Task with a star: which laptop to buy for a schoolchild?

Today, schools not only offer students a variety of digital services, but even require their use. If a child studies at a school where special educational programs are used, then the number of services necessary for learning increases significantly.

At what age does a schoolchild really need a computer? Probably, first graders do not need it yet (but this is not certain). But already in middle school, a computer is as necessary for studying as a backpack, a pencil case, or a gym uniform.

The question of whether a child needs a computer or not is now different: which PC to choose?

Desktop or laptop?

Laptop. Simply because it is much more convenient and mobile. The latter circumstance will be especially important if your child attends not only school, but also additional classes or after-school care. The ability to use a computer not only in the school classroom, but also in art school or language courses, is invaluable.

In addition, it is not worth taking away from the student the opportunity to decide where exactly to do his homework. And it will be convenient for you to hand the laptop to the child and, for example, send him to grandparents, knowing that he will not be able to avoid doing his homework. On the train or in the car, in the park or on the beach - the whole family will appreciate the mobility of the device.

Like a desktop, a laptop can be used to organize a convenient workplace for a student at home, including a small-sized one. At the same time, you will get rid of a bunch of wires that are very interesting to pets (and younger brothers and sisters too).

Given the cost of the monitor, the laptop will be cheaper than the desktop, allowing you to study anywhere and with anyone. Even when the power goes out. And if you instill in children a careful attitude to nature, then you will have a reason to explain to them that the production and operation of a laptop leaves a smaller carbon footprint than a PC.

Of course, the laptop has disadvantages. It can be forgotten or even lost. But this is a reason to strongly instill in your child a sense of responsibility for actions and for their own property. The laptop is not so reliable, just remember the tea spilled on the keyboard. But this is another scare factor in favor of observing simple household rules.

Well, the technical shortcomings that can negatively affect the health of the child are quite surmountable.

Performance

The main characteristic of any laptop is its performance. It depends on two crucial components: the processor and the RAM.

A laptop is essential for a student to solve their tasks: working with texts, tables, and presentations, processing simple illustrations, and using a browser to access various information resources on the internet. For this, it is not necessary to buy a powerful and expensive laptop. A "typical" one for standard office work will suffice.

Today, these are laptops with 8 or 16 gigabytes of RAM and not the most powerful processor of the AMD Ryzen 3, Intel Core i3, or Intel N-series class. The latter would be an ideal choice as they are specifically designed for office tasks.

To store documents and materials on the laptop, a sufficiently capacious storage device is needed. A student will be quite satisfied with 256 GB of storage, which will accommodate software, documents, and graphics.

Screen

This is perhaps a critically important characteristic when it comes to a laptop for a student. A bad screen is the worst enemy of vision, especially for children. Therefore, this danger must be mitigated by all possible means.

First of all, the size. Compact laptops with a screen diagonal of 14 inches or less are not suitable. This is not only harmful to children's eyes but also not very convenient, especially for working with images. Large laptops, from 16 inches and above, are quite heavy, so they are also not suitable. The remaining options are devices with a screen diagonal of 15.6 inches. They are not too heavy, are suitable in size for children, and strain the eyes less.

Matrix is another important indicator. Today, the most optimal are IPS screens, which provide a wide viewing angle, excellent color reproduction, and high brightness and contrast. In addition, such matrices are equipped with high-quality backlighting, which allows you not to strain your eyes. The optimal resolution for comfortable work is 1920x1080 pixels.

Body

Another important indicator when we talk about a laptop for a schoolchild. This device will have to endure loads in any case. Therefore, it is worth choosing not plastic, but metal cases, ideally made of aluminum, which will allow the laptop to serve its young owner for a long time. But still, do not allow hitting the laptop with a hammer.

Here we also pay attention to the weight. Lightweight laptops are frankly expensive, their purchase will be unreasonable. You need to compromise. 1.5 – 1.7 kg is a quite comfortable weight for a device that lies in a school backpack. Some textbooks, by the way, weigh a little less.

Multimedia

Do not expect miracles from a school laptop in terms of sound quality or built-in camera. The main thing is that both the camera and the speakers are present. As well as a headphone jack.

Power

A laptop can work autonomously – this is its important advantage. And it is worth paying attention to how long its battery lasts. For a schoolchild, the minimum indicator will be 5 hours. In this case, on some days, you can leave the power supply at home.

By the way, the power supply is also an important factor. Kids lose small things – and there's nothing you can do about it. Therefore, the power supply should be easily replaceable. Ideally, with the most common USB Type C connector today.

Manufacturer

Today, there are many laptops from various manufacturers on store shelves: import substitution has stimulated the emergence of interesting options. Now it's not the buyer who runs after the brand, but the brand runs after the buyer: now fashion, brand promotion, and other marketing tricks are not as important to us as what's "under the hood".

And if the manufacturer has convinced the buyer of its "brandness", then its product will be taken without loud slogans against the background of epic music. "Brand" means its own production (and not just sticking labels), careful selection of components with their preliminary testing, clear warranty conditions, and a network of service centers with spare parts warehouses.

And is there a "brand" on sale at a reasonable price? Yes. It's worth looking at laptops from Russian manufacturers, for example, OSIO. The brand is new and still little known. But these computers are produced by a well-known company: Kazan-based ICL has been operating in the market for over 30 years and, in addition to production, is engaged in complex IT projects and software development. That is, it has more than enough competence in the field of computer hardware.

ICL has not just assembly, but full-scale production – a whole laptop factory in Innopolis. And there is a network of service centers in many cities, so in case of trouble, the device of an upset child will be quickly put in order.

In the ICL lineup, there are laptops that are close to ideal for a schoolchild. Take a look, for example, at the OSIO OSiO BaseLine B150i-001c model. Lightweight, productive, with a good matrix and a price that is humane to the family budget. You can even choose the color of the case. The girls will appreciate it! And in a couple of years, such a laptop can be replaced with something more fashionable, cool, or pink.

Family bonus

And yes, we have discussed the topic of a laptop for a schoolchild so well, but every schoolchild was once a preschooler... What is a laptop for a child under 7 years old? It's a video nanny (cartoons and games!), remote learning with a speech therapist and/or an English teacher, online classes with a physical therapy instructor. It's even telemedicine, when a "remote" pediatrician can examine the young patient from all sides, talk to him and his parents through the laptop screen. If you have the opportunity to develop your child's computer literacy before school, give him this head start. He will thank you later!

Beautiful ending

Scientists from ITMO University and Beijing Normal University conducted research and found that a high level of computerization and the spread of mobile technologies positively affects children's abilities in reading, mathematics, and natural sciences.

This is the best end of the article we could come up with, because what could be better than smart youth! And whether to take a laptop for a child or not is up to you.