How to Choose the Perfect Laptop for School Use
Great time to buy a laptop. Discounts are back to school, and new models appear on store shelves. We’ve talked about how to pick the perfect laptop , but if you’re heading to college or even back to school and don’t know what you’ll need, it’s going to be more difficult. Don’t worry, we will help you with this.
Contact your campus IT department for ideas
Choosing the perfect laptop for school starts with understanding what your college or university recommends to new students. Check with your campus IT department. They probably have a published set of recommended minimum specs for laptops and desktops, as well as some software that they think you should have. Also, check with the department you plan to study in. For example, if you are planning to become a computer scientist, you are likely to have different recommendations than those studying graphic design.
However, keep in mind that department offerings are basic. They are usually not powerful enough compared to what you can actually buy. Use them as a starting point and move from there if you need to. Remember, once you’ve settled on a laptop, you can always walk past your campus IT specialist for a second opinion – if you trust their opinion, of course. When I worked in the information technology department of the campus at my alma mater, discussing specs with new students and pointing out where they can get student discounts, both on and off campus, was one of the best parts of my job.
Consider your needs
Once you have basic specifications and suggestions based on the work you will be doing, consider your own needs. What apps do you like best and what would you like to do with your laptop after purchasing it? Here are a couple of questions to watch out for:
- Do you want a Mac or Windows PC? This is largely a matter of personal preference, but if your school or program has guidelines, take a look. You may be using software that will influence your decision (for example, CAD software or engineering software that requires Windows, or development software that is better suited for OS X). Most Apple laptops are of excellent build quality and can run Windows via a Camp download if you’ve purchased a Windows license. You can even run Windows from an external SSD to save space . However, if you are a gamer, you may prefer a Windows laptop just for the selection. Buying a Windows PC gives you more options, brands, and overall choices to find the perfect combination of features for you. Anyway, long gone are the days when having a “wrong” laptop meant your favorite apps were incompatible or you couldn’t work with your classmates. You will still run into a bit of this, but not anything serious, and even then, you can probably find alternatives.
- How big is it for you? Portability is important, but it requires a trade-off between processing power and battery life. Let’s start with the size and weight of the screen. A 15 “laptop is often powerful with a lot of screens, but if you plan on lugging it around campus, a 13” laptop will usually be significantly lighter. Or, you can buy a really small 11-inch laptop for portability and a desktop computer for your apartment or dorm. In fact, sometimes it is cheaper to buy two computers than to buy one .
- Get as big a battery as possible . Everyone thinks they can survive a few hours of battery life until they spend all day on campus and run out of juice. Check to see if candidate laptops have replaceable batteries. Of course, finding outlets shouldn’t be too difficult, but you probably want to do more than one or two lessons before plugging into an outlet. The larger the battery, the more weight, so keep that in mind. … When you read the estimated battery life from manufacturers, be sure to back those numbers with reviews on sites like PCMag and CNet . They usually run battery tests in the real world, which will tell you how long you will actually spend doing things like streaming movies, working with documents, or checking emails. Also, keep in mind that sometimes higher-end laptops can have worse battery life as they have to provide features like high-resolution touchscreens . You can find better battery life in a more modest machine.
- Find the hard drive that suits your storage needs . Think about your hobbies and interests. Do you think you will be streaming a lot of videos or music, or do you prefer downloading? If the latter is true, you may need a laptop with enough memory (or external drives) to accommodate. Getting a laptop with an SSD is a great idea – it will be fast and boot up quickly, but high-capacity SSDs can be expensive, so keep that in mind.
- What external peripherals do you need? Working from a laptop is convenient when you’re outdoors, but at home, at your desk, you’ll probably need an external monitor and keyboard just to save your neck and back. Even if they’re cheap, invest in peripherals that make you feel comfortable when you sit down to work and provide you with a beautiful, ergonomic workspace at home or in your room. This includes such things as a stand for laptops, Bags for laptops , chargers, and so on. Also, make sure the laptop you buy has the ports to connect what you need!
- Do you play computer games? Answering yes here will have a huge impact on the performance of your laptop. However, we are not saying that you should buy a gaming laptop. Gaming laptops are notoriously expensive, large and heavy. However, you may want to look at more expensive models than you would otherwise think. Consider laptops with discrete graphics, fast SSDs, crisp, high-resolution screens , faster processors, and more RAM. When you find one you like, take a look at the laptop’s graphics card and then go to sites like Passmark benchmark database and Anandtech GPU benchmark and see how this model performs in your favorite games. On the other hand, this is another situation where buying two computers might be better than trying to fit everything into one . A portable, low-cost laptop might be perfect for working on the go, or a budget gaming desktop might be a better fit for your wallet and your gaming experience.
These are the basics to start with. If you have special needs, you will have a longer list of questions. Either way, find your perfect fit – from power to portability. If you’re not going to lug your laptop from class to class and prefer using a tablet (or, God forbid, taking notes on paper), portability may not matter to you. Moving your laptop from room to library and vice versa does not require the latest thin and light equipment. However, if you plan to carry your laptop with you to all classes, you won’t need a five-pound brick in your bag.
