DeVices

Below you will find descriptions of each of the three major types of devices. If you want to know what kind of device to buy Click on the Device Selection Link below that will send you to that subpage.

Device Selection

Laptops

Laptops are portable personal computers that run off a rechargeable battery. Think of them as desktop computers, but smaller, portable and light weight. Most can do everything that your desktop computer can do. Internal memory and hard drive along with graphic accelerators allows a user to install programs and games. Programs include: word processing, office productivity, photo editing and many more. These programs can be ran offline (they do not require internet access). Internal storage allows you to keep your files in order and save those pictures for years to come.

Operating Systems: Windows (latest is Windows 10), Mac OS (latest is OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard), Linux (latest is Mint 10.3).

Sizes: Laptop (13-15 inch screen size), Notebook (12-14 inch screen size) and Ultrabooks (17 inch screen size).

Chromebooks

What started as a portable device that was basically a bigger version of the Google browser has grown into much more. Chromebooks rely on WiFi in order to do most things. Think of it as a browser in a box. Chromebooks require a Google Account (Gmail) to login and operate and initial setup must be done via WiFi. Google also provides their own version of office productivity software (Google Drive- docs, sheets, slides and more) that can be used offline after the initial set up. Most come with small internal hard drive so downloading and installing programs such as Adobe Photoshop or AutoCAD and games cannot be done. However, with the use of the Chrome Webstore and Android apps, many of the same programs from a laptop are becoming more readily available for a Chromebook.

Operating System: Chrome OS (Chrome updates their OS a couple times a month).

Size: Similar to a notebook laptop with a screen size of 11-16 inches.

Tablets

Small, portable, touchscreen computers that allow a user to utilize apps and navigate just like on a desktop, laptop or Chromebook. Most do not come with a mouse/trackpad or keyboard and user inputs information using the touchscreen. Great for consuming and engaging in content, but not great for creating content such as typing or editing. Examples are iPad, Kindle Fire, Microsoft Surface and Samsung Galaxy Tab 3.

Operating Systems: Mac- iOS 11.2.6, Kindle Fire- 5.6.1 (latest),

Size: Smaller than a Notebook computer, but larger than a Smartphone (yes even the biggest smartphones on the market are not tablets.)