The largest factor in purchasing a laptop for college use is often price. This is understandable, although there are many other factors to consider. Here are a few of my suggestions for good laptops for college students. 

Cheap laptops of many brands are available, but Toshiba Satellites have shown greater quality than the competitor’s in their price range. The Toshiba Satellite C650 is a good starting point in a good, but usable laptop. It has decent battery life, and is priced in the neighborhood of 400 dollars. The Toshiba Satellite laptops have a full numberpad on the keyboard, but this takes up space that might be better spent on other keys. It is still much easier to type on than a netbook, though.

For those that have the money, and want to get the top quality for it, the Macbook reigns as one of the best college laptops. While it costs nearly 1000 dollars, the Macbook has been praised as lightweight, easy to use, high quality, stylish, durable, and well worth the investment for anyone that has the money. Some people dislike the occasional quirks in, and general lack of games available for the Mac OS.

If price isn’t an issue, but needing a solid Windows platform is, the Lenovo Thinkpad may be perfect for you. The Thinkpad T series fall at around 900 dollars, but are well built, fast, and have a large array of options. Derived from the IBM Thinkpad, the Lenovo Thinkpad has one of the lowest failure rates of all laptops, helping to insure that you will have your laptop when you need it.

The most popular computer brand on the market is undoubtedly Hewlett Packard. HP offers cheap, medium quality laptops, which fall behind the Thinkpad in performance, behind the Macbook in style, and behind the Satellite in price. However, there is definitely something to be said for mediocrity. An HP Pavillion dv6 has the raw computer power of a Thinkpad or Macbook, but lacks the high price, exacting standards, and incredible feel. The Pavillion will set you back around 500 dollars, and has a higher failure rate than the Thinkpad and Macbook, but is generally is good choice for a normal college student.

For portability, there are expensive ultraportables from the Sony Vaio to the Macbook Air that cram the power of a larger laptop into just a few pound, but the high price precludes these from the college laptop market. Netbooks are a viable way to go if you are always on the go. The MSI Wind is one of the better choices of netbooks. At around 300 dollars, the Wind is small, light, and cheap, while managing to stay on battery for longer than the average netbook today. Like all netbooks, though, the light weight ans low price come at the cost of a higher failure rate, and a miniscule keyboard. If you go this route, definitely find a netbook that you can type on for a while to insure it doesn’t drive you insane.

Ultimately, there is no single best college laptop. The choice you ought to make depends on how much you’re willing to pay, whether you value style in addition to function, and what you need from your laptop. The best laptop you can have is the one that matches you best.

If you can’t make up your mind, and just need something to type papers on, side with the Toshiba. If you’re into gaming, get a Thinkpad with a discrete graphics card. If you want something that will simply work, go with the Macbook. The Wind can be carried with you easily. The Pavillion is a good bet if you don’t really know what you want, or if you want a little bit of everything.

In the current market there are so many laptops to choose from that it can sometimes become overwhelming. Hopefully, this will help your search for the best laptop for you. The five best affordable laptops for college students, in my opinion, are explained in the following article.

Number 5 on the list is the Apple MacBook. The downside is the price, but for under $1000 you can have a smooth sleek machine that will last for years to come. Apple also offers an incredible service plan that I would recommend to any college student. The MacBook can easily keep up with the fast paced lifestyle of college and still look professional in any setting with its super slim design. The battery life is exceptional as well, and can last through the many hours of papers and internet surfing you are sure to do at all the coffee shops on campus.

Number 4 on the list is the Dell Vostro 3500 with a 2.26 GHz processor, 2 gigs of ram and a 250 GB hard drive you would expect to pay around $550. This laptop allows college students to easily create all the necessary documents throughout the day on a single charge with the correct power settings. The size and weight can comfortably ft into any backpack, but for the price I would like to see a little more performance.

The HP G62-340 squeezes into the number 3 position on the list by sporting a 2.20 GHz processor and 320 GB hard drive and 3GB of RAM standard, all for about the same price as the number 4 laptop. The HP G series laptops are built very well and can accommodate just about anything that the average college student can, I mean will, throw at it. It can create word documents and spreadsheets or help you wind down with a movie after a hard day of classes. This laptop can be found for $550 or less.

