Amazon Prime For Students
Being a student isnt all about work. Sometimes you need to take a break from pouring over textbooks, a chance to relax, recharge, and binge-watch your favourite series.
One excellent way of doing this is through . Theres a whopping six-month free trial, and after that, your membership is half price, so just £39. With Prime, you get access to the Amazon Video library for unlimited streaming, but youll also get free next day delivery and plenty more.
Amazon also has some huge savings across a range of products this Cyber Monday.
Choose The Graphics Card
There are two types of graphics solutions found on laptops integrated and discrete. The integrated ones are typically slower while the discrete ones are more geared towards performance. If you are going to use your laptop for playing basic games or just for browsing, watching movies, a laptop with an integrated graphics card is perfectly fine.Discrete graphic card solutions on laptops are typically powered by AMD or NVIDIA. AMD calls their cards Radeon, while NVIDIA calls their solutions GeForce.
These GPUs come with dedicated graphics memory which lets them handle graphic intensive software and games. If you are studying a 3D or computer graphics course, a discrete graphics card is essential.Of course, the other benefit is being able to play high-end games on your laptop. NVIDIAs entry-level graphics solutions are labelled as GeForce 930M, 940M, whereas the mid-range offering start with the GTX 950M and above. AMDs low-end graphics solutions start from the Radeon R5 going up to the R9 series of GPUs.
Choose The Operating System
Windows 10 is one of the most popular operating system today. You may find it pre-installed in pretty much every laptop these days. It is easy to use. You can install any software, be it productivity to entertainment to games. Depending on what youre studying, there might be specific system requirements such as Mac OS or Linux.
This is something to consider. Of example, if you need a software package that runs on a Mac, you wont be able to do that on a Windows laptop. However, a MacBook or a MacBook Pro is expensive, but you can choose to install Windows on it as well. Laptops running Linux might be more affordable than ones that come with Windows pre-installed. This might save your money, but youll need to spend a bit more to get a copy of Windows.
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What Are The Best Laptops For College
The methodology for our ranking is based on a weighted score from aggregated ratings from high-quality consumer site and rankings such as Laptop Mag, CNET, Macworld UK, PC Mag, Laptop Mag, Tech Radar, WIRED, PC World, Laptop Ninja, Digital Trends, and more.
We went through multiple computer review sites and took an aggregate of the scores by standardizing them to a scale from 0-100. We then took an aggregate of those scores to come up with our rankings.
The Chromebook R 11 Convertible is another outstanding, value-driven product from Acer. A Chromebook that opens with a 360° hinge, becoming a tablet with multi-touch IPS technology and an 11.6 screen. The Chromebook 11 can also be used in a stand-up position or tent mode, giving students tons of flexibility. A stylish look featuring aluminum paneling, the Acer Chromebook R 11 is also thin and light, weighing only 2.76 pounds. An Intel Celeron N3150 Quad Core processor with 32GB SSD and 4GB of memory offers a solid machine for a student lifestyle.
The Acer Chromebook R 11 will keep you connected with its featured MIMO 802.11ac wireless. A superior webcam provides a vivid picture, making images pop and video chats even better. With 2 full-size USB ports, an SD reader, and surprisingly strong audio features, the Acer Chromebook R 11 delivers a lot of features for such a moderate price-point. A strong battery life of around 10 hours adds to the appeal.
Storage Solutions In Laptops: Ssds Are Tops
With the increasing prevalence of cloud storage and web applications, having plentiful local storage space is somewhat less vital now than it used to be, but you should still make sure that your laptop meets your needs. If you plan to install a lot of programs or want to hang on to lots of large media files, you’ll need 500GB of space or more. If you don’t foresee needing all that local storage, or are content with leaving a lot of your work online, you can get by with a laptop with less space.
Whichever way you go, remember that storage affects speed, too. If you go with a hard drive because you get more storage for less money, know that it will be noticeably slower than a snappy-feeling solid-state drive . The higher cost and lower capacity of a faster SSD is a trade-off that some students are willing to make. We strongly recommend SSDs for laptops that are carried around campus a lot, since the SSDs are impervious to drop damage. Plus, they are a lot faster than hard drives and give a laptop a much snappier perceived feel.
The good news is that by plugging an external hard drive or external SSD into one of your laptop’s USB ports, you can add more space whenever you need it. Although you probably won’t have to do this unless you’re a video junkie or an aspiring filmmaker, it’s a good option to have.
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Shop The Campus Store
Many college campuses have computer stores that claim to offer the best discounts on student laptops. Make sure you do your homework before shopping, however: These stores don’t always have the best prices, and their selection may be limited compared to what you can find online or in a big-box store such as Best Buy.
