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Computer for each student: Choose a laptop for studies

Gone are the days when preparations for a new school year came down to purchasing stationery.

Even before online learning became a laptop for every student a must-have item.

Towards the beginning of the academic year, we asked the experts for tips: How to choose a laptop and what does the data say in the technical specifications presented to us?

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• Laptop

• Students

I have Seville

Thursday, 07 October 2021, 08:42 Updated: Sunday, 10 October 2021, 09:05

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Computers have not only been a part of all of our lives for quite a few years now, but have long since become essential equipment for the student.

But if until the Corona era, it was possible to get lectures with a notebook or with recording equipment - and settle for a computer at home, then online and hybrid studies (part on campus, part online) also made recent students need an easy, fast computer solution - or in short: laptop ( Laptop).

Manufacturers, sizes, specifications, laptop market presents a wide range that includes hundreds of models, so it is very easy to get lost.

So we asked the experts - what is important to know about our next laptop:

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Not what it used to be: when some of the learning is at university and some is done remotely, a laptop is no longer just an option, but a necessity of reality (Photo: ShutterStock)

Pini Dunkel, director of technology trading at the Kravitz network, presents the complete guide to buying a laptop:

There are many considerations for choosing a laptop, but only five key considerations that will significantly affect the cost of the computer: computer model, processor type, RAM, hard disk size and video card type.

The identity of the manufacturer will affect the price but not substantially, the impact of the identity of the manufacturer will be reflected in the quality of the components and the duration of the warranty (for a year or more, the arrival of a home technician or not).

Among the other considerations that have an impact, screen size, battery life, computer weight, warranty, lock type, touch screen, color, ease of use of the keyboard and more.

Everything you need to know before choosing a laptop (Photo: ShutterStock)

What is important to know before diving to detail the characteristics?

Just before you go about purchasing the coveted laptop, it is important to define the needs and uses we would like to make of it. In many cases, there is no need to buy a laptop, but you can settle for a 10-inch tablet for NIS 600-800 or a desktop computer (if the mobility of the computer and we work in one place does not matter, you can achieve better performance with a desktop computer, and options to easily upgrade components in the future) .

If there is significance to mobility but there is almost no use of a keyboard but mainly use of surfing the internet, watching movies, zooming in, you can settle for a tablet, and attach an external keyboard to it.

It is important to make a preliminary inquiry. Depending on the needs and the price you want to spend, you can conduct a preliminary market survey. It is important to note that the specifications in all the offers you have received are the same and that the product is in stock. You can also consult a computer technician, check out the models offered in forums on social networks or in his global ranking in Google.

Purchasing a laptop is not done by age but by uses. For basic uses like zoom calls, office software, web browsing, etc., there is no reason to pay a high amount. But for professional users such as architects, video editors and gamers where the uses are more complex, attention should be paid to components like CPU, RAM, hard disk and external video card, higher performance that also affects the price of the computer.

It is important to understand that buying a laptop is an investment for the next two years only. The laptop market behaves more like the smartphone market, which is usually replaced no more than 3 years later. Therefore, even those who buy a particularly expensive device, are not sure that in two years it will indeed suit the changing needs, and the battery life that does not last for several years after all must also be taken into account.

The best-selling specification in Israel is that intended for high school seniors, students or advanced users who work with the computer.

In this category the differences will be mainly regarding the video card.

If you need a little more advanced graphics (for games or editing software), it is better not to settle for a built-in video card but to invest in an external video card.

A laptop for every student is a reality need (Photo: ShutterStock)

Internal characteristics that are not seen but will significantly affect quality and price

There are four main criteria that need to be considered in the specifications, and of course tailored to our needs:

Processor: This is the brain of the computer, which allows for better performance as it progresses. Therefore, those who store a large amount of photos and videos on their laptop, it is important that they invest in storage (volume). Of course you can plug in an external hard drive and save the photos and back them up, but not everyone likes to go around with an external hard drive, although this allows for a significant reduction in the cost of the laptop.

