A new year is coming and with it comes new beginnings. For many, this is a chance to finally leave the old and usher in a fresh start. Students may want to finally discard their aging laptops in favor of a better model. They will definitely not lack options with all of the available units on the market. However, it can be daunting to see the large number of different configurations. Narrowing down your options can be a chore as each one has its own pros and cons. Make life easier for you by listing them down and doing side-by-side comparisons. Pay particular attention to the following:

Power Requirements

What are you going to use it for? Students have a wide range of requirements. Some might need to churn out high quality videos on a regular basis. Others will need to compile a tremendous amount of code or use demanding engineering software. The rest might be happy with a unit that can browse the Web and do basic word processing. Make sure that your software will be compatible with the operating system. Make it a power to check their recommended system configuration including the OS version, the type of processor, the amount of RAM, and the kind of video card necessary to make it run.

Portability and Battery

If you are going to take the laptop to school, then it should be light enough for you to carry in your bag. It is often best to use a backpack with two straps for even weight distribution. The lower the weight and the smaller the dimensions, the better it will be for your back and shoulders. The battery should be scrutinized as well. How long does it last during normal usage? Can it last the whole day at school? Is there a charging station that you can use or will you be totally dependent on the battery? Is it possible to swap batteries so you can carry a spare for emergencies? Is the power brick large and heavy?

Budget and Upgrades

Students don’t always have a large budget for their laptops. The limited funds is the biggest consideration in most cases. If you had thousands of dollars to spare, then you can just buy the latest and greatest model from the best laptop brands in a snap. Since few people have this luxury, you will have to be more cautious in your decision-making. There are models that cost only a few hundred dollars that may prove sufficient for basic tasks. Powerful machines in portable packages cost a lot more. You could consider to buy laptop online to get more value for your money.