Students must be fully prepared before the academic year kicks off. Textbooks, notebooks, pencils – all these are essential, indubitably. However, while they can be bought at any time, purchasing one thing can’t wait for long. Of all items students should have, a laptop is the most important to enter the year successfully.
Students are very reliant on devices these days. Other than studying online, they use laptops and other gadgets to complete home assignments and work remotely. That’s why it is pivotal to have PCs and laptops to perform the mentioned tasks.
Since there are dozens of available brands on the market, it might be hard to decide which one is the best for students. Those who study engineering are likely to look for different operating systems than those who major in design. Be that as it may, it is critical to know about major systems and their features. Experts from WritingCheap have pointed out the primary operating systems for college students who major in different disciplines.
Best OS For College Students
ChromeOS
Windows 10
Windows 10 is the newest OS created by Microsoft. It encompasses the most outstanding features from the seventh and eighth versions. Windows 10 is a prevalent OS; it is pre-installed on most new laptops and personal computers. If you are looking for a balanced device at a reasonable price, Windows 10 is your go-to.
First and foremost, it has an updated design that works twice as fast compared to previous versions. Users can also quickly switch between desktop and tablet interfaces, making Windows laptops user-friendly and smooth-running. Windows 10 also allows you to pin programs to the taskbar and access them with just one click.
Apart from that, students can benefit from Cortana – a new virtual assistant. It performs tasks like updating a calendar, setting reminders, and answering questions by using search engines. Cortana has already proved useful, helping students do thorough research and be up to date with their assignments.
Academia heavily relies on diverse home tasks. Students get various home assignments depending on their classes. Some may primarily deal with presentations, while others exercise essay writing. Whatever the tasks are, students must complete them using unique apps.
Luckily, Windows users shouldn’t worry about such programs because they are installed in Windows 10 automatically. Whether you build a presentation, write an essay, or solve a statistical problem, Windows 10 has all the apps that allow you to perform these actions.
Finally, Windows 10 is the best OS for those who like spending their pastime playing video games. Every major game is available on Windows, so there is simply no other option than to choose Windows.
macOS
Apple is a gigantic and leading corporation in the industry. The company has lines of products, from watches to computers. macOS has long been competing with Windows. Both systems are very different and have unique elements.
macOS offers its users Sidecar – a feature allowing people to use their iPad as a second screen and thus working on several tasks at a time. Apple claims this improves users’ productivity and effectiveness.
Another thing students might find helpful is cloud storage. Academic life requires having access to various files from anywhere. iCloud lets users do that in the blink of an eye. You can reach your paper or project without losing any progress.
macOS has a list of exclusive apps that are often free to use and are better than their Windows counterparts. They work perfectly fine. The problem is, whatever you create, it might not be compatible with Windows devices. Plus, another downside of macOS is its price. MacBooks are a lot more expensive than Windows laptops.
Linux
Windows 10 and macOS are ready-to-use systems and don’t need user’s additional interfering. With Linux, though, it’s different.
Linux is an operating system known for its simplicity and efficiency. But it isn’t for everyone. The thing is, Linux is fully customizable, meaning you can modify everything and tailor the entire system to your needs. Yes, you will have to do some work and play around the command line. But believe it or not, it is worth time and effort.
Typically, no device goes on Linux these days, which means you will have to upload it on your flash drive and install it manually. But you won’t regret it because the system is free from viruses, fast, and visually appealing.
ChromeOS
ChromeOS is based on Linux. But unlike the latter, this operating system is closed and relies on the Chrome browser. The OS works impressively on Chrome; it performs tasks swiftly. You can open multiple tabs and reach them with no delays.
Aside from that, the system pairs well with Android devices and allows users to unlock laptops and perform various actions by using smartphones.
Among other things, ChromeOS stands out with the following aspects:
- Low weight and excellent battery life: Chromebooks are typically very light and have good batteries that can work ten and more hours.
- Practical and simple apps: Chrome provides users with alternative apps, like Google Docs, Sheets, and Presentations.
- Compact: Chromebooks are small and can fit into compact backpacks.
With all that said, Chromebooks can’t fully replace other mentioned systems. The main problem lies behind their hardware. Laptops based on ChromeOS aren’t powerful enough to perform tasks. Even if some have solid hardware – like Google Pixelbook – they are too expensive.
So which one to choose?
Selecting the laptop is a process everyone has to approach carefully and meticulously. First off, you should evaluate your academic needs and the tasks you do regularly. Second, remember to set the budget in advance.
So, for example, suppose you study English and Literature and mainly deal with essay writing. In that case, Windows, Linux, or ChromeOS laptops could be your best options.
If you study IT, Programming, or Computer Science and primarily work on coding tasks, Windows or Linux devices are the best fit. MacOS might also be an option, but remember that Apple devices are more expensive than the mentioned ones. And if we had to choose between them and a Macbook, we would opt for Windows or Linux and save a good deal of money.
Macbooks come in handy when studying design and related disciplines. Devices based on macOS have good graphics cards that can perform demanding tasks.
Now, as you’ve gotten familiar with all the systems and their advantages, we hope you find the device that best suits your needs. Good luck!
