College Laptop Guide
If you’re headed to college, besides new clothes, bedding, and a shower caddy, the one thing you definitely want to bring with you is a new college laptop computer. But as a new student dealing with tuition and room and board, you’re also going to want to save money. What are some of the ways that you can accomplish both of these goals?
First, consider that you don’t necessarily have to have the newest and most trendy computer. If you are not going to be doing complex programming—in other words, if you’re like most students, using your computer for word processing, surfing the Internet, sending email, and for music and videos—you can likely get by with a less expensive machine than others might need.
Second, less expensive brands can be just as useful as some of the trendier, more expensive models. For example, you might pay upwards of $1,000 for a basic Apple MacBook, even with Apple’s student discount. But if you’re on a budget and looking to save money on your laptop, why not compare it to models put out by Dell, Toshiba, or even Acer? These days, all of the programs you’d want to run are likely available for just about any machine running any popular operating system, so you’ll probably be just as happy with another brand.
Third, shop online. Laptop computers like the one you’re buying for college are commodities. That means that they’re the same thing whether you buy them from one retailer or another. So, you should use that to your advantage by comparing prices online, and even ordering direct from the manufacturer where that’s available. You’ll be amazed at how much money you can save by doing this.
Fourth, if you’re really on a budget, consider purchasing a used laptop for college. You can often find good deals on eBay and craigsist, where you’ll be able to buy your college laptop for $200 or less. The drawback is that there won’t be a warranty, of course. However, if you do go with a used machine, be sure you’re buying a modern enough version to meet your needs; there’s nothing worse than ordering a laptop only to realize it doesn’t have a wireless internet connection for example, because you’ve never seen one so old that it didn’t have one! Also, be sure to reformat the hard drive and add your own software once you buy the laptop. You never know what kinds of sketchy viruses the previous owner might have downloaded by accident, but by formatting and starting over you can enjoy an almost-new laptop experience!
A word of caution: You may be tempted to consider buying one of the less expensive netbook laptops for college, which can run as little as $300 or $400 for a brand new machine. However, if you’re strongly considering this, make sure you go into the store and play around with them for a while. Those small keyboards and tiny screens might be okay for occasional use while traveling, or as a backup machine so that you don’t have to rely completely on the desktop computer back in your dorm room. But if you’re going to be writing papers and virtually living with your computer as many college students do, you might find that a netbook simply isn’t big enough to fit your needs.
One last tip: Call or email the bookstore at your new college and tell them that you’re planning to buy a new college laptop. You may find that they have great deals for new students that could beat anything you’d find anywhere else. No matter when or where you get your new laptop, though, make yourself a promise. When you outgrow it, keep it. Stuff it in the back of a closet somewhere. Someday years from now, you’ll get a kick out of booting it up again to read all those old papers you wrote back in college. You’ll look back with nostalgia at a machine that will be an antique then, and you’ll smile as you think about all the things you learned while using it.
Tags: acer, Apple, apple macbook, budget, college, college laptop, college students, computer, dell, hard drive, keyboard, Laptops, Laptops For College, Mac, Macbook, netbook, RAM, sending email, Software, toshiba, warranty, word processingRelated posts
A Guide to Pink Notebooks
Pink notebooks come as the perfect example for the marriage of style and technology. The gadget, styled like a fashion must-have, enhances the appearance of young women, not to mention improves their productivity in school or at work. Pink notebooks happen to be some of the most clamored for objects on the market. Fad or not, having one brings a haul of advantages for women.
Why the Pink Notebook?
There’s no denying that pink notebooks add more depth to the rather spunky and naïve connotation of the color pink. With their sleek contours and picturesque hue, ladies would look more professional and in touch with their sense of style just by bringing these gadgets to a populous location. The laptop garners a lot of attention and a lot of positive connotations from the general public. It could enhance one’s image and even the perceived social status. Who wouldn’t want to have a gadget like that?
More than just Beauty
Performance-wise, the latest models released from reputable brands leave very little to be desired. The laptops are getting more and more powerful over time, and the pink notebook is no exception. Upon purchasing one, you’ll have no trouble fulfilling your duties at work as well as your social responsibilities – through social networking and instant messaging. Best of all, you can do all of them simultaneously, without slowdowns, given the capabilities of advanced processors. Multitasking shouldn’t be a problem, since it’s a skill that most women possess.
