The pandemic caused by coronavirus resulted in many changes in our life. It made us stay at home and do our work accordingly. Every possible work is going online due to the pandemic. And by going online, one’s essential need has changed from uniform, transport, launch box to either a good internet connection, phone, tablet, pc or laptop. It may sound banal for those familiar with the “work from home” or study from the home pattern. But for those who are not aware, it is tough to function smoothly.
Among all the devices used, the laptop has been a basic need for students these days. And while the physical class has moved to an online class, students prefer to have a laptop of their own. Meanwhile, a plethora of options for laptops is available in the tech market. However, before spending money on the assets, you need to be careful and wise at the same time. Choosing the best laptop for school students is a difficult decision if you are not aware of the specifications and models of the laptop. If you choose the best laptop, it runs throughout the school years. So, now in this article, we will walk you through the guide for selecting the best laptop for school students.
Overview
Nepalese students rarely had the practice of learning online. However, the breakage of the COVID-19 made it compulsory for the schools to adapt online classes. At the same time, students and parents have been going through the dilemma of choosing a fine laptop on a small budget. Some may have got the laptop from their relative residing abroad, while most buy laptops in Nepal. Referring to the data released by the Customs Department of Nepal, Nepal imported 108,531notebooks and laptops in the first ten months of the fiscal year 2077/78. After doing some research about the topic, we have summarized the findings in our article to guide you through buying the best fit for the school students.
Laptop Buying Guide for School Students
To prepare yourself to buy the best laptop for school students, you need to be confident about the budget you can spend. After you have decided on the budget, the next part is to understand the features that the laptop must have in that particular budget and the features you have to compromise for.
Let’s say you are considering the budget of Rs 30,000, here you need to understand the laptop will give an average performance. Since the laptop under Rs 30,000 covers the basic needs. In contrast, if you have a budget of more than Rs 60,000, you should expect the laptop to have a better performance.
Now, consider the below-listed features before buying the laptop for the school students:
- OS (Operating System)
The operating system is the heart of the laptop. Students in Nepal use Microsoft OS in the majority, as it is beginner-friendly and flexible. While there are other options such as Linux and iOS, you can choose according to your comfortability. The laptop’s price also varies accordingly; iOS is the most expensive, and Linux is the most affordable.
- Processor.
A student should focus on buying a laptop with high-speed processing as we all know CPU is the brain of the computer; faster, the better. On the other hand, the laptop run on a processor such as Intel and AMD. Here again, choose the one according to your use. If you mostly rely on your laptop for college assignments and basic games, go for Intel Core i3 or AMD A-8 processor. Likewise, if you run heavy programming and graphics, Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7, or AMD A10 will suffice.
- Graphics
There are mainly two types of graphics found in the laptop: integrated and discrete. The integrated graphics are comparatively slower than the discrete graphics. Hence, the integrated graphics work for the primary performance like playing basic games, watching movies, and browsing. On the other hand, the discrete graphics let the laptop handle the intensive graphic software and games. Additionally, a student who studies computer graphics must have a discrete graphics card on the laptop. Also, it supports high-end games. Similarly, the discrete graphics are Radeon and GeForce; AMD and NVIDIA respectively power them.
- Storage
The storage is another most important feature to consider as the laptop will store numbers of notes, documents, presentations, movies, pictures, and many more. If you are somebody who keeps lots of these types of files, go for higher storage capacities. Furthermore, you also have the option of buying an external hard drive in case of a memory shortage. However, if you buy a laptop with enough storage, you do not need to spend later on the hard drive. Also, if you can afford the higher-budget laptop, go for the laptop with SSD (Solid State Drive) instead of the hard drive. These laptops have higher speeds, are lighter, faster, and are cooler. Although there are positive feedbacks for the laptops with SSD, they are more expensive.
- Battery
Running out of charge every few hours is a sign of a bad laptop. And for students, the laptop must run for 6-8 hours without having to charge; this is to safeguard that you do not have to panic during the online class or while taking the online exams. Additionally, the manufacturers always advertise the battery life of their products. However, the truth may not lie in parallel to their words. Hence, you can check the third-party review of the battery for the laptop you wish to purchase. Further, high-speed processing power, large resolution screen, faster hard drive, etc., drains the laptop’s battery; hence, a good battery endurance of the laptop points to the option of getting the laptop with SSD.
- Weight
A student already has some heavy books to carry, and adding a laptop of heavy-weight will definitely be a big deal. Also, one may have to travel from one place to another, and a heavy-weight laptop makes it difficult. It is a prudent decision to buy a lightweight laptop so that students can carry the laptop with them whenever it is required. Meanwhile, if you do not travel much with the laptop, you can choose accordingly.
- Screen Size
Since students spend their entire day on laptops, it might hurt their eyes if the screen size is small. Moreover, it also depends upon their personal choice. The larger screen suits those who do not travel much, whereas the smaller screens are excellent for the kids. At the same time, the larger the screen is, the heavier it is and consumes more power.
Conclusion
To conclude, the features mentioned above are essential to consider while choosing the best laptop for school students. More factors such as the brands, their authorized distributors in Nepal, their repairing centers, etc., also things to consider before selecting the best laptop for the school students. Also, the personal choices of an individual play a big role in determining laptops for school students. Since the article focuses solely on the students, the findings are based upon them and may not fit others like travelers, programmers, gamers, and others.