Spend where it matters
Even if your budget allows it, it probably isn’t worth it to just make the most of all the specs available on whatever laptop you’re looking at. You will have to make some compromises to save money, but also not buy more than you need. Go back to your list of things to do with your laptop and invest in features that make those tasks easier. If you can find a laptop with 8GB of RAM for the same price or even slightly more than a laptop with 4GB, this is a good place to stretch your budget. If you can find a laptop with an SSD that’s close to the price of a traditional hard drive, that’s a worthwhile upgrade too. On the other hand, a laptop with a top-end processor or video card doesn’t make sense if you don’t use resource-intensive programs or play games.
Likewise, don’t go too far to save money . If you’re looking at laptops with the latest generation or lower-end processors, or with low-res screens, the money saved comes from a more frustrating user experience. Remember, it’s always better to have too many features and keep your laptop for a year or two longer than too few and need to be updated too early.
Pay for superb build quality
Build quality usually includes things like the reliability of the hinges on the screen, the feel of the keyboard when typing, the strength of the case, the type of plastic (or metal) used in its construction, the feel of the trackpad under your device. fingers and so on. You know the fragile when you feel it. Don’t be afraid to pay for what you like. If you want a matte screen or backlit keyboard, take a look at these features and spend a little extra if they make you happy. You are buying a device that you will likely use for several years, so make sure you are happy with your purchase.
From this point of view, don’t stop at “student” or other designer notebooks when searching. Laptop Magazine explains that “business laptops” often come with good specs, long battery life, and plenty of ports at a budget-friendly price point. Build quality is as important as the design and feel of the laptop you’re buying, and you shouldn’t be discouraged that these things are part of your buying decision.
That said, don’t forget to read the reviews of the laptops you are considering. You don’t want to sacrifice anything you really need for a shiny feature you might need . We’ve got a few Ultrabook suggestions , and our friends at Gizmodo have some great in- depth laptop reviews . Wirecutter also has testimonials and their favorite picks. Better yet, if you can, go to electronics stores like Apple Store, Microsoft Store, Best Buy, Micro Center, and Fry’s to check out these (or similar laptops from the same manufacturer). In fact, there is nothing better than playing with your laptop before you buy it.
Take advantage of educational discounts and packages
When you have specs and several candidate laptops to consider, shop smart and save some money. Check with your campus IT department to see if they have a purchasing program. You will also want to check with your campus bookstore if they offer special discounts on any of the systems you are considering (or something comparable enough to change your mind). Some colleges even have a computer showcase where you get the same student discount as you would get a direct order, but also get a school-branded flash drive, carry bag and some extra goodies for free. If you have one on your campus, it’s worth checking out.
In addition, nearly every bookstore and IT office on campus has discounted or free software packages for students. Before buying software from the open market or even from a site like Amazon, make sure it won’t be cheaper directly from your school. Even if they don’t sell the software themselves, you can take advantage of student discounts directly from the manufacturer’s websites. Virtually every major PC manufacturer offers student discounts, and many even offer kits of software or peripherals.
We found several places to get student discounts , including big software discounts . Make sure you save whenever you can. Trust me, you need money for textbooks.
Service plans and warranties: don’t forget the details
Finally, don’t forget the warranty or service plan. You may never need it, but when you take your laptop to college, you’ll need at least some purchase protection. We mentioned earlier that extended warranties are rarely worth it , but in such rare times, laptops are commonly used. Given how difficult it is to repair modern laptops, it just makes sense to let someone else do the tricky things like replacing the screen and repairing the motherboard. Also, remember that you can usually buy the extended warranty anytime before the standard warranty expires, so if you want to save your money and wait a bit, you don’t need to buy the extended warranty at the same time as your purchase. notebook.
If you don’t like the idea of an extended warranty, at least use a good credit card to purchase . You get more protection than the standard warranty offers. If you are the type of hands-on, go to iFixit and see if your laptop is in the list. You will understand how difficult it is to open up and repair yourself. Then set aside the money you spend on your extended warranty as a “repair fund” in case something happens. In the worst case, something does happen and you have an advantage over making the decision to get your laptop repaired or replaced .
When in doubt, wait
Finally, if you already have a laptop, even if it’s not very good, you can wait a few months and see how it works for you. We know the lure of a shiny new car is very strong and you will miss out on back-to-school suggestions if you wait. However, you do not know that you will need college until you actually get there. Once you know this, you will be better equipped to buy the best laptop for yourself.
For example, right now you may think that you will never play video games, but your roommates or neighbors may involve you in games as a way to relax and explode – you will find that you regretted buying a car with a better graphics card. In the worst case scenario, you use your old car for months, navigate, and head off to the holiday sales at the end of the first semester.
For most students, your laptop will serve a dual purpose – work and play. You also need to be able to take it with you to class or to the library. This makes it even more important to be truly happy with what you buy. With a little research, you will ensure that you have a laptop that will suit your needs at school, whether you are writing work, studying, or relaxing with music, games, or movies.