Recently, a debate has begun over whether in-class laptops aid or hinder learning. While some research demonstrates that laptops can be an important learning tool, anecdotal evidence suggests more and more faculty are banning laptops from their classrooms because of perceptions that they distract students and detract from learning. The current research examines the nature of in-class laptop use in a large lecture course and how that use is related to student learning. Students completed weekly surveys of attendance, laptop use, and aspects of the classroom environment. Results showed that students who used laptops in class spent considerable time multitasking and that the laptop use posed a distraction to both users and fellow students.

Here is list of 5 best laptops for students with respect to weight, features and most important price:

1. Acer C720 Chrome book under Rs.20,000

This is an almost perfect laptop for a school student. It is inexpensive and geared for light work, such as preparing reports and web browsing etc. It is also very light with weight of just 1.2kgs.

The laptop is powered by a dual-core Intel Celeron processor running at 1.4GHz. It has 2GB RAM. The performance of the machine is good because it is geared to do tasks that don't require lots of horsepower. The keyboard and touchpad are best in class and the 11.6-inch screen is sharp and vibrant for its price.

C720 is a Chrome book. This means it uses Chrome OS and not the Windows. It is incredibly simple operating system -- something that will help a student -- with low maintenance overhead. The updates etc are handled automatically and a user doesn't have to install complex programs like virus scanner. The operating system works like Chrome browser so if your kid is familiar with it, he or she would be at home with the C720.

But at the same time, there are some drawbacks too. It doesn't have Windows so applications like Photoshop can't be run on it (though lighter photo editing apps are available). Also, the internal storage is limited to 16GB (more free storage is available on Google Drive) so heavy files like movies can't be stored on it. But see the bright side. If your kid can't store movies on his laptop, he won't probably watching them in class.

Acer C720 with 16GB internal storage is sold for around Rs.19,500.

2. Asus S200E under Rs.30,000

This Asus laptop have a 11.6-inch screen, which some users may find small, but everything else is pretty much perfect for its price. The laptop has a good keyboard and touchpad, is light at 1.4kgs, is slim and sleek, has a touchscreen and uses Windows 8. The touchscreen makes using windows slightly better experience.

In terms of hardware, the laptop is powered by an Intel Pentium 1.8 GHz, which is speedy enough to handle day-to-day workload. The laptop also has 4GB RAM and a 500GB hard disk.

Asus S200E with Windows 8 is sold for around Rs.29,000.

3. Lenovo Idea pad Flex 2-14 under Rs.40,000

Recently launched, the Idea Pad Flex 2 is a powerful and portable machine. It is powered by 4th gen Core i3 processor running at 1.7GHz. The machine has 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Disk, 8GB SSD cache (something that really helps the laptop boot faster and respond better while a user is working on it) and Windows 8.1.

The Flex 2 has 14-inch touchscreen, which helps while using Windows 8.1. The best bit about this laptop is keyboard. Lenovo laptops usually have keyboards that are slightly better than what the competitors offer in the same price bracket and the same is true for the Flex 2. The keyboard is not only click and responsive, it is also backlit, which is a rarity in this price bracket.

The Flex 2 is slim and light, for its size and price, at 1.9kgs. This would help if you are a college student who will have to lug around the laptop from classroom to classroom.

The Lenovo Flex 2 with Core i3 is available for around Rs.39,500.

4.  Toshiba Satellite S40-B X3110 around Rs.50,000

Actually at this price range there are two options -- the Toshiba machine listed here and a beefed up model of the Lenovo Flex 2. If you like the Flex 2, just get a version that has a faster processor and more memory. It will be under Rs.50,000.

If you can spend a little more, you can check out this Toshiba laptop. It offers a 14-inch screen 1TB hard disk, 4th gen Core i5 processor with speed up to 2.6GHz, 4GB RAM and Windows 8.1. There is even a dedicated graphics processor with 2GB memory though it doesn't have the power to run demanding 3D games at their maximum graphics settings.

The machine is light with weight of 1.9kgs and should fit in a small backpack with ease. It also has an attractive design with slim and sleek looks, something that will help a college student win some friends in the class.

The Toshiba Satellite S40-B X3110 sells for around Rs.51,000.

Another option in this price range is 11.6-inch MacBook that sells for around Rs.55,000.

5. MacBook Air 13-inch for around Rs.65,000

This is the ultimate laptop for a college student. Light, powerful and versatile, MacBook Air is fantastic at what it does. And it does a lot.

In terms of hardware, there is nothing special that stands out. The 13-inch screen has a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels. it is powered by a dual-core Core i5 processor running at 1.4GHz speed. Though the boost speed is up to 2.7GHz, which is one of the reasons why this machine doesn't feel slow. Another reason is 128GB flash storage, which makes the laptop feel faster than those with normal hard disks. The amount of RAM is 4GB.

But what really makes the Air stand out is the experience it offers. The aluminum body makes it look premium. It is a slim and sleek laptop with weight of just 1.25kgs. The keyboard, for its class, is fantastic and so is the touchpad. The fact that it runs OS X, which is definitely better than the Windows 8, also helps.

MacBook Air 13 with 128GB storage sells for around Rs.65,000.