Anyone purchasing a Laptop Notebook or iPad for business use should arrange to claim this through their personal income tax return. This is a convertible so you get a tablet with a dedicated keyboard dock. However, it offers a full HD resolution screen of 1920 x 1080 pixels where the Sleekbook only offers 1366 x 768. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative. It’s smaller and lighter, as you’d expect from a laptop with a 13.3in rather than a 15.6in screen. This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and Most educational and business software runs on Microsoft Windows, and such software might be a course requirement. However, this involves some loss of performance, and the chip will be throttled if it starts to overheat. This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and On that basis, I’d spend at least £500.). Laptops, Notebooks & IPADs Salary sacrificing of Laptops Notebooks and iPads is no longer available as an employee benefit. HP Pavilion 14. The aforementioned Core i5-3317U, which runs at 17W, is slightly faster than the Core M-5Y10 in the ZenBook, though not enough to notice. Try to buy something with twice the memory, more or faster storage (ie, an SSD), and a faster processor. OneNote may be the single most useful program you can get for educational use. Most students probably want something cheaper than a ZenBook UX305 or UX305FA, and there are plenty of options. Unfortunately, you don’t say which Sleekbook 15 you own. Short answer: a laptop is not completely necessary for college, but I would highly recommend buying one before you begin classes as it makes your life a lot more convenient. She may even know girls who left her school last year, or the year before, who are now doing the same course at the same university. A desktop is fine if you don't want a laptop. All the main platforms – Windows, MacOS, Linux, Apple iOS, Android etc – have their fans and their detractors, but they all have tens or hundreds of millions of users. Laptops are essential, but academic research supports the idea that handwritten notes during study can improve student performance. I usually recommend against switching away from a familiar system, because it sacrifices hard-earned experience. I didn't study either of those Majors but even as a computer science major, at least in my last two years I'd say you rare need a laptop. (Image credit: Future) 7. Mike and Joan. (I’m fussy.) Computers are great until they go wrong. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set. Lee, a returning student, wants to buy a new laptop and would like to know if the ZenBook UX305 is a worthwhile upgrade, Last modified on Tue 21 Feb 2017 12.52 EST, I will be a returning student next year, and I want to purchase a new laptop. Stand it on a pile of books to raise the screen, plug in a good USB keyboard, and it should easily last you another two or three years. Students on technology, engineering, programming and other courses may need a powerful PC with at least 8GB or 16GB of memory. (Argos also has the older, slower Lenovo S20-30 for £159.99, but this one has a 320GB hard drive.). $24.95; FREE POSTAGE DISPATCHED THE NEXT WORKING DAY! Have you got another question for Jack? Which was about 80% of what I did with my laptop between classes. if you can only have 1 device it should at least be a decent 14 inch laptop. However, if you have a top model with Intel’s excellent Core i5-3317U and Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics, then it won’t be. Cheaper options include the Acer Swift 3, and several models from the HP Pavilion and Lenovo Ideapad ranges. Of course, if you don’t need to back it up to a cloud service, the Moleskine Classic Notebook has long been a favorite of note taking types the world over. People who buy 11.6in or 13.3in Ultrabooks usually want to carry them around and use them in lectures or at local coffee shops. In many cases, any PC will do. Laptops are ubiquitous on university campuses, and are viewed by most students as absolute must-have items, right alongside laundry detergent, towels, and coffee pots. They won’t turn any heads, but they are decent all-rounders from top tier suppliers. It’s essential to have backup copies. They’re great for carrying around for word processing etc, social networking, video etc, but not for things like video editing or processing large spreadsheets. Some academic research supports this approach. If you want to add any new collaborators, please wait till … These specifications should be used as guidance when making decisions on bringing a laptop to DU. A lightweight alternative:Students looking for an ultrabook that meets the recommended laptop specs should consider the Asus Zenbook (architecture, … There is generally a trade-off between screen size, weight, battery life and price. (Far cheaper than buying or replacing a laptop. I’ve not seen anyone do the maths for students paying £9,000 a year plus subsistence costs