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What is the Best Laptop for Teachers?
A big smile and an engaging teaching style are crucial elements of online teaching jobs…but the most crucial element is actually having a laptop to teach on!
Online teachers rely on online platforms which are ‘platform-agnostic'. That's just a fancy way of saying that Windows, MacOS X, Linux, and Chromebooks are all fine to use.
So whether you're looking for the best laptop for Cambly or AmazingTalker, let's find…
The Best Laptop for Online Teaching!
The nature of online ESL teaching means you won't require a supremely expensive piece of kit.
In that case, even a higher-end Chromebook is a viable choice – unless you'll be teaching students how to use some particular piece of software (which I don't think is in the courseware yet). However, a Chromebook wouldn't allow you to use ManyCam, so that is something to consider.
At the same time, online English teachers are the only ones that can reasonably buy a laptop as a replacement for their desktop computer and not be troubled by its weight.
When it comes to picking the best laptop computers for teachers on the web, there are more right answers than wrong ones.
4 Best Laptops For Online English Teachers:
1) Apple MacBook Air 13.3 inch
The MacBook Air has become Apple’s entry-level laptop following the discontinuation of the MacBook in 2011.
It tends to prove favourable with younger users, as a consequence of Apple’s target demographic being a little younger than that of Windows’ or Acer’s.
They also boast lower prices with each new iteration of laptop.
The Apple MacBook Air 13.3 inch has been met with favourable reviews and provides its owners with an impressive system. But of course, you get what you’re willing to pay for. Check out the link below to see prices.
Technical Specs of MacBook Air
In Feburary of 2015, thorough testing was conducted on a pre-production MacBook Air of 13.3 inches, this being a model which boasted a 2.2 GHz dual-core Intel Core, i7-based and 512 GB of flash storage; as well as a tidy 8GB of RAM.
For those of you in-the-know, you may want to know that testing was done using an Iometer 2006.07.27, a 30 second ramp-up, a 5 minute ‘run duration’, 512KB request size and a 150GB test file.
This system was tested using 32 outstanding IOs.
All models continuously monitor system thermals and power conditions, and can adjust performance as needed.
Best MacBook for Teachers
OK, so for those of you in-the-know when it comes to all of this techno-babble, you’re convinced. You already know if you want this machine or not. But the rest of us might still need a little help…
When you’re teaching online, you need something lightweight – something that’s not going to slow you down when you’re on-the-go. The Apple MacBook Air is definitely worthy of your consideration.
Slim but powerful, this machine will see you through all the difficulties posed to an online teacher.
The tools necessary to become an online English teacher are all fully functional with this laptop.
2) Acer S3-391 Ultrabook 13.3 inch
Cheap Laptops for Teachers
The Acer Aspire S3-391 proves that you don't have to start at $899 to get a decent ultrabook.
Tech Specs of Acer Aspire
To keep the price down, it uses an older second-generation Intel Core i3 processor, but that CPU is still faster than the AMD E series APU, Intel Atom, or Celeron CPU in other inexpensive laptops.
Acer has a long and reliable history when it comes to making laptops, and they fall very much within the Windows-esque style of ‘make it simple and make it work'.
While companies like Apple have earned a reputation as being the artist's laptop, and Acer doesn't build with ‘art' in mind, their machines have certainly earned their place on this list.
This laptop is actually one of the most popular choices amongst online teachers.
Acer Aspire and Teaching Online
But when it comes to teaching online, are they any good? Well of course, the answer is a resounding yes. With full webcam capabilities and available at competitive prices, the Acer S3-391 Ultrabook is certainly one to consider.
3) Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch
It's always an event whenever Apple launches a MacBook, both literally and figuratively.
This year though, MacBook Pro fans will have to settle for an internal spec improvement rather than a radical design overhaul.
The Pro status of Apple's 15-inch MacBook depends on what sort of ‘pro' you are.
Traditionally ‘creative' pros would have turned to the Mac for their needs; be it design work, editing photos, working with video and animation, or other jobs that require decent graphics capabilities.
Other MacBook Pro users might include gamers and programmers; or even office workers who needed a capable Mac with a larger screen than the 13-inches offered by the other Mac laptops.
MacBook Pro For Online Teachers?
As with all Apple products, you’re buying a name, and you know what you’re getting with your money. Online English Teachers probably don’t have huge amounts of money just lying around – but if you’re prepared to spend, then this laptop is definitely worthy of consideration.
This laptop is suited to those who look to work on other projects alongside their online teaching job. The nature of online teaching allows for you to have online side hustles such as creating a niche website whilst earning a reliable income.
5) HP Envy 15 іnсh
In the past, HP's Envy series was considered a premium option within their range of laptops. However, it has been recently overshadowed by the more sophisticated Spectre series, like the HP Spectre 13.
As a result, the HP Envy 15-as001na now occupies a mid-range position, making it a suitable choice for individuals looking to teach English online due to its reasonable balance of performance and cost. The HP Envy 15 is offered in various configurations, each with a unique model name to denote its specifications.
It's important to note that the specific model referred to here is the Envy 15-as001na. This model should not be confused with the Envy 15-ah150sa, which is a less expensive variant within the Envy lineup.
HP Envy Tech Specs
The mentioned model uses an AMD A10-8700P APU and is equipped with a 2TB mechanical hard drive. It lacks the premium styling you might expect and is quite a different laptop in terms of design and feel. However, for online English teachers who are budget-conscious, this should not be a deterrent.
Success in any field, including online teaching, is achieved through hard work and determination. For this journey, you need a device that matches your commitment to performance and reliability.
Consider the latest HP ENVY laptops, designed to assist you in overcoming the most demanding challenges. However, note that for specific platforms like Palfish, which require a mobile device, you might want to look into the best tablets for online teachers instead, as the platform has its specific requirements.
ESL Laptops – 3 Most Popular and Frequently Purchased by Teachers
Which laptops are online teachers choosing in numbers? After analysing the e-commerce sales reports, we found the three most frequently purchased for online ESL teaching.
1. Acer S3-391-6046 13.3-inch Ultrabook
The Acer is the go-to choice for teachers with specs such as:
- Intel Core i3-2367M
- 4GB Memory
- 320GB HDD and 20GB SSD
- Windows 8
There aren't too many of these left on Amazon, which is a testament to this Acer Ultrabook's popularity.
2. Acer Aspire 1 A114-32-C1YA
This one is the Amazon choice, so no wonder it is selling well. Much cheaper than it's Ultrabook counter-part but could still do the business for your Cambly Kids classes.
- 14″ Full HD
- Intel Celeron N4000
- 4GB DDR4
- 64GB eMMC
- Office 365 Personal
- Windows 10 Home in S Mode
3. HP EliteBook 8460P 14-inch Notebook PC
The slick design of this HP EliteBook is the third most popular. However, it seems online teachers seem to prefer the Acer brand over HP, despite the higher price.
- Intel Core
- i5-2520M
- 2.5GHz
- 8GB Ram
- 250GB HDD
- Windows 10 Professional
If you want more popular online teaching tools, then check out below to discover the 10 most frequently purchased ESL headsets:
Final thoughts on the Best Laptops for Online English Teachers
Hopefully this has helped you find the the best laptop to keep you doing what you do best…teaching your awesome students with Preply or whichever platform you teach for.
Now that you are all set up with a laptop, click below to find a hiring online teaching platform:
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