Uni Device Advice (~$1000 Budget)

Hi everyone.

I'm hoping for some advice in regards to a device for my university studies in computer science over the next few years.

I currently own a Dell Inspiron 15 that I do love, but it's a touch too heavy and too large to lug with me every day. The problem with this is that I somewhat feel I'd be wasting my money buying a more portable second laptop when I could be buying a 2 in 1 that may fill some additional niche uses that my current laptop does not. But please, try and coax me out of this mindset! I'd love to hear your thoughts and recommendations.

I'm looking for something along the lines of these preferences:

< 14" screen, FHD required
Processing power to run programming packages at a reasonable speed
8GB RAM
SSD at least 128GB (256GB+ preferred)
< 1.5kg

In my own research, I've come across some devices that have intrigued me.

Lenovo Miix 510 - $1067

  • 2 in 1 device
  • 12.2" FHD IPS Display
  • Intel i5-6200 Processor
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB PCIe SSD
  • 1.25kg with keyboard

Lenovo Ideapad 710S - $1199

  • 13.3" FHD IPS
  • Intel i7-6500U
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB SSD PCIe
  • 1.1kg

Asus Zenbook UX310UA - $787

  • 13.3" FHD
  • Intel i3-6100U
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB SSD
  • 1.45kg
    Is there something that I'm missing with this model? The value in this just seems too good to be true.

Asus Zenbook UX305FA - $959

  • 13.3" FHD IPS
  • Intel Core M 5Y71 Processor
  • 4GB RAM
  • 256GB SSD
  • 1.2kg

Asus Zenbook UX305UA - $1159

  • 13.3" FHD IPS
  • Intel i5-6200U
  • 8GB RAM
  • 128GB SSD
  • 1.3kg

If you have any other recommendations or comments about the above laptops, please do share! Thanks a lot for your time.

Comments

  • I found that a laptop/iPad combo was the way to go.

    The iPad was light enough that I would take it with me every where. I used the notability app to keep all my lecture notes/subjects organised. Battery life is much better than most laptops.

    I would use my laptop at home when required for assignments.

    When I needed a computer at uni - I would use the ones in the lab with everyone else. This was from 2008-2012. I'm not sure if expectations have changed, but I don't think you need your own laptop.

    Also, a large part of uni assignments for me was collaboration and working with other people (even if it was an individual assignments) - you would soon see the same faces at the computer labs working on the assignments and it was a great way to make friends through your degree. I studied Mech + Aero Engineering.

    If you are set on a laptop - HP Spectre's/Suface Pro 4's are pretty nice as well.

    This would be my pick from the lot you've posted: Asus Zenbook UX310UA - $787(ebay.com.au)

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