Holding the number 2 position is the Gigabyte TouchNote. This laptop contains a 1.66 GHz Processor, enough for any task a college student might need it for, accompanied by versatility. The laptop is able to become a tablet pc; this allows for notes to be “written” on the screen or typed and makes navigation with the computer a lot easier. The battery life is good and this laptop relly has all the extras that college students yearn for, all with a price tage that comes in under $500.

The number 1 position belongs to the HP Mini 110-3130nr, a small netbook that can easily surf the web, type all of your college papers or watch your favorite video between classes. The built in camera allows you to keep in contact with everyone from home or record the pesky roommate who’s sneaking into your secret stash. The keypad is about 92% the size of the average keyboard but after a few sentences you don’t even realize that it’s any different. Its compact size allows college students to carry it anywhere without the bulk and weight of a laptop in your bag. The battery life is great as well, even with the standard battery, but if you want more time the optional extended battery allows hours of useful life without a plug-in. the best news for college students is that you can pick one up for under $300. In my opinion this tough, compact laptop is the best college laptop.

While no laptop is necessarily better than another for a person, its use must truly be considered and any of these five laptops will accommodate the needs of a college student. I hope that these recommendations help in your search for a laptop.

The search to discover the best college laptop isn’t always a simple one. The thing to remember is that not every student needs the same things from their computers. If you are a parent who is looking for notebook deals for for your college bound daughter or son, then you should figure out your kid’s personal requirements. Once you know what your daughter or son needs in their computer, do your research and find an affordable laptop that fulfills your kid’s needs. To help you out, here a list of the top 5 laptops for college students:

The Apple MacBook Pro is one of the top college laptops. It can get a little expensive, but it’s worth every penny. It is equipped with a decent processor, which comes in handy. The battery seems to last a lot longer than most laptop batteries do. It’s a bit heavy, but that is to be expected with computers of that size. You can get the MacBook Pro 13, which has a screen that is about 13 inches long. You can also get the MacBook Pro 14, which has a screen that is about 15 inches long. Overall, the quality is great and The Apple MacBook Pro is highly recommended.

The ASUS Laptop with Intel Pentium Processor is another good choice for a college student’s laptop. When it comes to speed, this computer has it. A lot of computers, even really good computers, tend to get slow on us. But, the ASUS Laptop does a good job at maintaining that quick loading speed that doesn’t leave you feeling frustrated with your computer. This computer has several function keys that other computers don’t have. For example, it has a function key that allows you to adjust the brightness of the computer screen.

The Acer Aspire Laptop with Single Core Processor AS5532 is one of the best value laptops on the market. If you’re looking for the best performing computer for the college student to use, then this is not the computer for you. But, if you are looking for a computer that works decently and is affordable, then you might want to give it a try. Just be prepared for the possibly of your pages loading slower than you would like.

The HP Pavillion DV6-2162NR is another affordable computer and it works decently. This computer has High Definition graphics, which is something most college students would appreciate in a laptop. This computer allows you to rip DVDs to an archive, which may come in handy. This computer is built in a way that allows for great quality entertainment while using the laptop and it also comes with the basic things that a college student will need in their computer.

The Gateway NV5387u Laptop also comes with High Definition graphics. It allows you to store videos and movies on the computer. If the college student loves to listen to music, then this computer will also allow them to save their music to their own media library. It has many features and the computer’s performance is good.

So, there you have it — the five best college laptops available to students. Every one of them is different, just like every college student is different. Every student has their own needs when it comes to computers. Some people require speed, while other people can get by with a slow laptop. Some people need High Definition graphics, while other people have no use for them. Just do your research and find out which laptop computer fits your needs.

This is a guest post by Charles Moranell, a new reader and writer at helium.com.

What should a new college student should look for in a laptop? With so many different laptops out there and available today it’s very hard to know what to look for. You need to look for certain features, prices, and of course one stylish enough to match your individualism and make you stand out from your new classmates. Luckily with so many articles found online, or even by asking family, friends or teachers, you can find what is needed and for a manageable price. As an avid laptop user myself, certain features I can think of off the top of my head are certain to help you for your college classes.