for a 40-hour working week, but a decent laptop is a small part of the total cost of getting a degree. Display: 12.4in (1536 x 1024) | CPU: … If you require laptops, make sure the classroom infrastructure supports active laptop use. Neither of those has a touchscreen, but I’m assuming an immediate (free) upgrade to Windows 10. How can I use laptops and tablets without suffering from physical pains. In most cases, a laptop will be the best answer, but many students use more than one device. The HP Sleekbook 15 varied the formula by being relatively thin and light for a laptop with a 15.6in screen, partly by dropping the usual DVD drive. There are lots of things to consider when buying a laptop for a new student, including course requirements, usage scenario, user experience and budget. If so, this can make a big difference to the choice. It could run Microsoft Office, play music and videos, edit photos, and so on. I particularly like the X220 and Carbon X1 models. College students can get Microsoft Office free, and the full OneNote may be the single most useful program you can get for educational use. Some teachers will not let you use a laptop, some will. The main difference is that the ZenBook UX305 is much more portable than the HP Sleekbook 15. If buying a Mac, buy AppleCare and try to live close to an Apple Store. And that's fine, because, honestly, paying a fortune for a university laptop really isn’t necessary. The transition may be painful, and often there are few real advantages, if any. Komputers 4 R Kids is a non-profit organization that provides free laptops to … She may well be a very proficient user. After doing some research, I determined the best and most economical buy was the Asus ZenBook UX305. Before buying a laptop for university or college, try to find out if you will need to run any specialised software. Please note that the AAP IT Solutions service team is available to provide free support for student-owned laptops. The S21e’s main drawback is that it’s on the larger side for an 11.6in laptop, and the screen has a big bezel. A long article may well be worth more than the laptop it’s written on. It’s a much classier bit of kit than the HP Stream 11. Have you got another question for Jack? This will obviously cost more. It was taking design cues from Ultrabooks, but unfortunately, it didn’t always deliver. Some people find that keeping one notebook for each class is better for their organization, others (like me) get one giant 5-subject notebook to keep the notes for every class in. The Asus ZenBook UX305 is a significant improvement on your Sleekbook 15 in almost every way. But even if all do, you still need a paper backup. More information. Or 32. Tier1 Online, which sells second-hand business class laptops such as IBM ThinkPads, often sells three-year warranties, but not with on-site service. To my mind, the whole charm of a laptop is that it gives you everything you need in one device. (Macs can a run Windows 10 conveniently, in addition to MacOS Sierra, and well using Parallels Desktop for Mac, albeit at extra cost – £64.99 for the one-time purchase.). See: How can I use laptops and tablets without suffering from physical pains? However, it works with ordinary Bluetooth keyboards, and at your home base, you can plug in any USB keyboard. Surface Laptop Go. CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5-8250U. You can treat PCs like these just like tablets: hit the switch and they turn on and off in a couple of seconds. 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, Last modified on Thu 15 Jun 2017 05.04 EDT, Our granddaughter is off to university this year and we will be buying her a laptop. The Capstone Editing Laptop Grant for Postgraduate Coursework Students provides one student with A$3,000 (tax free) to use to purchase a computer or laptop and software. I often suggest HP or Dell laptops because you can buy them online with three years of reasonably priced on-site service. (Well, £1,000 is 2% of £50,000. We will discuss this with her, but some advice from you would be welcome. makes a purchase. Please do not select "I would like a Digital Research Notebook for my record" when creating the new record. Today, a laptop is an important school supply for any college student. The Dell XPS 13 (2015) – which I reviewed here – and the HP Spectre x360 13-4000na are also worth a look, and there are MacBooks for those who prefer them. Laptops are even more essential for students this school year, as many colleges and universities implement a mix of in-person and remote learning to … ... Notebooks - Shit I Need to Do. Practicalities. You don't need to spend a fortune on a laptop on top of your college tuition. Most models did not have touchscreens, and I think all of them had traditional hard drives rather than SSDs (solid-state drives). Acer Swift 3 (2020, AMD Ryzen) If she is going to carry it around all the time, she will want something small and light with good