So you’ve considering getting a brand new laptop. One which hopefully runs faster than your parent’s ever would and it feels great to use.
Soon, too soon, it will be a buzzing wreck that will take 5 minutes to boot and will cut off while you’re half way through an essay. But there are ways to make sure your laptop will survive the next three years, and who knows, maybe even beyond.
Here are some tips on how to not only protect your computer for that much longer, but also make it easier to use and so less likely to be found in pieces outside your window.
1. Choose the right laptop
There are so many laptops available today, from really cheap Chromebooks to super expensive Apple Mac’s. Reliable companies include Apple, Acer and Asus – just to name a few of the leading brands on the market.
If you have the money we would recommend going for an Apple MacBook Air, it’s fast, modern, light and will last a long time. For cheaper options consider a laptop from Acer – usually a fraction of the price of Apple, and really reliable too.
Some companies like Apple offer student discounts, whilst special offers are available throughout the year on sites like Amazon.
2. Get a good warranty
If you already have a laptop this could be more complicated but for those still to buy a three year warranty really is money well spent. Something will go wrong and having some coverage means you’ll be without a laptop for a week rather than without it until your student loan comes in.
3. Less is more: declutter your desktop and hard drive
Part of this is because of the above, but just generally being online and going through reading lists, articles and the like means you will end up with a huge download folder and various files cluttered around your computer. To make sure it’s just a neatness issue, defragment your hard drive every so often (only takes an hour or too) and delete what you can pretty much as soon as you download it.
4. If you have to torrent, get an anti-virus
I would like to underline this ten times and write it in red ink. Obviously I do not condone this but I know that people will download things illegally and nothing will mess with computer more than utorrent, emule, limewire and the like.
Be careful. Everything will be fine then you’ll download that one slightly dodgy file and your computer will suddenly not respond to anything.
Or all the small problems will add up and your computer will be sluggish and only usable with monk-like patience. Get a good anti-virus, AVG or Avast are free and while not perfect, perfectly functional given the price, and scan regularly. And if it looks suspicious, don’t download.
5. Take care of your battery: charge when you need to, not when you can
This is something I wish I had told myself three years ago. Now my laptop will only run when its plugged in and the slightest movement means the cable will disconnect and I lose everything. Moment your battery is charged to the max disconnect, don’t leave your laptop plugged in for hours and even take the battery out and only run on your cable.
6. Get a proper bag
Best way to end up with a blank screen when you press the power button is to lug your laptop around with you at the slightest provocation. Only take it if you really need to, when you know you will use it and when you can’t do whatever it is you’re going to do on your uni’s computer cluster. Get a bag that has padding and fits your laptop. I’d even say don’t take it to your lectures but I know that typed up notes can be a life line.
7. Store, save and always expect disaster
Some times there’s nothing you can do to prevent your computer crashing than being prepared for it. Google docs is a great for when you need to keep your documents safe and portable, just write them up on it then transfer to Word later, it can save major headaches, but otherwise having an external hard drive with all those vital files saved you can type that much safer.
8. Get a password and lock your computer when you’re gone
Small one but can be important. There are some nasty people out there who will mess with your computer if given half the chance. Sometimes, most of the time, these people are ‘friends’ but it can be that one hacker looking for a laugh. Best to be safe get your computer password protected and log off when you’re done.
9. Get Gmail and keep your university email as a spam filter
Two reasons for this. Firstly, you’re going to want to be emailing a lot and the one thing you need to be careful about are viruses and spyware and gmail’s spamblock is the best around.
Your university account will feel like it hasn’t been updated since the 90s and will soon be full of offers for ‘free! music! gigs!’. So embrace the fact that your university email is a spam email, give it away freely when signing up to societies and the like and keep gmail as your standard semi-professional address. Less viruses, less hassle.
Secondly, more likely than not your university email will not be as multifunctional as you’d like it. I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve lost an email because my university account decided to reload the page and so delete everything. Gmail your email first, forward them to university email and then send to tutors etc. Simples!
Hopefully our guide has given you some inspiration for the ways to make the most of your laptop as a student. This guide is really important too as you’ll need your laptop to potentially study online, write essays, research, apply for online jobs or just use it to relax and socialise so make sure you make the right choice.