BYOD at Lincoln High School
Last updated: 26 October 2026, 9:55am
All students in Years 9 to 13 are required to bring their own device to school. This page sets out the policies students must acknowledge, the minimum device specifications, purchasing guidance, and the software to be installed before the device is used at school.
Digital Use
All students are required to read and acknowledge the school's digital use and cell phone policies. Confirmation is collected during the first week of term.
Minimum Device Specifications
The following are the minimum specifications a device must meet. A device purchased to this standard should remain suitable for the five years from Year 9 to Year 13.
| Device type | A laptop running Windows, macOS or ChromeOS. All three platforms are supported. A tablet is not suitable unless it is paired with a physical keyboard. |
|---|---|
| Processor | On a Windows or Apple laptop, an Intel Core i5 or Core Ultra 5, or an AMD Ryzen 5, as a minimum; an Intel Core i7 or Core Ultra 7, or an AMD Ryzen 7, is recommended. As a general guide, look for at least 4 cores at 2.7GHz, or 6 cores at 3.2GHz for the recommended specification. |
| Memory (RAM) | 8GB minimum; 16GB recommended. Chromebooks operate largely within the browser, so 4GB is sufficient on those devices. |
| Storage | 128GB minimum; 256GB recommended. Windows and Apple devices should use a solid state drive (SSD) rather than a mechanical hard drive. |
| Battery life | A minimum of 6 hours. Charging may be available in some classrooms, but it should not be relied upon; devices should arrive fully charged each day. |
| Screen size | Approximately 14". Screens below 13" are impractical for classroom work, while those above 15" add considerable weight. |
Subject Requirements
Students taking Art, DVC or Media have access to Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes Photoshop and other industry standard applications. The only specifications that need to be increased for these subjects are memory and storage.
| Device type | The Adobe desktop applications are not available for ChromeOS, so these subjects require a Windows or Apple laptop |
|---|---|
| Memory (RAM) | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB recommended, as project files are considerably larger |
Purchasing Guidance
The following points are worth considering before purchasing, in addition to the specifications above.
- Specify memory at the time of purchase. Memory in most modern laptops is soldered to the mainboard and cannot be upgraded later. Where budget allows, select 16GB.
- Warranty and accidental damage cover. A two or three year warranty is advisable given five years of school use. Accidental damage cover, or the addition of the device to your home contents insurance, is strongly recommended. Damaged screens and liquid spills are the most common repairs we see.
- A protective case or sleeve for transport in a school bag, together with a set of wired headphones or earbuds.
- USB-C charging. Devices that charge over USB-C are preferable, as replacement chargers are more widely available and less expensive.
- Weight. A device of approximately 1.6kg or less is best suited to being carried between classes throughout the day.
- Antivirus software is not required. Windows and macOS include adequate built in protection, and Chromebooks do not require it. Please decline it if it is offered as an addition at the point of sale.
- Microsoft Office does not need to be purchased. Students receive the Office applications at no cost with their school login; refer to the Software section below.
- Refurbished ex-lease business laptops, such as an HP EliteBook or Dell Latitude, represent good value and are often better built than a new budget laptop at the same price. Confirm the warranty period and battery condition before purchasing.
Where to Purchase
Each link below opens the retailer's BYOD or school range, sorted by price where the retailer supports it. PB Tech maintains a page specific to Lincoln High School.
Entry level options
Please note: prices and stock change frequently, often week to week. The figures below were checked in October 2026 and are a guide only – always confirm the current price and availability with the retailer before purchasing.
- Lowest cost – Chromebook. PB Tech list an HP Chromebook 14a from approximately $410 and a Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Chromebook from approximately $454 on the Lincoln High School BYOD page. Noel Leeming list an Asus 14" Chromebook at approximately $599.
- PB Tech – a refurbished HP EliteBook 840 G8 (16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) at approximately $900, or a new Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15AMN7 (Ryzen 5, 8GB, 256GB) at approximately $950.
- Noel Leeming – Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14" (Ryzen 3, 8GB, 512GB SSD) at approximately $899.
- JB Hi-Fi – HP 15-fc0786AU 15.6" (8GB, 256GB SSD) at approximately $700 to $800 when on promotion.
- Harvey Norman – entry level stock changes frequently, so please refer to the BYOD listing sorted by price. Expect an 8GB / 256GB HP or Lenovo 15" device at approximately $900.
If you already own a device that meets the specifications above, there is no need to purchase another. Please bring it to the IT office and we will assist with connecting it to the school network.
Software
Once a Lincoln High School login has been issued, the applications below can be installed.
Each link directs to the appropriate download for the device in use.
Adobe Creative Cloud is required only for students taking Art, DVC or Media.
Switch Out of S Mode
Several applications used at school cannot be installed while a Windows device remains in S mode. Switching out is free of charge and takes approximately one minute, although it cannot be reversed.
