- Mac Vs Hp For College 2018
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- Best Mac For College Students 2018
- Best Mac Laptop 2018
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Without even factoring in one of the best laptops for students in your budget, school can already get very expensive very fast. Textbooks, tuition, school supplies and housing – school expenses can rack up fast. The silver lining, however, is that many of the best student laptops on the market could still save you a lot of cash.
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That's more than just a good thing. When you’re already dropping all that cash on textbooks, school supplies and instant ramen, scrounging up enough for a new laptop, after all, can be tricky.
In fact, the top contenders for the best laptops for students put value over having the top-of-the-line processors and graphics cards, giving you some budget-friendly options. And yet, they still have enough juice to get you through a demanding workload at school then let you partake in some post-schoolwork entertainment like light gaming and Netflix.
The HP Spectre x360 isn’t just one of the best HP laptops, but with its strikingly thin frame, it’s one of the best 2-in-1 laptops on the market right now. It’s packing all the power offered.
Some of our picks for the best laptops for students are among the most wallet-friendly devices on the market. But make no mistake: just because they’re very affordable, doesn’t mean they look cheap. The best laptops for students exude style while touting power and offering portability, all without breaking the bank.
You don’t need to stay with Windows 10, either, as some of the best Chromebooks are also capable of going head to head with some of the best laptops, which means you’ll get all your computing needs without shelling out some serious dough.
Going to school can be a stressful time. You don’t need the added frustration of having to work on a laptop that’s barely functioning. So we sought out the 10 best laptops for students that are ideal for your budget, no matter how low. Because no one should be restricted to an ancient relic just to get some work done, but you shouldn’t have to sell an organ, either.
1. Huawei Matebook 13
The best laptop for most college students
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 - i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 (optional) | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch 2K (2,560 x 1,440) with touch panel | Storage: 256GB - 512GB SSD
We’re big fans of laptops that can skillfully strike a balance between price and performance with barely any compromises, and the Huawei MateBook 13 comes closer to than anything else in 2019 so far. It’s light and compact, perfect for carrying in your backpack while you hurry from class to class; but it’s fast and affordable as well. This stunning 13-inch Ultrabook will make sure you’ll get all your work done in style, without burning a hole in your pocket. Sure, you might need to keep that charger on hand if you want it to last you the whole day, as the battery life is underwhelming. However, there’s still no doubt that the Huawei Matebook 13 deserves its lofty spot on the best laptops for students list.
Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13
2. Dell XPS 13
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080; non-touch) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160; touchscreen) | Storage: 128GB – 2TB SSD
Dell’s flagship laptop has always been rated as one of the 10 best laptops for students, not to mention among the most ideal devices for professionals and casual, everyday users. This time around, the Dell XPS 13 2019 welcomes back the entry-level model, making it affordable enough for college students once again. Dell has also addressed our biggest frustration with the XPS lineup – the webcam, which has finally been moved back above the display where it’s supposed to be. This means that your family and friends won’t have to stare up into your nostrils when you’re video chatting ever again.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 13
3. Surface Laptop 2
CPU: 8th-gen Intel Core i5-i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch, 2256 x 1504 PixelSense touch display | Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD
While the Surface Laptop was arguably one of the 10 best laptops for students, it was still held back by its below average performance, a lack of ports and Windows 10 in S Mode. It’s a good thing that Surface Laptop 2 has significantly improved on its predecessor – with the exception of the ports. It’s now packed with 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Refresh processors, full-fat Windows 10 Home and a black color option. We only wish it included even a single USB-C port. Still, you will get all your tasks done in style with this laptop with little to no effort, making it deserving of a lofty spot on this list.
Read the full review:Surface Laptop 2
4. Microsoft Surface Go
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 10-inch, 1,800 x 1,200 (217 ppi; 3:2 aspect ratio) PixelSense touch display | Storage: 64GB eMMC – 128GB SSD
Even if you’re only in the market for a laptop for school that strikes a balance between cost and performance, it can’t hurt to factor in a splash of style. The Microsoft Surface Go isn’t just one of the best Windows tablets, but it’s also one of the most good-looking devices on the market. Better yet, it also gets our vote as among the best laptops for students, especially from a value perspective. Don’t be duped by the low-power components: Microsoft engineered this tablet to take on all your general schoolwork and more without breaking a sweat.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go
5. Dell XPS 15
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i9 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) Anti-Glare Non-touch IPS – 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge Anti-Reflective Touch IPS | Storage: 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive – 2TB PCIe SSD
The Dell XPS 15 has been making our list of best laptops for students for a few years now, and Dell has stuck with that old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach with its latest model. Not much has changed since the 2017 version, but we aren’t complaining. After all, you’re getting an Ultrabook that’s not only reliable, but also has enough power to get you through pretty much any workload. And, the Dell XPS 15 is very reasonably priced. In fact, the base configuration should work swimmingly for most users. If you want more power, you can also configure this thing with up to an Intel Core i9 processor and 32GB of RAM, upgrading their Dell XPS 15 into an extremely powerful workstation. Now, if Dell would just move that webcam, we’d be gravy.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 15
6. HP Envy x360 13 (2019)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3300U – AMD Ryzen 7 3700U | Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 6 – Radeon Vega 10 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3' diagonal FHD IPS (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 256 GB – 1TB SSD
There are so many compelling reasons why the HP Envy x360 (2019) belongs to our best laptops for students like, and its slim, sleek design is the least of them. This 13-inch 2-in-1 has premium build, boasts 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, all without burning a hole in your pocket.
Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019)
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 6
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 12.3-inch, 2,736 x 1,824 PixelSense display | Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD
The Microsoft Surface lineup has made a name for itself for being among the best Windows devices on the market, with beautiful touch displays, excellent performance and a battery life that lasts a long while. The Surface Pro 6 continues that tradition, even if it doesn’t improve much on its predecessor. You’re getting a fast Windows tablet that can effortlessly turn into a laptop with the addition of the Surface Type Cover. What does that mean for you? Simply that you can get your work done then effortlessly transition into Netflix time, making it one of the 10 best laptops for students.
Read the full review: Surface Pro 6
8. Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1
CPU: Intel Celeron N3060 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 11.6-inch, HD (1366 x 768) touchscreen | Storage: 32GB - 64GB eMMC
Most schoolwork that’s not specialized (i.e. engineering) can be done on a Chromebook. So if you aren’t anticipating to do a lot of projects that require the use of processor-hungry apps, getting a Chromebook can save you hundreds of dollars. If you’re a student on the market for one of the 10 best laptops for students that will help you do all your research, type up papers and not much else, the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1 might fit the bill. The Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1 won’t be able to handle much heavy lifting, but at under $300, it doesn’t need to. This is the best laptop for students on a very limited budget.
Read the full review: Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1
9. Apple MacBook Air (2019)
CPU: 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617 | RAM: 8GB - 16GB | Screen: 13.3” (2,560 x 1,600) Retina display | Storage: 128GB - 1TB SSD
Apple takes the MacBook Air (2018) and gives it a bit of refresh, adding True Tone technology to its display and an even more reliable keyboard. Unfortunately, it hasn’t upgraded the specs, but seeing as the 2018 version has already made our list of the best laptops for students, this improved version is just as deserving. But the best part is yet to come: this refresh is even cheaper, so you’re definitely getting more value for less.
Read the full review: MacBook Air (2019)
10. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
Apple’s productivity machine gets the latest Intel tech
CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 - i9 | Graphics: Radeon Pro 555X – Radeon Pro Vega 20 | RAM: up to 32GB | Screen: 15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology | Storage: 256GB – 4TB SSD
Mac Vs Hp For College 2018
Apple’s most powerful MacBook in existence has just juiced-up, which means that the 15-inch Cupertino powerhouse is faster than ever. Whether you’re doing school projects, photo editing or some light gaming, this won’t disappoint as one of the best laptops for students. What’s behind this refresh? To start, an improved keyboard, as well as some of the latest and most powerful processors from Intel. Now, you not only have the option to take one home with an 8-core Intel Core i9, but also configure one to rock a Radeon Pro Vega 16 or Pro Vega 20 GPU to give you a boost in graphics.
Read the full review:MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
Bill Thomas, Michelle Rae Uy and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article.
Images Credit: TechRadar
- Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop 2019
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I'm off to university – my first year for a BSc in Economics – and I need advice on which laptop to get. I would like a decent, light, fast and portable laptop. I have recently come to like very much the Asus Zenbook Touch UX31A. However, the MacBook Air seems to be a better contender. I have never used Mac OS before.
Temitope
If you are buying a laptop for a specific purpose, then you need to make sure that it does the job. In this case, the best source of advice would be economics department staff at the university you're going to attend. You may need to run specific business software for some parts of your course, and if your laptop can't run it, then you will probably need to run it in the university's computer labs. This can be inconvenient.
While I have no idea which programs might be needed, it's a good bet that your course will include Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, including programs written for Excel. Although Microsoft Office is available for both Windows and Mac OS X, I would recommend against choosing the Mac version. The huge gap has closed dramatically with Excel for Mac 2011, but it doesn't have exactly the same functionality, plug-ins may not work, and you'll find it harder to get help.
This doesn't mean you can't buy a MacBook Air if you want one. However, you may need to add a copy of Parallels software, a copy of Microsoft Windows 7, and a PC version of Office. See Excel for Mac vs. PC: What's the Difference? at the Parallels blog. This works, though the Mac keyboard is far from ideal for using the Windows version of Excel, and most of the keyboard shortcuts are different. You may need to translate them from workbooks etc using this very wonderful ExcelJet chart: Excel PC and Mac keyboard shortcuts side-by-side.
As mentioned here previously, the best deal is Office 365 for University. This supports both PCs and Macs – so you won't need to buy Office twice – and provides all seven major Office programs for four years for £59.99.
Bear in mind that you will also have to learn to use Mac OS X, so I'd try to get some hands-on experience before buying a Mac. It's not hard, but there is a time penalty for switching systems.
