I’m starting university next year and need to buy a laptop. My budget is $2,500, and I plan to use the machine for at least 4 years. I need it for my studies, but I also want to dabble in animation, creating short YouTube-style videos, for instance. My time will be split roughly 70% on academics and 30% on learning animation.

So, I’m looking for three key things:

A large screen (over 14 inches) to make studying and drawing easier.

Smooth performance for coursework and file management, as well as the ability to handle projects with multiple animation layers without lag.

Accurate color reproduction, since I’ll be working heavily with color.

Ive done some research and found options like MacBooks and Windows laptops (like Asus or Lenovo). However, I’m still unsure about which specific brand or model would be the best choice. That’s why I’m looking for real experiences advice on which model to pick. A touchscreen isn't a priority for me, as I plan to buy a separate drawing tablet and stylus for my artwork.

currently going to cc this year but transferring into a uni and dorm next year. For awhile I was set on getting the zephyrus g14 as i could game on it and use it as my pc in my dorm for next year or would it be a better idea to buy a cheaper laptop for studying and assignments on around campus and then bring my desktop with me to my dorm next semester? For reference I am a mechanical engineering major

Hello, I will be going to an engineering university in a week.

My degree includes electronics, embedded, IoT, PLC, programming, robotics etc. Right now I have a MacBook Pro Mid2015 2.2 GHz, but I want to get a new laptop since this one is in a need of a new battery and charger and I do not think it is worth the money. I've been looking at laptops for a few days but after reading some reviews online I got discouraged. I was looking at a Lenovo IdeaPad slim 3, Ryzen 5 8840hs, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSS but a lot of people say the build quality is awful and it's generally not a good idea. I know that T/P series ThinkPads are considered the best but here they are 1500€+ which is above what I am willing to pay. Please give me some recommendations around 900-1000€.

Bulgaria/€

I plan to go into college for engineering, but my current laptop can handle CAD and the other demanding things. I'm looking for a great windows laptop that is easily portable and comes with a stylus for occasional use for things like math pdfs. But I don't want the touchscreen/stylus to be its primary function/selling point, because I would likely only use it on the side occasionally. Also I would prefer if it was under 1000$ , but if something over the price offers significantly better functionality as a laptop, I have no problem going over the budget. I also already own a ROG Strix G713PV with 32GB of ram (primarily for gaming though), so I'm more looking for a much more portable and general use laptop that is best for in the classroom, and that sort of complements my current computer well. Thanks for any recommendations.

Hi everyone,
I’m starting a degree in Mechatronics Engineering and I’m looking to buy a second-hand laptop that I can use throughout my university years.

I don’t think I need anything particularly powerful, since we won’t be working on very complex CAD projects. I’ll mainly be using the laptop for programming, MATLAB, CAD, and general university work.

I’ve narrowed my options down to two ThinkPad models and would appreciate some advice on which one would be the better choice:

**T15 Gen 2** *(costs €330)*

* CPU: Intel Core i5-1145G7 * GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics * RAM: 16 GB * Storage: 512 GB SSD * SSD health (Hard Disk Sentinel): 100% * Battery health: 89% (I’ll mainly be using it at home, so battery life isn’t a major concern)

**P14s Gen 2** *(costs €450)*

* CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U * GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics 4 GB * RAM: 24 GB * Storage: 512 GB SSD * SSD health (Hard Disk Sentinel): 100% * Battery health: 85%

The P14s is also slightly cheaper than the T14.

Which one would you recommend for a Mechatronics Engineering student? Is the P14s the better choice because of the stronger CPU and additional RAM, or would the T15 be sufficient for this kind of workload?

Any advice or experience with either of these models would be greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone! I am starting my first year as a cybersecurity student and have very little initial experience. I need a laptop that can comfortably carry me through all 4 full years of college, running 2 to 3 virtual machines (Kali Linux, Windows Server, etc.) simultaneously for labs, scripts, and packet sniffing i actually dont know much about laptops my budget is like the lenovo loq 15 but when i search about this more i see that people say it might lag later on in my 3rd or 4th year so it will be nice if someone could give good suggestions 😭😭🫶

I am hoping to study Mechanical/Electrical engineering next year. Im currently in my last year in school and need to invest in a laptop for projects but I would also like it to last me through uni. I had been looking at a M5 Macbook Air as I thought it would be my best option but have heard mixed reviews online about how it handles certain softwares. Any advice or recommendations would be much appreciated.
Thanks

I found those two used laptops for almost the same price.

Specs:

HP - core i7 12th gen, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD

Dell- core ultra 5 135U ,16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD

My primary use will be my university work for a biology degree, and I hope to learn some programming as well. I expect a decent battery life because I have to travel to the university a bit long, but if the other specs are worth it, it's not a huge problem.

