What digital device for University?

This can be an overwhelming questions and there are a few things you need to consider.

What does my University support?

I really don’t want to write this an android fan. But Universities do not support Chromebooks. Much of the software, even on programmes away from high digital usage, will be limited. You might also have some connection issues with Eduroam (hint: do not validate a certificate fixes most problems now if it is too late for you). I have considered this move myself, or moving solely to a more powerful Android tablet, but it would just not work for what I need to do. Want to use a reference manager for your dissertation? Nope. Most do not work. Want to use MSFT Word? Nope. You will have a limited version or resort to using the browser based version. You should be safe though with either a MSFT Windows device, or a Apple OS device.

Can I just use a tablet?

Potentially. But you run the risk again of limitations in its functionality for some of the more academic software you might use. You might think this will never happen to me, but when you start building a bank of references or use course specific software you are at the mercy of the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, and both of there rules on how software can communicate.

Laptop or desktop?

I use both. I have multiple monitors and do some pretty RAM intensive work at times with video production for teaching, so need a desktop for a lot of this work. Also a little gamin sometimes when I am off the clock. If this is something you don’t do, then a laptop might be better. You can take this into University, and when you are at home you could always use a dock or a bundle to wires to connect external monitors, keyboards, mice etc.

Is that it?

Unfortunately not. Some laptops are becoming more like tablets with ‘PC’ operating systems. This means even some software meant for Windows will not work or you will have to use a lighter version. Such as the Surface Pro (which I used to recommend, but am more reserved about now). These are known as ARM or ‘computer on a chip’ devices. They still have a place, but just be aware that you will not be able to do everything you might want to.

What should I buy?

I stopped making recommendations a long time ago because the market changes so quickly. Think about where and when you are going to use it. If you are taking it to an older university without plug sockets everywhere you might want to look at the battery life; taking it on public transport might need a smaller screen to put in an inconspicuous backpack (or in a motorbike backpack, so I have a smaller laptop); if you are reading graphic design or programming you might want a more powerful gaming-type device; if you are going to hook it up to a dock and use a desktop and keep it closed most of the time at home avoid passive cooling and take a look where the vents are (looking at MacBook air here, my old one started to get very hot on the keyboard area when it was getting tot he end of its life).

One brand I do recommend is Anker. I have plenty of Anker products and they seem to last forever. I tend to buy though their Amazon store as they are cheaper. Do not trust cheaper charging cables. I have a nice hole in my carpet to prove this.

Remember that as soon as you get a University email address you will get some amazing discounts from a lot of major retailers. Samsung and Apple have some great discounts at different points of the year.

It might sound stupid, but if you really do not know what you are looking for, start here.

My set up

A gaming PC with 3 monitors at home as I use it to its potential. I write big documents, multitask, need multiple windows open at once, and create and edit videos for teaching. I might move to a curved ultrawide monitor one day, but this set up works for me now.

A work issue laptop that is small enough to fit in my motorbike backpack (I work in multiple campus sites, and the motorbike is more fun to get around).

A Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra which is my go-to for meetings as I use OneNote on it, and I also sometimes use Dex in a room with a USB-C connection and a cheap folding Bluetooth keyboard. I Can do a lot on it, but as I said before there are limitations to how much I can do in Word and some more intensive tasks.

I have a little bag of bits, including a cheap small mouse (and mouse mat as I can never find one and which desks do not work well with optical mice), a USB to HDMI and USB-A adaptor, some cables, and a folding charging plug. I don’t always carry my laptop charger but as it is a work laptop I can normally find one somewhere in the offices, or a docking station.