Not much of a Financial Constraints
Given its advantages professionally and aesthetically, the pink notebook is growing in popularity. More and more women are demanding for it. As a result, the prices are gradually decreasing, much to everyone’s advantage. Secondhand, refurbished, and rented units are also available for a much-needed financial break. So, all in all, you can take home a pink laptop anytime you want. How awesome is that?
Pink Notebooks for Sale
Pink is the default female color, as ladies love to indulge themselves in the hue as much as possible. So, wanting a pink electronic gadget is very much possible. In fact, such gadgets have soared in popularity, worldwide, with pink notebooks for sale coming as the prime example. Finding them should be easy, and it surely is, with the number of places where you can get one.
Computer Stores and Dealers
Computer stores and dealers feature a wide selection of pink notebooks for sale, giving you a choice between fancy and pricey models or cheap refurbished units. The first things you will see are the notebooks made by popular brands. Quite a number of them are on display, with each brand occupying a huge section. There are also racks for refurbished units – for those who are a bit low on cash – as well as those for laptop accessories. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can always go to another shop. Computer stores are often found in clusters, so not much travel is necessary.
The Net
The internet holds the most number of pink notebooks for sale. You can find everything that a computer store has to offer, plus older models and even obsolete ones. If you’re quite the sleuth, you can grab a unit at a discounted rate – secondhand laptops. You can also sell off your notebook in a jiffy online, if you’re in dire need of funds.
Pink Notebooks are Cheaper in Other Countries
Travelers enjoy an advantage if they’re into electronics. Countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines sell pink notebooks at much lower rates, compared to the US, Canada and Europe. By visiting such countries, not only will you be treated to rich cultural backgrounds, you’ll also bring home quite a dainty gadget. If you brought lots of pocket money, you might as well go for other toys, like mobile phones, cameras, and even gaming consoles.
Tags: camera, computer, gadgets, instant messaging, laptop, laptop accessories, Laptops, notebook, notebooks, schoolRelated posts
Is The iPad A Good College Laptop?
In January 2010, Apple’s owner, Steve Jobs, announced their newest technology yet: the Apple iPad. When he initially announced the launch of this new fantastic piece of technology he raved about all the capabilities it can perform. The Apple iPad is similar to that of the iPhone, although much larger and now in laptop form. It contains practical applications targeted towards the younger population, more specifically teens and young adults hence perfect for college students. Its versatility and user-friendly applications targeted towards the younger population is what makes this computer a great college laptop.
Hard Cover Books are a Thing of the Past
University students have many books to carry that can weigh between 10 to 20 pounds per book. Just as people can read books on the iPhone, University students will be able to read their textbooks in an eBook format on a much larger screen and only need to carry around a 1 ½ pound “textbook” rather than three or four 10 pound textbooks while accessing all of their reading materials for all their classes on this one light weight “textbook.” With the great selection of iPad messenger bags on the market it should be possible to have a virtual library of textbooks all weight less then that of a laptop!
Convenient Note Taking and Calendar Applications
Another feature that makes the Apple iPad a good college laptop is that it provides that same user-friendly capability to take notes and have them stored in one compact location. University students will love this feature because all of their notes will be kept in that one location. You can email notes to classmates without the worry of getting your hardcopy notes back. The calendar feature is extremely useful for college students as it easily allows them to plug in all important dates for exams, assignments, and meetings; they can easily plan out their own timeframes of when to begin working on an assignment, dates of important exams, study group dates, and social events.
Video and Photo Applications
It’s no secret that today’s teens and young adults are addicted to iPods, You Tube and iTunes as well as taking pictures. The great thing about this computer is that you can watch your favorite videos on a clear and crisp 9 ½ by 7 ½ inch screen. Also, the iPad gives you easy access to purchase and download your favorite music on iTunes and listen to them in high quality through your iPad. This laptop can also be used as a digital picture frame when not in use.
The Apple iPad makes for a good college laptop for any college student. The price runs from $500 to just under $850 and is reasonably priced compared to other laptops, especially for all the features and applications it has. Is the Apple iPad a good college laptop? Absolutely! You get a great high quality laptop with optimal features and will meet the needs of any college student.
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