Buying Guide
As a Queensland Government High School, Kingston College does not endorse or recommend any particular brands/models over another. However, devices must meet the minimum specifications outlined below, including operating system, to ensure compatibility with the school's network and digital resources.
Device requirements have been split into two categories, general learning which will be suitable for everyday classroom activities and most curriculum requirements, and higher performance which is aimed at specific subject requirements in senior schooling - CAD, video editing, 3D modelling.
Device Requirements Windows Laptops/Tablets
| General learning
| Higher performance |
| Platform | Laptop or Tablet with physical keyboard
(no on-screen keyboard)
|
| Processor | Intel
i5 /AMD Ryzen 5 or higher
| Intel Core i7 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB | 16GB |
| Battery | 6+ hours, under normal use
|
| Screen Size | 10" | 12" - 15" (consider weight and portability) |
| Storage | 256GB | 512GB |
| Network | 5Ghz 802.11ac (or newer)
|
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home/Pro
(if enabled, devices must be switched out of S mode before it can be configured for school use) |
Device Requirements iPads
Operating System
| Apple iOS 23
|
Screen size
| 11"
|
Storage
| 128GB
|
Network
| Wifi models only
|
Devices that are not compatible
- Windows 10 devices
- Linux based devices
- Chromebooks
- Android tablets
- Windows 11 in S mode (Windows can be switched out of S mode online via the Windows Store)
Additional recommendations
The following recommendations are a personal decision, please review your options and consider the following:
- Protective hard case / durable laptop sleeve/bag
- Extended warranty coverage
- Accidental damage protection (ADP) - will cover the laptop for any accidental drops/physical damage not covered by the standard warranty
- Wired headphones/earphones - required for Naplan and some senior assessments
Care of Device
It is the responsibility of families to keep their chosen device in good working order to ensure minimal disruption to learning.
It is expected that students bring their IT device to school each day fully charged. Please note that students cannot charge their devices throughout the school day.
Each device should be clearly labelled with the student's name.
Students should take care to put their device to sleep when moving around, as failure to do so can damage the hard drive and cause potential data loss.