As well as HDMI connection to external video monitors, theres a microSD reader for photo importing.

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Whether its a slim, light word processor or a powerhouse for design and engineering, college students can be sure: Sporting a laptop will make their courses much easier.

But figuring out how to buy a laptop that, ideally, lasts through four years of college can be stressful there are lots of models to choose from.

After all, this is the machine thats going to power Netflix nights, note-taking, essay writing and, depending on the college major, programs like video editing or 3D modeling.

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Subjects that make use of complex software such as engineering, video production or architecture will require more powerful laptops, for example, while those studying art or design might prefer a laptop with a touch-display for digital sketching.

Before taking the plunge, check with your college whether they recommend any one platform (such as Windows or Mac) over others.

Colleges usually do not require a certain model of a brand, but you want students to be able to get their computers serviced quickly by on-campus technicians who are certified in certain brands of computers, says educational technologist Kathy Schrock.

In this article How to buy a laptop for college Best all-around laptops for college Best affordable laptops for college Best 2-in-1 laptops for college Best high-performance laptops for college Related Shopping Shopping Best tablet Apple iPad, argues a tech expert Laptops for college: The basics Whether or not youll be using specialized programs, youll want to look at these technical specifications: Laptop processor speed Measured in GHz, the higher the speed, the faster the computer runs.

Most laptops have at least dual-core processors quad-core (or higher) is a good idea for multitasking or intensive graphic programs.

Laptop RAM A laptops RAM helps determine how fast the computer feels, along with the laptops CPU and storage capacity.

Specifically, it denotes how many tasks your computer can handle concurrently the higher the RAM, the more you can multitask (and the more browser tabs you can keep open) before things begin getting sluggish.

Everyday users who mainly browse the web and stream are likely to be fine with 8GB of RAM, says Schrock.

For gaming and using multiple complex applications like video editing, 16GB is recommended.

Related Shopping Shopping Best Memorial Day tech deals and sales 2020 Laptop screen size and resolution As with other specs, the best screen size and resolution depends on how you plan on using the laptop.

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High-definition screens (1080p and up) offer good picture quality for all-day use, Ultra-high resolutions like 4K are mostly intended for movie buffs or graphic editors.

Laptop storage Choose a laptop with solid state drive (SSD) storage instead of hard drive (HDD), recommends Schrock.

SSDs are costlier for a given amount of storage, but can make the computer feel much faster.

GB is a good minimum to see you through four years of photos, assignments and programs if you often create or work on large files, you may want to spring for 1TB (or get an external hard drive).

Laptop connections Extra connections like HDMI and microSD let you plug in a video display or transfer images without the need to purchase an adaptor.

If you plan to connect older USB attachments, plan on grabbing a dongle or two.

Related Shopping Shopping Best high school graduation gifts Best all-around laptops for college Let our news meet your inbox.

Sign Up This site is protected by recaptcha Privacy Policy Terms of Service If your budget is more flexible and you want a laptop with more power, you can check out newer laptops that sport the latest processors and can be configured with more RAM and storage.

Thunderbolt 3 is the latest type of USB connection and enables faster charging, data transfer and video link handy features for high resolution transmissions.

Some laptops support the new, faster Wi-Fi 6 standard (although your campus will need to have upgraded to Wi-Fi 6 routers for you to take advantage of higher speeds).

Dell Inspiron 14 (7000) 14-Inch The 14-inch full HD screen, light build and efficient processor make for a high-performance laptop with long battery life, and its set up for fast internet: Along with an Ethernet port for direct link-up, the Inspiron 14 supports Wi-Fi 6.

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