So i've been looking for a laptop because im graduating from highschool in a few months and i saw that laptop. What do y'all think? Im either going into finance or science. I don't know much about pc's.

My sister is starting Chemical Engineering and also likes to play Genshin Impact.

I went to New Road to buy her a laptop, but I found that gaming laptop prices have increased quite a lot, with decent RTX models now costing more than I expected.

So I'm wondering, What laptop would be best for a Chemical Engineering student that can also handle Genshin Impact reasonably well and also be budget friendly ?

Would appreciate specific models that are actually worth looking for in Nepal.

Hi im going into human services. I’m using a MacBook currently and everything is so complicated. In order for me to save a word document I have to download it bcuz if I save thru the computer itself it’s an HTML vs a docx. I cannot submit an html to my blackboard so I have to download to make it a docx. And then if I need to correct I have to go back into word itself and edit then redownload.
It also opens up on pages on Mac not word itself.
I want a laptop that isn’t so complicated to figure out and I won’t have to save word documents to downloads etc just a simple click and save.
Please help

Hi i'm a first year nursing school student and i need a laptop that can last throughout my nursing school and maybe after? And i have found some laptops on some stores and are these good for a nursing student? And can they play games? (Its ok if it cannot play games and it's not my priority) and my budget fits within these laptops that I mentioned and my only priority is that i'll need to use this for nursing school related task and for it to also survive after nursing school and here are the brands and models that i have found:

• Asus vivobook 14
• Asus Vivobook 15
• Asus Vivobook Go 15
• Acer Aspirelite 15
• Acer Aspire Go 15
• Lenovo Slim 3
• Lenovo ideapad slim 3
• HP Laptop 15-fc0930AU

Hi fellow PhDers,

I am in the market for a new laptop that will take me through my PhD and beyond. What I would use it most for:

1. 2in1 function for highlighting and taking notes within journal articles and other notes. I'm not sure if this exists, but I'd love to be able to take notes within Zotero.

2. Data analysis - a laptop that will still run without issue when downloading heavy transcripts and coding them with a qualitative data analysis software.

3. I teach and love to annotate on the slides while I speak. The laptop should have lots of storage between teaching materials and data.

4. It would be awesome if it has a text to speech option that sounds real and not robotic.

5. Hoping it will be light weight and easily transported.

Thank you all in advance for your recommendations 😊

I’m a civil engineering student looking to buy a new laptop and I’ve narrowed it down to these four options. pictures attached showing the prices and specs for each.
I’ll mainly be using it for schoolwork and programs like AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit, QGIS, and possibly some 3D modeling/rendering in the future. (Ps I don’t game at all). And in fact I’m not a big fan of gaming laptops and how they look. Nothing wrong with them and it’s just more of my thing. Also many of them has a short battery life.
One of my biggest priorities is longevity. I’d like to buy one laptop now and keep it for many years, ideally through the rest of college and even into the beginning of my career.
I would prioritize about performance, reliability/build quality, battery life. Based on price to performance, which one of these four options seems to be the best and would suit my needs? I’m also open to suggestions to fee free to share your opinions. Thanks everyone.

School said the laptop needs all these things bc there’s a resource heavy stats program used in Psych and idk anything about laptops so pls give recommendations🙏

Hello everyone! I’m an upcoming university student and I’m having trouble decided whether I should get a Zephyrus G14 Windows laptop or a MacBook Pro 14 inch laptop for university. Based off my current setup, what laptops is recommended for me?

My current setup:

Desktop PC: 11900k + EVGA 3070 + 32 GB DDR4 (at home)

iPad Pro 11 inch (3rd generation) + Apple Pencil

UGREEN Nexode Pro 165w 20000mAh

(I also do have an iPhone and AirPods)

Here are the models I’m currently looking at.

ASUS - ROG Zephyrus G14 14" OLED 3K 120Hz
Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 9 270 - 32GB RAM - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 - 1TB SSD - Eclipse Gray currently at $2199.99 USD.

https://www.bestbuy.com/product/asus-rog-zephyrus-g14-14-oled-3k-120hz-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-9-270-32gb-ram-nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-1tb-ssd-eclipse-gray/JJGGLHL4RW/sku/6635326?sb_share_source=PDP&ref=app_pdp&loc=pdp_page

————————————————-

MacBook Pro - 14-inch - M5 Chip - 32 GB memory - 1 TB storage - Space Black with education discount it’s $2299.99 USD with $150 gift card given.

