Primary and secondary schools may already be back in action, but the new college students are only getting to grips with reading lists and student travel passes.
So what should you be looking for to help smooth your first few months in higher education?
Laptops
Not all that long ago companies were proclaiming the death of the laptop, in favour of mobile devices and increasingly larger smartphones.
But as Covid demonstrated, there is still a need for notebooks. Tablets are fine for short bursts of productivity – unless you want to pay another chunk of money for a high-end keyboard – but for writing essays or assignments, buying a laptop for college will be an investment that should last throughout your course, and hopefully for a year or two after it ends.
So what should you be looking for? There are some things to consider. First is the size of the device. Most people will do fine with a 13-inch laptop, which is suitable for word processing, web browsing, image editing and so on. If your college course is design heavy, you should probably look at a bigger display, 15 or 16 inches, or possibly a second monitor to give you space to spread your work out.
The processor – the brains of the computer – is an important choice, although it will depend on what you want to use your system for. Intel still puts out decent chips, but former second place rival AMD is now a serious contender for your money with its Ryzen chips. Don’t get hung up on core count, though; clock speed on the chip is an important factor too.
For word processing and web browsing, the Ryzen 3 series or Intel Core i3 will fit the bill; video editing, design work and other more demanding tasks are better suited to the Ryzen 7 or Core i7 chips with fast clock speeds.
The processor is just one element; the amount of RAM in your system is also important if you want a laptop that won’t stutter at the first sign of a heavy workload. Most people will do fine with 8GB, but heavier workloads – video editing, photo editing, gaming – will require more RAM.
A decent amount of space on the computer’s drive is also needed, but not for storing your own files; rather, it will allow you to install software packages on your device. Storage can be supplemented with cloud storage, but that is only useful as long as you have access to those cloud services; in other words, as long as you have internet access. Aim for 512GB as a good middle ground if possible.
There are other considerations too. Design-focused courses such as animation, computer aided design, or architecture may require a powerful graphics card to run certain software.
Another major decision will be choosing your operating system. The main contenders are Windows, MacOS and ChromeOS, although there are open source operating systems too. While Apple’s MacBooks have become increasingly popular in recent years, they are still outnumbered by devices running rival Microsoft’s Windows operating system. The current version is Windows 11, and given it was only launched in 2021, it is likely to be supported for another few years yet. You can choose between the Home and the Pro versions; the latter is more expensive and may include features that aren’t strictly necessary.
MacOS may not have the same numbers as Windows, which currently commands around 72 per cent of the market globally, according to figures from Statista, but it has some advantages. For example, if you are already using Apple devices, the tightly integrated ecosystem means your information can be easily shared across them all. Contacts and files will appear on your iPhone and MacBook, you can copy something on your iPhone and paste it on your MacBook.
For those with more run of the mill requirements – word processing, web browsing, no specialist software – Chromebooks could be a good choice. Relatively inexpensive and easy to use, the devices get automatic security updates in the background so your laptop will always have up-to-date protections.
However, they aren’t always suitable for all types of work. If you need specific software that is only available on certain operating systems, or need extra power for more demanding tasks, best to look elsewhere.
Smartphones
Artificial intelligence is still looming. If you want a phone that will work with the latest AI software tools, you have a few options. For iPhone users, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are the only current devices that will support Apple Intelligence whenever it hits European shores. That will be superceded by the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro, but the current models will have the necessary chip to support the technology.
Apple Intelligence will make Siri smarter, help users manage their inbox, edit photos and videos, or refine messages and documents. For broader searches, ChatGPT will be available.
How soon we will get these features in Ireland though is still up for debate. Apple has already ruled out a 2024 launch date for Apple Intelligence in the EU, thanks to security concerns over the Digital Markets Act.
Not all companies are taking this tack though. Google’s new Pixel smartphones, the Pixel 9 series, have the company’s latest Gemini machine learning models and chatbots integrated into the system. That means you can have a conversation with Gemini Live about a tricky college research topic, ask the chatbot to draft an email in a specific tone or summarise a document for you to use as a starting point, or create some original artwork to illustrate a project.
Samsung is also introducing AI to its flagship Galaxy S24 devices. Based on Google’s AI tools, Galaxy AI includes smart transcription, which will come in handy for lectures, AI powered notes that you can search easily, and live translations that will help out your language skills. If you can’t stretch to the new devices though, Samsung is bringing Galaxy AI to older devices, including last year’s S23 phones.
Power
Battery technology and hardware has improved a lot over the past few years. It wasn’t too long ago that you would have been lucky to get a few hours out of your laptop; now, it is possible to get most of a working day from your device before you finally have to plug back in. Devices vary, however, and it also depends on exactly what you are asking.
But if you do need a little back up power, it is best to be prepared. There is a good chance that you have more than one device that needs to be charged throughout the day, and having flexible power options can make your day run a bit more smoothly.
The Acefast 218W Gan Desktop Charger allows you to charge four devices at once – three USB C and one USB A – with customisable power modes that include 100W, 65W and 30W USB C charging options, and 18W USB A port. At the touch of a button, you can change the power configuration, so you can have two devices on 100W, for example.
If you will be away from a power outlet for a while, you could invest in a decent portable power bank. The Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus is a graphene 25000mAh battery that is capable of powering your laptop for a few hours, with a 100W USB C power delivery port alongside 60W and 20W USB C ports, and a USB A port capable of delivering up to 50W.
On the front, it has a wireless charger that works with iPhones and Android devices, and a smaller wireless charger for the Apple Watch.
Bluetooth tags
Bluetooth tags and trackers have got some bad press, but they do have their legitimate uses. You can attach them to keys, pop them in your bag or stick them in your wallet. If you lose the item in question and you are out of bluetooth range, you simply open up the accompanying app on your smartphone, mark your item as lost and wait for someone else on the same device network to come close enough to ping its location back to you.
For Apple users, there are Apple Tags, which will give you a way to keep track of your bags, keys and other belongings directly from your Apple devices. Where it excels is in the Find My network, which includes iPhones, iPads and any other device that has been signed in. That’s a lot of devices that could potentially help you locate yours when needed.
Tile and Chipolo are platform neutral, offering tags and cards that can work with both Apple and Google’s smart devices. Tile has its own network to help locate lost items remotely; Chipolo offers the Spot for Apple Find My users, and the Point to tap into Google.
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