In any case, an ssd card, is preferable to the old type (rotating hard disk), which in case of displacements can be easily destroyed.

RAM

: Responsible for computer refresh time. That is, the amount of operations we can perform simultaneously in a fast and convenient manner, the rate of time at which the software will load.

Hard Disk Size: Determines the volume of the computer.

There are cases where it is worth investing a little more in the size of the hard disk for the reasonable user, such as when the laptop is used by more than one person or when a student takes many courses.

Video card: Responsible for the visual output on the computer.

The more advanced it is, the sharper the image on the screen.

There are two types of cards: a built-in video card that comes with the processor and an external video card - advanced.

An advanced video card is a component worth investing in only if you need well-developed graphics or if you use advanced video editing software.

The choice of video card is made according to brands.

It is a built-in memory, which definitely micromanages the laptop by a few hundred shekels.

Both in physical classes and in zoom classes from home (Photo: ShutterStock)

The exterior features selected according to convenience

Screen size: Those who use a laptop as their main computer ('desktop') will enjoy it more if the screen is large, as are short-sighted people or their eyes get tired quickly. On the other hand, those who take it in a bag every day, and move around with it, will prefer a medium screen size or in some cases a small one.

Weight: The weight is mainly determined by the screen size. You can invest in a large and light screen but then the price will go up.

Fingerprint: One of the elements offered today in laptops that replaces typing the password.

Warranty: This is a critical issue, especially when the use of a laptop is for many hours. Therefore, opt for an extended warranty for 3 years, with no extra charge for the warranty and pick-up service from home. Usually, the more comprehensive the warranty, the more the manufacturer believes in the product and therefore has no problem giving a longer, extended and more convenient warranty. It should be noted that the responsibility is for the integrity of the internal components only. Therefore, if the fault is caused as a result of a fall of the device, there will be no warranty.

Operating system: windows and office.

Believe it or not, many are confused between the two.

The difference is that the operating system should be included in the price of the laptop, therefore, it is important to find out in advance what exactly the price includes and whether it is indeed included.

A particularly cheap laptop may not have an operating system, and then you will have to purchase a license for the operating system in addition to paying a computer technician to install it, which may cost more than NIS 1,000.

The office is not installed on a laptop, and it is necessary to buy it as a one-time purchase or in the case of Office 365, as part of a monthly subscription.

There are special subscription routes for students, pupils and families, so it is important to find out, especially if you have several computers at home.

macbook air iDigital Network.

MacBook Air.

Starting at NIS 4,199 (Photo: PR abroad)

Essential additions to the user experience

The experts at Idigital (who market Apple's Macs) have given us tips from experience that should not be skipped:

Beyond the great importance of our computer needs, internal and external components, there are a number of other criteria worth considering before purchasing:

Battery time: an especially important issue in active laptops . The longer the usage time, the more battery time we will need, otherwise, we will have to depend on an available power point wherever we want to work and we will also have to carry the charger on us at all times.

Convenience of typing: Especially for students who write a lot, the convenience of typing can make the work experience on the computer more pleasant. An unpleasant keyboard will make the job frustrating. A small, compressed keyboard will require a long adjustment and will affect your typing speed. The feel of the keyboard has meaning, and it is worth checking it out physically before choosing the new computer.

Camera: In the Corona era, the importance of a good computer camera has risen dramatically.

From zoom lessons, through collaborations in learning groups, to a conversation into the night with a friend in preparation for a test.

All of these have a bearing on the quality of the camera and the sound on the computer.

Notebooks and lesson summaries, which were part of the student experience, pass from the world in an age where you can sit at home or in a cafe and watch the lecture over and over again (Photo: ShutterStock, shutterstock)

So what will affect the price?

We checked with the expert team of I-DIGITAL, also what might cost the computer.

It turns out that there is not just one parameter: the

materials from which the computer is made: cheap and heavy plastic or light and durable aluminum.

Quality of hardware components: The better the hardware, and incorporates more durable materials, the more you get a computer with a significant lifespan and performance that meets expectations.