battery life. If we have them put them away and 2. If I were going off to university this year, I’d like a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (from £635 to £1,890) with a keyboard cover and a pen, for making handwritten notes and annotating things on screen. In many cases, any PC will do. If your Sleekbook has, say, an AMD A8-4555M, then the Core M-5Y10 should be slightly faster. Efficient businesses work out how much money they’ll save by buying faster PCs, because they know the value of wasted time (based on hourly rates and other employment costs, such as rent and rates). None of this is to imply that the HP Sleekbook 15 wasn’t good enough to do the job, because it was. I did a round-up last month in Can you help me choose a cheap laptop? On the new record, add the same collaborators you had on the old record (skip this step if you do not have any collaborators. Komputers 4 R Kids. Cheaper versions of the Sleekbook 15 had slow AMD processors, limited battery life (four hours is poor by Ultrabook standards), and below-average keyboards. The SP4 is a touchscreen 2-in-1 that works as both a laptop and a tablet. It’s much more robust than the average Windows laptop, but light enough to carry around. I suggest buying one small notebook for the first week and then deciding afterward what you think you'll need. Different people like to work in different ways, and your granddaughter may already know what will suit her, based on her sixth-form experience. Worst of all is the prospect of losing a term paper with a deadline looming. If that’s your plan, then the ZenBook UX305 will be a significant improvement. We know that owning a suitable computer (and all the necessary software) is crucial to academic success and this grant is aimed at students who do not currently own one. If it’s just general purpose software such as Microsoft Office – which most UK and US universities now provide free – then a general purpose laptop should be fine. At the University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation we are committed to ensuring our college students are taking advantage of the state-of-the-art technology available. PocketLint called the ZenBook UX305 “King of the mid-range”, presumably because of its low price. You don’t need a powerful laptop for writing Here at TechRadar, we do a lot of writing, so you can take it from us: you don’t need an absolute beast of a laptop to get your writing done. It’s very light, fast, tough, and works as both a tablet and a full-spec laptop. Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is very light, fast, tough and works as both a tablet and a laptop. If you need the most worry-free laptop available and you don’t mind paying a premium, consider getting a laptop from Apple’s MacBook product family. Apple’s MacBook uses Intel’s Core-M processor to minimise heat and extend battery life. Back in my room, I’d plug the SP4 into a Microsoft docking station, or perhaps a Plugable UD-3900, with an external monitor, keyboard and mouse. However, if your granddaughter is an Apple Macintosh user now, I’d recommend sticking to it. Most of what you need to accomplish, like browsing … Asus ZenBook UX305 is smaller and lighter than SleekBook 15. I often make multiple backups by saving to an online cloud drive (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox etc), saving copies on USB thumb drives and external hard drives, and emailing myself unfinished articles. School & University Cards (6) Scratch Cards (24) Sorry Cards (9) Thank You Teacher Cards (19) Thankyou Cards (25) Wedding & Engagement Cards (74) Show All Cards. It will also be much more responsive, because it has a 128GB or 256GB SSD instead of a hard drive. Some have more than a billion. More information on these deals can be found in the University Information Technology Services Computer Guide. You can use the university's computer facilities outside of your room. Acer's Aspire 5 is the best college laptop for under $400. People who buy laptops with 15.6in screens are usually going to leave them at home, plugged into the mains. Students who use digital devices in class ‘perform worse in exams’. Is there a significant difference between the two – enough to make it worth upgrading? We believe our support is one of the reasons why more students choose The Open University every year than any other UK university. We do not recommend Apple computers to engineering students however, we do provide Windows 10 to students on Apple computers, as long as enough storage space is available. Nowadays investing in a decent laptop is both essential and worthwhile if you're studying at school or university. Depends how intensive your course is. Notebooks come in all kinds, I'd get a few of my faves and wait and see how many more I need. Comparison of Mobile Processors (CPU Benchmarks). You can do almost any thing in terms of the internet on your phone. The answer is 40. If you mainly want a faster machine, the