Amanda Round’s parents splurged on a high school graduation gift: a $3,000 Microsoft Book 3 laptop.
With such a high price, Amanda Round’s mother made sure to show the store her daughter’s letter of acceptance to McMaster University, so she could qualify for a discount of around $500 for students. Ms. Round, now a fourth-year student in the integrated science program, advises other students to do as her mother did.
“I don’t think I’ve ever paid full price for a computer,” she said. While there is no back-to-school discount, there is an education discount. »
According to Avery Swartz, a technology consultant based in Toronto, the price of laptops ranges from $300 to $3,000. But now is the right time to buy.
Avery Swartz believes that the most important questions students should ask themselves before they even start looking for a laptop are: “What am I going to use it for?” What will I use it for? And how much money are we, me or my parents, willing to pay? »
Ms. Round did this before deciding on the Microsoft Book 3 (which is no longer sold today). Ms. Round knew she wanted a lightweight laptop with a surface to draw equations and diagrams for her lessons, while still being able to run more intensive software. The Microsoft Book 3 is a “two-in-one laptop”, meaning it has both the capabilities of a laptop and a tablet (which has a drawing surface), it was so perfect for her.
Ms. Round also knew that she would need to use heavy computer programs for her classes, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS). So she needed a laptop with more RAM. Ms. Round’s parents even paid extra for more RAM and disk space on her laptop (which was included in the final price of $3,000).
“This is going to sound silly to you, but The Sims and Minecraft are good indicators [of computing power],” says Round.
A good way to find out how much RAM students need is to ask their program administration. The websites of many programs provide laptop computer recommendations.
The Dalhousie University computer science program website offers a list of laptops that would be suitable for its classes. Once students know which model they’re buying, Chris Maxwell, the faculty’s systems administrator (who also handles the tech support department), advises them to think about the value of the warranty.
“If you like to sit with your laptop on your lap drinking beer, you might not want to invest in something with a big warranty,” he says. Indeed, if you spill the beer on the laptop, the warranty will not be honored. »
But even beer-ready laptops cost at least a few hundred dollars. While the tablets are a viable option for students who are content to write assignments and use the internet for research, Ms. Round and Swartz aren’t too enthusiastic about them.
The problem is that students no longer have the opportunity to work without a laptop. Many high schools and colleges have kept the pandemic elements online, even as face-to-face classes resume.
“I literally never received any paper work,” says Round.
If you find that the laptop you need for school isn’t in your price range, Swartz recommends buying a certified refurbished laptop. This is a used laptop that has been repaired and stripped of all previous content, often making it a bit cheaper.
The main issues with refurbished laptops are that they may not last long and you don’t know what you’re getting. Ms. Swartz emphasizes the importance of asking many questions before purchasing a refurbished laptop, such as: How old is the laptop? What condition was it in when it was refurbished? Is there a refurbishment warranty?
Swartz also recommends saving money in the long run by investing in a laptop that will last three to five years, which will likely match the length of your time in high school or college. According to her, these laptops usually cost between $700 and $800.
“I’d rather you spend a little more…than spend a little less on a device that after 18 months will leave you feeling like trash – literally trash, because they tend to end up in the trash – and that will force you to spend again,” she says.
