer them. When deciding between these two operating systems, it’s important to consider how you plan on using your computer: Some professionals prefer MacOS because it offers an easier interface and longer battery life. If mobility is a priority, however, Windows may be a better option; Windows devices typically offer sleeker designs and thinner screens that are ideal for portability.
Step 5: Choosing Between Convertibles and Traditional Notebooks
Consider how you will use your laptop when deciding whether a convertible or traditional design is best. If you are likely to be working outside of a court room, consider a convertible. Also note that many convertibles cost more than similarly specced traditional notebooks and don’t last as long on battery life.
If you plan on primarily using your laptop in a courtroom setting, a notebook with discrete graphics can help your laptop run faster and stay cool.A discreet GPU won’t draw attention to itself while in court – keeping you focused on what matters most: your testimony.
Step 6: Which Operating System Do You Need?
If you plan on using your laptop to do simple and heavy typing-based work, then a Windows computer may be right for you. If your job requires a lot of video or photo editing, or if you want access to specific programs like Skype that are available on Macs, then it’s best to get a Mac.
And don’t worry about being committed to one platform if you make your purchase through an Apple Store; all recent models can run both OS X and Windows without switching hardware!
Step 7: Memory and Storage Considerations
The memory in your laptop has a direct impact on how fast it operates. If you’re going to use multiple applications at once, or want to store thousands of documents and files on your laptop, it’s best to consider models with more memory. Many court reporters opt for laptops with between 4GB and 16GB of RAM. Higher-end models can be found with up to 32GB.
Step 8: A Graphics Card
Graphics cards used to be part of desktop computers only, but now they’re often found in laptops. They can boost a computer’s performance significantly, but don’t necessarily have to be expensive—they just need enough power and memory to perform basic tasks with ease. A graphics card doesn’t have to be flashy or high-end; it just needs a dependable chipset that performs well at most basic computing tasks.
Step 9: Other Key Components of Your Notebook Computer
When comparing different notebook computers, there are several other features you should consider. You may not need these features now, but it’s wise to look for them in your computer because they will become increasingly important over time.
For example, a Backlit Keyboard or a keyboard that lights up will allow you to use your laptop in dimly lit areas or while working on evening hours (if you court reporting service works past 5 pm). Memory (RAM) and Hard Drive space: In today’s world of constant connectivity and information sharing on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn or cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive – ensure that you purchase a laptop with enough memory (RAM) and hard drive space.
Best Laptops for Court Reporters
Saving up for a laptop is no easy task, especially when you’re a case reporter who has to keep an eye on the latest update in Windows 10 and save up enough so that the laptop won’t run out of space anytime soon. Since there are so many brands to choose from, this has easily become one of the toughest decisions you have to battle with.
So, I thought I’d help out with a list of the laptops you should consider buying!
- Apple MacBook Pro
- ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop
- Lenovo IdeaPad 3
- HP 14″ Touchscreen Home and Business Laptop
- Lenovo Flex 5 14 2-in-1
- Dell Inspiron 14 5406 2 in 1 Convertible Laptop
- Apple MacBook Air
- Acer Aspire 5
- Dell XPS 15
- Acer Chromebook Spin
- Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop
Read More: Best Laptops For Appraisers
Breakdown
1-Apple MacBook Pro
- Intel Core i5 processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- 13 Inches Screen Display
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Backlit Magic Keyboard
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645
I was a strong proponent of MacBook Air for court reporting for quite some time, but with Apple’s release of its new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, I’m no longer holding out on pro users. Although not technically a new product release, it comes packed with an updated processor (the i7 is more than enough to power through even your most demanding processes), more memory and storage space than ever before.
The addition of full sized ports means that you can use all your existing peripherals without having to buy dongles or adaptors – a common downfall of Apple laptops in recent years – and although pricey, will give you several years service.
