Laptops and tablets have replaced the bulky desktop computers of the past. Today, even primary school students are expected to have access to a tablet or laptop at home.
Things to Consider
Screen
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Laptops are popular for its portability aspect so there’s an obvious trade-off between size and portability. Bigger sized screens cost more but we feel anything between 14-16 inches is good enough for a student. In the case of tablet, it would be around 8 to 10 inches.
Battery life
Most recent laptops and tablets have much better battery life. If you’re a college student who will be taking the laptop to college everyday, you may want to check the battery life. If its for home use, then it does not matter much since you will be close to a power source.
Processor (CPU)
Intel and AMD are the main manufacturers of CPU and both are fine. The more recent (later) the generation of CPU, better is its performance, but it will increase the price too.
Graphics Cards (GPU)
Better graphics card makes video and films look better, brighter and shaper. But, if you are a student, whatever comes with the laptop should be good enough for your needs.
But if you use it for watching movies or for gaming, you may consider buying a laptop with better graphics card (by paying more).
RAM
Go for at least 8GB of RAM if you can, but you can also upgrade the RAM later if you think you need better performance.
Hard Drive
SSD offers better performance but they tend to be a bit expensive than HDD, especially if you need a large capacity. SSDs are also lot tougher compared to the mechanical HDD.
Useful Computer Accessories
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A new laptop computer might be just fine for some, but you may need accessories, especially if you are going to use the computer for gaming and as an entertainment system.
Most laptops may not come equipped with the best sounding speakers. So you may consider investing in a good pair of headphones or portable speakers.
You may also need accessories to work better with your computer, such as a separate mouse.
Wireless Keyboards / Mouse for Laptops/Tablets
Over time, the built-in mouse and keys of a laptop wears out. The best alternative in that case is to get a wireless keyboard or mouse.
The good thing about wireless keyboards and mouse is that they do not have wires and it is easy to move them around.
Best Tablet Case / Covers
A cover for your tablet / laptop allows protection to the gadget from scratches, bumps, stains, and dirt. Whether you’re looking for specific styles and functions, you can find a cover to suit your needs. To make sure that you’re choosing the right type of cover for your iPad, here are 4 great tips when considering your purchase.
- Find a cover that protects your gadget yet also allows easy access to the device, preferably even without removing it. You get covers with a clear front so you can access the apps and use the device without any hassles of removing the cover.
- Choose a material for your iPad/tablet cover that can withstand shocks like bumps and possible scratches to your iPad. Constant bumps on your gadget may affect sensitive hardware installed inside it. That’s why it’s recommended that you look for materials that offer thick cushioning but still provides makes your iPad easy to access.
- You also get covers that are water-proof. A good example of covers that protect your device from moisture and shock is neoprene.
- Look for style and other features – security straps, handles, extra pockets, etc. While all the various designs are good-to-have, you have to remember that the main point of buying the cover is to protect your tablet/laptop.
iPad covers come in different materials and different styles, to suit your needs. You can even check out the manufacturers’ websites to see if they are offering cases/covers.
Storage devices: USB Pen Drives and Hard drives
USB Pen Drives and Hard drives to store your project work and media files.
You get USB flash drives from several leading brands such as Scandisk, Lexar, Transcend, Corsair, Kingston.
USB flash drives typically begin at 2GB or 4GB and some even have capacity of 512GB or 1TB (the 128GB range is a good alternative to a portable hard drive). Most memory sticks are now available with a USB 3.0 connection, allowing for maximum data transfer speeds.
Hard Drives: External hard drives are popular choices if you need a lot of extra storage space.
- Seagate is a global leader in data storage solutions, and their products are quite popular with people and businesses.
- Western Digital Corporation (WDC or WD) is another giant computer hard disk drive manufacturer.
Note: Tech experts suggest that you should never completely use your storage space. No matter who you ask, the 80% rule applies to most gadgets that use spinning disks. Read Full Story
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