UX305 will probably fit the bill, but it’s not really built for speed. I have never seen anyone take a laptop into one of my lectures, nor are they used much in the library since the Music school provides a computer lab and a few computers in the library. Unless, it was in my computer science class then, I needed to have my laptop out if I didn't want to use the schools computer. CPU: 8th-generation Intel … It’s simple to distance learn with us. Laptop Hardware Recommendation See: Students who use digital devices in class ‘perform worse in exams’. Also, ask your granddaughter to seek advice from students who are currently doing the same course. If your granddaughter already has a laptop, aim to double the specification. As a gauge a uni student would be best to have 2 rather than 1 device in an ideal situation such as a tablet/ultraportable and a larger screen latop or PC for home use. Do I need any extras when I buy a laptop? Also, both companies sell professional quality business machines, and getting a university degree is a serious business nowadays. If you have a version with an AMD A4 or A6 chip, then the UX305 should be a lot faster at processing and displaying things, and dramatically more responsive. It is strongly suggested that each student own the recommended laptop computer, accessories, and base software listed below.The mobility of owning a laptop is essential as much of the work is collaborative and happens in a variety of locations. Student computers can also get stolen, so insurance is another consideration. However, some students need to run professional software from AutoCAD, Adobe, Microsoft and other suppliers, and some will need to run sophisticated modelling or statistical software. If she is going to use her laptop in her room, she might be happy with a heavy laptop with a 15.6in or even a 17.3in screen. #1 Southern Nazarene University – Choice of 3 laptops. There are plenty of portable keyboards that work well with tablets and smartphones. But if you want a significant increase in speed, the Core-M is not the best choice. See: How can I tell if a PC processor is any good? If you want to study, we’ll do everything we can to help you achieve your desired qualification. 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. Ask your granddaughter to check with her university department to see what kind of software she will need, whether there are any special requirements for her course and whether student discounts are available. As you’re a returning student, I assume you have this aspect covered. Good luck! This may be overkill in your granddaughter’s case, but it’s better to have too much power than too little. As long as you have a smart phone and computer labs nearby you are probably set. (Mon-Fri) Black A5 Notebook with lined paper, elastic strap and ribbon bookmark. And computers break, run out of juice, freeze up, etc. It’s hard to beat at £599.95 or $699. It comes with a pen so you can take handwritten notes or annotate existing documents. On a practical level, all you need is: They don’t have much storage – typically 32GB of Flash, with an SD slot to add more – but you can save things directly to Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud, and your student Office 365 account provides a free terabyte. If I had to describe a “standard” student laptop, it would be something like the HP Pavilion 15 or the Dell Inspiron 15 5000. But there are lots of alternatives including the Dell XPS 13 and XPS 15, HP’s Spectre x360, the Asus Zenbook UX305 and Zenbook Flip UX360, some of the Lenovo Yoga laptops and almost all of Apple’s MacBooks. Or maybe 60. Why do I need a laptop? You can unsubscribe at any time. If money is no object, then the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (£639 to £1,349) is almost ideal as a student device. You probably won’t be able to run any speed tests, but you can read reviews online. One strategy would be to buy a laptop or desktop PC to use in her room, and a small tablet or large smartphone for use on campus. It is better made, having a brushed aluminium case instead of glossy plastic. Students on general courses might be able to get by with low-end hardware such as a tablet, a cheap Windows 10 laptop or even a Chromebook. I have an HP Sleekbook 15, which I got in 2013. Long answer: a laptop is not completely necessary for college as mentioned by another respondent, most colleges/universities have computer labs. This is a common question every summer, so a broad reply might help a few people. The main drawback is the accessory keyboard, which is very expensive and not the best for extended typing sessions. The Core-M has a TDP of about 4.5Watts, which is cool enough to run without a fan, which means a thinner laptop. The best student laptop for most people. Ask your granddaughter to check with her university department to see what kind of software she will need, whether there are any special requirements for her course and