You also have access to ‘Hey Siri’ voice activation which means that voice commands are literally at your fingertips; certainly handy when you’re spending long hours typing away in Word!
2-ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop
- 13.3” Full HD NanoEdge Bezel
- Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX250
- 16GB RAM
- Core i7-10510u Processor
- 512GB PCIe SSD
- Windows 10 Pro
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11Ax)
- Item Weight 2.8 pounds
The ASUS ZenBook 13 is an ultra-slim, ultra-light and super fast laptop. The laptop has a super thin design and comes with a one inch display with a 4k resolution that makes it great for travel. This makes it easy to work while you are on your way to court or to prepare before you get there. It also has plenty of storage space and is powered by an 10th generation intel core i7 processor and comes with 16 GB RAM.
With these powerful specs, it can run multiple programs at once without slowing down. You can even use Windows Hello to log in easily without typing in a password every time. Some other features include: dual-band wifi capability, nano edge bezel with narrow borders around screen which gives you more screen space and fingerprint recognition technology so you don’t have to type in passwords every time.
All of these features make it perfect for working as a transcriptionist! So if you want to buy a nice new laptop but don’t want anything too fancy, then I highly recommend getting one with all these features!
3-Lenovo IdeaPad 3
- AMD Ryzen 3 3250U processor
- 128GB Storage
- AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics
- 15. 6″ HD (1366 x 768)
- Up to 6 hours Battery Life
- 4GB DDR4 Ram
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a fairly recent addition to Lenovo’s laptop lineup, which consists mostly of ThinkPad models. The IdeaPad 3 has a very sturdy metal body and is nearly indestructible. It’s by far one of my favorite laptops for court reporting, not just because it meets all of my needs in terms of performance and durability but also because I’m a big fan of how well it looks.
The keyboard is full-sized and gives me plenty of room to type without feeling cramped. Its touchpad is smooth and responsive as well.
As with most other high-end laptops, its sound quality is excellent; however, many budget computers often have poor sound quality, so that may be an important feature for you to consider if you intend on using your computer a lot while listening to music or watching videos online while working at home or out on assignments.
4-HP 14″ Touchscreen Home and Business Laptop
- Ryzen 3-3200U CPU
- 8 GB of RAM
- 128GB M.2 SSD
- Vega 3 Graphics
- Up to 6 hours battery life
- Win 10
The HP 14 Touchscreen laptop is a great choice for court reporters who need a bit more screen real estate. It has a backlit keyboard, a 64-bit Ryzen 3-3200U CPU, 8GB of RAM and 128GB M.2 SSD. The 14 screen is larger than other laptops on our list and weighs only 3.25 pounds.
The touch screen allows you to navigate through documents with just your fingers and makes zooming in on text as easy as it would be with an ipad or smartphone.
Because of its size, you can use either touch gestures or traditional mouse methods to control what’s happening on screen. At under $400, it’s a good value for court reporters needing an upgrade from a tablet type computer. Its resolution is not retina but at 1366 x 768 it displays crisp and clear images without glare even in bright courtroom lights.
5-Lenovo Flex 5 14 2-in-1
- 14.0″ FHD Touch Display
- AMD Ryzen 5 4500U
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB Storage
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Win 10
If you’re looking for a lightweight machine that can serve as both your laptop and tablet, consider purchasing a 2-in-1, like Lenovo’s Flex 5 14 2-in-1. This model features an integrated kickstand and 360° hinge, so you can set it up for hands-free use at any time or place. It weighs just under 3.63 pounds and boasts 6 hours of battery life on average, making it perfect for working on while sitting in a waiting room during appointments.
It also comes with Windows Hello integration, giving you facial recognition capabilities so you don’t have to remember passwords to log in. Plus, if you already have Microsoft Office 365 and OneDrive for Business cloud storage accounts, its preloaded one-year subscription will let you install those programs on up to five devices without paying extra fees. (Note: Neither Office nor OneDrive are included.)
