Improving business efficiency can be as simple as purchasing new company laptops that are faster, smarter and more reliable than older machines. However, with the number of devices out there today, small- and medium-sized business owners can easily be overwhelmed by the hype surrounding certain models. To avoid this, executives should look at the basics, according to a PC World report.

The first thing individuals should look at is the type and durability of each model. While large and vivid screens are important to any purchase, decision makers should also look at how rugged the hard drive and physical case of the laptop is, the news source reported.

Additionally, the internal qualities, such as built-in security and the operating system, are major assets that should be addressed. For example, many notebooks today are equipped with biometric fingerprint scanners, which, according to PC World, are more secure than passwords because fingerprints cannot be stolen or hacked. They also make it easier to log in because individuals won't need to remember complex passwords.

Another major asset is Wi-Fi capabilities, according to a PC Magazine report. With these features, employees can stay connected remotely and even have access to the business' cloud services.