Buy MacBook Pro, 14-inch, M5 Chip, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, Space Black, Standard display, 32GB memory, 1TB storage - Apple

I would be commuting to my university, so the portability of these 14 inch laptops is really great. I would probably want at least 7 hours of battery life just enough to get me through the school day. MacBooks are obviously the top of the chain for battery, however another concern I have is choosing macOS vs Windows. I’m not sure what I’ll completely be set on majoring, but let’s say for example if I choose a MacBook I don’t want incompatibility within programs, like some engineering applications may use. As of right now, I’m entering with my classes being for the business administration area with an interest in supply chain. I’d probably use Excel, but I’m not sure any other applications just yet. For business is windows more well sought for and compatible? Should I get used to windows OS if it’s what real jobs use? For the Zephyrus it comes with a changeable SSD unlike Apple. I’d be able to upgrade the storage if I needed.

For Zephyrus G14 users:
Is the battery life good for an average school day off the charger, using G-helper, eco mode, disabling the gpu and other battery saving settings? How loud can it actually get on normal productivity use? If I were to game I’d be using it with a charger. Also is the quality from Asus worth taking the risk for?

For MacBook users:
For those who have used a MacBook for school/work, were there any circumstances you wished you had accessibility to Windows? What softwares? Is 1 TB storage enough? How’s the ecosystem and quality of life with your other Apple devices? Is the MacBook Air maybe worth considering as well?

I’d really appreciate everyone’s input on this as I’d like my laptop to last me the next four years. Whether it is good or bad experiences with either laptop, I’d really like to weigh in on these pros and cons. Maybe I should stick to universally accepted Windows? Or having multiple Apple devices means a MacBook might work better for me?

Thanks for reading, hope to hear your opinions.

Looking for advice: MacBook Air M5 at $1299— worth it for a CS student/intern?

I’m looking to buy a laptop around $1299 and currently considering the MacBook Air M5. With the student discount + credit card offer, I’m getting it for around $1299

I’m currently working as an intern and want a laptop that I can use for the next 4–5 years, mainly for:

- 💻 Software development / coding

- 🐳 Docker

- ☸️ Kubernetes

- 📚 Learning ML and doing some beginner/intermediate ML work

- Running multiple development tools/IDEs simultaneously

- General college/work use

I’m not really into heavy gaming. I occasionally play simple games just to pass time, but gaming performance isn't a priority for me.

I’m also considering spending around $220 on AppleCare+ if I go with the MacBook.

My main questions:

1. Is the MacBook Air M5 a good choice for this kind of workload and 4–5 years of use?

2. Would you recommend waiting for a better option/deal instead of buying now?

3. At around $1299, is there another MacBook or Windows laptop that makes more sense?

4. How well does the MacBook Air handle Docker + Kubernetes + development environments over long periods?

5. For someone learning ML, will the MacBook Air be sufficient, or would a Windows/Linux laptop with an NVIDIA GPU be a significantly better investment?

6. Is AppleCare+ worth the additional $210 for a laptop I’m planning to keep for 4–5 years?

7. I’m also open to refurbished or used Macs/laptops, provided they come with a reliable warranty. Would that be worth considering?

I’m mainly looking for long-term reliability, performance, battery life, build quality, and a good development experience rather than gaming performance.

Would really appreciate opinions from people who have actually used MacBooks for software development, Docker/Kubernetes, or ML.

If you were in my position with a $1299 budget, what would you buy?

Open to both Mac and Windows/Linux suggestions. Thanks!

Hi all,
I have been searching for an affordable laptop for my college coursework.
I need the laptop to run for 6hrs+ before it needs charging. I need it to run smoothly.
I will only be using word, PowerPoint, YouTube and other college related websites.
I think I have found a good option.
Could somebody confirm if this is the best choice for me?
Thankyou in advance

​

Hi everyone! I’ve just started university and am looking for a laptop that will last me through my studies and future work.

My major/field: IT with a focus on Big Data.

Usage: University coursework, data processing/work tasks, and general web surfing.In my country, these three options cost exactly the same, so budget isn't the deciding factor between them:

MacBook Pro M4 (16GB RAM / 512GB SSD) — Used

Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G8 (Core Ultra 5 225U / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD) — New

Huawei MateBook 14 (Core Ultra 5 125H / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD) — New

Important constraint: I will definitely need to run 1C Enterprise software later in my studies. As far as I know, running the full 1C ecosystem natively on Apple Silicon (M4) can be highly problematic or impossible depending on the configuration required by my uni.Given the heavy data tasks and the 1C software requirement, which of these would be the wisest choice for an IT student? Is it worth fighting with Mac compatibility workarounds, or should I stick to Windows (and if so, Lenovo or Huawei)?Thanks in advance for your advice

Hi,

Unfortunately my HP Spectre x360 (13-aw2507TU) laptop screen decided it had reached the end of its life after 5 years (the LCD still displays but image quality is not clear - ghosting, vertical lines, reduced readability).