Computers with a cheap price tag do not always use quality hardware, and after a short period of time the customer suffers from malfunctions or disappointment from the performance of the computer.

Viewing experience: The larger the screen with higher PPI with higher brightness (OLED or LCD), the price will go up, but the user experience will also improve significantly.

And what about the warranty?

IDigital gives an international one-year warranty on hardware, but the warranty can be extended to up to 3 years - in other words: until we finish the degree ...

(Photo: ShutterStock)

The leap in the purchase of laptops

Itai Chen, VP of Best Mobile,

on the leap in the purchase of laptops following the Corona: "There has been a significant increase of about 150% in the purchase of laptops in the last two years.

Now following the opening of the academic year, there has been a further increase in the purchase of laptops.

The laptop is very popular among students.

At a flexible and attractive price, you can purchase an excellent laptop that provides a solution for the student, so that he can work with it anywhere, both at school and at home. "

Performance will affect the learning experience (Photo: ShutterStock)

Technical specifications - what do the data indicate?

Regarding the numerical data or those indicated in words or letters, of the components and characteristics of the computer, we checked on network experts at Best Mobile and got a breakdown for those who really want to understand a little more:

What does battery time mean?

A battery with a long life will allow work for five hours or more. In order to know the battery time, you can go to the brand's website and see the figure on the technical specifications page. In addition you can read professional reviews and see the exact figure or reduce 5% of the number guaranteed by the manufacturer. Battery life depends on the nature of use, the number of programs running and the brightness level of the screen.

What is a reasonable weight and size?

When choosing a laptop it is important to note that its weight and size will allow you to carry it comfortably on your back, and will not limit you in any way. The weight of an average laptop ranges from a pound to 3 and a half pounds, with beyond that the computer will be considered heavy.

We came across the concept of a graphics accelerator and learned that it is a video card. Because of its importance in quickly operating heavy files, the price of a graphic accelerator ranges from NIS 500 to thousands and tens of thousands of shekels. If we need heavy software or games, we will need a quality graphics accelerator.

What are the options in the CPU segment?

Most laptops marketed in Israel are equipped with Intel Core i series processors, with the power and price of the models increasing according to the number next to the letter i. For basic use with light software and applications, you can settle for i5 models for heavier uses

.

What will memory (RAM) affect?

The memory is used for temporary storage of data and software as the operating system and other applications. The larger the memory, the faster the operating system and various applications will run. Most cheap computers come with 4GB of RAM but ideally you would probably prefer at least 8GB and even 16GB if you are willing to invest financially. The memory will directly affect the speed of operation of the files we run on the computer and the price will range between NIS 300-10,000.

Which operating systems are most popular?

OS OS is software that acts as an interface between the end user and computer hardware. Each computer must have at least one operating system to run other software. The most polar operating system today is WINDOWS 10, so it's important to make sure that the latest version is actually installed on your computer.

How is the hard drive measured:

The hard drive is designed to store information on a large scale, and is measured by its storage volume and working speed.

It is recommended to choose a laptop with a storage capacity of 500GB or more.

Best Mobile Store (Photo: Rafi Daloia)

Facts, prices and data from the field

Eliram Brown, director of computers and cellular at the leading shopping site LastPrice,

adds on his behalf: The

differences in processor prices range by several hundred shekels and students can save money by choosing Intel's i3 processor. I also recommend AMD processors that save a lot of money compared to Intel and also consume less battery.

Other features that can increase the cost of a computer are for example also: touch screen and brand. The average price range for a student computer ranges from NIS 1,800 to NIS 3,000.

The most recently sold brand for students is Shiomi brand computers, with the best-selling size being a 13-14-inch computer.

Sales of laptops increased significantly between 2019 and 2021, of course this can be attributed to the impact of the corona on the field of laptops, when the producer was at the beginning of the epidemic but even then there was an increase compared to 2019.

The LastPrice website collaborates with istudent, the consumer club for students in Israel, and gives them a 4% discount on the entire website until the end of October.

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