The flipside is that buying from a campus store may entitle you to local tech support, which could be worthwhile for those times when a paper is due and the laptop is locking up.
Similarly, for any computer you’re considering, check the warranty terms and especially the company’s tech-support options. Students tend to keep late hours, so 24/7 phone support is definitely a desirable feature.
Are Gaming Laptops Good For College
There was once a time when our answer would be a strong no, primarily because gaming laptops were once usually much larger, thicker, and heavier than non-gaming machines. Thats the last thing you want to carry around from class to class. Thats no longer true today, when many gaming laptops are thinner and lighter than ever. In addition to our Dell G3 Gaming pick above, the Razer Blade is perhaps the classic example of a laptop thats made for gamers, with fast CPU and GPU options, but isnt much thicker or heavier than other laptops.
At the same time, gaming laptops tend to focus more on performance than battery life, and youll pay a premium to carry around those gaming components in a thin and light chassis. The great thing is that many laptops today have Thunderbolt 3 ports that can connect to external GPU enclosures for some extra gaming oomph. If you choose a laptop with at least a quad-core 8th-gen Intel CPU and at least 8GB of RAM, then you can attach it to an external GPU and get performance thats pretty darn close to a dedicated gaming laptop. And your choice of a laptop will be much wider, including choosing among the horde of excellent 2-in-1s that have hit the market over the last several years.
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How Much Storage Do I Need In A Laptop For College
When it comes to the best laptops for college you probably don’t need as much storage as you think you do, and that’s because a lot of what we do these days ends up in the cloud anyway. Still, if you’re looking for somewhere to store your photos, documents, and videos, then you’ll need some space to play with. Most budget Windows laptops tend to come with 128GB drives, which after the Windows 10 installation, tends to leave you with just under 100GB to play with.
This may be a bit tight depending on what apps you use, and what media you’re tend to play around with. If you’re doing anything with video or a lot of hi-res images, then you should look for a 256GB as a minimum or even a 512GB drive if your budget can stretch to it.
If you’re looking to do a bit of gaming, then you need to factor that in for the storage as well, as modern games can be huge . And while it’s unlikely you’ll be playing AAA games on a budget laptop that’s intended for college, it won’t take many games to eat into a smaller drive.
What About Windows 10 S Mode
You won’t run across Windows 10 S Mode in your shopping travels too often, but it’s good to know what it is, since it’s most often encountered in education environs and budget laptops.
Microsoft’s student-centric version of its operating system is a locked-down version of Windows 10, aimed at preventing malware from being inadvertently downloaded. It’s compatible with any app in the Windows Store, but it doesn’t allow third-party Windows programs unless you convert your laptop to full Windows 10 Home or Pro. You can easily switch to the full version of Windows 10 for free using the Microsoft Store, but you won’t be able to go back to S Mode once you convert. Also, this version of the OS supports only the Edge browser.
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Computer Security At Cornell
Keeping personal computers secure takes far less time than recovering from a security breach. If a computer is compromised, the user will likely lose access to it for at least a few hours, and possibly several days. Users may also lose any work done since the last computer back up. If the security problem puts sensitive data at risk, or if a computer is lost or stolen, the effects can be far-reaching. Any unsecured computer puts the entire network of users at risk. Please review Cornell’s recommended antivirus software.
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Where To Find The Best Student Deals And Discounts
Once you start looking, you’ll realise that there are thousands of deals designed exclusively for students elsewhere on the web. It can be quite overwhelming, so we’ve picked out the best.
There are even more student tech discounts available to browse on the Student Beans discounts page. You can search all types of student tech deals there, to find everything youre looking for quickly and easily.
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How To Buy The Best Laptop For College
We’re entering the back to school season right now, which means that there are loads of great deals to be had, particularly when it comes to bagging the best laptop for college. It’s not uncommon to see hundreds of dollars cut off the price tags of big name brands, and if you know what you’re looking for, then real deals can be had.
You’ll find bargain laptops straight from the manufacturers, such as Lenovo, HP, Dell, Asus, Acer etc, as well as from the retailers, Amazon, Newegg, B& H Photo, etc. Where you buy them doesn’t make much difference, although once you’ve settled on a machine, it’s worth checking around to see that you’ve got the best price.
You really need to know what you’re looking for though, and so the first question you have to ask yourself is nothing to do with the hardware, but rather what are you going to use the laptop for? This will frame everything about the machine going forward.
Is it for work? Returning to school? Sat at a cramped desk? Is it purely going to be for work, or will you be relaxing with it as well? How about streaming movies and TV shows? Mainly web browsing? Definitely gaming, right? The lists can go on, but it’s important to frame what it’s prime use is going to be from the onset, so that you can focus on the things that matter and don’t feel like you’re missing out later on down the line.
