

“If you have a Mac and your campus mainly supports Windows, she warns, “you can be out of luck.” This doesn’t mean your laptop is unusable, but you may have to jump through some extra hoops for access to applications for certain classes or even printing around campus.

Tiger also suggests checking what systems your campus uses before making your purchase. Just make sure you find something rugged, says Charlie Regan, CEO of Nerds on Site. “We have only a couple colleges with specific recommendations: Architecture requires a very high-end PC, and education may require a medium-size, middle-of-the-road Macbook Pro.” Since the majority of students will use their computers to surf the web, take notes, answer emails, attend Zoom classes, and use word processors like Word or Google Docs, most midrange laptops - or maybe even a good Chromebook - will be sufficient. “It really depends on what you’re going to do with your laptop and what your major is,” says Sue Tiger, manager of Tech Zone at the University of Illinois. Photos: RetailersĬhoosing a laptop for college is a big decision that’s heavily influenced by your budget and your day-to-day needs.
