Students spend one working day each week on social networks

Students spend one working day each week on social networks

Reevoo research finds most student-friendly laptops

August 2010 – Students are spending the equivalent of a full working day (7.5 hours) on social networking sites every week, with two thirds (61%) of students saying they are the main cause of distraction from their studies, topping hangovers.

Research from customer review site Reevoo.com has built a picture of students’ relationships with technology as it launches its top rated laptops for those heading off to lecture halls. Round the clock access to the internet is seen as an essential for today’s undergraduates, but as a consequence students now have social networking sites to add to the top of the list of study distractions. Almost two in five students point the finger at hangovers, and a third (34%) blame student-favourite daytime TV as reasons for neglecting their coursework.

Generation Y’s perspective of a student essential also reveals the extent of its relationship with the internet, with 77% of respondents saying that an internet connection in their accommodation is essential, and smart phones are named as more of a student staple than TVs, with almost a third of those surveyed claiming that no student should be without an iPhone or Blackberry.

The research also shows that the average student is taking gadgets worth £1,098 with them to university. Two thirds (64%) of students are buying new computers especially for their time as undergrads, with the average spend coming in at £516.

Reevoo.com found that undergraduates spend more than 13 hours surfing the internet, three and a half hours shopping online and watch an average of two films a week on laptops. They spend just nine and a half hours a week on coursework.

Richard Anson, founder and CEO of Reevoo.com said: “Our research shows that a student wants their laptop to be much more that a word processor. It connects them to their social networks, enables them to entertain new friends and helps them cut costs with online shopping. Getting the right laptop to meet their needs is essential, which is why we’ve compiled the best laptops for students, rated by the people who have actually bought and used them.”

Best rated laptops for students:

• Best for portability: Acer Aspire One D250, £214
• Best budget laptop: HP Compaq Mini 110c – 1010SA, £209
• Best for looks: Apple MacBook Pro MB991B/A, £1106
• Best battery life: Apple MacBook Pro MC118B/A , £1307
• Best for movies: Sony Vaio VGN-AW41MF, £970
• Best for gaming: Acer Aspire 8942G-726G64Bn, £1196