The Essential Laptop Buyers Guide For Students
The life of a student can be incredibly hectic, between working a part time job, studying and having to attend classes regularly, the last thing you want to think about is having to buy a new laptop. Laptops are an essential for any student, making the process of shopping for one an unavoidable task at some point in time. Whether you are simply looking to upgrade or you accidentally spilled a cup of coffee on your current laptop while pulling an all nighter, we are here to help you with the shopping process!
Our buyers guide aims to provide you with the perfect amount of knowledge and preparation to make your shopping process as easy as possible so that you can get right back to studying as as soon as possible!
Why do you want a new laptop?
When you first read this it may sound like a silly question, but believe it or not this is one of the most important questions to ask yourself to start your shopping journey on the right foot. Understanding your specific needs helps narrow down your choices to find the model that is perfect for you. For instance, if you are a full time student, you will likely be using your laptop multiple hours a day. This would mean you should likely opt for a heavier duty model as opposed to a part time student that uses their laptop a couple hours a day at most. Understanding your specific circumstance is fundamental for an enjoyable shopping experience.
Consider battery life and mobility
One aspect that must be considered by any student is battery life and overall portability. Whether you are studying in a coffee shop or traveling from class to class on a full time schedule, battery life is a very important factor to consider in order to avoid having your computer shut down mid lecture. Sometimes it can be very difficult to find a power outlet to charge your laptop, especially in packed coffee shops or classrooms making the feat a very important one for any student. Different models come with different batteries, therefore we highly suggest that you opt for the models with the longest possible battery life to save yourself the headache of losing all your work. Considering portability is also important for any student, as you will likely be traveling quite a bit with your laptop in your backpack. Opting for the lightest possible options will make your life significantly easier and take a load off your back, literally.
Brands
Another major factor to consider when buying your new laptop is brand name. There are endless brands and models of laptops which can make shopping for one a bit confusing.
When shopping for a new laptop it is always best to opt for reputable, well-known brand names as they provide an extra layer of assurance that the product you are buying is high quality, durable, has better warranties and customer support as well as having the greatest chance at longevity.
Opting for cheaper, lesser known brands is highly discouraged as they come with a plethora of potential pitfalls that make them not worth the investment.
Bigger, well-known brand names are the way to go! Some of the most well known laptop brand names include: Dell, Apple, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, MSI, HP, Microsoft and Alienware.
Budget
Before you begin shopping for your new laptop you should also consider making a budget. Preparing a budget ahead of time helps narrow down your options more than you can believe!
Developing a personal budget immediately eliminates some of your choices, thus reducing your chances of developing choice paralysis while shopping. This makes the process of selecting a product significantly simpler and the shopping process more enjoyable.
Remember to keep brand names in mind when you begin preparing your budget!
Other considerations
There are a variety of other things to consider before shopping for your new laptop, however, these considerations are slightly less important as the ones mentioned already and are too broad to merit categories of their own. We do encourage you to research these topics on your own time to deepen your understanding of the different features of laptops on the market.
Some other important considerations include: overall performance, RAM, storage size, display quality, keyboard, trackpad, available warranty, connectivity, operating systems and overall graphics.
Final thoughts
We know first hand that searching for a new laptop as a student can be a bit of an overwhelming task. There are multiple brands, models and features making it difficult to choose the one that matches your needs.
We hope our buyers guide leads you in the right direction. Remember to take into account the brand name and the importance of sticking to reputable, reliable names for quality and longevity while going through your shopping journey.
Also, do not forget to evaluate your needs and to consider how often you plan to use your new laptop while shopping, if you are a full time student, opt for the higher end, heavier duty models. Do not forget to create a budget for yourself before shopping! It will make the shopping process much more enjoyable.
By following our buyers guide you will be directed in the right direction with just the right amount of knowledge and preparation to find the perfect laptop for you!
We have also went out of our way to create a comprehensive list of Our Best Reviewed Laptops For Students.
We took into consideration all the factors that we have mentioned in our buyers guide so that our readers can get the biggest bang for their buck!
Happy Shopping!