Does My Child Need a Laptop?

Many of us got our first computers in high school, university or even as adults in the working world. Today, personal technology is a key part of learning as early as elementary school. Kids use tech in class, at the library and when completing homework assignments, making them an integral part of any student’s academic experience. Knowing this, many parents find themselves asking the same question: does my child need a laptop?

The answer is yes — but more specifically, what they probably need is a Chromebook. Here’s why a Chromebook is a smart choice for your young learner, plus recommendations for three great options that are available at Staples.

Switch to a Laptop Built for Learning

A Chromebook is a reliable, economical choice that’s perfect for students of all ages. Many elementary schools use Chromebooks in the classroom on a regular basis, so your kids may already be familiar with how they operate. Tweens, teens and post-secondary students will get just as much use out of a Chromebook that allows them to study, research or write essays on the go. (They’ll definitely use them for entertainment too, but we’ll focus on the educational aspects for now.)

Here are some excellent Chromebook models to consider.

Best for Younger Kids: ASUS Chromebook C204

This high quality ASUS Chromebook isn’t just fast and reliable, it’s super durable. That makes it great for younger kids or busy older students who are always on the move. After all, if it’s going to be handled by a third grader or carried around in a backpack, you want it to be tough. The ASUS C204 has an all-round rubber bumper, spill-resistant keyboard and ultra-tough I/O ports. It’s got great graphics, a built-in webcam and microphone, and Bluetooth capabilities. The battery will last an entire school day. This 11.6” Chromebook has 32GB of memory and 4GB of RAM.

Best for Students on The Go: Lenovo Duet Chromebook

This sleek, versatile Lenovo Chromebook converts to tablet mode in seconds. It’s a compact 10.1” option with great screen resolution and plenty of fun and useful features to play around with. A hit with older kids, there are thousands of creative and educational apps to choose from plus a 2.0GHz Octa-Core processor. The battery life will last up to 8 hours. This popular 2-in-1 product boots up very quickly and offers 4GB of RAM as well as 64GB of storage.

Best for Using Your Creativity: HP14 Chromebook

HP offers a number of high quality, reliable Chromebooks including this 14” option with a Celeron processor, excellent graphics and up to 14 hours of battery life. There’s another 14” option with a Pentium Silver processor, awesome graphics and speakers and over 11 hours of battery life. Or, go for a touch screen option (also available in 14” screen size) that has a Pentium Silver processor and over 11 hours of battery life. You can’t go wrong with any of these highly rated products, all of which use Chromebook OS.

Upgrade to Fast and Easy

The bottom line? If your kid is ready for their first laptop, consider a Chromebook. It’s a cost-effective way to get them a great piece of technology that will meet their needs and support their academic success in the years to come. To learn more, visit our online store or your local Staples retail location. A member of our team would be pleased to offer personalized guidance and help choose the right Chromebook for your child.