At $720 new from Best Buy, it’s not cheap but is generally well reviewed by users who praise its solid build quality and impressive screen resolution.
6-Dell Inspiron 14 5406 2 in 1 Convertible Laptop
- 14-inch FHD Touchscreen
- Intel Core i7-1165G7
- 12GB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Iris Xe Graphics
- Windows 10
While certainly not perfect, Dell’s 14-inch 2 in 1 laptop is one of our top choices for court reporters in 2023. Lightweight and with an exceptionally long battery life—more than 8 hours on a single charge—the Inspiron comes equipped with a solid Intel i5 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD.
An extra-large backlit keyboard makes it easy to work even in poorly lit courtrooms. At $1000, however, you will have to budget carefully when purchasing additional peripherals.
Only ships in black or gold; no rose gold color options available at launch. We give it 3/5 stars; great value for light productivity use but probably best served as a secondary computer if you need to do heavy typing or video editing during trials all day long every day.
7-Apple MacBook Air
- 13” Retina Display
- 8GB RAM
- 512GB SSD Storage
- Backlit Keyboard
- FaceTime HD Camera
- Touch ID
- up to 18 hours of battery life
The Macbook Air is a highly portable device that many court reporters prefer over other devices. It has a sleek look, and it is easy to carry around without feeling like you are over-burdened with things. The biggest problem with purchasing an Apple product is that they often sell out fast before you have a chance to purchase one.
However, if you can snag one when they are in stock, I would highly recommend doing so. You will be very happy with your decision for years to come.
One of my favorite features about my macbook air is its long battery life. This was something I worried about most when deciding on which computer to buy because working as a court reporter requires me to work long hours at times and having some place to sit down and charge up my computer or battery does not always exist within these circumstances. I did not have to worry about that with my Macbook Air, however.
Although, for best results you should make sure that you are plugging it in after every few uses or so, just to make sure it stays fresh and never dies on you.
One of my other favorite things about owning a Macbook Air is being able to connect wirelessly anywhere that has an available internet connection with WiFi.
8-Acer Aspire 5
- 15.6″ Full HD IPS
- AMD Ryzen 3 3350U Quad-Core Mobile Processor
- 4GB DDR4 Ram
- 128GB NVMe SSD
- Windows 10 Home
- Weight 3.97 pounds
The Aspire 5 is a great laptop for court reporters, as it has a long battery life and good performance for everyday use. The display is small but sharp, making it easy to read documents. The entire system lasts up to 11 hours on one charge, which means you can take it with you throughout your day without having to worry about plugging in at any point.
Acer’s software is top-notch, making it simple to transfer files between your computer and phone if necessary. At just under $400, it’s an affordable option that works well for anyone looking to get their hands on a solid all-around machine.
The keyboard is top-notch and its power will easily let you run multiple programs at once; it also lasts a long time on one charge, lasting up to 10 hours with regular use. It has a sharp display that works well even when viewing documents outdoors; its speakers produce an impressive sound that can fill an entire room with ease.
9-Dell XPS 15
- 5.6 inches FHD Display
- i7-10750H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- Windows 10 Home
- 512GB SSD
- GTX 1650 Ti XPS9500-7002SLV-PUS
The Dell XPS 15 is one of our favorite laptops for court reporters. It’s sleek, powerful, and efficient, with a stunning display, too. It has a 15.6 inch display with 4K Ultra HD resolution and up to Intel Core i7 processors.
It also comes standard with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD. Overall, it’s an excellent laptop that’s designed specifically for professionals in creative industries like ours – you won’t find any junkware here! As part of Dell’s enhanced-endurance line, you can count on it lasting longer than other models.
10-Acer Chromebook Spin
- 13.5″ 2K VertiView
- 3:2 Touch
- Intel i5-10210U CPU
- 8GB Memory
- 128GB SSD
- Steel Gray
- Amazon Choice Tag
- 9 Hours battery life
If you’re looking best laptop computer for court reporters, look no further than Acer’s Chromebook Spin. A 2-in-1 Chromebook with a 360° hinge, which means it can be used as both a laptop and tablet, it features an Intel Core m3 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD of storage.
