Make sure to check the minimum PC requirements for your program of study.
Intel doesn’t make life easier by having several types of processors with multiple speeds and capabilities within those types. Simply stated, you want at least a quad‐core processor, meaning newer i5 and i7 processors. The four‐digit number that is often listed after the i5 or i7 gives you an idea what generation the chip is, how fast it is compared against others of its class, and other performance info. In general, the higher the number, the better. Intel’s latest i5, i7, and i9 processors are into the ninth generation (9000‐series) now and come with eight cores of processing power. For more on Intel’s processors, see its site. If you’re looking in the lower price ranges, you may also encounter Windows‐based laptops with Intel’s i3 (dual core processors) or AMD’s Ryzen™ and Athlon™ processors, which can be a tad cheaper.
Graphics chipsets are even more cryptic than computer processors. As with most things, they scale features and performance with price. A more powerful chipset will obviously process graphic info faster and at higher frame rates, but the truth is, unless you’re majoring in something like art, design, film, engineering, architecture, or game development, you won’t need to spend too much time worrying over graphic chipsets. In most cases, you won’t find a computer with a speedy CPU paired with an anemic GPU anyway. Rule of thumb: if it has an nVidia GeForce or AMD Radeon Pro chipset, it’s typically better than a standard Intel built‐in graphics chipset.
Today, most computers use a solid‐state drive (SSD), which is like a higher‐storage, built‐in flash drive. In theory, it better protects, and accesses stored data because it has no moving parts, like SATA hard disk drives do. Computers with SSDs boot faster, run cooler and quieter, and are simply superior in durability and performance. The tradeoff is that SSDs cost more and therefore tend to have smaller capacities than their older SATA hard drive cousins. In an age of cloud computing (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.), more of us store our data in the cloud, so more info is offloaded from your local computer to remote storage, which makes a smaller SSD less of an issue. That noted, you may need to lean larger if you’re doing film editing, CAD work, or something similar that demands managing huge data files.
It’s nice to have an Ethernet port for connecting by cable to a wired computer network if Wi‐Fi is spotty. Several USB ports are helpful if you’re connecting to a flash drive and a number of wired peripherals such as a separate keyboard, an old printer, or a wired mouse. USB‐C is the dominant format of USB now, but having an older USB‐ A port or two is nice for backward compatibility.
What’s no longer essential is a CD‐ROM, DVD‐ROM, or Blu‐Ray optical drive, since they’ve given way to Wi‐Fi and streaming over fast networks. That said, check with your course departments at the college you’ll attend to ensure no one is demanding you use an optical drive for anything. You may still find them useful, and are often included on laptops. It should not rule out a laptop if it does not have one.
Most students don’t use a second monitor when on campus, but if you’re an online student who is working most often from a home office, having a second monitor attached to your laptop with its existing screen is easier on the eyes and gives more display space to manage windows. This is especially helpful if you want to take notes on one screen and watch an online class in another.
Of course, you’ll need a webcam for interacting online, but almost all laptop computers today have one. Also, you may need to pay more attention to graphics chipsets since webinars and online video will become a way of life. A better graphic chipset will ensure smoother video playback and no skipped frames right as your prof is divulging the secrets of the universe.
Notes: The hardware requirements listed above are general recommendations for most courses. Some requirements may vary – check your course syllabi for special hardware or software requirements. Lower versions of some software may continue to work but reduced functions or compatibility with other software.
Chromebooks – sold under a number of different manufacturers and sometimes called Chrome Laptops are not recommended. These computers are for running web‐based applications only. Some classes may require specialized or locally installed software that will be incompatible with Chromebooks. The Canvas LMS does support Chromebooks in general, but some class related activities may not.
* Reliable High‐Speed Internet access is required for all online course and many supplemental tools for face to face courses. Dial‐up access is not adequate for many applications. Cellular hot‐spots are acceptable depending on type and connection speed – consult your data plan for possible costs.
** Some application functions and services may not be compatible with all mobile devices.
Browser: Firefox (Latest), or Chrome (latest), Edge (Windows 10), Safari 12+. Canvas Browser Compatibility Page. Some applications such as Navigate do NOT support Edge or Safari. Firefox and /or Chrome are strongly recommended.
Microsoft Office 365 (available from the VCCS for Students) *Google Docs is supported but does require extra steps.
Due to all the infected files with worms and computer virus on the Internet, we encourage students to run antivirus software. It is important that you make sure you run updates on a regular basis to prevent viruses from infecting your computer.
Students, faculty, and staff can now download a Microsoft AntiVirus security product for use on their personal computers at no cost from Microsoft.
Home / Handy Tips / Laptop Buying Guide
Buying a laptop can be a confusing and time-consuming undertaking. With so many devices available on the market, you’re spoilt for choice, and it can be hard to work out what’s important versus what’s a gimmicky extra.
We know how hard it can be to filter through the fluff to get to what you really want to know when buying a laptop, so we’ve put together our best top 10 list of considerations, to help you hit the market more prepared.
