When it comes to a teaching career, any teacher or professor will tell you that a laptop is your best friend. It can either make or break your career. The good news is that depending on your requirements, you may find more than one computer that meets your exact needs. So, how do you determine which one fits your unique style of lecturing? Well, regardless of which courses you teach, we have zeroed in on the top 5 best options worth pondering on.
Contents
| Laptop Model | Weight | Storage | Screen Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Air | 6.4 lbs | 512 GB | 15.3 inches | |
| Toshiba HD Tecra | 5.95 lbs | 256 GB | 15.6 inches | |
| HP Spectre x360-13t | 5.65 lbs | 512 GB | 15.6 inches | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro | 7.72 lbs | 1 TB | 17.3 inches | |
| HP Flagship Laptop | 5.27 lbs | 256 GB | 15.6 inches |
1. Apple MQD32LL/A 13” MacBook Air
Apple designed this MacBook Air with convenience and comfort in mind in order to meet the needs of teachers and professors. Although it might be too pricey for newbie teachers, it offers a good-value pack for anyone looking to scale-up their career.
One of the features that make this PC suitable for professors is its long battery life. Apparently, on a single charge, it can last up to 12 hours with moderate to heavy usage. As such, you can work unplugged from morning to evening which means you can focus on being more productive.
As far as performance is concerned, the PC packs an i5 processor from Intel which is further backed by an Intel HD Graphics 6000 card. Therefore, you will not likely notice any lag while running multiple programs at the same time. Thanks to its 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 128GB of SSD storage, the machine starts up fast and remains responsive at all times.
At only 2.96 pounds and with a 0.68-inch ultra-thin design, you can easily carry it in your backpack to anywhere and use it on-the-go. In addition, it is fitted with a full-size keyboard that offers a comfortable and the natural typing experience. Best of all, the keyboard is backlit for ease of typing in poorly lit conditions.
As if that’s not enough, the MacBook Air employs a multi-touch trackpad that makes everything on the computer more intuitive. Basically, the trackpad allows for smooth gesture responses when scrolling a web page or swiping from one app to another.
What’s more? It comes fitted with two USB 3.0 ports that you can use to connect all your USB 2 and latest USB 3 devices. And that’s not all. The PC also boasts a Thunderbolt 2 port that is 2X faster compared to the previous Thunderbolt versions. That’s the kind of assurance you need when seeking to transfer data at lightning fast speeds. For wireless connections, this laptop features 802.11ac driver that delivers an expanded WiFi range and faster speeds.
Pros
- Ultra-thin and lightweight design
- LED backlit screen display that offers vibrant visuals
- Smooth performing OS
- Spacious and responsive multi-touch trackpad
- Powerful connectivity options
- Ultra-fast SSD storage
Cons
- Lacks SD card reader
- A little expensive
2. Toshiba 15.6” HD Tecra A50 Laptop
Coming from Toshiba brand this time around, this PC is an excellent machine for teachers or professors who value speed and performance. It is powered by an i7-7500U 7th Generation Intel Core processor coupled with 16GB of DDR4 memory. The processor is considered to be lightning fast especially when it comes to multitasking.
In addition to that, it packs 256GB of SSD that provides a decent amount of storage space for all your media files and personal data too. This type of storage also allows faster data access and start-up times.
In terms of connectivity options, the PC has nearly every port that a teacher might need including one HDMI port, two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports. Therefore, if you like copying files from one device to another, you will have the advantage of faster transfer speeds.
Also included is a media reader, headphone/microphone combo, 802.11ac WiFi, and Bluetooth. Built-in speakers also come in handy that deliver great audio sound. And just to let you know, there is a DVD reader in case you are a fan of that.
To top it all up, it comes equipped with a full-size keyboard featuring a highly responsive multi-touch touchpad. On top of that, the computer has a fingerprint reader as well as a security lock slot to help you secure your data.
Pros
- Backlight HD display
- Utilizes Intel HD graphics 620 for blazing performance
- Fast and easy to setup
- Includes all the essential ports
- Decent amount of storage space
Cons
- A little bit heavy
3. HP Spectre x360-13t
HP is a well-trusted brand known for its high-quality products in the laptop industry and the HP Spectre x360-13t is one of their masterpieces. Featuring a 13.3-inch diagonal micro-edge display, it boats an extraordinarily thin and sleek design for ease of portability.
