Starting college or university is an exciting time. There are classes to attend, new people to meet, and of course, equipment to buy to ensure that you get the most out of your course.
In 2022, the majority of students, irrespective of the course they are on, will have a laptop or a notebook to help with their studies.
Even the most basic of laptops have a significant amount of power and can be a great place to store information about lectures and provide an accessible place to do coursework.
what should you be looking for in your laptop as a student?
1. Weight and Size
You will likely need to carry your laptop to and from university or college at least a few times a week. Ergo, it should be easy to carry!
Aim to find a laptop that fits in your bag and is, of course, lightweight. There are some affordable Lenovo Laptops that could slot into your bag with no problem.
As a general rule, aim to get a laptop that is around 11-13 inches and is under five pounds in weight. That way, you won’t get a stiff back from carrying it around.
2. Battery
The majority of laptop batteries last for 10-14 hours without needing to be charged.
But suppose you are looking to purchase a laptop that is able to handle specific software, such as SPSS for your psychology course.
In that case, it will need to be higher functioning, which will usually deduct some of the battery life.
So, while it is up to you, you should aim to have a laptop with a battery life of at least 8-10 hours, as then, it can be on during lectures and be on hand to help with coursework afterward.
3. Display
This will once again depend on the course you are studying.
If you are studying engineering or architecture, you will want a screen that has a higher resolution.
Much like the issue with the battery, if you want a high-resolution screen for your course, you will need to fork out a bit more money.
But, if you are studying a course like biotechnology or even mathematics, a laptop with a 1080p resolution will likely be acceptable to use.
There is little to no point in paying for higher-resolution images when it is not needed to help you pass your course.
4. RAM
RAM, or random-access memory, will determine how many programs a computer or laptop can run at once.
The majority of computers, laptops, and tablets offer a RAM of 4GB, which is ideal for students who only need to run the internet, email, and word documents at the same time.
Of course, for a course like architecture and photography, you will need a computer with higher RAM, just to prevent crashing.
So, it is worth looking at laptops that can offer higher RAM.
5. Price
The price of a laptop is always something that you should consider.
While the majority of students want the cheapest option going, this will vary based on what you need the computer for, as the course requirements for your studies will vary.
If you need an expensive computer with lots of technical features, your best bet may be to find a second-hand option.