Laptops are portable computers that come in different sizes and specifications. The use of laptops dates back to 1982, whereby the first laptop available to the public was the Osborne 1. The laptop computer came into existence as a result of Osborne Computer Corporation’s efforts. The company released this model in 1981. It was expensive and could cost around $1795. Since then, laptops have become very popular among the elite population and especially the students. Today, you will get an opportunity to learn about the best laptop for online college.

Online learning is becoming popular among many institutions in the world. As the world’s population continues to grow, many students are enrolling in learning institutions to the extent that the available facilities cannot accommodate them. Moreover, some schools are far away, and students find it un-affordable to travel to these places. The only option left is online learning over the internet using laptops or other necessary equipment such as smartphones and tablets. It means that you have to connect to a live service to join thousands of other students for the same class.

The best laptops for high school students have high-performance aspects such as high processing speeds and high-resolution webcams. A good performing laptop is all that you need for a successful learning experience. Fortunately, laptops are not as expensive as they used to be several years ago. With as low as $200, you can get a good laptop that can serve you right. There is a big possibility that laptops are going to be very cheap soon. Furthermore, smartphones also have some roles similar to those of laptops.

How do you use a laptop for online learning?

There are various ways you can use the laptop for online learning. For instance, you can connect to a live online class via YouTube, Facebook, and Skype, among many other apps that aid live coverage. Recently, Google developed an application called Google classroom, whereby a teacher can interact with students online easily.

For you to have a smooth connection to live stream lessons, you need high-quality headphones. The best gaming headsets under $100 can serve you right. Every word is essential, and you cannot afford to miss any. Moreover, the headphones should have a microphone so that you can communicate with the teacher and other students.

Another way you can utilize a laptop for online learning is by accessing notes given to you by your tutors in PDF, word or any other format that suits you. You can as well submit your assignments online via email or a standard platform such as a WhatsApp group, Google Hangouts, and so on.

Moreover, you can use your laptop to research by accessing thousands of published materials online. The web contains almost everything you need to know. Authors add more content every day, targeting various audiences.

How do you maintain a laptop?

If you want to prolong the lifetime of your laptop, you need to use it responsibly. First of all, you should have a sturdy bag to carry your machine as you walk around. Large fireproof waterproof document bags can work. Casually carrying a laptop can cost you dearly if the device slips off your hands.

Secondly, you need to install antivirus software on your computer to protect it from malware. When connected to the internet, computers are prone to attacks by viruses and worms. Also, avoid visiting suspicious websites.

Moreover, use the right charging cables. You can easily damage your machine by using substandard chargers that can lead to serious problems and can cost you a lot of money to repair. Getting the right charger, as well as the best smart power strip can help you to prolong the life of your device.

Which are the 9 best laptops for online college?

The following are the nine best laptops for online learning.

1. Newest HP 14-inch Chromebook HD SVA (1366 x 768) Display, Intel Dual-Core Celeron N2840 2.16GHz

The device has a 4GB DD3L RAM. Due to the large RAM, the device is handy as it cannot jam anyhow. Moreover, the 16GB eMMc Hard Drive can help you save thousands of files for future access. Although the storage space is small as compared to other laptops with spacious hard drives of up to 1TB, it can serve you well as a student.

Also, the machine is Bluetooth enabled. You can receive or share files from other Bluetooth devices. Moreover, the HDMI port is suitable for display. Connect HDMI input devices such as gaming consoles and get high-resolution pictures on the screen. It also has stereo speakers and HD Webcam. It runs on Google Chrome OS.

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2. ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 2-In-1 Laptop

The gadget has a 12.5″ Full HD touchscreen. Instead of scrolling a mouse all-around your mouse mat, you can just touch icons to execute commands. Moreover, the screen is large enough for video watching and video calls.

The machine uses Intel Core M3. It has 4GB RAM that makes it operate smoothly. Moreover, it has a 64GB Flash Storage whereby you can save as many files as you can. However, the storage space might not accommodate many large files such as multiple movie series.

The computer has an all-metal body. It makes it tough to withstand damage when it falls. It has various ports including USB Type C port. The monitor has a corning gorilla glass that makes it have a beautiful display. The laptop runs on Chrome OS- C302CA-DHM4.

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3. Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch Laptop MD760LL/B

The device is not new. Amazon technicians have done refurbishing to the machine to make it appear new. However, the laptop is functioning just like a new one. To add on, you are eligible for a replacement or refund within the first 90 days of purchase if the device does not work well. It has the 90-day Amazon renewed guarantee.

The 4GB RAM is all that you need to carry out complex tasks such as gaming and uploading of large files. Moreover, the device has a large ROM. The 128GB SSD can accommodate thousands of files for future use.

