Student Software Deals And Free Alternatives
If your course requires you use certain software, check whether any discounts or free offers are available.
For example, if your university subscribes to Microsoft Office 365, you should be eligible for free Office software downloads, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. You can find more information on the Microsoft website.
You can also subscribe to the entire Adobe Creative Cloud for just over £16 a month, which includes 20+ apps such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects and Premiere. Each Creative Cloud app is also available to buy on its own, with prices from £4.98.
The 3D design software firm Autodesk also offers a one-year free licence to some of its software packages if youre a student.
If you dont want to pay for anything, there are free, open-source alternatives to popular software packages. These include GIMP or Pixlr for image editing, LibreOffice for productivity, Google Drive or Office 365 Free for web-based word processing and spreadsheets, and Blender for 3D modelling.
Galaxy Book Flex 133 Qled Laptop By Samsung
With 256 gigs of memory and eight of RAM, its a solid performer, and has a fast-charging battery that lasts for up to 18.5 hours. But the real show-stopper is its flip-screen design that opens just shy of 360 degrees, allowing for presentations and unparalleled group activity. It also features a touchscreen, making it as much a tablet as laptop. Fans of Samsungs eye-popping TV colors will recognize the same Quantum Dot tech, which makes this a great streaming device.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 135in: The Best Microsoft Laptop For Students
Price: From £699 | Buy now from John Lewis
Much like its third-generation predecessor, the Surface Laptop 4 is a high-quality ultraportable laptop. It’s wonderfully light, looks great and its 13.5in touchscreen is superb. The 2,256 x 1504 resolution display is limited to covering the sRGB colour gamut but does so very capably, covering over 95% of it with excellent accuracy. Peak brightness is high enough to ensure readability in most conditions, although the screen’s glossy finish does catch reflections, which is important to remember if you plan on studying outdoors.
There are both AMD and Intel-powered models available, but the base specification houses an AMD Ryzen 5 4860U processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. We tested a model with very similar specs and the Surface Laptop 4 actually outperformed the M1 MacBook Air in our in-house 4K media benchmark test. However, its graphical credentials are less impressive and battery life falls short of other attractive student laptops such as the Dell XPS 13, Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and aforementioned MacBook Air.
Although it can’t quite overhaul the M1 MacBook Air as the best value ultraportable student laptop on the market, the Surface Laptop 4 is a device any student would happy to own and use as their day-to-day work machine.
Read our Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 review for details
Key specs Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 4680U RAM: 8GB Storage: 256GB Screen size: 13.5in Screen resolution: 2,256 x 1,504 Weight: 1.27kg
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How Much Should You Invest On A Laptop For Online Schooling
You should invest according to the type and nature of the course you are taking up. For instance, if you are trying to learn Final Cut Pro and film editing, you should invest as much as to buy a MacBook. On the other hand, if you are learning some arts-based subjects, a common laptop with standard performance would do.
Dell Xps : The Best Windows Laptop For Students
Price: From £1,099 | Buy now from Dell
The latest XPS 13 houses 11th-gen Intel silicon and is a solid step up from its tenth-gen predecessor when it comes to performance and battery life. It remains one of the best looking laptops around, too, with a compact, sleek build characterised by an attractive aluminium chassis and carbon fibre interior.
Its keyboard is one of the best we’ve tested as well, thanks to a smart layout and keystrokes that feel just right when typing. If your studies require a lot of essay writing, you’ll find the XPS 13 a dream to work on.
There are various display options available but we reviewed a unit featuring an FHD non-touchscreen. The 16:10 aspect ratio is more pleasant to work on than a 16:9 display, peak brightness of 566cd/m2 enables you to work comfortably on the laptop while outside and both sRGB colour coverage and accuracy are excellent.
It may not be on quite the same level as Apple’s MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, but if you’re in search of a premium Windows laptop to use while studying, there aren’t many better than the Dell XPS 13 9310.
Read our Dell XPS 13 9310 review for details
Key specs Processor: Intel Core i5-1135G7, i7-1165G7 or i7-1185G7 RAM: 8/16/32GB Storage: 512GB/1TB SSD Screen size: 13.3in Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080, 3,456 x 2,160 or 3,840 x 2,400 Weight: 1.2kg
Price: From £549 | Buy now from Currys
Read our HP Pavilion 14 review for details
Price: £599 | Buy now from Acer
Price: £649 | Buy now from Huawei
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Hardware And Software Support
It is the students responsibility to maintain their laptop in good working order for use in the classroom. Any damage and associated repairs, loss, or operating problems that may occur will be the sole responsibility of the student. Students must have their laptop repaired as needed at their own expense, or secure another unit meeting minimum hardware and software requirements on which they can work.
