4 Main Things to Consider When Choosing a Laptop for Online Study

If you are about to start studying your online degree, then getting the right technology to use is important. For the next 3-4 years, or even longer if you have chosen to study part-time, you will be relying on your computer to access your work, complete assignments, conduct research, download and upload files, contact your tutor, and more. Because of this, investing in a good laptop is essential for online students. We’ve listed some top tips to help you make the perfect choice for you.

Desktop or Laptop

When choosing your main PC to use for your online degree work, one of the main questions that you might be asking is whether or not you should pick a desktop or a laptop PC. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, so the best way to make an informed decision is to determine your own main needs from your study computer. For example, if you plan to complete your work from locations other than your home or you want to travel a lot whilst you study, a laptop computer is, of course, the best option, as it is more portable and will allow you more freedom and flexibility. On the other hand, students who’re happy to study from home could find a desktop computer cheaper to purchase and faster to run.

Computer Performance

Before choosing a computer for your online civil engineering program, it’s important that you weigh up its performance. The type of computer processor that you will need largely relies on the type of work that you will be doing as part of your degree. For example, a MacBook or other high-end, premium Windows laptop could be the better choice for a student who needs to download and use specialized software as part of their online MCE degree or a degree in graphic design. On the other hand, if you’re studying for a largely theoretical degree and your work mainly consists of browsing and word processing, you won’t need to spend as much on a high-performance computer.

Random Access Memory

Whilst studying for your online degree, the last thing that you want is a computer that will slow you down. In order to ensure that this doesn’t happen, it’s essential to look at the amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) that the computer possesses before you make a decision. With the right amount of RAM, your computer will be able to take on more at the same time, so you can rely on it running well even with multiple programs open whilst working.

Hard Drive Memory

Lastly, one of the main things that you’ll need to consider when choosing a computer for studying is the hard drive memory. Although today it’s easy to store your files in the cloud or save them to an external USB stick or external hard drive, more space on your computer will work in your favour, not only when it comes to saving your files and documents, but also for downloading important software which will help you gain better results.

Share your top tips for choosing a student laptop in the comments below!

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