With the ever growing reliance on technology, a good laptop is absolutely essential for college success. A malfunctioning laptop can make it difficult to complete assignments, take notes, or study for exams. Reduce your laptop-related stress by ensuring that you choose the right computer for your college career. Here are a few of our tips to help you choose a computer for college!

Consider your Needs

The “right” right computer for your college will depend a great deal on your particular classes and majors. For example, a student of graphic design will require a more powerful laptop than an English student. When you need to use particular software for your major, you might have to purchase a computer that has more RAM, a good graphics card, and a high-end processor.

Size

The size of your laptop will have a huge impact on the convenience and functionality of your computer. Most college students tend to opt for screen sizes that are around 13 inches. These laptops usually fit easily into a backpack without having a screen that is too small for easy use. A screen that is larger than 15 inches may not be able to fit into a back. It is also important to consider the weight of the laptop. When you have a heavy laptop, it will be much more difficult to haul it around campus all day. Consider whether you will be able to carry the laptop around all day when you decide on a computer for college.

Ability for Third-Party Applications

Sometimes, your college will require you to have a third-party application installed for a particular class. Some computers may only allow you to install applications that are available on their particular store. Ensure that your laptop has the ability to install third-party applications to ensure that your computer will be able to meet all of your college needs.

Check the College’s Requirements

Some colleges may prefer a specific platform. Though the debate between a Mac and PC is ongoing, the college may only offer tech support services for one or the other. Check with the college to learn about their requirements and the kind of laptop that you should be searching for.

School Suggestions

Your college will likely have a great deal more information about your technological requirements than you do. Many colleges will list their suggestions for laptops that will meet all of your college needs. Check on these suggestions to help guide you through the process of choosing the right computer to meet your needs.

Battery Life

How long do you need your laptop’s battery to last between charges? This is another important thing to consider when choosing a computer for college. Keep in mind, however, that many schools are including charging ports in classrooms and various other locations, so that you can keep your laptop running during class. You will want to look into this before you spend more money on a longer battery life.

Hybrids

Hybrids may be a great decision for your college computer. They are convenient and able to be used in many different situations. However, when you decide to purchase a hybrid, you will want to ensure that the cost of the keyboard is included. A keyboard will be an absolute necessity for college and you don’t want to be stuck paying more money than you originally intended to ensure that you can make optimal use of your hybrid.

Warranty Coverage

College students are often at a budget. When this is the case, it can be difficult to come up with funds for laptop repairs when an issue arises. Check if the laptop will be covered under a warranty when you are looking for a college computer. This will help to provide you with peace of mind and confidence that you will be able to use your laptop as needed for your classes.

These are a few things to consider when you are choosing a computer for college. The right computer can make a substantial difference to the quality of your college experience. Our experts at Crossaction Computers can help to ensure that you find the right computer to meet all of your needs. For help choosing a computer for your college requirements, contact us at Crossaction Computers today!

When you are looking for the right tablet or laptop to meet your specific needs, you may want to consider the purchase of a laptop/tablet hybrid. However, it is important to understand both the pros and cons that come with the purchase of laptop/tablet hybrids. If you are unsure regarding the best type of computer to meet your needs, you will want to work with our team at Crossaction Computers for guidance. Our experts can help you to determine the right computer for all of your requirements, as well as provide you with the right computer care services to keep your computer in great condition.

What are Laptop/Tablet Hybrids?

Laptop/tablet hybrids are machines that take improvements from both laptops and tablets to create a new machine that provides different advantages than either computer type can provide on their own. These hybrids tend to come with many advantages, though there are a few disadvantages that can occur when you choose laptop/tablet hybrids.

Pros of Hybrids

There are many pros available when you work with a hybrid. If you need a computer that will enable you to work on the go, you may benefit substantially from investing in laptop/tablet hybrids. Here are a few of the advantages that come along with this computer type.

Detachable Keyboards

Hybrids tend to have detachable keyboards. This provides you with the ability to both work from the touch screen or with a keyboard. Detachable keyboards often provide many benefits, because they make the machine more versatile and allow you to choose the way in which you want to use it. However, it is important to keep in mind that some covers may not be made to accommodate the keyboard, so you may need to purchase an additional cover to protect your hybrid.

Power

Tablets tend to have limited capabilities, especially when it comes to the power that they can provide. Hybrids are intended to bridge the gap between the portability of a tablet and the power of a laptop. If you need more power than your tablet can provide, you may want to consider the purchase of a hybrid.