Late work, lost data and other such problems due to any incident associated with a students laptop will not be accepted by instructors. Students are advised to backup their digital files in multiple formats so all data can easily be transferred to another computer if needed.
Students are also advised to purchase laptops only from reputable vendors with good warranty programs and a proven record of quality service. We recommend that students strongly consider purchasing extended warranty and service plans.
Video/photo Editing Laptop: 2tb 4tb
Video and photo editing will demand more storage space than your average personal laptop. Videos and photos can eat up storage space very fast. Just think about how often you have to go through your phone to delete all those selfies to free up space.
If you are into the video/photo editing game, you need to have a lot of space not just for your photos and videos but for the programs you plan on editing them with.
Photoshop alone requires 3.1GB of space just for the program. If you use a variety of other programs on your laptop to edit photos, you will need quite a lot of space just for those. Long videos can take up several gigabytes of space by themselves so it is in your best interest to have a laptop with a storage capacity that can keep you going.
Laptops for photo/video editing should have storage capacities of 2TB or more with most photographers suggesting 4TB at minimum.
The amount of storage space you need depends entirely on what you plan on using your laptop for. If youre a student who likes to game in their free time, a laptop with more than 1TB of space is going to be best for you. On the other hand, if you just plan on using your laptop to store family photos and a few documents, youll be fine with around 256GB of storage.
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What Are Good Laptop Specs
- Processor The brains of the laptop, the better the processor, the faster your computer will run. For a dependable laptop, an Intel i3 is fine, but an i5 will guarantee good speeds. Laptops with i7 chips cost a lot more, and are more suited to those running design software. Most computer-based jobs won’t need too powerful a processor, since text/spreadsheet documents aren’t too intensive, but film editors or graphic designers will need a computer with a bit more of a punch.
- Screen Size and resolution of screen will have a big impact on your experience. It’s best not to go smaller than a 13-inch screen, though you can live without 4K displays unless you’re a professional designer or photo-editor. Full HD resolution is fine.
- Storage Space The amount of space you can use to store your files. It’s best not to accept less than 256GB for a solid state drive , or less than 1TB for a traditional hard drive .
- RAM Used for juggling multiple applications at once. More RAM can give you a speed boost. These days, 8GB RAM is the minimum to aim for. 16GB or 32GB is only needed for high-end machines.
- Graphics card An additional graphics card is used for things like image editing. If you only need to browse the web, email and stream video, you can live without an advanced graphics card.
Samsung Galaxy Book 12
Making student laptops these days could be a tricky affair as they expect more for the price they pay. Samsung being a pioneer in design has come up with the Galaxy Book 12-inch which is a 2 in 1 laptop that also functions as a tablet when the keyboard is removed. The device is slightly more expensive than other entry-level products but is worth the money as you get a brilliant display, convertible design, and support for a stylus that could play a huge role in making this a student-friendly laptop. You could actually take notes in class, get assignments done and also watch movies on the fly with the Galaxy Book.
The laptop features a 12-inch display with a bumped-up resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels. The device is powered by the Intel Core i5 7200U processor clocked at 2.50 GHz, combined with Intel HD graphics 620. It also has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB SSD which should be ample to get most work done at school without hiccups. The slim device house a surprisingly huge number of ports including a micro SD card reader, USB Type C, Wi-Fi AC, Bluetooth, and a headphone jack. The Samsung Galaxy Book has a 5MP front camera and a 13MP rear camera with stylus support and a removable keyboard. It weighs just 1.66 lbs making it very lightweight, while the Windows 10 laptop can run for an impressive 11 hours on a single charge. You might hardly need to look for a port to plug it in.
Recommended For
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Microsoft Surface Go 2
Why you should buy this: This versatile laptop from the Surface Line can handle a wide variety of school tasks.
Whos it for: Students who are interested in more power and spec options than a Chromebook can provide.
What we thought of the Microsoft Surface Go 2:
Microsofts Surface line is powerful, includes portable modes like the Go 2, and offers plenty of customization options for you to boost performance. The latest version of the 10.5-inch Surface Go 2 is better than ever, available at a low price for those on a budget, and compact enough to fit in any pack or case you might be using.
While configuration options may vary, the affordable version of the Go 2 includes an Intel Ptenium 4425Y processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of on-board storage space, with a battery rated for up to 10 hours of work. Connections are managed with a USB-C port, and theres also a headphone jack for wired audio devices.
