Investing in the right laptop is essential, especially as a student.
Are you planning to use it primarily for study, work, gaming, or browsing the New York Post Shopping Section? How clumsy are you (be honest)? Does your laptop need to be sturdy, travel-friendly, or will it stay put when you leave for vacation? Will you be taking your laptop to class everyday? Where do you stand on touchscreens? These are the important questions. The big questions.
Across the board, Jeff Almedia, Best Buy Expert and Sales Supervisor, recommends Chromebooks for students. “Chromebooks are a good option for students who are looking for a lightweight and easy to transport laptop that is simple to setup and use,” said Almedia. “They use Chrome OS, an operating system built by Google that many students quickly learn to use for their schoolwork.”
As far as specifics on what to look out for go, “look for something lightweight with a great battery life,” said Almedia.
“Consider what you’ll be using the laptop for to help determine what processor you’ll need, how much memory to look out for, and how long of a battery life you’ll want,” he added. “That is to say: making a list of how you plan to use your laptop may be a helpful tool in determining what sort of specifications you’re looking for.”
Ready to get into the nitty-gritty? Beware: readers who have phobias of technical terms should likely skip the next paragraph. “Most computers now have SSDs (solid state drives) that have around 256-512 GBs of memory, and that’s great for most students who are only using the laptop for documents and general browsing,” Almedia told the New York Post. “If you do have hobbies that are memory intensive, consider getting an external hard drive or signing up for cloud storage to keep all your files secure in one place.”
Below, we’ve collaborated with our expert on a list of the best Chromebooks available to students this back-to-school season. Read on, get researching, and make sure you’re heading into the school year with a laptop that’s right for you.
1. ASUS 14-Inch Chromebook
Just because you’re looking for the best computer for your needs doesn’t mean there won’t be deals. “The ASUS 14-inch laptop has all the power to make light work of your daily tasks,” said Almedia. “Powered by an AMD Ryzen processor, ASUS Chromebook boosts your productivity and lets you have more fun on the move with its ultralight design.”
Better yet: it’s $200 off today at Best Buy.
2. Lenovo 15.6-Inch Flex 3 Touch-Screen Chromebook Laptop
Are you a tactile learner? Then check out this Lenovo 15.6-Inch Flex 3 Touch-Screen Chromebook, and “make the most out of your laptop with a full 15.6-inch HD touchscreen that you can use to navigate all your projects,” Almedia said.
3. HP 15.6-Inch Chromebook
Have trouble remembering to charge your computer? Try this HP 15.6-Inch Chromebook, suggested by Almedia. “The HP fast charging feature lets you go from 0 to 50% in roughly 45 minutes, keeping you always powered on,” he said. “Built-in HD camera comes with a camera shutter, allowing you to have maximum privacy whenever needed.”
It’s available today from Best Buy for over $100 off.
4. Acer 14-Inch Chromebook 314
Always flitting from one class to another? One essay to the next? Hardly have enough time to get your ideas down before the next one comes along? Then try this 14-Inch Chromebook 314. “Powered by an Intel processor, this Acer Chromebook delivers performance that will help websites load quickly and allow you to multitask between projects this semester,” Almedia said.
5. Samsung 15.6-Inch Chromebook
Browse online and get your assignments done with this 15.6-inch Samsung Chromebook 4+ notebook. 64GB of flash memory provides enhanced storage capabilities, streamlined data management, and quick boot-up times.
Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.