Computers need to be more readily available
Over the summer, my old HP Chromebook broke and completely shut down. Because of this I was in the market for a new one, and with school being online this year, a working computer was essential. I didn’t need a top-of-the-line computer, just one that would get me through the school year without too many bumps in the road and without being too pricey. The best option was just a regular Chromebook; I already knew how to use one and they are the easiest to operate without getting too expensive.
My dad and I started off our search at Costco, as I had seen some cheap Chromebooks there for about $300 When we got there I was surprised to find that they were all sold out, probably from other students in the same position as I was. The cheapest laptop I could find was around $650, which was more than double what I was expecting to spend.
We ended up leaving Costco empty-handed and grudgingly ready to look elsewhere for a new laptop. We went to a Target down the street where they were again out of Chromebooks, and for that matter, out of every other computer. I asked the employee when they would be back in stock and she said that they have been getting shipments sporadically and they didn’t know when more would come in. This was the same at every other store we went to.
Our world has changed so much to a point where computers are now essential to attend school. Thankfully our district has enough funding to give out enough chromebooks to students who need them, but a lot of other districts don’t have that kind of funding. This can make it hard to teach students who may not have the supplies they need and puts them at a disadvantage. Even a cheap computer is at least $250 which is money not everyone can spend.
Schools should get more funding especially in this unprecedented time. But manufacturers also need to be sending out more products regularly as it would not only benefit the people buying them, but the manufacturer as well because they would be making more money. If the people who can afford a cheap computer can’t get them then they will be forced to go to the districts and use chromebook taking them away from those who cannot afford them.
