Students, here's the computer gear you need

A new school season is upon us – cue the rolling eyes – and so you might be in the market for a new computer.

Arguably, it’s the most important piece of tech for students as it’s ideal for: keeping you organized with calendar entries and alarms; taking notes during class; doing online research; writing up essays and book reports; chatting with classmates and video calling family and friends; and blowing off post-exam steam by playing games, watching movies and listening to music.

Problem is, how do you know what kind of computer is for you? Not only are there competing operating systems, countless brands to choose from and varying prices, but a student – or the parent of one –must device on the most ideal form factor.

As you likely know, the three main types of computers are laptops, desktops and tablets — but it can be confusing as there are hybrids, too, such as 2-in-1 laptops that let you remove or fold down the screen to use like a tablet (per below).

If you’re stuck on choosing the right form factor, the following are some thoughts on the advantages and shortcomings for each type. Some of these pros and cons will be familiar to you, while others might not be as obvious.

Tablets

Unlike a conventional laptop's keyboard and trackpad, tablets are very easy to use because you navigate through all your content by simply tapping, swiping, flicking and pinching your fingertips. You can also use your voice to access info. Touch and voice are very natural ways to interface with devices.

Because they're thin and light, tablets are more portable than laptops, plus they turn on right away, like a smartphone; therefore, there's no waiting to boot up the operating system. An average laptop's battery lasts five or six hours; a tablet is usually twice as long at 10 to 12 hours.

Some tablets offer cellular connectivity along with Wi-Fi, which isn't as easy to find in a laptop. Tablets have GPS, so they're ideal for navigation and location-based services, and many models have dual cameras.

Finally, some tasks are simply more conducive on a tablet, such as reading e-books, digital magazines and newspapers.

Tablet prices start at $39.99, which makes it the least expensive computer you can buy, but high-end ones could cost upwards of $829 (iPad Air 2) if you want one with a ton of storage and cellular connectivity.

Laptops

Though tablets offer numerous advantages over laptops, they can't compete in other areas.

Perhaps most importantly — especially for those who do a lot of typing — a physical keyboard is more comfortable, accurate and faster than a tablet's "virtual" (on-screen) keyboard. Students who type up a lot of essays, workers who write lengthy documents and heavy email users might prefer a laptop for this reason – though there are optional keyboard accessories for tablets, too.

A laptop gives you more screen real estate to work with your programs and multitask between them. Most laptops are 14 or 15 inches, which is much bigger than a 7- to 10-inch tablet. Watching a movie or playing a game is better on a bigger screen, which delivers a more immersive experience.

A few other considerations in favor of laptops: They tend to have 10 times the storage (at least 320GB hard drive compared with an average of 32GB of Flash memory); laptops have USB and SD card ports to easily get files on and off the computer (only a couple of tablets do, by comparison); and a laptop's clamshell design helps protect the screen when not in use.

As for price, laptops typically start at $279 for a Windows 10 machine (or Windows 8.1, but upgradeable to Windows 10 for free) – but don’t expect decent power until you pay $449 to start – while a MacBook Air (pictured above, see header image) starts at just over $1,000 for an 11-inch model. A beefier MacBook Pro will set you back at least $1,249. Those on a tight budget might also consider a Chromebook, as these Google-powered laptops start at just $149.

2-In-1s

If you can’t decide between a laptop and a tablet, there is another option.

Usually referred to as “2-in-1s,” this emerging breed of Intel-powered Windows computers blurs the lines between the two popular form factors.

As the name suggests, 2-in-1s are a “best of both worlds” approach; these devices include (or support) a keyboard and trackpad for when you need to get work done, such as typing up a school report, but they also let you use your fingertip to tap, swipe and flick on a multi-touch display.

And when you no longer have a need for the keyboard, a 2-in-1's screen can flip around, fold down or detach altogether — depending on the specific model

2-in-1s also benefit from other tablet advantages: a thin and light form factor, instant-on access, an all battery, an easy to use app store and they’re more conducive for reading ebooks compared to a clamshell laptop.

Unlike most tablets, 2-in-1s also include full-sized USB ports – to connect accessories like hard drives, game controllers, mice and USB thumbdrives --- and many have expandable memory via microSD card slots

Previously branded as “ultrabook convertibles,” these 2-in-1 form factors have been adopted by all major computer manufacturers, but each one handles the switch from laptop to tablet (or vice-versa) in a different manner

The ASUS Transformer Book T100 (about $349.99), for example, lets you pull off the screen when you no longer need the keyboard and trackpad, while the Lenovo Flex 2 ($799.99) has a screen that bends back 360 degrees, so you can use it like a tablet with the keyboard tucked underneath.

These bendable 2-in-1s can also be used in “display” mode (with the keyboard tucked underneath like a stand, and therefore out of your way) or in “tent” mode to place in areas with limited space, such as a countertop, yet you can still watch a movie or engage in a video call.

Some are sold as tablets, like Microsoft’s Surface 3 (from $499.99), but work with optional (and colorful) Type Cover keyboards ($129.99) that magnetically attach to the base of the screen for when you need to type.

The category does have its challenges, however. Not everyone is a fan of Windows -- the de facto platform for 2-in-1s. And a tucked-away keyboard still adds weight and bulk compared with a keyboard-free iPad or Android tablet. Plus, while you're getting a laptop and tablet in one product, prices are usually on the high end for this new category.

But as PC makers continue to embrace this hybrid solution, and the Windows Store evolves into a major player in the app space, competition will continue to drive prices down and broaden awareness of 2-in-1 offerings.

2-in-1s start at about $230.00.

Desktops

While not as popular as they once were, desktop computers are still around – and they do offer some advantages to laptops and tablets.

Since they’re designed for stationary use – that is, staying in one spot in the home or office -- desktops are less prone to damage. After all, they aren’t being dropped or banged in a backpack or large purse like a laptop or tablet would. They’re also less likely to be stolen as they’re always in one place.

Desktop computers have larger screens than a laptop or tablet – up to 34 inches in some cases – therefore better for entertainment lovers (movies, computer games) and more ideal for multitasking as you can have multiple windows open at the same time. Or you can easily add a second monitor. Perhaps influenced from the tablet craze, many desktops (and laptops) today offer a touchscreen display, along with a keyboard and mouse (trackpad on a laptop).

Computer users who like to tinker also prefer a desktop as they’re more “modular” – they’re much easier to upgrade components on a tower-based desktop than a laptop, such as a video card, hard drive or solid state drive (SSD) and system memory (RAM). Note: many “all in one” desktops, however, aren’t that easy to change components as they’re packed in behind the monitor.

Parents with young kids also might consider a desktop in a central location in the home -- such as a kitchen, family room or any other highly-trafficked area – so mom and dad can keep an eye on where they’re going online and with whom they’re communicating with.

Windows-based desktops typically start at $169.99 for an entry-level machine, or about $299.99 for a desktop with monitor (pictured above, left). Most prices hover between $499 and $799, but you could spend many thousands on a high-end gaming rig. An “all in one” iMac, like the one pictured above (center), starts at $1,199 for a 21.5-inch model.

 Yahoo Shopping readers (and students), do you have everything you need for school, or are you waiting for more hot sales? Tell us about your shopping experiences below!