Accessory Options

Hybrids tend to come with a wide array of accessory options. For example, it is usually easier to obtain external USB ports and other accessories to improve the capability of your hybrid. This can be useful in ensuring that you can put the hybrid to use in more ways.

Multipurpose and Versatile

Hybrids are extremely versatile. This enables them to be used to meet a wide array of demands that tablets or laptops alone will likely be unable to meet. This versatile functionality and multipurpose function can be both incredibly efficient and convenient.

Bigger Screens

Tablets tend to come with limited screen sizes. Hybrids, however, have the capacity to host a much larger screen. In addition to this, these screens tend to come with much better resolution, which improves the picture that you can get from your hybrid.

Cons of Hybrids

While there are a great many advantages to laptop/tablet hybrids, it is important to note that there are still some disadvantages that you may experience. Understanding both sides will often enable you to make the best decision to meet all of your specific needs.

Bulkier

Hybrids tend to be bulkier than many other options for your portable computers. They tend to be thicker and heavier than both tablets and laptops. This can make it inconvenient to carry around, though it will still be more portable than many other options.

Can Be Pricy

Hybrids take the best of both worlds by combining the advantages of laptops and tablets. Due to this, you can likely expect to pay more to gain all of these advantages. If you’re looking for the cheapest option available, a hybrid may not be the best way to go.

If you need to work on the go, you may benefit greatly from the purchase of a hybrid. This will help to increase your convenience, without limiting you to the amount of power that a tablet can provide. These are just a few of the pros and cons of laptop/tablet hybrids. To learn more about how to choose the ideal machine to meet all of your specific requirements, contact us at Crossaction Computers today!

Security awareness training is an essential part of protecting your business. When you work with multiple employees, you tend to lose a great deal of control over the security processes of your company. By ensuring that your employees are aware of the right security steps to take, you will be able to help ensure that your data and sensitive information is protected. Outsourcing your IT management can prevent the possibility of problems. Whether you are outsourcing this or not, it is still important to ensure that your employees are thoroughly trained in the best ways to protect your critical data.

Email Scams

Ensure that your employees are aware of email scams. Train them to not open emails from unknown sources, as well as to not click on any suspicious links. Email security is essential for any business, so it is important to ensure that your employees are aware of how to safely use their email.

Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are commonly involved in email scams. It is important to ensure that your employees are aware of the signs of phishing attacks to prevent them from falling victim to them. Phishing attacks are extremely common ways that malicious sources try to attack your business.

Malware

Malware is another common way that malicious sources try to infiltrate your business. Basic security awareness training should teach your employees about malware that can impact their life. You also need to ensure that you keep antivirus software operating on your computers and ensure that you keep this software up to date. Antivirus software is incredibly important in protecting your computers from potential problems.

Password Security

Teach your employees about the importance of strong, unique passwords. This will help to prevent significant problems. When they use generic, easy to guess passwords, it is more likely that someone will be able to obtain access to sensitive information. Encourage them to use strong, unique passwords. It is also important to teach them about various methods for protecting their passwords and ensuring they remain secure.

Removable Media

Removable media is an additional way in which issues can arise with your security. Ensure that your employees know to never plug an unknown removable media source into computers. This can allow viruses and malware to bypass your antivirus software. If they find unknown removable media sources around the area, they need to take them to the IT department for scanning, rather than plugging them into any computers in the office.

Safe Internet Habits

The internet is an incredibly useful tool for a business. However, it is also a way in which issues can make their way into your security system. Improper internet use can lead to data breaches and other substantial problems. Teach your employees to only visit safe, trusted sites on the internet. This will help to prevent security breaches and ensure that your employees are searching the internet in safe ways.

Physical Security

Physical security is another important component of protecting your business. It can be beneficial to teach your employees to be aware of intruders in the office. You should also ensure that they follow safe practices to improve the security of your business.

Clean Desk Policy

A clean desk policy is an incredibly useful addition to your office. When you leave sticky notes containing your passwords or other files scattered on your desk, it is more likely that an intruder or malicious party will be able to obtain access to these files. By asking your employees to keep their desks as clean and organized as possible, you can provide additional protection to your data.

Data Management

You likely have a great deal of sensitive data in your company. It is important to ensure that your employees are aware of various data protection strategies that can help to keep your data secured. There are many steps that you can take to help provide great data protection for the data of your business. It is also important to thoroughly manage your data in order to identify breaches if they arise in your company.

Our experienced team at Crossaction Computers can help to provide you with the best data protection and antivirus strategies for your technology. This often aids in reducing problems that can otherwise arise with your company. To learn more about the basics of security awareness training, contact us at Crossaction Computers today!