Picking out a laptop can be stressful and time-consuming. It’s more common to see laptops in the classroom than ever before. The process may seem like even more of a rush when you are studying for college placement tests and working on college applications. There are, however, a few basic aspects to think about; after all, you want your laptop to be functional and usable at all times. Think about these factors when comparing and choosing laptop computers for college.
Portable and Lightweight
You will have your laptop with you all day. It will be with you as you travel between classes, and when you go from your residence to school, and back at the end of the day. The machine should be lightweight, yet durable. Ideally, the laptop should be less than four pounds. It won’t get in the way or add to the weight of heavy textbooks in your backpack.
Long Battery Life
During a full day of classes, there isn’t time to stop and charge your laptop. Machines with an extended battery life can go for as long as two days without being charged. That can help a lot if you forget to charge it. Having extra batteries in your backpack can help too, just in case the primary battery goes out.
A Comfortable Keyboard
You want to be able to work quickly and get multiple tasks done, the keyboard should be comfortable. Make sure that your wrists and fingers are comfortable when using the computer. Also, test it out in the store to see if the keyboard is responsive enough. Backlighting adds versatility because you’ll be able to see what you are typing in the dark.
A Big Enough Screen
If you’re multitasking, and college students often do, a large screen will enable you to have multiple windows open side by side. A 13.3-inch screen or bigger is suitable for this. Another important factor is screen resolution, which allows you to have a clearer view over a larger surface area. You can, therefore, more comfortably work on assignments at Claremont College, rather than squint to see what you are doing.
Speed
A slow computer will bog you down. In college, you just don’t have time for this, so it is important to invest in a laptop that can boot programs and load files in a reasonable amount of time. Look for at least 4GB of RAM, solid state hard drives, and a fast GPU. Plus, a quality machine can last you five years, so you might ultimately use it when you look at jobs for library science graduates. The right laptop offers ease of use, responsiveness, and longevity to make your investment worthwhile.
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