Hey everyone! Last week we asked the iMore community to give us their most pressing back-to-school tech questions. These are the questions we picked to answer! We’ve got a wide range of experts across the Mobile Nations family, so we’ve tapped all of our sites to weigh in on questions about phones, tablets, laptops, and everything in between.
Students have a hard enough time stressing out about classes. Let’s save them the hassle of figuring out which tools to invest in. Take a gander at our answers here, and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, drop a reply and our editors will pile in with their thoughts!
Sean N. asks:
What's your go-to recommendation now for a "My entire life is in this bag" backpack for a college student? In high school, my son was able to basically use his car as his locker and, as such, was able to carry a messenger with only a Chromebook, material for his next course, and lots of small must-have gadgets (ex.- slim batteries, cables, earbuds, etc.). He won't have a car at college, and he needs to be able to carry a 12" laptop, tablet, all his books, lunch, etc. I'm willing to spend on it, but I want it to have a top-notch design, plenty of separate pockets, good weight-balance, and get him through 4 years.
Ron A. asks:
Can having a smart speaker in the house actually be helpful to a student doing their homework?
Sherri B. asks:
Is there an advantage to having a tablet over a laptop? Is one a better option than the other for a student - or a teacher? I am a teacher, and our district is considering moving to Chromebooks for teachers - we've always had MacBooks in the past. Students are now 1:1 with Chromebooks, which, along with cost, is the reason given for the potential move for teacher machines. I love my Mac, and although I can see the cost-benefit to giving teachers Chromebooks, I am concerned about what I perceive to be a lesser machine. Could you speak to that? What would I need to know if we are forced to switch from MacBooks to Chromebooks? Would it be prudent to purchase my own MacBook (the school would allow me to use my own machine)? Would it be a good idea to suggest giving teachers the option for a tablet instead (they are open to our input)? If it matters, we currently have MacBook Airs; they are looking at Chromebook Pros. Administration mainly uses iPads, so teachers have considered asking for those since the district is looking to save money. What would be the advantages and disadvantages to an iPad vs a Chromebook Pro?
Richard C. asks:
What are some of the best "back to school" discounts and deals on laptops? I heard about Apple having a deal on Mac Books, but what about a Windows PC or Chromebook? What is my best bet a Mac, a PC or a Chromebook?
Alex T. asks:
What are the best mini fridges for college students that are good quality without breaking the bank so much? $150 or less