In the past decade, it has become more and more commonplace for a large part of a student’s academic life to occur digitally. As part of typical college education, it has pretty much become the standard for every student to possess their own computer. Especially for students who have never made such a big purchase before, the choice of exactly which computer to buy can seem like a somewhat daunting task at first.
There is a lot to take into account when buying a computer as a student. Students must consider not only the basic factors such as price and durability but also the more nuanced specifications of their device. Not every student will be using their school computer for the exact same purpose, and it’s important for students to bear this in mind as they set about doing their research.
Taking notes in class and writing assignments is generally the task that students will most often use their school computer for. Just about every academic course necessitates students to write research papers at one point or another. Writing these kinds of essays can sometimes be a long and tedious task, but making the right choice of computer is one of the ways students can lighten their load when it comes to essay assignments.
Students should aim to cut down the amount of time they need to spend writing their essays. Online assignment help that can do an essay for students greatly reduces the amount of time that students need to spend sitting at their computers typing. Another way to help lift the burden of writing assignments is by choosing laptops and computers that have keyboards designed to make writing more comfortable. When looking to buy a writing computer, it’s important to research the best laptop keyboard for students.
While most students will share the same basic need to use their school computer for studying and writing assignments, there are many other possibilities for their uses. Depending on a student’s particular course or lesson focus, different laptops will be more suitable than others. It’s important for students to bear in mind their academic focus while selecting their next computer.
To assist in making this difficult choice, here we’ve assembled a list of X of the best computer choices for students – with a suggestion for every situation!
Best for price: HP Chromebook 14
Processor: Intel Celeron N4000
Ram: 4 GB DDR4
Storage: 32 GB eMMC
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Display: 14-inch HD (1366 x 768 pixels)
When it comes to buying a laptop, many students will be prioritizing the price above all else. Luckily, developers are aware of this and have created some truly great models of computers that come at a very reasonable price. The HP Chromebook 14 is a favorite among those working with a tight budget.
It comes with all the features you would expect from a modern laptop, including a 14-inch screen and up to 64GB of built-in storage. The HP Chromebook 14 is also notable for its highly comfortable and effective keyboard and trackpad. This makes perhaps the best cheap laptop for writing, as it is readily available on the market for only a couple of hundred dollars. Students buying on a budget won’t be disappointed by the HP Chromebook 14.
Best for art and graphic students: Apple Macbook Pro
Processor: System on Chip (SoC) Apple M1 chip; 8-core CPU
Ram: 8GB of unified memory
Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD
GPU: Apple 8-core GPU
Display: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen display
For students whose work centers on a more visual or graphic nature, the Macbook Pro has long been a favorite. The current model of the Macbook Pro boasts its biggest ever screen, with a high-quality graphic display. The Macbook’s screens are famous for their high resolution and ability to display vivid colors. This, coupled with its impressively powerful chip and processing unit, means that the Macbook Pro is perfect for running graphic and design applications. Even at a professional level, the Apple Macbook Pro is the top choice for those in the creative fields.
Musicians and visual artists alike are drawn to the Macbook Pro for its ability to run multiple high-intensity programs at the same time and uphold its singularly impressive battery life. The Macbook Pro also comes with a fantastic set of built-in speakers, which creates a portable viewing experience for students unlike any other.
Best desktop: HP ProDesk 405 G4 Desktop Mini PC
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3.2GHz CPU
Ram: 8GB DDR4 RAM
Storage: 256GB SSD
GPU: Radeon Vega 11 Graphics
Display:
For students who are searching for a desktop computer rather than a laptop, the HP ProDesk is a top-notch choice. It is nimble in design and relatively easy to set up, making it a contender for the best PC for students. What’s more, it comes at a fraction of the price of many other desktop computers. Another major benefit of the ProDesk Mini PC is how little space it takes up, especially when compared to other PCs. Students working with limited space are often won over by this attractive design feature. For their low price, they have impressive specifications that make them perfect for workplace functionality and are a favorite among students who prefer a desktop computer over a laptop.
Best overall choice: Apple Macbook Air
Processor: System on Chip (SoC) Apple M1 chip; 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores; 16-core Neural Engine
Ram: 8GB RAM
Storage: 512GB SSD Storage
GPU: Apple 8-core GPU
Display: 13.3-inch Retina display with P3 wide color
Accounting for a balance between price, performance, and all-round specifications, it’s hard to beat the Apple Macbook Air. The Macbook Air is famous for being thin, nimble, and sleek in design. It can easily be carried around in a lightweight backpack or handbag, making it perfect for taking notes in class. It boots super quickly, meaning students can whip it out and jot down info at a moment’s notice.
While it has many of the impressive performance features of the Macbook Pro, the Air comes at a far more affordable price. The current model even boasts Apple’s new revolutionary M1 processor, which has set a new standard for performance speeds in personal computing. The combination of portable design, high performance, reasonable price, and high resale value makes the Apple Macbook Air a strong all-round contender among the best computers for students.
Choosing the right computer for you
While these four computers are great options for students looking to buy their next personal computer, the options are practically endless. The most important thing to do is figure out exactly your needs and your budget, and explore the first-hand and second-hand options that are right for you!
