Take your time to choose the device that's right for you...


With all the sales, deals and hype around every new device release the world of technology purchasing can be a little overwhelming. You should not feel like you need to rush out and buy a device. At this stage devices are not compulsory as we have measures in place to assist our students during the transition to BYOD. You might find that the way you work doesn't warrant the need for a device at all. 

However, with more school communication and educational resources now being based online having some sort of device can be very beneficial, a great investment for managing your time and school work and to help you to develop personal computing skills that will be valuable in further study, employment and throughout your adult life.
If you do decide to purchase a device to assist with your studies during your time at Coffs Harbour Senior College, we advise that you use the following list when comparing devices. We recommend that you also consider the subjects you have chosen to study, as they will dictate the type of work you may be using a device for*. For this reason, you may choose to attend the college for a few weeks before committing to a purchase:
Essential considerations:
  • Wireless networking: inbuilt 802.11n connectivity is recommended.
  • Operating system: the latest or prior operating system expected. The campus and the Microsoft and Adobe software provided by the Department support both Windows and Macintosh/Apple operating systems.
  • Software: it is assumed you will install Microsoft Office 365 or utilise Google Apps for Education for your day-to-day office productivity.
    Adobe Creative Cloud is also availble should it be required for other courses. These titles are provided for download for free and featured on all NSW public school computers under an exclusive Enterprise License Agreement. 
  • Battery life: A long battery life is recommended as College school days are 9am to 4pm. Offline subjects and Homework Centre usually run from 4-6pm.
  • Storage capacity: a minimum of 128GB is recommended for storing school work. Newer devices on the market may feature a Solid State Drive (SSD) that are more robust and offers considerably faster loading/saving speeds than traditional HDDs, but at a higher expense. Backups should be taken and the cloud services provided to students through Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive have proven effective.
  • Memory/RAM: a minimum of 8GB of RAM is required to run Microsoft Office, but 16GB of RAM might increase the usable life of the device and speed of operation if multiple apps are run simultaneously during use.


Ergonomic considerations:
  • Keyboard: as much of the device's use is expected to be for text-based input an adequately sized physical keyboard is recommended for ergonomic reasons. Onscreen keyboards found on tablets may cause limitations.
  • Screen size: consider a screen that will allow you to work without compromise or eye strain on a variety of task types. 
  • Weight and overall dimensions: devices that are too small can be frustrating to work with for longer periods of time, whilst overly large devices can be difficult to transport throughout the day. Devices around the 14-15 inch screen size seem to provide the happiest medium in terms of usability.
Other considerations:
  • Durability: consider how you plan to transport your device, the bag it will be carried in and the transportation method you need to get to the campus.
  • Microphone/webcam
  • Warranty
  • Carry case/device protection
  • Input/accessory options
  • Antivirus
  • Security: password protection is recommended to protect your data
* Specialist technology and practical courses are timetabled into labs where all specialist equipment will be provided.