Nowadays, computer literacy is not just an option, it is a necessity. Whether your kids are just starting school or preparing to take the SATs, a reliable laptop is essential. Luckily, there are plenty of options available that suit all budgets.
ContentsWhich operating system is the best?1. Microsoft Surface Go2. Acer Aspire 53. Asus VivoBook L203MA4. Macbook AirConclusionWhen it comes to laptops, there are three main operating systems:Windows, macOS, and Chrome OS. Which choice is best for your child depends on a number of factors. For example, if your child has an iPhone and everything in your house is part of the Apple ecosystem, it probably makes sense to go with an Apple laptop. That being said, if the laptop is going to be used primarily for school, it might be a good idea to contact your child's school to see what they recommend. Finally, you can also consult with your child to see what type of software they plan to run, as this may dictate the operating system you choose.
The Microsoft Surface Go is a 2-in-1 device that offers great flexibility for students. Combined with the keyboard cover, the Surface Go can be used like a traditional Windows laptop. However, the real draw here is the high-resolution "PixelSense" display. This 10-inch display comes with 10-point multi-touch capability and Surface Pen functionality. Surface Pen lets users take notes, doodle, and annotate on virtually anything, including web pages.
Under the hood, the Aspire 5 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U processor with 4GB of DDR4 RAM. That kind of power means the Aspire 5 will be able to handle most tasks your kids throw at it. Additionally, the Aspire 5 sports a respectable 128GB SSD. This gives your child the flexibility to store all of their files on the laptop without having to lug around external storage.
Weighing in at an ultra-light 2.2 pounds (1 kg) and measuring just 0.7 inches (1.78 cm), the Asus VivoBook L203MA combines portability and affordability in one attractive package. The VivoBook is equipped with a power-efficient Intel Celeron N4000 processor to ensure it can go the distance. Moreover, it also has 4GB of RAM which means it can handle multitasking well. Unfortunately, it only has 64GB of built-in storage, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem if your child mainly deals with small files like Word documents.
The Asus VivoBook is about the size of an A4 sheet of paper. This allows even the youngest students to get by without a problem. Also, at the time of this writing, the Vivobook L203MA can only be had for $210, making it a bargain.
The Macbook Air is the most expensive model on this list, coming in at around $1,000. That being said, if you're looking for a laptop that can handle just about any task and can grow with your child's needs, look no further. The new Macbook Air features an improved Retina display, Touch ID and a USB-C port for faster transfer and charging speeds.
The Macbook Air packs an Intel i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, making it a versatile device. Although it only has a 128GB SSD, it should be enough storage space for most school-related tasks. As its name suggests, the Macbook Air is very thin and super light, weighing only 1.25 kg (2.75 pounds). This makes it one of the most backpack-friendly machines on this list.
There are many laptops available that market themselves to children and students. Many of these machines champion both portability and affordability. However, they are not all created equal. Which laptops do you think are best for kids? Let us know in the comments!
