- And Macs do tend to be more user-friendly, but if you've been using a PC your whole life then you will do just fine with Windows in college. Computers aren't the only electronics that you'll need for school. Don't miss these gadgets that will make your college life easier.
- Since their conception, MacBooks have been extremely popular laptops among college students and, for most, Apple’s MacBook Air is the one to buy. It’s slim, it’s portable, offers great battery life, boasts a gorgeous display, and packs more than enough power to spare for the needs of most college programs.
You’ve landed the internship or job of your dreams, you’re taking classes, and you’ve got the rest of your life to manage as well — but do you have a laptop with the power to keep up with you?
Jun 11, 2014 While some students declared a strong preference, other see gray when it comes to picking a Mac or a PC. Lauren Jones says that both Macs and PCs serve a purpose in her laptop-life. “It depends on what I’m working on,” says Jones, a graduate of Pine Manor College.
As a business student, you’ve got plenty on your plate, and worrying if your laptop can manage everything you’re throwing at it shouldn’t be one of those concerns.
In this article, we’ll help you locate some business laptops that won’t have any trouble taking on your full speed day, and show you how to pick the right one.
Also read: Best Laptop With SSD (Solid State Drive)
Quick Summary
Got an iPhone, iPad, and don’t want to break the trend? Don’t worry — Apple MacBook Pro is perfect for getting down to business and has a sleek design both inside and out. Fast SSD storage and 128MB of eDRAM has you covered, and there’s even a touch bar for extra productivity.
If you’re more of a Windows fan, the Dell XPS 13 UHD InfinityEdge is one in a long series of great business model laptops and offers specs that can keep up with you while boasting a gorgeous display and modern ports like USB-C.
Can’t pick between just getting a better tablet and an entire laptop? The Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop doesn’t make you compromise, since it’s both in one. You can flip it 360 degrees, but you’ll probably need to look for an external hard drive to beef up the available space.
Do You Need a Business Laptop?
The laptops in this article are, of course, recommended for business students. However, the idea is that you’re getting a machine that will last you past college, your master’s, or night classes and well into the work days afterward. Therefore, the laptops listed here are great for students but are also ideal for other business professionals who are looking to upgrade or replace their existing laptop.
If you’re a regular consumer, a business laptop will definitely have plenty of power for your everyday internet needs, but you may not need all of the features it offers and could be equally satisfied with a cheaper model. On the other hand, a model with greater power is almost guaranteed to have a longer lifetime.
We would not advise purchasing a business laptop if you’re a creative professional or regular video gamer. These laptops don’t have the graphics power for such endeavors, and you’d need to look for more specialty models in order to better suit your needs.
Laptop for Business Students: What to Consider?
Portability
Getting down to business doesn’t just happen in an office or at your desk at home, which means portability is key to a great business laptop.
You’re going to want to look for smaller, 13” screens paired with light frames that aren’t going to give you back pain when you bring them with you from place to place.
Make sure your design isn’t too fragile either — while you can always get a protective case, it’s better to just have a laptop that’s built to last in the first place.
Battery Life
As both an MBA student and a business professional, you can’t expect an electrical outlet everywhere you go, and besides, you don’t want to worry about hunting one down when you have much more productive things to be doing.
Make sure to get a laptop with battery life that will last all day so that you’re never desperately seeing if your laptop can be connected to both the power cord and the projector’s HDMI adapter at your important presentation.
Performance
As a business student, you need performance, but in a different dimension than many other types of individuals.
While integrated graphics might be unworkable to a creative professional, they’re more than enough when you’re running QuickBooks or PowerPoint.
You’ll definitely want 8GB of RAM or more, and you should also look for a Windows 10 Professional edition operating system (or the latest macOS if you prefer Apple).
Best Laptop for Business Students: Our Picks in 2019
The laptops recommended below are picked mainly based on 1). the criteria listed above 2). our own using experience 3). reputation research we did from the Internet about what other business students have to say.
1. Apple MacBook Pro
Maybe you’re an avid Apple fan, and maybe you’re just interested in seeing how the system compares. Whatever your situation, the ageless MacBook Pro design and top-notch interior specs are sure to keep up with the rest of the competition, and can offer a degree of familiarity that will make work a breeze if macOS is the system you’re most comfortable with. Plus, you can always dual boot a copy of Windows if needed.
What We Like:
- The design has always been sleek and professional, while top-tier interior specs such as the 2.4Ghz i5 processor and up to 128MB of eDRAM offer amazing performance.
- 512GB of SSD storage will be blazing fast and should be plenty of space for all your files and programs.
What We Dislike:
- MacOS has some program limitations and you may need to find similar programs for your desired application, use a virtual machine software, or dual-boot Windows to run it as needed.
2. Dell XPS High Performance Laptop
The XPS line offers some of Dell’s best business work, and we’ve highlighted this model in particular for its affordability compared to the others, nearly borderless screen, and sound specifications that will meet the needs of most students. The sleek design even includes 3 USB-C thunderbolt plug, ready to take on the future one port at a time.
What We Like:
- Solid specs are sure to run just about anything you would need as a student.
- 16GB of RAM and a processor that can clock up to 4.0 Ghz will be plenty for most applications, and integrated graphics will cover everything in between.
- Has a webcam for any video conferences you may need to participate in.
What We Dislike:
- No optical drive for running DVDs (but this may not be an issue for most users).
- Comes with Windows 10 Home so you’ll need to upgrade to Pro.
3. Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop
Not sure if you’d rather a tablet or a laptop for your work? Luckily, you don’t have to decide with the Flex series from Lenovo. Shipping complete with Windows 10, a practical stylus for use with the bending screen, and a processor that includes an integrated graphics card.
What We Like:
- The convertible design is practical for many applications, and the frame even manages to fit a bulky HDMI port in without sacrificing the sleek and professional look of the laptop.
- Whether taking notes in class or a meeting or preparing a spreadsheet of data, you’ll be protected by a built-in fingerprint scanner and supported by 8GB of RAM on a 256GB SSD drive.
What We Dislike:
- No built-in optical drive for running CDs, small storage space will likely need the support of an external hard drive.
Useful Tips and Tricks
A lot goes into a day’s work, which can include traveling a lot of places. If you’re commuting regularly, you may want to invest in a special backpack for your laptop that includes anti-theft and impact-protection features.
These packs are designed to ease strain from the weight of your computer while keeping it safe and leaving plenty of space for your other materials like notebooks or electronic accessories. A good place to start looking is this classy model from Matein.
You’re also going to want to take care of your business laptop if you plan on making it last beyond college. There are a few ways to do this but one of the easiest is to keep things clean by taking a few minutes from your day every month or so to check up on your laptop.
Mac Or Pc For College 2018
While some basic advice is to take a microfiber cloth and wipe down your screen, there is a lot more you can do to keep things in mint condition. Check out these guides from CNET and Dummies to get more information on the most effective ways to keep your new computer clean, or watch this YouTube video:
Conclusion
Being a business student can be both exciting and daunting — as can looking for a laptop that’s ready to take on the world with you. Whether you’re planning Powerpoints, analyzing market data, or hosting a conference call, we know these models can keep up with you.
Mac Vs Pc For College Students
What laptop models have you enjoyed using for business that we missed? Leave a comment below and tell us about them!
Mac Or Pc For College Engineering
Influenced by the startup culture in the Silicon Valley, Jessica loves building things from zero to one and is keen on following news related to the Big Five tech giants and many SaaS startups.