You can take your Android or iPhone anywhere, and even use your tablet in bed. But what do you do when you need to type faster, and even multitask with a lot more efficiency?

The answer is a Laptop computer. From presentations, to the latest battles on League of Legends, it can handle it all. We’re giving you, an in-depth look at what to seek when finding a new computer, and how it will benefit you.

There´s a whole jungle of laptops out there. So which one will you pick?

Starting things off, we look at the Laptop, the oldest portable computer in the game today. We’re going to guide you in the direction you need, so you can figure out which computer is perfect for you. Let’s get started, by looking at what’s most important first.

What will it do for you?

This is the first and most important question that needs to be answered when you’re looking for a computer so make a list. From the most common thing you’ll use it for, to the lowest on the totem pole, you need to know it all. Here are some less common price points, and uses you’ll seek.

Being a student, you’ll certainly need an abundance of: CPU power, Ram, storage space, and 10-key keyboard layout, and battery life.

CPU Power

CPU power is one of the most important aspects to your computer as a student. Cheaper isn’t always better, as the most inexpensive laptops on the market will be running AMD E series or Intel Pentium/Celeron CPU’s. These will struggle to handle extreme productivity, and multitasking.

However if you can find a computer with a Intel Core series processor, be sure to look for a “Haswell model.” This will give you the best battery, performance combination needed for tasking. To find this, the model number will begin with: (ex: Intel Core i5-4200U).

RAM

Random access memory, ah our old friend. You’ll need at the minimum 3GB of RAM nowadays, but luckily most come with 4GB standard. What RAM does is allow your computer to start-up faster, and access certain types of files better. Students will need this for saving word files, notes, and even recorded lectures.

Hard Disk Space

Having enough storage space is necessary for obvious reasons. In addition to doing school work, you may occasionally want to play the Sims 4, or even League of Legends. The lowest size of HDD you should take as a student is 250GB of memory. You can always have this upgraded yourself later on, but if you plan on putting music, movies, or even photo’s you’ll want at the minimum 500GB.

This will ensure you have enough Hard disk space throughout the semester to keep your work done, and have enough space just in case anything comes up.

Keyboard

They keyboard is one of the most essential features, since you can’t use a computer without one. If your computer has bad ergonomics, you can’t really expect those previous specs to back it, and make it shine. You should test the haptic feedback on the laptop you plan to buy. Test how your fingers feel on the keys, how it handles your typing speed, and overall how the depression feels when you type.

You should be able to answer the following questions as well:

Does the mouse feel clicky, or mushy when i click it?

How does the feedback feel to me, compared to previous computers?

Can the zoom technology move quickly, or do they not zoom well?

Once you answer these three questions you’ll be ok to move onto the next step.

Battery life

This is very crucial to finding a new computer, because if it dies too quickly it’s not worth the investment. Typically on a 15” Notebook, you can expect at least 4 hours of battery life, and should always consider buying an extended battery. If you plan on being a lot more mobile student than others look for 6 hours + battery life, with 7 hours being ideal. The ThinkPad X240 can last up to 20 hours.

Brand Preference

This is something that only you can decide, especially because this will come down to pure preference. HP is known for its speedy processors, and fantastic hard drive space. Apple is on the other side of the lake with its sleek designs, and very impressive in-house OS. Depending upon what you decide, you can find all the qualities you seek inside a specific brand, and if you negotiate you’ll get a fantastic deal. Maybe even a bundle package.

Some of the most popular times to search for laptops, is during the back to school phase, as well as the holiday phase. A lot of retailers will put last season models on sale.

This doesn’t mean these laptops aren’t good enough; obviously the newer models are coming out. Quality over quantity is your goal, so look for at the best deal to make sure you maximize your investment.

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