As campuses begin to reopen, they should also be light and portable enough to be taken to and from classes to home, and back.īelow, ZDNet has compiled a selection of devices with these requirements in mind.
COVID-19 has posed a challenge for students and businesses alike, and when purchasing a new device, there is more to consider: The device must be suitable for everyday use, real-time video calls, and potentially resource-hungry programs - such as design or photography software. Hardcover books, photocopies, handwritten assignments, and full on-campus courses are now being replaced or supplemented with e-books, distance learning platforms, classes through Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and collaboration over mobile apps - all of which increases a student's reliance on laptops, smartphones, and tablets to work successfully both on campus and at home.Ī back-to-school laptop now needs to go beyond what we may have expected pre-pandemic. It's hard enough starting a college course, but now, students have an unusual set of challenges to face: Finding their way around campus, meeting new people, and getting stuck in with their courses all of this in the midst of a pandemic.