A few years ago, work only happened in offices, but that changed over time. The concept of working from home and remote work started to gain popularity. Considering its benefits, companies started to embrace it more openly, opening new gates of opportunities for both, the employers and employees.
Let’s get to know more about remote work, how it came into being, and how a good work laptop can speed things up for you.
The Evolution of Remote Work
1970 – Telecommuting
Dating back to the 1970s, remote work was suggested by NASA engineer Jack Niles, to reduce the carbon footprint and avoid commuting issues. He called it telecommuting – working from home while staying connected via the telephone, internet, and email.
1980 – IBM Allowed Remote Work
In 1980, IBM experimented with the concept, and by 1983, there were more than 2000 employees working remotely for the company.
1990 – World Wide Web
With the introduction of the World Wide Web, people from all over the world could now connect via emails and virtual tools. MSN, Yahoo, and Hotmail made connecting easier for the team members and other colleagues. IBM, AT&T, American Express, and several other companies allowed their employees to telecommute.
2000 – Wireless Internet, Broadband and Laptops
This was the year when wireless internet and broadband were introduced. Laptops started to get more common and people were making use of the internet for work purposes. Video conferencing tools and Microsoft made presentations and team meetings easier.
2008 – Global Financial Crisis
After the global financial crisis, accepting the concept of WFH was inevitable. It acted as a catalyst to expedite the whole idea of remote work.
2010 – Freelancing became a thing!
In 2010, some new words were added to the dictionary; Freelance, Freelancers, and Freelancing. Freelance means to work and earn money in your free time. Freelancers are those individuals who provide their services in trade for money. They can be students, working professionals, or anyone who wants to earn some extra money.
2020 – COVID-19 Outbreak
When COVID-19 hit the world, remote work became a necessity. Everybody had to work from home, regardless of their jobs and fields. Even the blue-collar professionals had to adapt to the change. A lot of applications and websites opened up, in an attempt to be more accessible to their customers. For the most part, companies and employers adapted to this change quite well and learned the benefits of remote work.
Laptops Made Remote Work Possible
Laptops have been out there for a long time, but now they have become the unsung heroes of our flexible work lives. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have survived the 2008 global financial crisis and COVID-19 period.
The latest laptops are powerful, portable, flexible, and designed according to customer needs. They are all that you need to be productive while working away from the office.
Graphic designers and creative professionals can get themselves a laptop with good graphics. Developers and administrative officials can get one with a powerful processor. Content creators who need to edit their videos and other content can get one with a powerful processor, dedicated graphics card, sufficient RAM and storage, and of course, a good internet connection.
Powerful Performance for Multitasking
As technology is advancing, laptops have become incredibly powerful tools that let people work on multiple tasks at once. They give you reliable performance so you can easily switch between apps, browse the internet, create documents, and do so much more.
If you need to work on demanding tasks, always go for a laptop with a powerful processor, sufficient RAM, and storage. The 2024 MacBook with M4 chip, laptops with Intel 14th Gen processor, or those with AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors are the latest in the market.
Lightweight and Compact Designs
The lightweight, sleek, and compact designs of these modern machines redefine portability. They are packed with powerful tools and features. They can run complex programs, carry out intensive tasks, and do calculations that were previously only possible on large computers.
These machines are, in fact, so lightweight and compact that you can easily carry them around in your backpack.
Flexibility to Work from Anywhere
Laptops and notebooks give you the flexibility to work on your own terms and from wherever you are. Professionals can access their work files and collaborate with their teams on different projects, from their homes, café, airport, or anywhere else. All of that in real-time.
Freedom from Wires and Plugs
Modern laptops have changed a lot about how we work nowadays. Remember how we used to work on the computers? They had to remain plugged in for power, internet, and pretty much everything. With laptops coming into the picture, that is no longer a concern.
The latest laptops offer portability and freedom from wires. With a powerful battery, they give you a backup of up to 12 hours, so you don’t have to stay plugged in. As for the internet, now you get wireless Wi-Fi, so no need for wires.
Always Stay Connected with Advanced Wi-Fi
With up to Wi-Fi 6E, you can stay connected on the go with good internet reception. Collaborate with your teammates through online team meetings and calls. The content creators can continue to upload and edit their content and researchers can continue to explore.
Tools Needed for Remote Work
While laptops are inarguably the foremost tool that you need in your work-from-home armor, there are others too. Let’s have a look at some of the other tools and gadgets that you may need to be productive at home.
- Laptop clearly tops the list.
- An ergonomic chair and desk combo helps you maintain your posture and lets you focus on work.
- A good headset with a microphone to stay connected with your team. Preferably, one with noise-cancellation features.
- A reliable internet connection.
- Some power backup.
All in all, laptops are an indispensable tool in your work-from-home experience. So next time when you’re sipping on your coffee, remember – laptops are the real MVPs (most valuable pieces of equipment).
Benefits of Remote Work
Who would have thought that working from home could be a game-changer? No more getting stuck in traffic. No more hours of getting ready to go to work – we can just roll out of bed, have some breakfast, and start crushing in our pajamas.
No More Getting Stuck in Traffic
If you are someone who travels for an hour or more to get to your job, like many people nowadays, you’d know that not only is it tiresome, but it also costs you your time and money. It takes an hour to get to the job and then once the day ends, another hour to get back home, i.e. 2 hours daily. If your office is five days a week, it makes a total of 10 hours, which is a whole working day. You lose one day every week in the commute. Is it really worth it?
Flexible Work Schedule
A good majority of the companies have a 9 to 5 work schedule that needs to be followed. However, working from home gives you the liberty to choose when you work. You can choose a time slot when you are more productive. If you are an early riser, it can be the early morning hours. If you are a night owl, it could be the midnight hours. Choose what works best for you!
No Dress Code to Follow – Crush in your Pajamas
Not having to follow any dress code rules gives you the freedom to be able to wear whatever you are comfortable in. Wear your coziest pajamas if that makes you happy and relaxed. And for girls, that means no more having to stress over what to wear.
Removes Geographical Boundaries
With a good laptop and a good internet connection, you can work for international companies without having to travel all the way. You can collaborate with the team across different time zones, seamlessly. People in South Asia work for companies in the US, UK, Italy, etc.
Better Work-Life Balance
Since you are working from your home or your home office, it is easier to run personal errands and do the chores. You no longer have to wait for the weekend to get the laundry done. You can do it during your lunch break, or you can finish your work early and do your personal tasks. Whatever you prefer!
Increased Productivity
When we work in a cherished environment, we are more likely to be focused on our tasks and be more productive.
Good for Health
Working in a comfortable and relaxed environment reduces stress, thus being beneficial for your mental health. It also gives you more time for self-care so you can exercise and focus on eating healthy. Perhaps you can take breaks to get up from your seat and do some easy stretches without your manager giving you those looks.
With that note, we come to the end of this article. We have come far in terms of working from home and how accepting the companies have become towards the whole idea of it. Investing in the right tools helps you save time and be more productive, with a good laptop being the most important one. Having the right tools lets you be in control of your work and frees up time for what matters most – a better work-life balance.
Take the leap today and see how a work-friendly laptop can help transform your professional life!