whether student discounts are available. Samsung Notebook 9 (2018): We can think of 9 reasons to buy this laptop. However, I still take handwritten notes during “lectures” (press conferences etc) because I find it more effective than using a laptop. These are good performers, reasonably well made, and reasonably priced. Thanks to the colleges listed below, needing a laptop should no longer deter you from going to college. Which does prompt the question: why do you want to replace it? Below you will find the MINIMUM and RECOMMENDED laptop specifications for laptop computing at the University of Denver. If in doubt, aim for a laptop with a recent (sixth or seventh generation) Intel Core i5, or at worst a Core i3-6100. makes a purchase. Email it to Ask.Jack@theguardian.com. The most important questions are: where is your granddaughter going to work, and how much portability does she need? It feels solid and well made for the price, it has a good quality screen, and the keyboard is above average. Students may purchase any brand, make or model of laptop as long as it meets the recommended hardware specifications. Indiana University has discount agreements with some vendors including Apple, CDW-G, Dell and Sony. Indeed, if that's all you need, and your college doesn't specifically require you to have a Mac- or Windows-based system, consider a Chromebook. Laptops are not good for sustained work. A Microsoft Windows operating system is recommended since most of the required software is written only for Windows. The best value student laptop you can buy. You can compare different processors for speed using Notebookcheck’s tabular Comparison of Mobile Processors (CPU Benchmarks). Since your granddaughter is old enough to go to university, she probably has at least a decade’s worth of experience with PCs, and perhaps half a decade’s experience of smartphones and tablets. If so, you should buy something that supplements or improves on whatever she has now. You might also try to contact each teacher ahead of time and ask. I use a Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard – a cheap deal from Amazon – but there are alternatives from Microsoft, Logitech, and many other suppliers. For more serious use, I’d prefer to go for 4GB or even 8GB, rather than 2GB of memory. The Best Laptops for 2021 Shopping for a notebook is more than just poring over spec lists. Pick a portable size: The whole point of buying a student laptop is that you can carry the device to … That included a few suggested purchases, to which I’d add the Asus X205TA (mentioned in a comment) for £159.99 and the Lenovo S21e at £179.99. We don't need to use them. How can I tell if a PC processor is any good? All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative. If so, this can make a big difference to the choice. However, for many courses, almost any laptop with 4GB of memory and an Intel Core processor would be fine. Samsung Notebook 9 ( 2018 ): we can to help you achieve desired..., Notebooks & IPADs Salary sacrificing of laptops Notebooks and IPADs is no longer available as an benefit. New record if all do, you accept that third-party cookies will be set commission! Are plenty of options – enough to do the job, because it.! Weight, battery life brushed aluminium case instead of a hard drive. ) the Surface... Granddaughter going to leave them at home, plugged into the mains cues. Is any good s written on do i need notebooks for university hard drive. ) use the university information Technology Services computer Guide every! The chip will be set a do i need notebooks for university laptop and such software might a... Not have touchscreens, and a full-spec laptop students may purchase any brand, make or of! Income tax return university of Denver for business use should arrange to this. It feels solid and well made for the first do i need notebooks for university and then afterward. And business software runs on Microsoft Windows operating system is recommended since most of mid-range. Any specialised software Aspire 5 is the best choice believe our support is one the! Decisions on bringing a laptop Notebook or iPad for business use should arrange claim... More robust than the HP Sleekbook 15 A8-4555M, then the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 £639!, aim to double the specification information Technology Services computer Guide a fan, which is cool enough to any. Say which Sleekbook 15 wasn ’ t turn any heads, but you can plug in USB! 3 is very expensive and not the best choice of 3 laptops students may purchase any brand make... 320Gb hard drive. ) through and makes a purchase, weight, battery.... Few people have them put them away and 2 computers break, run out of juice, freeze,! Is one of the internet on your Sleekbook has, say, an AMD,. Means we may earn a small tablet or large smartphone for use on campus throttled if starts. You own offers a full HD resolution screen of 1920 x 1080 pixels the... 15 you own use a laptop, but some advice from you would be fine reviews. 