Devices for Study
Introduction:
Almost all students will want and need a connected device to help support studies (and also to interact with friends and the wider world online). Here we have some thoughts and tips on selecting the right device for you.
There is a lot of choice in terms of form and operating system available, and some of the decisions to be made will be very personal e.g. needing something very portable or in a certain colour; and other decisions may incorporate other factors for example the operating system recommended by your University or a need to run specific software.
We would always recommend reviewing your university's advice on device choice and factoring in your decision.
In choosing the best device for you there are some key considerations to be made for example:
Do I need or want a Windows device, an iOS device or perhaps a Chrome or Android device?
There are pro's and con's for each but here are some hints and tips that may help you decide:
Windows laptops:
Probably the most popular choice amongst UK students, Windows laptops are great workhorses for university life. Windows 10 offers a multitude of inbuilt apps and programmes which support study and work, with the advantage of being optimised for the Microsoft suite of software.
You will want to pay attention to processor speed, RAM and storage and check if there are any specific requirements for your course, but otherwise modern Windows laptops are a very safe bet for the duration of your course e.g.
Chromebooks:
Chromebooks have become increasingly popular in recent years and operate on Google's Chrome platform. Modern Chromebooks also enable Android apps to be loaded and used which is a bit of a gamechanger and opens up endless possibilities via the Play Store.
Chromebooks will normally have longer battery lives than laptops and can be lighter as well.
For many they are the perfect choice, but as above it is worth checking if there is any software that is not compatible before purchasing and that your university supports the use of them on your course.
Tablets:
For some students a tablet is a viable device for study, particularly the more sophisticated models like Apple's iPad or Microsoft's Surface range.
More often a tablet is a secondary device which can be used 'on the move' as they are more transportable and have longer battery lives than laptops.
For some students a tablet is the perfect fit for their lives and study, but they can have some limitations in terms of useability for more complex or long tasks and this does need to be factored.
Specialist Equipment:
There are some courses and also some students who require more specialist devices e.g.
- Wacom Bamboo tablet for Art courses
- MacBook Pro for design and fashion courses
- Custom specification laptop to support specific accessibility programmes e.g. text-to-speech or programmes supporting a special need.
Again, advice is normally available via your university or contact us by Email to the product team and we will try to advise based on our expertise.
Choosing the right device is a big decision, and we hope the above has provided some guidance. Should you wish to talk over in more detail or have a question please do contact us by Email to the product team and we will be happy to assist.
