The Best Laptop for Court Reporters

Becoming a Jupiter court reporter is no easy feat. Court reporters or stenographers usually have to study and train for years before they develop the skills necessary to succeed in this line of work. Even then, there is still no guarantee that they will be able to pass the difficult licensing examinations.

Aspiring court reporters need to invest fully in their careers if they want to make it. They must also be willing to invest in the tools of the trade. More specifically, they will need a laptop that can handle the demands of their job.

Here in this article, we’ll cover the factors that matter most when choosing the best laptop for court reporting. We’ll highlight the specific qualities that make a laptop more suitable for that specialized task. We will also take some time to pinpoint some specific laptops you can check out while shopping.

CAT Software Compatibility and Its Importance to the Jupiter Court Reporter

CAT or computer-aided translation software is an essential tool for court stenographers. The aforementioned program takes the notes typed by the stenographer and then translates those into English.

To use CAT software, a court reporter will first input words into the program’s dictionary. While in the process of reporting, the program will then match the notes typed by the stenographer to entries present in the dictionary.

The idea behind using CAT software is that it helps court reporters work faster and more accurately. Court reporters need to be both quick and accurate because they must keep up with everything going on inside the courtroom. The documents they produce are also hugely important to proceedings.

Before you even look for a laptop, check with the vendor of the CAT software you want to purchase first. Ask about which operating system should be used together with the CAT program. Make sure that the laptop you’re buying utilizes that operating system.

Apart from telling you about the CAT software’s OS requirements, the vendor can also share the spec requirements. We’ve also listed the spec requirements for laptops that are suitable for court reporters.

The Specs a Jupiter Court Reporter Needs to Consider

Laptops that can be reliably used by a Jupiter court reporter need to be beefy and highly capable. Hitting the list of required specs listed below will help you find that ideal laptop.

Processor

The computer’s processor affects how quickly the whole thing works. You need a processor that can keep up with your commands as you’re working. A processor that is prone to lagging and freezing is unsuitable for a court reporter’s laptop.

At a minimum, you will need a laptop equipped with an Intel i5 processor. If possible though, aim for an i7 processor or something higher. That kind of processor will allow you to work at your desired pace.

Memory Capacity

Another component of the laptop that affects working speed is its memory. You specifically want to focus on the RAM.

Don’t go for any laptop with less than 8GB of RAM. Anything with less than 8GB of RAM can slow you down.

Hard Drive Capacity

Hard drive capacity will not have as much of an impact on your laptop’s performance as the processor and RAM. However, it can still slow you down somewhat if you’re using too much space.

Avoid that issue altogether by finding a sizable hard drive. Look for a hard drive with at least 256GB of space, but you should really aim for double or quadruple that.

Hardware Ports

Hardware ports are needed for connecting peripheral devices to your laptop. At least one USB port will be required to accommodate your mouse.

A serial port may also be needed to connect some older equipment. If your laptop lacks a serial port, you can go ahead and purchase an adapter.

Programs Needed

The CAT software compatibility is obviously your priority when looking for a laptop. Beyond that, you don’t need a lot of special programs on your laptop.

You’ll want your preferred browser installed on the laptop. Add to that your Microsoft Office suite. A PDF reader would also be welcome.

To protect your equipment, consider purchasing some anti-virus software as well.

The Top Laptop Choices

Now, let’s talk about some of the best laptop options for a Jupiter court reporter. We’ll be naming three of the top options in this section of the article. The listings and specs come courtesy of Amazon.

Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8

We start with the Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 laptop from Acer. This is a good purchase if you’re looking for something more affordable.

You’re pretty much meeting the minimum requirements with this laptop. It features an i5-8250U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of available storage space.

The form factor is also a nice plus because it allows you to carry this laptop everywhere you go easily. It also features a longer battery life of 12 hours.

This Acer laptop works as a suitable starter option, although you may want to upgrade in the future.

2019 HP Pavilion

Do you want something with a bit more juice than the Acer Swift 3? In that case, the 2019 HP Pavilion could be what you’re looking for.

It comes loaded with an i7-8565U processor and 16GB of RAM. You likely won’t need external hard drives as well given that this laptop offers 1TB of space.

This HP laptop is quite bulky. It also weighs over four pounds. Still, if you’re fine with using a bigger laptop, you’ll be happy with this purchase.

Dell XPS 13 7390

For the Jupiter court reporter who wants nothing less than superior laptop performance, the Dell XPS 13 7390 is a worthy option to consider.

It features the same RAM and hard drive specs as the HP laptop above, but its processor is different. The i7-10510U processor added to this laptop enables it to run faster when pushed to its limits.

The fact that this laptop is very compact makes it ideal for regular commutes. The addition of the Windows 10 Professional OS is also a nice touch.

Hopefully, the information and laptop recommendations above have helped you figure out which product to buy. Court reporting is a difficult undertaking, but having the right equipment on hand can make it significantly more manageable.