What laptop does your child use for Uni

[iwantavuvezela]

DD is currently finishing A Levels, and hoping to go to Uni after that. Her laptop that was bought at the start of Covid has reached the end of its life and I want to upgrade it for her birthday.
went to curry's to have a look today at the options - she quite liked the Samsung Galaxy Book3.

she is going to study a stem subject. (if that is relevant)

Any advice from those with children at Uni on what they really needed?

At the moment looking for something lightweight(ish); decent battery; storage; and of course affordable!

2 kids at uni. Both have MacBooks.

Lenovo X1 Carbon. Got a refurbished one so wasn't too expensive.

DD studied a STEM subject and her Macbook wasn't compatible with the university's software.

We aren't an Apple household anyway and don't understand the worship so many people have for their products.

I think she has an Asus. DH repairs laptops and rates them as well.

I think you can sometimes get special offers as a student to be?

DD Y1 of Uni, we bought an HP laptop when DD started Y9 (think that was summer 2018) and it is still going strong. I said when we got it that we expected it to get it through her GCSEs and A levels and we’d then most likely get a new one for Uni. She is adamant she doesn’t need a new one. She is doing an essay based degree though. Do check your current machine is defraged, you empty recycle bin, do general checks on it and it really keeps the life going in them.

Her maths friends seems to have tablets and her design friends have Macs.

My main advice is to make sure it is relatively compact for carting around between lectures and fitting in bags.

HP Pavilion here.
Do check though with the course/uni as some subjects ask for laptops with specific specs and as above, some specify no Apple products due to software incompatibility.

Check the relevant uni websites, they sometimes have advice on laptop specs. It is the specifications that matter, rather than brand/model.
I agree with poster who advised against Apple for a STEM subject, at least without checking with uni.
After paying for Microsoft Office when we bought one of my DS's a laptop for uni we discovered that he could download it using uni licence.
Just points to consider before commiting to spending a big sum.
And if you buy an expensive laptop advise DC to hide it when out of room or away, in order to hinder thieves! (speaking from experience).

Both kids doing STEM, Apple was recommended. But agree, check with course advice and current students

Thanks for the advice - will get DD to look at specs on Uni websites (that's a really good idea)
DD has access to Outlook now through her school, and I am sure she will get this as well with Uni (so we won't purchase that yet - I work for a Uni and we have special licences for students to use software)
Its interesting to hear that Apple is not generally favoured for STEm (I think DD might even have said this herself)
She likes the idea of the flip down screen of the Galaxy and that you can use the pen as well.

Crucially you need to know which operating system is compatible with any software she'll need... whether she needs windows, Mac or a Chromebook.

My ds uses an iPad with a Logitech keyboard/case - I presumed he’d need to upgrade to a laptop but he says it’s fine

Not always great for STEM.
Computer modelling programmes were often not compatible. Really made those tough for my 2 ds

DD rejects any attempt to upgrade her now 5-year old Microsoft surface Pro and keyboard. It got her through GCSEs and IB, and she loves using the pen. Says it’s fine (STEM) and doesn’t want to be lugging around a heavy laptop.

I got her an Anker power bank to counter the not-so-great battery life… she’s now apparently the go-to for friends needing to charge phones, earbuds, mi-fi and other assorted devices 😂

Wait until they've got a uni email so they can access student discounts.

Ironically my STEM DC has an 8 year old laptop from about year 9, which just about copes as much of the work is via the uni portal.

One has one with a touchscreen for taking notes but it's crap so they have an iPad to use at uni to take notes etc.

My son has this one as he wanted one he could use for uni work and gaming. He’s very happy with it.

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/msi-cyborg-15-15.6-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i7-rtx-4060-512-gb-ssd-10246640.html

Our son needed an Apple laptop AND a Windows laptop (HP)! He did a degree mixed between the Maths and the Business departments (Financial Maths), and each had their own specifications. He went with an Apple Laptop which he used most of the time. He could have used either for most of the modules, but, from memory, one module required Apple and another module required Windows (different departments). He had the option of using university computers in the library, but it was the covid year, so the library was booking only and very limited, so he got himself an HP Laptop to do the module that he needed a windows laptop for (I think it involved computer programming). Not helpful and very costly, but needs must! I'd advise the OP to check with the university, and also when choosing modules, to check compatibility requirements for each module, especially if done via a different department.

About 90% of the students I teach use iPad pros in lectures. They may have laptops too but I've never seen them.

Dd used a MacBook Air and iMac computer throughout university. She sometimes took her iPad mini to lectures rather than the MacBook.

We have Apple products mainly and there was nothing at university (or school) that she couldn't use/run on them. None of her course modules had any specific requirements.

Only the MacBook was specifically bought for university.we already had the others.

I've just bought an Asus laptop from Argos, it's exactly the same spec as ds HP one but was on offer reduced from £599 at Christmas to £479, latest i7 processor, 8GB Ram. Ds has bought his ready for university in September. The difference in price meant I could buy Microsoft Office & McAfee & still save money.

Apple. Scientist and non scientists.

DC1 (Geography) uses a touch screen HP lap top that folds back on itself while DC2 (languages) uses a large iPad with a detachable keyboard.

Ds is doing engineering. Uni recommended avoiding Mac Book as they would not be able to load software. He has a decent spec laptop for the software and studying.

he also has a tablet and pen for note taking. Just easier than a laptop when it is maths/drawings and symbols, easier to organise and carry around instead of notepads and folders. Not everyone has one, perhaps 50%, but he really rates it.

I teach in a STEM related field and would recommend steering clear of MacBooks for the reasons already stated. However, some students do manage with them regardless and compatibility is getting better. There are uni Windows computers they can use if they get stuck.