Deciding Between a Laptop and Desktop for Your Student – What to Consider
April 25, 2023
Enlightium Academy
April 25, 2023
Enlightium Academy
When your student sets out to pursue online education, one of the first questions that might come to your mind is: should I purchase them a laptop or desktop? It can be a tough call. After all, you want to make sure your student has the best tools at their disposal for success. We'll look at the pros and cons of each option so you can feel confident in making the right choice.
Laptops are lightweight and highly portable, which makes it easier for your student to work from anywhere with an internet connection. They also come with a range of features that make them ideal for studying online, like built-in webcams, microphones, and keyboards.
As we know, laptops are designed to be mobile, so if you decide to go on a family road trip or just work from a coffee shop, make sure that your laptop is fully charged and that you have a power cable ready. Otherwise, you may stress over battery life instead of focusing on courses. This portability can also mean that sometimes your student is offline, so you may need to invest in using a hotspot for Internet access or working offline for stretches at a time.
Laptops also have a single, often smaller screen, which can limit the tasks that your student is working on. If their lesson requires more than one tab open, the limited screen real estate can be problematic, although they can invest in a hub for multiple monitors.
Desktops have their own set of benefits when it comes to online learning. For starters, they tend to have more storage space than laptops, so if your student needs extra room for large files or documents, then this is definitely something to consider. Desktops also typically have higher performance capabilities in terms of processing speed and memory capacity. This means that your student will generally be able to access large datasets or applications faster on a desktop than on a laptop.
Desktops may have a longer lifespan, in part because they are built to be stationary. Additionally, desktops are often customizable so that when individual pieces stop working as well, they can be replaced.
Desktops are more challenging to transport, so wherever you set it up is likely where it will stay. This can make it difficult if your family plans to go on a vacation or your student just wants to spend the warm day outside working on schoolwork.
Whereas laptops tend to have microphones and webcams built into the computer, desktop computers may not. This means that in addition to the desktop computer, you may need to purchase a microphone, webcam, and other accessories.
Whether you choose a laptop or desktop depends mainly on what type of activities your student plans on doing while studying online. If mobility and portability are important, then go with a laptop; however, if budgeting is an issue, then sticking with a desktop might be more cost-effective in the long run. Ultimately, it's up to you as the parent to decide which computer best suits your student's needs based on their activity level and lifestyle choices!
Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.
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Don’t just take our word for it—listen to the stories of families who’ve chosen Enlightium and found success. Our community of over 5,000 online students speaks to the strength of our program and the profound impact it has on our students’ lives.
This was our first year with Enlightium Academy and I love it for my daughter! She has grown so much spiritually and academically! The weight of having to do it all has been lifted since I have 3 small children as well. We feel supported in our homeschool life!
This program is really focused on a good education for your kids.
The ability to adapt to our child’s learning challenges made for a smooth transition bringing joy that she is actually learning now and retaining the knowledge. We can not wait to tackle another year!
Love the curriculum. The teachers are wonderful and caring. Any technical issues are resolved almost immediately and the billing department has excellent customer service
This was our first year with Enlightium Academy and I love it for my daughter! She has grown so much spiritually and academically! The weight of having to do it all has been lifted since I have 3 small children as well. We feel supported in our homeschool life!
This program is really focused on a good education for your kids.
The ability to adapt to our child’s learning challenges made for a smooth transition bringing joy that she is actually learning now and retaining the knowledge. We can not wait to tackle another year!
Love the curriculum. The teachers are wonderful and caring. Any technical issues are resolved almost immediately and the billing department has excellent customer service
This education option has blessed our lives in so many ways. We will forever be grateful to Enlightium Academy.
Enlightium academy has helped me so much in the homeschooling of my son. They have worked with our scheduling and been there with answers to any questions we've had. They have made this a wonderful experience.
I love the curriculum given to my kids and the teachers are very helpful. My kids are making way better grades with this program then they did in public school.
Enlightium Academy ended up being everything I was looking for. It offers a good, flexible curriculum that truly accommodates my schedule without sacrificing learning. Most importantly, they teach the Bible in such an amazing way. It’s just perfect—I don’t regret being part of this school for a moment.
This education option has blessed our lives in so many ways. We will forever be grateful to Enlightium Academy.
Enlightium academy has helped me so much in the homeschooling of my son. They have worked with our scheduling and been there with answers to any questions we've had. They have made this a wonderful experience.
I love the curriculum given to my kids and the teachers are very helpful. My kids are making way better grades with this program then they did in public school.
Enlightium Academy ended up being everything I was looking for. It offers a good, flexible curriculum that truly accommodates my schedule without sacrificing learning. Most importantly, they teach the Bible in such an amazing way. It’s just perfect—I don’t regret being part of this school for a moment.