By Ball State Daily Advertising

*Disclaimer: your major may require a specific laptop!

The cost of tuition, books, housing, and other college expenses can be very overwhelming. On top of it all, purchasing a laptop will be necessary in order to keep up with lectures, Canvas assignments, and other college-related things.

As an incoming freshman, you might be wondering what laptop might be the best for you—and the expense of it all. This article will break it all down for you, from the different types of laptops to their durability and cost.

The laptop world is a big one with many options, and it can be very confusing to figure out what laptop brand is the best; however, this can be different for everyone. This article will only be focusing on four main laptop brands: Dell, Lenovo, HP and Apple products.

Dell

Dell has a ton of different versions for laptops, which is why they specifically recommend XPS and Inspiron laptops for college students.

When it comes to XPS laptops, the Dell XPS 13 laptop is great for those busy long days of studying. Aside from having up to 12 hours of battery life and plenty of storage, it is also pretty thin, which makes it easily transportable.

The running price for this laptop is roughly $800. However, Dell does offer a 5% student discount with a verified email.

Dell Inspiron laptops offer 2-in-1 touchscreen options that can easily transform between a laptop, tablet, or stand modes. Overall, these types of laptops are pretty lightweight with plenty of memory and storage. The prices for this version of Dell laptops vary but they can range from anywhere between $599-$999.

Lenovo

Like Dell, Lenovo offers a ton of different versions for your needs; however, the two versions I will be focusing on are their Yoga and ThinkPad series. I would recommend browsing their other versions, as all of them have different features that might suit your needs better.

Starting with their Yoga series, this laptop offers a 2-in-1 design that allows for it to become a tablet with a pen that supports both notetaking and drawing. The series also allows for more security features like fingerprint readers. This laptop can range anywhere in price between $550-$1,350.

The ThinkPad series is great for students who are worried about durability. This laptop, which is mainly used by business professionals, is made to last long. With long-lasting battery and fast performance, this could be a laptop to look into. These versions can range anywhere between $599-$1,300.

Lenovo does offer some back-to-school sales where you can purchase their products both in-store and online.

HP

HP is another top tech brand that offers student discounts for college students. Also known as the HP Education Store Program, you can get up to 40% discounts on their latest technology.

HP recommends two versions of their laptops, the HP ENVY and the HP Pavilion.

HP ENVY versions are great for video calling because of their upgraded webcam as well as long-lasting battery for those extended study sessions. Apart from being a touchscreen laptop, it is also a 2-in-1. But perhaps their most interesting feature is their presence sensor. This allows you to darken your laptop by walking away but turning it back on when you come back to your laptop. These versions cost about $1,200.

If you are looking for something a little less pricy, the HP Pavilion would be the way to go. Do keep in mind that for editing pictures it might not be the best, but for everyday use such as homework assignments and researching, it could be a great laptop to start off with. The price for this
version varies from anywhere between $429-$800.

Apple

There are two MacBooks that would be worth looking into, especially if you like having an ecosystem of Apple products.

The first one is the MacBook Air 13” with an M2 Chip. The M2 chip is naturally faster than the M1 chip and supports Wi-Fi 6. MacBooks are also something to consider for Adobe products like InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, as they tend to work a lot smoother on Macs.

If you are looking for something more affordable, I would recommend the MacBook 13” with the M1 chip. While this is an older version, it delivers almost the same number of features with a smaller price.

The Tech Center

Getting a new electronic device doesn’t come without a fair share of technological struggles. The Tech Center, located in room 101 of Bracken Library, is the central spot for all of your tech-related issues. The
Tech Center can help you with a variety of problems, from resetting your Ball State password to hardware repair.  The Tech Center is open Monday through Friday. Simply walk in and stop at the concierge desk, which can help you with basic technical support, or refer you to the support service or expert that best suits your needs.

In addition to the physical location, there is also the online Technology Help Desk, which offers support over chat and phone (765-285-1517). The Help Desk is open Monday through Friday; however, for
issues such as resetting your Duo Mobile or Ball State password, there is 24/7 assistance available.

Right next door to the Tech Center, in room 103 of Bracken, is the Technology Store. Here, you can shop a variety of items, such as laptops (Apple, Lenovo, Dell), iPads, Fitbits, cables, adapters and more. The best part about this store is that many products come with a reduced, educational price! If you find a great laptop off this list, head over to the Technology Store to see if they have any.

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