The number one consideration for most new laptop buyers is budget, and getting the best bang for your buck. You may want a top end gaming machine, but with a hefty price tag in the many-thousands, that may not be feasible. Working out your budget for buying a laptop is a great start, so that you know where to start looking.
Laptops generally come in three budget related tiers:
Just behind budget in importance is what operating system (OS) you want for your new laptop. The top three most popular OS on the market right now are:
If a Chromebook isn’t what you’re looking for, but you’re stuck weighing up the differences between Windows vs Mac, check out our comparison blogs:
Laptops are designed to be highly portable, but the balance against this is screen size. If portability is more important, then laptops with a smaller screen size and thin, lightweight design will be more attractive. These types of laptops are often marketed as Ultrabooks, have a screen size between 12 – 13.3 inches, and weigh less than 1.5kg.
When you’re looking at your laptop screen for hours on end, you’ll understand why screen quality and resolution is so important. Full HD screens have a pixel size of 1920 x 1080p, and are great for video, graphics and gaming, not to mention general quality of image viewing.
If you aren’t sure if you need a full HD screen, the best option is to head into your local computer store and check them out in person. Tech specs don’t always give a clear idea of the actual user experience.
How long your battery will last is typically front of mind for most new laptop buyers, especially if you’re using your computer on the go between the office, home and out and about. How long the battery will last is, unfortunately, often quite different to what it says on the box, and impacted by variables like:
Rather than look at the number of hours the manufacturer quotes, review the battery rating watt-hours (Wh) or milliamp-hours (mAh). The bigger the number, the longer the battery will last.
RAM (Random Access Memory) is key to computer performance, especially if you do lots of multitasking on your laptop – such as simultaneously editing photos, writing documents, creating spreadsheets, web browsing and video streaming. It’s how much system memory your laptop comes with, out of the box, and is often expandable.
The more RAM you have, the faster your laptop will be able to access data, and the more applications you can run smoothly at any one time. These days, 8GB of RAM is the minimum that you should buy a new laptop with. If you use lots of power-hungry software, look for 16GB or more, to ensure all your applications run without issue.
Think of the CPU (central processing unit) as the heart of your laptop. CPU’s are manufactured by two main chipmakers – Intel (core i5, i7, i9) and AMD (Ryzen) – and what’s best for you will come down to whether you’re trying to maximise speed or value, as well as what you’re using your laptop for.
You’ll find Core i5 in the majority of mid-range laptops, and i7 and i9’s in the higher-end laptops. While Core i7 and i9 CPUS offer the best performance, laptops with these CPUs can generate a lot of heat from the bottom of the device. Keep this in mind if you plan to use your laptop, well, on your lap.
Not sure what CPU is best for you? Check out the Best CPUs for 2021 from our friends at PC Mag Australia, to help you make the choice.
When buying a laptop, not only will you need to consider the amount of storage it comes with, but also the type of storage. Gone are the days of heavy, large hard disk drives, with solid-state drives much more common now. This helps keep laptops light-weight, faster and quieter. Solid state drives come in sizes from 128GB – 1TB.
Not sure if you’re looking for a laptop with a solid-state drive or a hard drive, or what the difference really is? Check out our blog Hard Disk Drive vs Solid State Drive: What’s the Difference?
When you have a laptop, you have peripherals to plug in – mouse, keyboard, portable hard drive, phone chargers – so the number and type of ports available is important. Common types of laptop ports include:
It’s not uncommon to have more peripherals than ports to plug in via, and for many peripheral devices to have different ports to what you can accommodate. You can purchase a range of adaptors to make up for this.
A hub is also a good way to turn one laptop USB port into 4 or 6, so there are ways to make up for only getting one or two USB ports on your new laptop. Ideally, you’ll want at least one USB 3.0 port, at minimum.
Brand is our final consideration factor in our laptop buying guide, and you have plenty to choose from. Mac OS is only available on Apple branded laptops while Windows OS is featured by a plethora of laptop brands – HP, Toshiba, Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, Dell, Huawei, and, of course, Microsoft’s range of Surface laptops.
Brand is an important consideration, from the point of view of aesthetics and build quality. The best way to get a feel for what brand is best is to do your research, read reviews, and check out the different brands available in store. Much will come down to personal preference, but doing your homework on what brands are more reliable, better quality, and likely to last longer, will save you money in the long run.
Buying a laptop doesn’t need to be hard work, when you have the experts on hand to give you the advice and service you need. Here at Computer Cures, computers are our business. We have the inside knowledge and experience to advise you on what laptop is best for your needs, as well as how to setup and maintain it, so that you get your money’s worth. Don’t take a gamble with your next laptop purchase – call the experts so you make the right decision.
The team at Computer Cures are laptop experts, with the knowledge you need to help ensure your next laptop purchase is the very best one you can make. Give us a call on 1300 553 166 or fill out our contact form; we’re here to help.
1300 553 166or fill in our online enquiry form today to set up an appointment with a local laptop technician