Laptops are a wonderful tool for students, but they do have disadvantages. Battery life, weight, size, and cost are all good reasons to want to rely less on your trusty old laptop, or even forgo using one altogether.

The good news is that there is a lot you can do to make it easier to get by without a laptop in college. Here are some tips that can help you with that.

1 – Embrace Your Smartphone

You’re probably already using your smartphone quite a lot, but it can replace a laptop in many ways. Smartphones these days can handle tasks from note-taking to research, and even document creation. With the right apps, you can do almost everything that you would on a laptop.

Fun fact: if your phone was released in the last 5 years, there is a good chance it supports a keyboard and mouse. You’ll just need the right dongle to plug those in or get Bluetooth peripherals.

2 – Consider Using Tablets

Tablets can be a good alternative to laptops. They are more portable, typically have longer battery life, and many have keyboard attachments that make them almost as functional as laptops. In addition, there are numerous productivity apps available for tablets that can help you keep organized, create presentations, or jot down notes during a lecture. A tablet can fill many of the gaps you might be worried about if you ditch your laptop.

3 – Utilize University Computer Labs

Most universities have computer labs that are free for students to use. These can be great resources if you need a computer for a task that your smartphone or tablet can’t handle. Utilizing these labs not only provides you with access to a computer when you need one but also frees you from the burden of carrying a laptop around campus. 

You can also let the university worry about maintaining and upgrading the computers. Most campuses will either have an in-house IT staff or outsource the task to professionals like HTL Support. This means that if the computer you’re using dies, you can just notify the university staff and go on with your day. No need to waste time chasing a solution to the problem.

4 – Use Cloud Storage 

The use of cloud storage can be particularly useful when you don’t have a laptop. Using the cloud lets you access your documents and files from any device with an internet connection. This means you can start a project on a university computer, continue it on your tablet at home, and then review it on your smartphone on the bus.

Don’t want to deal with the hassle of logging into your cloud all the time? Invest in external storage. Many thumb drives nowadays come with connectors on both ends to make them compatible with both computers and mobile devices. You just need to find one that has a USB connection on one side and a connection that goes into your phone on the other, whether be an iOS or Android device.

5 – Rely on Physical Note-Taking

Many studies have shown that taking notes by hand can improve comprehension and memory retention. While laptops are handy for taking notes quickly, they can be distracting and even detrimental to learning. Meanwhile, a pen and paper never run out of battery and are often less distracting than a screen.

Want to make handwriting more fun? Invest in stationery you enjoy using! Springing for fancy notebooks and pens can make traditional note-taking much more pleasant. If you haven’t already, give fountain pens a try, they can be quite fun to use.