Traditional note taking with a pen and paper can seem like hard work to some people, having to write quick enough to keep up with what's being said next and then being unable to go back and edit them can seem like a chore.
This is where taking notes on a laptop is a great option.
Taking notes on a computer is a lot quicker and more convenient, if you find yourself in fast paced work meetings or college classes.
It's an ideal way of recording important points quickly whilst still being able to pay attention to the next points that are being said.
Laptops can sometimes be confusing to understand, breaking down all those technological terms can often seem like a minefield.
However, we have done the hard work for you and selected our top picks and some useful tips in our buyer’s guide.
Are you in a hurry? If so, we have selected our top pick for you below.
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Our Pick
Contents
Best Laptop For Taking Notes - Comparison Table
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Best Laptop For Taking Notes - Reviews
We have chosen the Samsung Chromebook with a convertible touchscreen as our top pick for you. This is a really nice compact option for those wanting to spend a little more on a laptop.
As a touchscreen laptop it comes with a stylus so not only can you type up your notes but you also have the power to write directly onto the screen, capture part of the screen and make doodles too. This is a really nice option for those who like to hand write notes but don't want the hassle of writing onto paper. You can write directly onto the screen.
This also performs as a multi functional product. You can either choose to use it as a laptop, or you can turn it into a tablet, either way, it is a great tool for note taking.
This laptop runs at the speed of 2GHZ and has an excellent screen resolution of 2400X1600 pixels. It is guaranteed to deliver you crisp and sharp images.
Another nice little feature of this laptop is that it comes with all of the apps that you would typically find on your phone thanks to Google Play which is supported by this Chromebook. There are lots of apps waiting for you.
Pros
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Next up we have the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 with Intel core I5, 8GB ram and a solid state drive of 256GB.
This laptop works similalry to the Chromebook in the sense that it is stylus supported so you can take notes interactively. One side of the stylus acts like an ink on the screen and the other end is an eraser so you can always delete your work if need be. The stylus doesn't come with this laptop so it is a purchase that will need to be made seperately.
It works in two ways, as a laptop or as a tablet. It is a nice weight at only 1.7 pounds. Its thin appearance and lightweight feel, make it a staple in any college class or work meeting. You can easily carry it around with you without it feeling heavy.
A very important factor to consider is the battery life. This laptop comes with an all day battery life and 13.5 hours of video playback. This gives you peace of mind that you can work without having to worry about your laptop running out of charge.
Another feature which makes it great for note taking is its new and improved keyboard. The surface pro type now comes with slightly spread out keys giving it more of a traditional feel. This gives you an efficient and familiar typing experience.
Pros
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Our next pick is the Lenovo Flex 2-in-1 convertible laptop. This is in fact very similar to the two that we have previously mentioned as it can flip from a laptop into a tablet if you choose, thanks to its 360 degree convertible design.
This laptop is powered by a AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB NVMe SSD storage, therefore this laptop is likely to perform to great capabilities. It also includes HDMI, USB-C ports and USB 3-1 inputs and a fingerprint reader.
It comes equipped with an Active Pen which lets you take notes directly onto the screen if you would prefer and is also super convenient for taking notes on the go. If not you can use it as a laptop with the keyboard.
Pros
Cons
For those who prefer a traditional laptop, Microsoft provides you with a great option with their surface laptop.
This is ideal for catering to all of your note taking needs thanks to its Alcantara fabric covered keyboard, which gives you a luxurious and comfortable typing experience.
As a touchscreen laptop it is also pen supported, however this doesn't come with the laptop and would need to be purchased separately.
It has a 13.5" Pixelsense display touchscreen which gives you vibrant, good quality images.
This laptop features a 7th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 256GB of storage, 8GB RAM, and is also available in other capacities too. As it is backed by Microsoft you are guaranteed to get the best out of Microsoft as well as Windows and Office.
Impressively this laptop is also available in three other colors so there’s plenty to choose from.
Pros
Cons
Finally, we have chosen the Acer Chromebook convertible laptop with Intel Celeron N3060, 4GB memory and 32GB eMMC. This laptop runs on a chrome operating system by Google and has built in virus protection, automatic updates and boosts in seconds.