When it comes to the hardware, Asus has improved the Zenbook range since it first appeared, so now there's not much to choose. I think the MacBook Air has a slightly better keyboard, a much better trackpad, and better battery life. The Zenbook UX31A has a better, brighter Full HD screen (1920 x 1080 pixels versus 1440 x 900 on the MacBook Air), and it's a touchscreen, which you can't get on a Mac. However, I do agree with the UX31A Touch review at Notebookcheck: the extra speed of the low-voltage Intel Core i7 processor isn't worth the extra cost over the Core i5 version.
Also, note that at this point, the MacBook Air has been upgraded to fourth-generation Core chips, codenamed Haswell, while the Asus Zenbook range hasn't. The Haswell version is the UX31A LA, but I don't know when it will appear. If you must have Haswell, then the Acer S7-392 is a comparable aluminium unibody Ultrabook with a backlit keyboard. It's worth a look if you can find one.
Finally, while all these machines are 'light, fast and portable' laptops, the portability has a price, in number of ports and upgradability as well as in financial terms. If I were buying a workhorse to run spreadsheets – especially if running Excel under Parallels and Windows – then I'd go for a MacBook Pro rather than a MacBook Air. The MacBook Pro has a 2.5GHz third-gen Core i5 processor compared to the Air's 1.3GHz version, and Nvidia GeForce GT 650M graphics, for about the same price.
Mac user wants Windows workstation
I'm an architecture student and I've been using a 17in MacBook Pro for the past five years. It's on its last legs, and I want to use Windows as my operating system because some of the programs I use are made exclusively for Windows. I need a lot of space, memory, a good graphics card and something that doesn't weigh a lot. I've been investigating Samsung, Dell and Sony. The cheapest option is not necessarily the best.
Kate C
The 17in MacBook Pro from around 2008 was a bit of a monster, weighing over 3kg, and Apple no longer does this screen size. Usually, 17in screens are used in laptops designed to replace desktops, rather than carrieds around. Choosing a 15.6in screen will give you more screen area, though dropping down to 13.3in – a big shift from 17in – will give you a more portable machine. Either way, the 17in MacBook Pro had a screen resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels, so even a good 13in Ultrabook like the Zenbook UX31A (1920 x 1080 pixels) would beat that.
Mac Vs Hp For College 2018 Schedule
It's usually a good idea to consult your university for advice on systems, but in your case, you already know which software you need to run. However, you have a trickier, technical question: do any of your important programs works best with Quadro graphics cards?
Best Mac For College Students 2018
Many consumers are familiar with Nvidia GeForce cards (your 17in MacBook Pro has one), but very few know about the Quadro range. These are similar in hardware terms, but aimed at different markets. Gamers value speed (frame rate), so if rendering is taking a long time, they want the graphics card to drop it and move on to the next frame. Architects and designers value detail and precision, so they usually want their graphics card to render things completely, even if it takes longer. Naturally, this comes at a significantly higher price.
Best Mac Laptop 2018
Buying a portable with Quadro graphics moves you out of the consumer laptop market and into the workstation business. Leading examples include the Lenovo ThinkPad W530 series, the Dell Precision range, and HP EliteBook models such as the EliteBook 8570w. Dell has a Precision Workstation Advisor to help you choose.
A key phrase when buying this kind of system is 'ISV Certified'. This means it has been tested by independent software vendors (ISVs) such as AutoCAD to ensure that their software runs correctly.
Professional workstations are usually designed for power and robustness rather than mobility. There is at least one model that's different: the Dell Precision M3800. Dell previewed it at the SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference as the 'world's thinnest and lightest workstation', and I think it's the first workstation with Ultrabook styling. It packs workstation components such as a fourth-generation Core i7, UltraSharp 3200 x 1800 pixel multitouch screen and Quadro graphics into a very sleek and comparatively light (2kg) package. I expect there will be a long queue for the M3800 when it arrives, unless HP comes up with something as good or better.
Another exceptional workstation is the HP Z1 all-in-one. Most all-in-ones are aimed at consumers, but HP's claim for the Z1 is that you get the power without the tower. The spec includes a 27in, 2560 x 1440 pixel screen, a choice of Core iX and Intel Xeon processors, up to 32GB of memory, and a wide choice of graphics cards. This includes four Nvidia Quadro cards from entry level (500M with 1GB of graphics memory) to high-end (K4000M with 4GB). Also unlike most all-in-ones, the HP Z1 is designed to be opened and upgraded very easily.
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If price is not a problem, you could pair an HP Z1 with an ultralight portable such as a MacBook Air or a laptop/tablet hybrid such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S or Microsoft Surface Pro. The Z1 would give you all the screen space, power and graphics capabilities you need, while a Windows 8 hybrid would give you an ultraportable laptop plus tablet functionality plus digitizing pen (sketching and note-taking) features.
Whatever you choose, it shouldn't be hard to find something faster, lighter and much cheaper than your 5-year-old MacBook Pro. If yours has an Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 processor, that's roughly the equivalent of today's Intel Pentium B970, so most recent Core i5 chips should outperform it.
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