If you love touchscreen computers, this is a nice option to consider. It is fitted with a WLED-backlit touchscreen that is not only intuitive but also responsive. An Active stylus pen also comes in handy with the purchase for effortless natural writing or note-taking.
Powered by the newest i7-8550U 8th Gen Intel Core processor clocked at 1.8GHz speed, the PC holds nothing back when it comes to performance. Under the hood, it packs 512GB of SSD internal storage along with 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM. Consequently, the PC can handle multi-tasking effortlessly.
Also worth mentioning is that the HP Spectre x360-13t is equipped with two Thunderbolt 3.0 ports that allow for fast data transfer up to 40 GB/s. Similarly, it includes one USB 3.1 Gen 1 port so you can charge other devices even while it’s in sleep mode, 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.2.
More importantly, it boasts a long battery life that provides a full day of work. Apparently, the battery can last up to 16 hours and charges fast so you can work uninterruptedly. Last but not least, the PC has built-in quad Band and Olufsen speakers designed to deliver incredible entertainment experience.
Pros
- IR camera and a fingerprint reader for secure login
- 2-in-1 design for added convenience
- One year manufacturer’s warranty for all parts
- Multi-touch gesture imagepad
- Great build quality
Cons
- The touchpad is too wide
- The fan is noticeably loud
4. Microsoft Surface Pro
This is yet another great laptop for teachers and professors alike. The Microsoft device is known for being light in weight and amazingly portable. With the ability to be used in various modes including tablet and studio, the Surface Pro is one of Microsoft’s versatile PCs. Besides, it packs a PixelSense display that supports both Surface pen and touch.
Thanks to its powerful i5 7th Generation Intel Core processor, the PC delivers more speed and performance while ensuring smooth workflow. In addition, it packs 256GB of storage coupled with 8GB of memory. The storage is ample enough to let you store all your personal data, install more programs and still remain with extra free space.
Beyond that, it boasts a long-lasting battery life that provides up to 13.5 hours of continuous video playback before requiring a recharge. This allows you to work from virtually anywhere and do so much while on the move.
What is more, the Microsoft Surface Pro is compatible with Bluetooth wireless 4.1 and 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi technology. As such, you can enjoy both faster and stronger connections on the go. When it comes to ports, it only has one USB 3.0 port that makes data transfer from one device to another an effortless task.
Moving on, the PC is designed to support surface arc mouse that connects via Bluetooth for smooth performance. The mouse is both light and slim so it can conform to your hand as well as fit easily in your backpack.
Pros
- The processor delivers exceptional power and reliable performance
- Provides complete mobile productivity
- Allows secured and password-free login
- Amazing battery life
- Fast and ample storage
Cons
- Requires you to buy several extra pieces of gear to maximize its performance like Surface Pen
- A limited number of ports
5. HP 15.6” Flagship Laptop
The 2018 Newest HP 15.6” Flagship is evidence that the best PC for teachers does not necessarily have to be expensive. With an i5-8250U 8th Gen Quad-core processor, the machine is a workhorse that delivers stunning processing power for every task.
Another feature that makes the PC an excellent choice for all kinds of teachers is its ample storage capacity designed to accommodate all your teaching related files. As it turns out, it features 2TB HDD and 128GB SSD of storage space. The HDD storage allows you to store your data offline while the SSD provides fast access to all your files.
Additionally, it is integrated with multiple ports and slots that support data transfer from one computer to another at fast rates. These include two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, one USB 2.0, one HDMI port as well as a media reader. On top of that, it is compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11 ac WiFi.
More so, the computer incorporates a full-sized keyboard with backlit technology and a numeric keypad for the most comfortable typing experience. Its display is also backlit with a responsive touchscreen function.
At 4.52 pounds, the machine is neither lightweight nor heavy. However, thanks to its 0.94-inch thin profile, it still makes for an excellent portable machine.
Pros
- Stereo speakers deliver HD audio
- Can be upgraded for superior performance
- High-quality Intel graphics for running heavy applications with ease
- Relatively cheap
- Large storage capacity in separate hard drives
Cons
- Its two USB 3.1 only support data transfer
Final Thoughts
With so many factors to consider when looking for the best laptop for teachers, you might be overwhelmed by the many options available. So, if you are on a tight budget or just starting out your teaching career, the 2018 Newest HP 15.6” Flagship is one of the best choices on the market. However, if money is not an issue, the HP Spectre x360 offers better performance thanks to its fast and powerful processor.
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