What Should I Consider When Buying A Laptop For University
Mike and Joan are planning to buy their student granddaughter a laptop for university and would like some tips before they discuss it with her
Our granddaughter is off to university this year and we will be buying her a laptop. We will discuss this with her, but some advice from you would be welcome.Mike and Joan
This is a common question every summer, so a broad reply might help a few people. There are lots of things to consider, including course requirements, the usage scenario , the users previous experience, support and backup strategies and your budget.
In most cases, a laptop will be the best answer, but many students use more than one device. A full educational IT system could include a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop and a USB backup drive, plus a laptop riser or docking station with an external keyboard and mouse.
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Basic Laptops For Everyday Use
These would be ideal machines if you only plan on surfing the internet, creating documents with Microsoft Office, and checking email.
Dell “New Inspiron” 5000 series
These laptops are available in a variety of sizes such as 13″, 14″ and 15″ as well as offering 2-in-1 capabilities.
Specifications
Other Things To Watch Out For
There’s plenty of devil to be found in the detail of budget laptops, so keep an eye out for reviews and feedback from others than have bought the machines you’re interested in. It’s also worth considering things like the number of USB ports present, and what type they are: USB Type-C ports are becoming more and more common, but you can often be limited to one or twofrustrating if you want to attach a separate keyboard, mouse, and screen. Speaking of which, if you’re intending to connect the laptop to a standalone screen, then check what video outputs are available before you buy.
Another tip would be to make sure you don’t focus on one single element above all else when buying. It’s all too easy to focus on the processor, say, and miss a real bargain elsewhere. If you’re shopping to a strict budget, getting a good laptop is all about compromise, about balance. Keep that in mind when looking around.
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Key Factors To A Top Laptop For College
Performance: Theres no need to overbuy in power. Find the right power for your needs. For instance, if youre just picking up a laptop for writing papers, you might not need something with a large capacity SSD, a hefty processor, and 8GB of RAM..and with it a hefty price tag. Likewise, if youre buying something for a Graphic Design or CAD class, youll likely need something much heftier than just 4GB of RAM and a dual-core processor even if that processor is an intel core i7. Find a laptop that meets your needs and sets you up for success.
Portability: Make sure to purchase a thin and lightweight laptop. Theres nothing worse than carrying around a chunky laptop thats awkward and heavy to lug around campus or to the library. Its also good practice to make sure your laptop has a small footprint, allowing you to easily put it in most backpacks or carrying bags alongside textbooks and other study materials.Battery: Find a laptop with a good battery life, preferably one thatll last you all day and then some. For instance, the ASUS C201 has a battery life that lasts up to 13-hours, giving you plenty of study time during the day and then some. While you might not need that much, its good to search for the best college laptops that will last a little over three hours.
Can You Get A Good Laptop For College At A Discount Price
The best laptop for college and high school will make a dent in your bank account, but it doesnt have to be a massive one. Although how much you spend will depend largely on the features that are important to you, you should be able to get a decent one for well under $1,000. The average laptop customer is said to spend around $600 or $700, but you can go significantly lower than that if you require few to no bells and whistles.
Acer and Lenovo both sell budget models in the $400 price range, while at between $200 and $300, Hewlett Packards Stream 11 is billed as the cheapest Windows laptop your money can buy. Although it offers good performance and long battery life , the low-res display isnt the best and neither is the webcam. Samsungs Chromebook 4 is equally budget-friendly, so dont let the idea that the best laptop for college is out of your budget to stop you from seeking it out.
The Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R14K Slim Laptop is a good choice for college that ticks all the major boxes. Its dual-band WiFi 6 connection makes it a fast laptop, and this model of Acer laptops comes with BlueLightShield protects your eyes from the glare of blue light. A backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and noise-canceling technology make this one of the best performing laptops that a little bit of money can buy.
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Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 15
Asus
For creative work like video editing, 3D design, architecture, music production or similar disciplines, you need something a little more powerful than the average laptop for students. You need a capable processor, a powerful GPU to handle all the 3D calculations, and a gorgeous, high-resolution display to show it all on. Or how about two of them?
The Asus Pro Duo 15 features not just one gorgeous OLED display, but two, giving you some of the best color clarity and contrast of any laptop out there, whilst also opening up the potential for heaps of touchscreen controls, right at your fingertips. To power this bevy of pixels, it comes equipped with a top-tier 10th-generation Intel CPU, and pairs it with an Nvidia RTX 3070.
The GPU there is monstrously powerful, and though the CPU isn’t quite cutting edge, it has eight cores with 16 threads and more than enough thermal headroom to maintain a high clock speed whatever task you throw at it. This is a stunning laptop no matter what you want to do with it, but the second screen gives it some amazing touchscreen options for artists, designers and editors alike.