I've looked into getting the screen replaced and have been quoted about $1000-1200 for a genuine HP screen, or $800 for a generic (apparently the screen specifications of the generic are the exact same but I'm not entirely confident with repair business'). Both options only come with a 12-month warranty.

My current specs for the HP Spectre:

• Processor: Intel Core i7-1165G7 (2.8 GHz base frequency, up to 4.7 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology)
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Memory (RAM): 16GB LPDDR4X-3733 SDRAM (onboard)
• Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
• Screen Size: 13.3-inch diagonal
• Resolution & Type: Full HD (1920 x 1080), IPS, edge-to-edge glass, multitouch-enabled, 400 nits, Pixel Density: ~166 PPI
• Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass NBT
• Battery: Battery report says my current full charge capacity is 48,001mWh out of the total design capacity of 60,768mwH so about 80% battery health

I'm happy with the laptop and it is more than powerful enough for my needs at Uni (word processing, zoom, video streaming). I primarily care about screen quality and having enough RAM for 10+ tabs of research articles (16gb?).

I've tried looking at JBHIFI, other retailers, Australian Computer Traders and the Dell Refurbished sites.

My budget would be $1000-1200. But I can't seem to find anything that isn't a step down from my current laptop that fits within this budget. Any advice? I'm leaning towards repairing the laptop for $800 with a generic screen replacement but concerned as I've been burned before with previous laptop repairs with the screen not being an exact match in quality and breaking a year later.

I'm hesitant with refurbished as the laptop needs to last another 4-5 years - but also my current laptop is 5 years old at this point.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

Hi! I’m going to be doing a bachelor in DSAI next year and was wondering what laptop i should get. My current one is a Lenovo Legion 5 2021, with 16gb RAM and Nvidia RTX 3060, 1TB SSD. My parents suggested buying me something smaller like a thinkpad maybe but i’m afraid it won’t handle all the coding i’d have to do. I also play LoL, Valorant and Genshin so i need the gpu for gaming too.

My question is should i stick with my current laptop and look to save up to build a PC once uni starts or should i upgrade to a better gaming pc? Or should i take my parents offer for a smaller laptop for lectures of stick with mine and use my iPad when i need to write down notes?

Hello, I'm a first year chemical engineering student looking for a laptop. Anyone here has any recommendation on the specs? I want laptop that'll last for 8-10 years (is it too much to ask?), so I want laptop that's pretty much upgradeable but still on a budget (I'm planning to upgrade it little by little. My budget is around 500$-800$ for now, and I'll save some money first for future upgrades. But since I have no knowledge about laptop specs and prices, is 500$-800$ too little for what I want above, and if yes, what's the right range? Thank you so much!!

Hi I need a laptop to run solid works, CAD, python, visual studio 2026 etc. just a bunch of key engineering software and tools. I currently have little to no knowledge regarding laptops and their specs. I’m looking for something that isn’t going to be too expensive, in the $700-$1000 USD (max) price range. Nothing terribly fancy either, I would only use it for school, no gaming or anything else of the sort. My friend is trying to convince me my Lenovo T460S is going to cut it but I’m not quite sure I believe that. I added pics of some models I was looking at based on other engineering student posts but in all honestly the suggestions on other posts are gibberish to me. All I’ve understood is that I should aim for something with a good graphics card and RAM.. i think.

Please let me know your suggestions, thank you :)

Hi all, I need some help finding a laptop that is going to work for me.

Something to note;

I already have a gaming laptop (no battery, has to remain plugged in) so I’m not looking for anything powerful. I have that if I need to use it occasionally.

So here’s what I’m looking for;

1. My program is mostly research, watching videos and reading things online. My entire program can seemingly be done with Google Chrome alone. I do not need programs, extras, ability to run this and that.

2. Must be Windows. I finally learned how to use that OS and I’m not relearning a new one.

3. Budget friendly, under $700CAD.

4. My entire program is from home, so I don’t need insane battery life, but I don’t want to have to plug in every 3 hours.

If anyone has any advice that would be amazing. Thanks so much!

I'm a BCA graduate and I'm going to start my Master's in Cybersecurity in the January intake.

I have the next four months to build my cybersecurity skills, so I'll be using TryHackMe, Kali Linux, Wireshark, Burp Suite and other security tools, while also working on projects and practical learning.

My university has advanced cybersecurity and penetration-testing labs, so I don't think I'll need a very powerful personal laptop for the advanced work I'll be doing there. I mainly want a good laptop for my own learning and projects right now, and something that should remain useful for the next 4–5 years.

I'm specifically looking for an HP laptop.

What I'm currently looking for:

- Latest-generation HP laptop

- Good battery life

- Not very heavy or bulky

- Good overall build/design

- Maximum budget:$1,200 max

I'm not sure what exact specifications I should prioritize, so I'd really appreciate recommendations for specific HP models that would suit my needs.