Additionally, there is one USB 3.0 port (plus two USB Type C ports) and a microSD card slot. And because of its built-in stylus, it’s perfect for court reporters who make use of digital recorders/transcribers. The only downside to this notebook is that at only 9 hours on a charge, its battery life could last longer.
11-Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop
- 14″ Full HD IPS 100% sRGB Display
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Processor
- 8GB LPDDR4X
- 512GB NVMe SSD
- WiFi 6
- Backlit KB
Hands down, my best laptop for court reporting. It has a thin and light profile which is perfect for toting around your office, whether you’re in court or at home. The battery life on it is phenomenal (I can get through two days without charging if I don’t watch any YouTube), and it has enough power to run a few applications at once. The price point of $669 is unbeatable!
I’ve had mine for six months now and I absolutely love it! If you have an extra couple hundred dollars to spend, definitely splurge for some more memory. You won’t regret it!!
Q1. Do court Reporters use laptops?
It depends. Some court reporters prefer to work without a laptop while others swear by them. If you’re one of those that believe laptops are essential, you’re going to need a good one. Here is a list of top 10 laptops for court reporters in 2023 to consider as you narrow down your search.
The biggest consideration when purchasing a laptop for court reporting is battery life and sound quality so be sure that these two features are included on your must-have list before deciding on a model.
Q2. What software do court reporters use?
Whether you are just starting your career as a court reporter or have been in practice for many years, it is important to invest in new software. As your profession advances and demands more from you, so too will these software products.
With access to a variety of products, you can select what works best for you and helps make your job easier and more productive. What should I consider when purchasing new software? You should always think about what features best suit your needs as well as how much you plan on using them.
Q3. What are good laptops for court reporters to use?
Not all laptops are created equal and court reporters face a number of different challenges depending on their working environment.
Q4. What technology do court reporters use?
The most important part of any court reporter’s job is capturing and preserving their notes, audio, and video accurately. Today’s court reporters have several technology tools at their disposal for doing so; most notably, a computer or laptop.
However, you can also record your court proceedings with pen and paper—sometimes that’s even preferred for its lower cost and portability over anything else.
Q5. How much do digital reporters get paid?
Many court reporters rely on digital reporting now, and they earn much more than stenographers used to. The median annual wage for a digital reporter is $55,400 compared to $46,230 for non-digital reporters. While your salary may be lower if you’re just starting out or in a smaller firm, these numbers are still great! Plus, it’s worth it because you’ll never have to worry about transcribing errors with digital reporting.
Q6. Is Court Reporting a good career?
There’s no doubt that a career in court reporting is a good one. It offers interesting work, an impressive salary, and excellent benefits.
Q7. What makes a good court reporter?
The best court reporters are detail-oriented and can keep focused on what they’re typing in order to capture accurate testimony. The court reporter’s job is not just to take down what was said, but to accurately transcribe that testimony for anyone who may need to refer back to it.
Accuracy is paramount in their jobs. That means not just paying attention during a hearing, but also double-checking previous work before turning a document over for review or publishing it online.
Q8. What is digital court?
Digital court is an online, text-based transcription method used in several countries worldwide. It allows court reporters to use a computer and their own voice to record testimony, rather than using traditional shorthand techniques. Even though digital court has been around for decades, it is still one of best ways for court reporters to transcribe audio information.
Summing it UP!
When compiling this best laptops for court reporters list, we considered a variety of factors. We looked at processing power, memory, interface options (USB ports, SD slots and more), weight, and price. We used this information to help us narrow down the list of potential laptops that are best for court reporters.
We then factored in online reviews as well as our personal experience with each laptop to create the final ranking you see above.
