In this post, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of studying with a laptop by your side in your study space.
The main perks are easy access to the internet, a huge variety of apps, saving physical space, the ability to search through long texts, and a vast library of books at your fingertips. On the downside, there’s the constant temptation of internet distractions, eye strain, dependence on technology, and the risk of forgetting how to study from actual books.
Let’s dive into each of these in more detail.
The Benefits of Studying with a Laptop
1. Internet Access
Having internet access on your laptop puts the entire world of information right at your fingertips. What more could you ask for?
These days, you’ve got Google to ask questions, and chatbots like ChatGPT to chat with and get info from. But that’s not all – there are websites like Wikipedia and other online encyclopedias to dive into.
And let’s not forget about YouTube – it’s a never-ending source of educational videos. You’ll find online classes from universities and videos to learn pretty much anything.
Plus, through the internet, you can access your university’s campus resources, forums, and groups to share info with your classmates or other students.
2. Endless Apps
Whether online or offline, your laptop gives you access to software that lets you study, solve problems, create presentations, and work on assignments.
One of the most popular software packages is the office suite. With programs like Word and PowerPoint, you can create assignments and presentations.
Don’t forget that Google also offers similar tools online and for free. And if you don’t have Microsoft Office, you can download LibreOffice for free.
On top of these common apps, you’ve got specialty apps like MATLAB, AutoCAD, Photoshop, and many others.
3. Storage Space
Your laptop can hold it all. Whether you’re reading notes or following exercise or assignment guides, you won’t need those papers taking up space on your desk anymore, leaving room for other notes or even manuals.
If you don’t have a big study desk or just want to make the most of your space, I recommend getting a laptop stand (like this one in Amazon). They’re cheap and super useful for organizing your study materials better on your desk.
4. Search, Highlight, and Annotate
If you need to read and analyze long texts, doing it on a laptop can be a huge help. You get the advantage of instant searches, highlighting, and adding notes.
If you’re working in a group, you can use Google Drive tools to share texts, take notes, and add comments. This way, you can collaborate, even in real time, to work on an assignment.
The text-processing power of a laptop shouldn’t be underestimated. While many students prefer studying from paper, it’s just a matter of getting used to studying straight from the screen.
5. A Complete Library
On your laptop, you can store thousands of books. That means when you study with a laptop, you’ll have a whole library at your fingertips – and it’s all yours!
You can buy and download study books and manuals. But you also have access to free books.
I recommend that, as much as possible, you start building your own virtual library by adding all the books you can. Look for books that are useful to you, and also ones that might not be directly related to what you’re studying.
Most of these books don’t take up much virtual space, so you can virtually collect them all!
Drawbacks of Studying with a Laptop
1. Distractions Just a Click Away
Just like there’s a lot of useful information online for studying, there are also plenty of entertainment sites that can distract you and waste a lot of time.
Probably the most common one is YouTube, which is an endless source of distractions. Jumping from video to video is one of the favorite pastimes of procrastinators.
2. Wrong Information
Trusting everything you find online is a mistake.
Wikipedia is a community-written and maintained encyclopedia. This means that it can be biased on some topics, and in others, it might contain errors. Some of these errors could even be intentional.
On the other hand, Google searches don’t always aim to give you the best answer, but rather to get you to browse a little longer to maximize advertising revenue.
ChatGPT, the revolutionary tool, often makes serious mistakes by inventing data when it doesn’t know a particular subject.
Also, some websites may provide information that seems right but might not be.
So, you need to be very careful when searching and researching online. Think and question everything you read.
3. Forgetting About Books
The idea of having a laptop by your side is to load it with books and have them available virtually. But not to forget about them.
Studying with a laptop doesn’t mean tossing your textbooks out the window.
4. Eye Strain
Spending many hours in front of a screen can lead to eye problems. When your eyes get tired, your head ends up hurting too.
To avoid this, try not to spend too much time staring at the screen. Reduce the brightness on your laptop as much as you can.
On the other hand, if you need to read a text and you have it both on paper and digitally, prioritize the paper.
5. Dependence on Technology
Spending so much time with your laptop by your side can make it feel like an extension of your mind. At first, that’s not necessarily a bad thing because it’s a tool you’ll always (or almost always) have available in your life.
However, from time to time, you can go without it to study for a while in a disconnected way. It will allow you to think a bit more, use your memory, and make your study sessions feel different.
Do You Find More Advantages or Disadvantages?
And that’s all. Do you find any other benefits or downsides to studying with a laptop by your side? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to leave a comment at the end of the article.
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