One notable caveat while this is one of the most affordable Surface laptops, youll still need to get the Signature Type Cover to use it as a laptop instead of just a tablet. On the other hand, if youre more of a tablet fan, but sure to pick up a Surface Pen, too. These options make the Surface Go 2 an alternative option to Chromebooks that many may appreciate.
Read our full review of the Microsoft Surface Go 2
Top 10 Best Laptops For Middle School Students 2021
Technology has brought our lives in the palm of our hands. One of the impeccable contributions of technology is the Computer. At first, computers were used for business or research purposes, but now it is available in Every institute even in most U.S. homes.
The demand for computers increases so much that a student can not think of a day without a Computer or Laptop though one is a middle school student.
But choosing the best laptops for middle school students is not an easy task. In this article, we are not going to select one for you. But we must try to help you and give you limited options to choose the best middle school laptop for you. Now, first look at the comparison table of the top 10 laptops on our list
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Best Laptops For College Students
Whether youre off to college, or already there, a trusty laptop is an essential tool. The best laptops for college are able to balance essay writing as well as plenty of Netflix, social media and video calls back home. Youll want a laptop that can go the distance: A college computer will need more power and durability than a grade-school laptop, and might cost more as a result.
But what should you go for? Will a $300 Windows laptop do the trick? Or do you need a MacBook . And what about a Chromebook? With a year at college costing the average student at least $20,000, you’ll want to spend your money wisely.
The good news is that all of the above are viable laptop options, depending on what type of student you are. Here are the main choices when buying a laptop for college:
Whether you choose a MacBook, a Chromebook or a reliable Windows 10 laptop, any of the above will prove a capable companion during your studies, and help you unwind with some Netflix or Spotify when you need a break from the books.
Apple Macbook Air 133
Apple is known for making some of the most expensive laptops in the world and recently companies like Microsoft, Samsung have caught up with it with premium pricing. The MacBook Air is the cheapest student laptop that you could buy to get the Mac OS experience. It is considered more reliable in terms of keeping files safe, a great OS, and also syncs with the Apple ecosystem, if you already own an iPhone, iPad, or any other device from the brand. The MacBook Air has a 13.3-inch display and is powered by the Intel Core i5 processor.
The device is exceptionally great when it comes to robust and impressive build quality that could last many years. While you can buy a refurbished model for $500, a new one could go up to $900 which is still worth the price. The laptop can run an impressive time for about 12 hours on a single charge and is powered by Wi-Fi AC. The SSD storage on the MacBook Air is exceptionally fast when compared to most laptop models that ensure a responsive and reliable storage solution. It is also known for its exceptionally thin design and it weighs just 2.96 pounds, making it easy to carry in your backpack when going to school.
Recommended For
- If you love the OS and the build quality Apple offers along with brand name, the Air is the best option
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Can Students Get Discounts On Laptops
Some major retailers offer students or those studying a discount – with a valid student discount card.
From money off accessories, to monitors and printer ink – even your brand new laptop too. You can even get 10% off at the Microsoft store – perfect if your machine doesnt come with the hardware required like Microsoft Excel or Word.
Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are shaping the world around us. As these technologies touch more and more of our daily lives, they have become an essential part of foundational computer science education. In this standalone module, which spans roughly 5 weeks, students can learn the fundamentals of these technologies and discuss their ethical implications.
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Best Laptop For College
College kids are justified in spending a bit more money than other age groups. Some can expect to do some fairly demanding work. Assad Abid, an electrical engineering undergrad from Pakistan, needs to run simulation software for his assignments. Aakash Chandra, a student at New Horizon College of Engineering in India, does a lot of coding, in addition to creative work in Premiere Pro and Photoshop, and gaming. Students also noted that its worthwhile to pay for a laptop that will last for a few years after graduation. That means you wont have to worry about finding and financing your next device until youre settled into a job.
But among high-end, capable devices theres still a wide range of options. Students stressed that a college laptop should be light. Expect to bring it between classes, meals, meetings, the library, and other locations on campus. Its a boon that I can carry my laptop as well as some notebooks without feeling like Im carrying too much for six hours a day, says Haseeb Waseem, a senior at Villanova University.
The Dell XPS 13 has a variety of configurations. Students with light workloads may prefer the base model, while gamers and creatives can add a GPU.
Another universally-lauded feature: battery life. Waseem, who uses an HP Spectre, says the all-day juice gives him the flexibility to study in a bunch of different locations, and even outside.
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