New year, new you: Powering through every university hour with a modern device
Simran Verma is currently working at Microsoft on a year-long internship as an Azure Technical Solutions Professional whilst she studies Electronics and Computer Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire. During the short time she’s spent at Microsoft, she’s already learned a lot about Microsoft technology, particularly in the world of Cloud and AI which is core to her job role. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, dance, travelling and cooking. She feels highly privileged to be part of the Be Your Future intern team so they have a platform to write and share their stories and to make student life a little bit easier.
As we get into the new year, many students are thinking about how they can work smarter. They want to make the most of every minute of 2019 and start the year in the most productive way possible. The device that you choose to support you through your student life plays a pivotal role in your productivity levels and can really impact your success throughout university. When choosing a device, you need to consider what your course requirements are and how you’re going to use it.
Some students prefer to use a tablet that’s lightweight and portable but gives them access to the tools they need to take notes during lectures. Other students will prefer to use a slightly heavier laptop with more processing power. There is no right answer and it’s all about finding out what works for you and your unique learning style. What works for you, might not work for your friend and vice versa.
I’d never really considered a Surface device but having spent the last few months working with one everyday I definitely intend to purchase one when I go back to university. With so many options available, there’s something for everybody, no matter how you like to work.
Portable power
If you prefer to make notes in lectures on a tablet so you don’t have to carry a fully-fledged laptop into the lecture halls along with study books which will weigh down your backpack, you could consider getting a Surface Pro device and detaching the keyboard so you can use it in tablet mode. You could even ditch your traditional notebook. The Surface Pen allows you to take notes like you’re using pen and paper. That’s a key selling point for me as somebody who is more of a visual learner.
What I love the most about the Surface Pen is that I can write at my natural angle. It’s super comfortable and really easy to use. I can write on top of past-paper PDFs straight away and take screenshots just by double-clicking the clicker on the pen to place them in my notes for future reference. Not only that, but your written notes are searchable too and you also have the option to convert them to text if that’s your preferred format for revision.
A device for every working style
For those of you who are more traditional and prefer a laptop to type up your notes but still want something that’s lightweight and stylish, the Surface Laptop is probably the better option. If you work on the go whilst travelling to university or find you are on the train a lot visiting friends or family over the weekend, having something even more portable like the Surface Go will allow you to make the most of every single minute. The Surface Go, which is highly portable, will meet all your lecture needs, whilst the Surface Studio understands your needs as a designer, musician, photographer and architect. All the resources are there to match your creative needs and everything else in between.
Personally, as an Electronics and Computer Engineering student I’m slightly more swayed towards the Surface Book. It’s a great option for students requiring high CPU usage and it fits all my needs as a student who doesn’t want to be stuck at a desk.
All-day battery life
We all know the pain of having low battery laptops. With my Surface device, I no longer have to worry about finding the nearest socket in lecture halls. You can leave your accommodation in the morning, attend all your lectures, and still be able to go to the library for an evening revision session without needing to plug it in.
An investment for now and the future
The best thing about these devices is that you won’t need to change them as soon as you finish university. They provide so much capability for professionals as well. I won’t need to change my device to fit a more professional environment, nor will I end up feeling outdated.
There’s not one device that’s best for all and it’s all about finding what works best for you.
Take a look at the full Surface family and explore what could best meet your needs.
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