Smart students know that for laptops, tablets, printers and smart phones, Harvey Norman is top of the class.
Its tech experts know that what you need for college depends on the course you plan to take.
“For subjects such as engineering or design you will need a higher spec machine than if you are studying languages or nursing, for example,” points out Sanjay Satheesan, the retailer’s laptop and tablet specialist.
“Programmes like AutoCAD or Microsoft Illustrator need high spec machines, with much faster processing speeds,” he says. No matter your course, Harvey Norman’s instore specialists or live chat teams can offer help and advice on the right products for you.
Tips for laptops
Look for the latest innovations. Laptops traditionally used hard disk drive (HDD) storage devices, disks that rotated inside the machines. New laptops use solid state drives (SSD) which are faster and more robust.
You get instant boot up, rapid file access and near silent operation. An SDD doesn’t need a battery-draining internal fan to cool it, which extends battery life too.
Today high spec laptops offer ‘whole day’ battery life, of 14 to 16 hours. “It means you don’t have to carry a charger around with you, which means less weight in your back pack,” says Satheesan.
Buying the right machine at the outset means you won’t have to replace it next year. “Remember, a college course lasts three or four years so you really want to future-proof your technology,” he advises.
A MacBook Pro with 13-inch screen and 256 GB SSD, costs €1,419. For courses that require mostly word processing, and internet-based research, a Cloudbook or Chromebook, which cost from €300 to €400, is just the ticket.
Nowadays we store documents online, using apps such as Google Drive or Apple’s iCloud, so the storage capacity of a device is less important than it used to be.
Instead, “Focus on likely usage scenarios,” advises Satheesan.
These days you can get tablets that are very powerful
“If you are travelling long distances to college each day by bus or train, something lightweight with a longer battery life is going to be more important to you than if you are living on campus.”
In some cases a tablet device, such as an Apple iPad or a Samsung Galaxy Tab, is ideal.
“These days you can get tablets that are very powerful and which have screens of up to 12.9 inches, much like a computer, plus a stylus you can make notes with,” says Satheesan.
Choosing a lightweight device for when you’re on the move and keeping a monitor and other peripherals, such as a keyboard and mouse, to use with it at home makes sense, especially now, with the uncertainties of the pandemic and the rise in home study.
Prices start at €169 for an Acer 23.8 inch full HD monitor while, for collaborative work, a Microsoft Modern USB Headset, with Teams-enabled controls, is a great option at €60.
Right-priced printing
Students likely to do a lot of printing can save money with the right printer.
Although entry level machines can cost as little as €39, that isn’t always the best value option.
“The cost of printers is very much hidden in the cost of the ink cartridges,” explains Warren Beakey, mobile phone and printer expert at Harvey Norman. With cheaper printers the ink cartridges can cost almost as much as the machine, and can dry up quickly.
By contrast a modern ink-tank printer enables you buy much cheaper bottles of ink and simply refill the machine yourself.
Each bottle starts from €15 and a full set can generate between 8,000 and 16,000 pages. Over time, it will save you 90 per cent on ink costs and is better for the environment too, he points out.
The Epson T-2711 Eco Tank Inkjet Wireless Printer can print, scan and copy wirelessly. It uses a tank filling system and costs €219. “Spend a little more now to save money in the long run,” he advises.
Smart choice for phones
A smart phone is a must have for any student heading off to college and Harvey Norman has the biggest range of SIM free smart phones in the country.
The cost of printers is very much hidden in the cost of the ink cartridges
“Typically, a phone shop will spread the cost of a smart phone by tying you into a lengthy and expensive contract,” explains Beakey. This might get you the phone you want, but not the best deal for your calls, texts and data.
With a SIM free phone you get to buy the phone you want and are free to shop around to find the best network deal. “You then just pop the SIM card into your phone, saving you money,” explains Beakey.
Smart phone prices at Harvey Norman start at €89 for a Samsung A02. The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, which opens up to become a tablet, starts at €1,899, currently available to pre order with a free stylus pen.
“It’s the cream of the crop of mobile phones,” he explains.
Right price tech
Affordability is key consideration in any purchase, which is why Harvey Norman offers Tech Credit.
The finance facility allows you buy all technology products, with no deposit required, spreading the cost, plus interest, over 12, 24 or 36 months.
It can be a particularly good alternative to tying yourself into a smart phone contract, says Beakey: “With Tech Credit you get that same affordability of spreading the cost of your smart phone, but without being limited to any one network, which can save you money.”
That’s good because no matter what you’re doing in college, saving money is one subject all students have to master.
Find out more about how Harvey Norman can kit you out for college - harveynorman.ie