Before buying a laptop, students should consider everything from performance to price. Laptops have become a necessity during this pandemic of coronavirus comparing to previous years. Classes have shifted to e-learning, and not having a laptop can be a great loss to a student.
Buying a piece of hardware that is relatively expensive can be scary. What should students keep in mind before making a purchase? And what are the options for those on a budget? Students should consider things like performance, price, and how long the battery life is.
Processing Power
A processor in a computer controls how fast its programs run and completes its tasks. The price of a laptop is affected by how faster the processing speed is, the higher the rate, the higher the price. It also makes them more reliable and efficient. The processor is one of the components to consider before buying a laptop. One should also consider the RAM (the memory of the laptop), ports, and the screen size. Some choices are affected by personal preference, such as wanting bigger screens.
Third-Party Applications
Laptops need to be flexible for other applications. For example, Google Chromebooks are acceptable computers for students because they are affordable, easy to use, and efficient. However, they have some disadvantages.
An app that is not available on Google’s online store cannot be installed by Chromebooks or programs like Microsoft word, a downside if your college needs students to download certain applications. Ensure your college’s remote learning platform is online-based before making commitments to Chromebook.
Meets College Requirements
Regardless of one’s personal preferences, students should first check with their school for specific system requirements. There’s no shortage of debate whether macOS laptops are better than Windows laptops or vice versa. Some colleges tend to keep technical support concerted on one platform, trimming down on software compatibility issues. Some campus repair centers can only service laptops purchased from affiliated computer stores or college. So, if you are using your school’s preferred laptop, fixing malfunction will be much easier.
Requirements also tend to differ between majors. For instance, a film student’s computer will need a more powerful graphic capability than a history student’s laptop. To know what systems your faculty recommends, contact your department. Choosing the best laptop is a big decision. By doing research; and analyzing each computer’s advantages and disadvantages, students can avoid making an uninformed purchase.