Back to School: Laptop Notebooks

It's that time of year again, when the days become shorter, the shadows become longer, and students all over our world prepare to go back to school for another year of learning, growing, and intellectual exploring. There was a time when that meant shopping for notebooks, Number 2 pencils, pencil cases, rulers, sharpeners, and rubber erasers. These days, students still shop for notebooks, but the modern student is looking for notebooks of a different stripe—computer laptop notebooks, to help them organize notes and research, write term papers, and perhaps provide a bit of entertainment when they take a break from all that studying. Here are some of our suggestions for notebook computers and tablets that perform well and will help your honor-roll student perform well, too.

For the Classroom

ASUS 10.1" Chromebook Flip C100PA

The Asus Chromebook Flip features a 2-in-1 design with a 360-degree hinge that lets you flip the screen around for multiple viewing modes. Its display also supports touch inputs so you can use it as a tablet. Equipped with a speedy processor, integrated graphics, 4GB of RAM, and 16GB of built-in eMMC storage, it’s capable of handling all the challenges in a classroom. Moreover, it has a compact 10.1” chassis and weighs less than 2 pounds, making it great for students who want to travel light.

For the Artist

Microsoft Surface Pro 12.3"

While you might need to buy a few additional accessories to get the most out of the Surface Pro, its 2736 x 1824 high resolution PixelSense display provides you with more pixels for tackling art projects. The updated Surface Pen (sold separately) has 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity with virtually no lag, and now has tilt support so you can shade in your drawings as you would with a pencil. Specs-wise, it’s equipped with current-gen hardware so you won’t have to worry about it slowing you down.

For the Gamer

Gigabyte 14" Aero

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. The Gigabyte Aero is a gaming notebook sporting powerful hardware and a compact design to match. Most importantly, it has a 2560 x 1440 IPS display for crisp and clear pictures, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card for gaming performance, and built-in macro keys that’ll help you dominate the battlefield. When it’s time for work, it can swap to its integrated GPU, thanks to NVIDIA Optimus technology, to conserve power and prolong battery life, giving you more time to get things done.

For the Budget-Friendly

Dell 15.6" Inspiron 15 5000

Priced competitively, the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is a great choice for tackling everyday tasks such as browsing the Internet, composing and editing documents, and video chatting with friends and family. It’s not equipped with a touchscreen, but it has a 1TB hard drive, a SuperMulti DVD drive, and an SD card reader so you won’t run into any issues with storage. Moreover, it has Ethernet (RJ-45), 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity for Internet access and wireless device pairing.

For the Minimalist

Samsung 10.6" Galaxy Book 10

If you’re looking for a portable all-in-one solution, then look no further. The Samsung Galaxy book has a 10.6" display and comes with a keyboard and S-Pen so you won’t have to purchase additional accessories. While it’s short on connectivity with only one USB Type-C port, it has Bluetooth 4.1 for pairing additional peripherals. It’s available in 64GB and 128GB models, which can be expanded using its microSD card reader. Thanks to Adaptive Fast Charging, it’ll be up and running from zero in under three hours.

For the Apple Fan

Apple 13.3" MacBook Pro (Mid 2017)

The MacBook is no stranger to the classroom. Users who are already invested in the Apple ecosystem and searching for an upgrade will find the 2017 version of the MacBook Pro to be a solid pick. They’ll also be able to enjoy quick bootups and application loading times thanks to its solid-state drive and colorful pictures with its Retina display. It also has two Thunderbolt 3 ports for connecting a wide variety of peripherals. If you’re not looking for the latest and greatest, consider a 2016 model, which comes with or without the Touch Bar.

Every student has their favorite notebook computer. Which one is the favorite of the student or students in your household? Feel free to let us know in the Comments section, below. Have a great school year!