It is great for taking notes thanks to its 10 point touch screen feature but also has a nice keyboard too.
You can access all the apps that you need such as Microsoft Office, which gives you plenty of choice on how you record your notes. You can also get a variety of apps on the Google Playstore.
Another impressive feature with this Chromebook is that it has built in storage with access to your really important files and also an impressive additional 100 GB of Google drive storage, where your files are backed up automatically.
Pros
Cons
Best Laptop For Taking Notes - Buyers Guide
If you're not quite sure on where to start when looking for your laptop, we've listed some helpful tips below so that you can find the best laptop for taking notes.
A 2-in-1 laptop is definitely a go to for note taking particularly when stylus supported as it gives you versatility in how you take your notes. However there are some great traditional laptops available too.
The operating system
There are many different laptops on the market and you will find that once you start looking the list seems endless. Before you buy a laptop it is important to understand the different choices available.
First of all there are window's laptops. These are in fact super popular and there is a lot of choice within this range.
Then there is the Apple range and the Macbooks. Those who are more familiar and keen users of their other products may branch out into their laptops.
Finally there are Chrome books and these are an ideal option for those on a budget who want a powerful laptop but do not want to spend lots of money on it.
Battery Life
A really important factor is the battery life. Ideally you will want a laptop that can hold its battery life really well, after all you don't want to be in the middle of taking notes and then have to stop your work to put your laptop on charge.
Some laptops will claim to run for long hours before getting low on charge and whilst this is impressive it isn't always true. Therefore, it is important to remember that laptops which are being used a lot throughout the day may not last for ten hours on one charge.
The Keyboard
This is one of the most obvious features to consider on a laptop that you are going to be using a lot to type with.
You will want a keyboard with good ergonomics that is comfortable to type with, particularly if you are going to be taking a lot of notes on your laptop.
Note Taking Software
Having good software on your laptop for taking notes is super important. Some laptops may come with their own note taking applications and if you are looking to take just a few quick notes, this is ideal because you can open up the app and start typing within a click of a few buttons.
On the majority you will be able to access programmes such as Microsoft Word which is also great for note taking if you are looking for a more professional vibe.
You will also find that some laptops are called notebooks due to the nice little features that they have.
Size
If you are looking for a laptop that you can take back and forth to class or to business meetings then ideally you will want one that is nice and compact.
Laptops such as notebooks tend to be a lot smaller in size as they are made with the intention of being portable and user friendly.
You will also find with Apple Macbooks that there are some which are slim enough to easily fit into bags.
Budget and Cost
With laptops it is always good to have a budget in mind as to how much you are happy to spend. If not this can soon become a rather expensive investment.
You can get good laptops at expensive prices and ones that are just as good but more affordable. There are likely to be differences in software and what they can offer you however, it is advised that you take the time to think about what is most important to you in a laptop.
This is because you may be able to find these features on a more budget friendly laptop.
Frequently asked questions
How do I take notes on my laptop?
Different laptops will offer you different software in regards to note taking applications. It is pretty simple to take notes as the apps can be opened in a few simple clicks.
Others will be more professional and have more add on features. You can also download different apps for taking your notes if you want something more than what is offered to you on your laptop.
What things do I need to consider before purchasing a laptop?
There are a few different things to bear in mind before making your purchase. These could be things such as laptop size, keyboard quality, screen quality, CPU, RAM, budget etc.
We have gone into detail above with some of these factors, to give you more of an understanding of the different factors we would recommend you considering.
What are the benefits of taking notes on a laptop?
If you are a fast typer and find it easier than sitting in a class trying to write all the notes out, then laptop note taking is likely to have many benefits for you. If you are able to type at a good pace then you are more than likely to be able to keep track of what is being said and still pay attention.
Also with note taking on your laptop you can always go back and change it if needed or you can write it out rough before copy and pasting it into a new document.
However, some people may still find writing down notes easier if they do not find it easy to type them out.
Last update on 2020-09-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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