Going to college is exciting. From meeting new people to learning about different subjects, there is a lot to look forward to. But before you can enjoy all college has to offer, there are decisions to be made, such as what type of laptop to take with you.
With so many different options on the market, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are 3 essential things to consider when buying a laptop for college.
Battery Life
Compared to say, a senior in an assisted living facility, a college student needs long battery life. For instance, it’s usual to take your laptop along to group studies, and you don’t want to have to keep stopping to recharge.
So you should be looking for a minimum of 8 hours, but ideally 10 or more. Keep in mind that some laptops start out with long battery life but quickly drop lower and lower.
Read online customer reviews of the different laptops you’re considering to see what other students have to say about their battery life so you won’t buy one of those laptops. Or, watch YouTube unboxing videos of laptops where batteries are tested.
Size & Weight
The average college student doesn’t have a lot of extra space in their dorm room or backpack, so a smaller laptop is often preferable. But that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice power for size. A good balance to look for is a screen size of 13 to 15 inches.
Then, while you might think that a lighter laptop is always better, that’s not necessarily the case. A heavier laptop often has more features than a lightweight one. So, it depends on your priorities.
Again, read online reviews and watch YouTube videos to get an idea of the different sizes and weights available and what other students think of them.
Storage
When it comes to storage, two options you have are a hard drive or solid-state drive. Hard drives are cheaper but they’re also slower. So, if you’re looking for a laptop that’s going to be fast, an SSD is the way to go.
As far as how much storage you need, that depends on what you’ll be using your laptop for. If you’re mostly going to be working on documents and doing research online, then you can probably get away with a smaller storage capacity. But if you’re planning on storing a lot of music, movies, and photos, then you’ll need a larger capacity.
Again, online reviews and YouTube videos can be helpful in this area. Look for people who have similar needs to yours and see what they recommend.
When choosing a laptop for college, be sure to consider battery life, size and weight, and storage capacity. And don’t forget to read online reviews and watch YouTube videos for more information. With a little research, you’re sure to find the perfect laptop for your needs.