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Best Laptops for uni?

Hi everyone,
I'm starting university in just under a month and need help choosing a laptop. Initially, I was set on getting a MacBook, but my dad thinks otherwise as he believes I can get a better laptop at a lower price. He told me that with Apple, I'm just paying for the brand name and that many Microsoft computers perform better at a lower price point. But with the student discount, l could get the 2022 M2 Chip MacBook Air for £899.

However, after some research, I found that I can get a Microsoft laptop from last year for around the same price. I've been looking at the HP Envy and the Microsoft 13.8" Surface Laptop, but I'm still undecided.

I have no idea what the best laptops are for students. I'm mainly just looking for a laptop that offers consistently good performance and battery life and will last my four years at uni.

Any recommendations or advice on what to look for in a laptop would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! :smile:

Reply 1

eriksks

Hi,
As an Apple lover, I am going to advocate for the MacBook. It's not just the 'brand' you're paying for, you're paying for the longevity, the MacOS system, the convenience, the structural integrity, the privacy (Apple doesn't tend to be in many data breach legal issues, it's a pretty secure OS, especially with virus protection and downloads)
There's a reason you see people with the old MacBooks to this day, whereas a large portion of Windows OS laptops are often switched from time to time. MacOS is so easy to use, it's quick to get your head around it. I like how it's synced across the cloud, it's always easy to copy something off, say my iPad or phone, and paste it onto the laptop. It's just easier.
Battery on my MacBook is superb, lasts well over a day if I'm doing non-intensive tasks (15-inch M2 MacBook Air)

Honestly, it's up to you. If you have existing Apple products, it's nice to integrate another into the ecosystem to streamline your workflow. You should check if the course you've applied for requires you to run specific software which may require specifically a Windows OS.

Happy to answer more questions!