Articles
Smart Shopping for Students: Laptops
First Posted: October 27, 2007
By Andrew Lau
I think I want a laptop, but which?
Laptops are all about compromise. You will have to weigh the importance of screen size, performance, keyboard size, portability, ruggedness, weight, battery life, and price. Going up in screen size generally results in bigger dimensions, more weight and less battery life. Ultra-compact and lightweight laptops, on the other hand, tend to have proportionately smaller screens and keyboards. You might then think that a smaller laptop would have longer battery life, but that isn’t necessarily the case since batteries may also be smaller to minimize weight and size. It’s a complicated balance.
For a detailed breakdown of laptop components and design features, CNET has a very informative article that you can find here. Once you have a basic understanding of laptop components and what they do, you will want to consider your specific college or university needs:
- If you are not planning on doing much “on the go” besides surfing the net, writing reports, and taking notes, you can probably get away with a less feature ridden and less expensive laptop.
- “Portable” is relative. You might be tempted by a laptop with a biggest wide screen display possible, but how well will it function on “half-desks” and with sometimes cramped seating? Likewise, trying to position and balance a 7 or 8 pound laptop in some spaces can be quite troublesome. Also be advised that some professors like to teach with textbooks or papers out for easy reference, so real estate can be at a premium.
- With notebook computers becoming increasingly popular in schools, there can be competition for power outlets. Consider selecting a battery and laptop configuration that won’t tether you to a power outlet every 2 hours.
- The term “desktop replacement” does not apply to heavy gaming. If you’re the sort who enjoys the latest FPS with all the glitzy settings turned up, any laptop you choose will balk at new games within a year or two. Laptop video cards simply aren’t readily upgradeable like their desktop cousins.
- Many laptop manufacturers produce separate home and business lines. Business class laptops as a whole tend to be more ruggedly constructed and kept to productivity essentials in terms of included software, so keep them in mind.
- Laptops, with their compact form factor and propriety parts, are difficult to service. If your laptop is going to be your only computer, it might be wise to invest in a good multi-year warranty.
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