Teens are expensive and their technology, well, that’s even more expensive and confusing. While we find ourselves saying “no” to many of the new devices they want, there is one that we know they truly need: their laptop.
When one of my sons started college he told me the two things he couldn’t live without as a freshman were a high quality laptop and comfortable mattress topper! For teens working their way through high school and those who will later go to college, their laptop is the one resource that holds all the tools and information to make them a successful student.
But selecting a laptop can be confusing. Storage, processing speed, and cost all need to be considered. We want something that will last and will give them access to the digital tools they will need to master in high school and college. We need something that they can use for taking notes in class, working on group projects, doing research, multitasking across loads of different apps and, truthfully, watching a movie to unwind at the end of a long week.
If you find yourself as confused as we were about some of the things to think about when picking out a laptop for your teen, here are the 10 major factors you will want to consider.
10 ways to compare laptops
1. Screen size:
Our teen found that a 15-inch screen worked well. It has enough screen space to read documents and assignments (and watch movies, just being honest!) but most importantly, a 15” laptop fits perfectly into a backpack or book bag.
2. Touchscreen:
While a touchscreen is not on the “absolutely necessary” list, it’s a great and a useful addition. Some students might be tempted to try and get away with just a tablet, but a full size keyboard is important when writing papers in high school and college.
3. Processing speed:
Our teens expect their computer to be up and running at the push of a button. Some laptops can be slow to start, and reboots are nothing but frustration. They need the fast processing speed for so many of the things they do.
4. Weight:
Laptops need to be thin and light enough to carry everywhere in their backpack because, along with their phone, it will always be with them.
5. Cloud backup included:
We would love to believe that our kids won’t lose or damage their laptops but we have been moms far too long for that fantasy. We insist that our kids backup their school work in the cloud which is the optimal storage solution.
6. A good camera:
Sure it’s fun video chatting with friends and the dog back home, but a good camera, and microphone are also important to students who are working on group projects remotely. And later, college students may find themselves Zoom interviews for internships and jobs and won’t want to appear as a fuzzy little photo in the corner of a screen.
7. Operating system:
Different operating systems are suitable for different tasks and you need to pick one that works well for your student. Students in degree programs that require specialized operating systems should always check carefully to make sure a laptop fits their needs.
8. Price:
The truth is that you can pay almost any price for a laptop, from a few hundred dollars (often without enough power) to many thousands of dollars (with far more bells and whistles than your teen will ever use).
9. Battery Life:
Any laptop for a highschooler needs to have a looooong battery life for teens who seem to forget their charger at home every…single…day.
10. Keyboard and track pad:
We like backlit keyboards to work in a darkened room where a roommate might be sleeping. Again, this one is not an absolute necessity, but it’s a very nice and useful addition. We also love computers with island style keys (the ones with closed spaces between the keys) because no matter how many times we tell our kids not to eat near their computers they do it, and at least with the flat keyboards crumbs cannot gather under the keys.
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