You’ve made the smart choice of studying for a master’s in supply chain management, and as you move on to this next step of your career and phase of your life, you’ll want to make sure that you have the right tools to succeed. A good laptop is a crucial investment for any supply chain management student.
The good news is that for what you’re studying, you don’t have to spend big money to get the best school laptop – but there are certain considerations that you will need to keep in mind as you shop. Good laptops for school tend to offer a combination of good performance, usable features, and portability for the price.
if you’re shopping for a new laptop as you start your master’s degree, here are some of the best to choose from that are ideal for both grad students and professionals.
ASUS VivoBook S410
Coming with a speedy 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 14” full HD display and lightweight design at an affordable price, the ASUS VivoBook S410 is the top choice for many graduate students. The 14-inch screen is perfect for clearly seeing your notes, projects, and essays without any additional weight or bulk, and the latest 8th-gen processor is more than enough for browsing, word processing, streaming, gaming and more.
Other notable features include 8GB Ram and a 1B hybrid HDD. There’s a UB 3.1 Type-C connection along with USB 2.0 and 3.0, plus headphone and HDMI port.
Pros:
- A slim, lightweight 14-inch screen
- Latest 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor
- Various connection options
Cons:
- The speakers aren’t the best
- Some find the battery life to be average
- The charger could be sturdier
Acer Aspire 5
This affordable, entry-level laptop offers a lot of performance and features for the price of just over $300. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual-Core processor, 4GB DDR4 memory, and a 128GB SSD. The 15.6” full HD IPS display is the perfect size for various school-related tasks including watching online lectures, taking notes and writing assignments. Plus, it’s large enough to use for leisure whether you enjoy browsing social media, streaming videos or playing games. Connectivity is great with a USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, two USB 2.0 ports, and an HDMI port. The backlit keyboard is a popular feature.
Pros:
- Stock 128GB SSD means lots of storage space
- Several connectivity options
- Backlit keyboard
Cons:
- Not as much RAM as some competing laptops
- Removing the back panel can be tough
- The processor isn’t the fastest
Acer Aspire E5
If you like the features of the above Acer Aspire 5 and want to get a laptop that takes this further, the Acer Aspire E5 is a reasonably priced all-rounder that gets the job done without any frills. The price tag of just under $600 makes it an ideal option if you’re on a budget but want to get your hands on the best features such as an 8th-Gen Intel Core i5 processor, a generous 15.6” screen, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD for plenty of storage. Those looking for more processing power have the option to upgrade to the Core i7 processor, which is ideal if you plan to use your laptop for other things outside of school like watching movies, streaming content or gaming.
It comes with the latest Windows 10 OS and you get a generous 15 hours of battery life each charge. There is a backlit keyboard and full HD resolution. When it comes to connectivity, there are several ports including USB 3.1 Type-C, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.
Pros:
- Generous battery time of up to 15 hours per charge
- Comes with several connectivity options
- Backlit keyboard
- Option to upgrade the processor
Cons:
- Basic, no-frills styling (not a con for everyone)
- Slightly heavier than other similar laptops
- Doesn’t have a touchscreen
Dell Inspiron 13 5000
This laptop is one of the most popular amongst supply chain management students thanks to the 8th-Gen Intel i5-8250U quad-core processor and reasonable price tag at just over $600. It’s a great all-rounder and can be used in four different ways. You can use it as a traditional laptop when taking notes or writing a paper, then flip it to a tent or stand mode for tasks like web browsing or watching movies. The 13.3” inch FHD display keeps the laptop light and portable while providing ample space for viewing. The backlit touch display provides wide viewing angles for an optimal viewing experience. In terms of specs, it comes with 8GB RAM which can be expanded up to 16GB, a 256GB SSD, 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1 along with 2.4 and 5GHz support.
Pros:
- Huge 256GB SSD
- Compact size
- Can be used in several different modes
Cons:
- A little heavy for its size
- Some users complain of excessive fan noise
HP Spectre x360
Despite its compact size, the HP Spectre x360 is a two-in-one laptop that stands out for its awesome power, performance, and innovation. The 13” display keeps the laptop light and portable enough for students without compromising on the viewing experience. And whether you’re listening to an online lecture or watching movies after class, you can enjoy premium sound quality delivered by the Bang and Olufsen quad speakers. Click here to learn more about online supply chain management master’s programs from Kettering University that you can study for using this laptop.
The laptop can be used in four different modes and comes complete with a digital pen that’s great for easy note-taking. When it comes to specs, there’s an 8th-Gen Intel Core i7-8550U processor, 16GB SDRAM, a huge 512GB SSD and an FHD IR camera plus Bluetooth 4.2. The battery lasts over 16 hours each charge with an FHD panel or up to 10 hours with UHD panel.
Pros:
- Latest 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor
- Super quality Bang and Olufsen quad speakers
- Comes with a digital pen included for note-taking
Cons:
- More expensive than other similar laptops
- The fan can be quite loud at times
- The casing could be more durable
Lenovo Flex 14
With the full 360-degree hinge that allows you to convert the laptop into various modes, there’s a lot that you can do with the Lenovo Flex 14. When you’re not using it in laptop mode to take notes, you can switch it to the tent, stand or tablet modes to best suit your needs. And no matter which mode you’re using it in, the narrow bezels will provide an enhanced viewing experience. At 14”, the screen is a great size for anything that you might want to use for both inside and outside the realms of school work. Specs-wise, the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor is more than powerful enough for all your daily tasks, plus streaming, gaming and more. It comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM and a massive 256GB SSD.
For students looking for maximum connectivity, this laptop does not disappoint. It comes with a wide range of ports including USB-C 3.0, two USB 3.0 ports and an HDMI port. 2×2 AC Wi-Fi boosts internet connectivity. And, it’s highly portable weighing just 3.68lbs with one charge delivering up to eight hours of battery life. You only need to recharge the laptop for fifteen minutes to get two hours of battery life, making it ideal for students on the go.
Pros:
- Easy battery recharging
- Narrow bezels offer a superb viewing experience
- Several connectivity port options
Cons:
- Not the most robust processor
- Battery life could be better compared to some competitors
- Not as lightweight as similar laptops
Acer Swift 3
This laptop is a solid choice not only for studying for your graduate degree in supply chain management but also for your first job after graduation. It falls in the middle-range in terms of pricing and offers more than enough features for students and new graduates. It doesn’t skimp at all when it comes to connectivity options; the USB 3.1 Type C Gen 2 Port, two USB 3.0 ports, and an HDMI port make it easy for you to connect with several other devices at the same time when needed. With normal use, one battery charge will last up to twelve hours. Other features include an HD webcam, backlit keyboard, and fingerprint solution. The full HD IPS display provides crisp, clear images whether you’re hard at work on something or enjoying a movie in your downtime.
In terms of specs, it comes with a fast, powerful 8th-Gen Intel Core i7-8565U processor up to 4.6GHz. There’s a huge 256GB Pie SSD, 8GB DDR4 memory, Bluetooth 5.0 and 802. You’ll always get a strong Wi-Fi signal thanks to 11ac Gigabit Wi-Fi.
Pros:
- The battery lasts for up to twelve hours
- Several different connectivity options
- Powerful latest 8th-Gen Intel Core i7 processor
Cons:
- The keyboard is a little cramped compared to others
- Some users find the trackpad frustrating to work with
- It can run hot after a while
So, there we have it; a round-up of the best laptops to choose from for supply chain management graduate students. Which is most suitable for you?