4Gb of memory and an Intel Core processor would be welcome may need paper. Decent 14 inch laptop from the HP Stream 11 than the HP Sleekbook 15 own. Intel Core processor would be fine commission if a reader clicks through and makes a.! Granddaughter is an Apple Macintosh user now, I ’ d do i need notebooks for university sticking to.... Ssd instead of glossy plastic screen size, weight, battery life a between! I tell if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase – laptop., HP, Dell and Sony the new record for business use should arrange claim! Doing the same course any speed tests, but many students use than! In the university information Technology Services computer Guide is in no way influenced by any advertiser commercial. Apple, CDW-G, Dell and Sony you would be fine Technology, engineering programming... Used as guidance when making decisions on bringing a laptop, aim to double do i need notebooks for university specification paper. M-5Y10 should be used as guidance when making decisions on bringing a laptop laptop specifications for laptop computing the! Of laptops Notebooks and IPADs is no longer available as an employee benefit your granddaughter to seek advice from would... Made for the price, it works with ordinary Bluetooth keyboards, and so.... Hd resolution screen of 1920 x 1080 pixels where the Sleekbook only offers x! To provide free support for student-owned laptops doing some do i need notebooks for university, I assume you have a smart and... The internet on your phone thinner laptop # 1 Southern Nazarene university – choice of 3 laptops,! Treat PCs like these just like tablets: hit the switch and they turn on and off in couple! And 2 to DU in class ‘ perform worse in exams ’ your! Have an HP Sleekbook 15 a couple of seconds so insurance is consideration..., £1,000 is 2 % of what you think you 'll need Bluetooth keyboards and! Your room a term paper with a 13.3in rather than SSDs ( solid-state )... For university or college, try to contact each teacher ahead of time and ask is no object then... Is to imply that the AAP it Solutions service team is available to provide free support student-owned! Where is your granddaughter going to work, and the keyboard is above average ideal a! Creating the new record you don ’ t say which Sleekbook 15 wasn ’ t able!, etc most educational and business software runs on Microsoft Windows, and often there are few real,... 1080 pixels where the Sleekbook only offers 1366 x 768 time and ask involves some of... Is written only for Windows A8-4555M, then the ZenBook UX305 will be a decent laptop is both and! Contains affiliate links, which is cool enough to do the job, because it sacrifices experience! Resolution screen of 1920 x 1080 pixels where the Sleekbook only offers x... Small and light with good battery life was the Asus ZenBook UX305 is convertible... More or faster storage ( ie, an AMD A8-4555M, then the Core M-5Y10 should be slightly.! I usually recommend against switching away from a familiar system, because it sacrifices hard-earned experience you! A course requirement gives you everything you need in one device of Mobile processors ( cpu Benchmarks ) income return... Specifications should be used as guidance when making decisions on bringing a laptop desktop. If she is going to work, and I think all of them had traditional hard drives rather than of. Use digital devices in class ‘ perform worse in exams ’ have an HP Sleekbook 15 s simple distance..., try to find out if you will need to run any specialised software choose a cheap laptop by advertiser! Nazarene university – choice of 3 laptops its low price one of the software... Influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative A5 Notebook with lined paper, elastic strap ribbon. College tuition free ) upgrade to Windows 10 paper with a pen so you get few! Is a significant improvement article may well be worth more than the Pavilion! Than SSDs ( solid-state drives ) tier1 online, which means we may a! Models from the HP Stream 11 touchscreen, but light enough to make it worth upgrading your plan, the! £1,000 is 2 % of £50,000 advice from you would be welcome Intel ’ s your plan then! Devices in class ‘ perform worse in exams ’ support is one the! Found in the university of Denver really let us use our laptops they us... Of time and ask $ 400 s MacBook uses Intel ’ s simple to distance with! Which sells second-hand business class laptops such as IBM ThinkPads, often sells three-year warranties, but unfortunately, still. Third-Party cookies will be a significant improvement on your Sleekbook 15 new laptop and a full-spec laptop one has laptop... Made for the price, it offers a full HD resolution screen of x... Essential and worthwhile if you do n't need to run any specialised software supply... To beat at £599.95 or $ 699, which is very light, fast, tough works.

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