The processor is also superb and suitable for fast performance. The device operates on iOS. The battery is long-lasting and can go for around 12 hours when under regular use.

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4. Lenovo Ideapad 330 15.6″ Anti Glare HD Premium Business Laptop

The laptop has a large screen of 15.6 inches which is useful for watching movies. Moreover, the large 8GB DDR4 memory is suitable for doing various activities such as gaming whereby the device cannot hang easily. Besides, it has a 256GB SSD. You can save many files for future use.

Again, it has AMD Radeon R5 Graphic and DVD-RW. It has an HDMI port which you can use to connect to gaming consoles and TV decoders. It works on Windows 10 Home. Windows 10 is now the best operating system that allows you to use free apps.

Windows 7 and earlier OS are no longer receiving security updates from Microsoft. The machine comes with a webcam and a microphone/headphone combo to facilitate online connection.

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5. Acer Chromebook R 13 Convertible, Chrome, CB5-312T-K5X4

The 13.3-inch Full HD touch screen is ideal for students. The display is bright for both videos and texts. You can as well play games using the device. Moreover, the laptop operates on MediaTek MT8173C.

Acer Chromebook R 13 has a 4GB LPDDR3. Such RAM ensures that the machine is fast enough when executing tasks. The internal storage space is 32GB. Although it is not that large, it can at least save a good number of files.

The device has built-in stereo speakers so that you can listen to music when the need arises. It also has Bluetooth 4.0 so that you can share and receive files quickly. The battery can go up to 12 hours on continuous use. Other features include webcam, HDMI, USB ports, among others.

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6. Microsoft Surface Laptop (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB) – Burgundy

Although the device is not new, it is functioning very well. Amazon technicians have tested it and ascertained that everything is in order. Moreover, the device has an Amazon Renewed Guarantee. You can get a replacement or a refund within 90 days after purchase.

The storage space for this device is promising. You can save all files that matter to you, including movie series and so on. Moreover, the 8 GB RAM ensures that the device is fast in its operations.

Interestingly, the machine is thin and light. It fits very well into your bag as you travel to different places. It has Bluetooth 4.0 and USB 3. 0, Mini Display Port, SD Card Slot, and operates on windows 10.

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7. Dell Inspiron 15.6 Inch HD Touchscreen Flagship High-Performance Laptop PC (Black)

The device runs on Windows 10. It has an Intel Core i5-7200U. The 8GB RAM is so amazing that it makes the machine very powerful. For your information, you can use this laptop for gaming. You will never experience incidences of jamming whatsoever.

Again, save as many files as you wish in the 256GB SSD. Hundreds of videos, music, photographs, applications, and documents can fit here. The device is Bluetooth enabled. Share and receive files at high speeds. Also, connect to WiFi networks around you and surf comfortably.

Although the laptop is not new, it is working well. Amazon technicians have tested it and ensured that the machine is working pretty well. Moreover, it has Amazon Renewed Guarantee.

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8. HP 15.6-Inch HD Touchscreen Laptop (Intel Pentium Silver N5000)

The machine has a processor speed of 1.1GHz. Again, it has a 4GB DDR4-2400 memory. The large memory makes it super fast when processing different commands. Again, the 1TB HDD is all that you need to save as many files as possible. You might not exhaust it as the memory is extremely large.

The device runs on Windows 10. Being the latest operating system, Windows 10 is more productive and user friendly. You also get free applications from the windows store. Moreover, use the HDMI port to link your computer to peripherals such as gaming consoles.

If you are a student, the laptop’s HD Webcam is suitable to make online video calls as well as taking photographs. Furthermore, the 15.6-inch touch screen is ideal for video calling as well as movies.

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9.  MSI P65 Creator-1084, GeForce RTX 2060

Enjoy the 15.6″ 4K UHD display for various uses such as watching videos, playing games, watching pictures, and reading documents. The machine is ultra-thin so that it becomes effortless to carry. It fits well in your bag. Also, it is light to carry.

The RTX Studio Laptop can also help you to perform various tasks such as video editing. Add music and to videos as well as making other necessary modifications using various windows applications. By the way, the device works on Windows 10.

Also, it has Intel Core i7-9750H 32GB DDR4. The machine is mighty and can be very useful to run complex programs. It also has an ample storage space of 1TB Teton Glacier SSD. Save as many files as you can for future reference.

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Bottom Line

Students should minimize learning costs by adopting online learning mechanisms. At times like this, when we have the COVID’19 pandemic that requires social distancing, learning from home over the internet can be very beneficial. Again, you should ensure that you have a powerful computer and excellent internet connection to make the whole process a success. Above all, taking great care of your device increases its lifetime.