A model you may consider would be the Toshiba Satellite Laptop L455 model. This laptop comes with a variety of features such as a 3 GB RAM, USB ports, 250 GB hard drive and is also in a lightweight and small design. The 3 GB RAM can be upgraded without any problems, this laptop also plays music and allows you to watch movies. To make this laptop even better, besides having all the basic needs for a college student, Toshiba has one of the best value laptops for students.

Another amazing model all college students should consider would be the Gateway NV5387u laptop, which has been featured on numerous lists for potential college students. The number one thing that is so amazing about this laptop is the price. Seeing as most college students aren’t rolling in cash, price is another big thing to look for when buying a laptop. This laptop costs a mere $500, and comes with many other features needed when in college. This laptop has a Dual Core processor as well as a 2.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM, and a hard drive of 320 GB. Also for this price, the screen of this laptop is at least 15.6 inches, as well as equipped with amazing graphics. Not only can you do school work but you are able to play video games, watch shows and movies and store as much data as you can possibly want on it.

Third and finally, the best laptop computer for college students I believe would be the Apple MacBook. This laptop is featured on many lists which includes it in the top five laptops for college students and is loved by generally the entire population. Not only are these computers fast, reliable, and meet the basic requirements for college, it is also stylish or good looking. Most people do not want a laptop that is unappealing to the eye, and thankfully the MacBook is anything but that. Known as a beautiful model, and being purchased by a wide variety of students, this laptop has a Core 2 Duo processor, a 2 GB RAM, a 9400M graphics card as well as a 160 GB hard disk capacity. As well as a 13 inch display screen, though some come with smaller or larger screens. Though is costs about $1299 and up, this laptop is definitely worth the price.

When searching for a laptop for college, it is important to research and look for hours about the basic requirements needed for a laptop, as well as what makes you happy and comfortable. Make sure you do not buy a laptop with features you don’t understand, simply because it is the latest and hottest thing, and you want to outshine your fellow classmates. When buying a laptop, make sure you understand everything about it, inside and out. You do not want to buy it, mess something up and end up having not laptop to use for college.

This post continues our Best College Laptops 2010 series.

READER QUESTION: What is your pick for the best value laptop and why?

This is a guest post by Jim Walken, who is well known about here as someone always willing to help out and answer a question. Thanks Jim!

One of the necessities a college student needs to help them in college is a laptop for term papers, researching, keeping in contact with family, etc. Of course, there are student computer labs on a college campus, but it is difficult and inconvenient to not have a laptop with you wherever you go instead of hanging around the computer lab until the hours close. However, when deciding on a laptop, there are certain laptops that are much better than others for college students.

You’ve heard me say it before….the best laptops for college students will be ones that can best fit the student’s needs. Being a college student myself, I have been through my share of laptops and seen what everyone else uses as well, so I have come up with the best laptops that I think are great for college students like myself.

First off, I prefer Mac to PC, so one of my pick for the best college laptop of the five is the Apple MacBook. The MacBook is not extremely cheap, but for under a grand you can get a decent sized laptop with great power and functionality. Mac is a different operating system and a different interface than PC, but it is not very hard to learn how to work on one. I like the MacBook because it is a decent size, it’s still portable and actually quite popular with a lot of college students. It also has a great battery life, and also has attractive features, and you buy it with different memory sizes and different options, but the basic MacBook is just under a grand without tax, not too much for a college student. They can get up to as much as $2,000, depending on the size of the screen and what core components you decide on.

I would also pick the new Apple iPad for college students as well. I actually have one, as do a few students that I know, and it is fully capable of many things that a regular laptop could do, except it does not have a web camera. It is very light, and very versatile, allowing students to buy their eTextbooks on it and read them right at their fingertips. It also works as a sketchpad, where students can purchase a pen for the iPad and draw and take notes. It also has a very long battery life, and even though the keyboard is on the touchscreen itself, it is not that difficult to use. If students have an issue with this, they can purchase an optional wireless keyboard for around $70 and use it with the iPad. I have asked a few people besides myself about the iPads that they own, if they prefer their laptop or their iPad, and many prefer the iPad as it is easier to carry, and less weight in their backpack. The iPad comes with two options, with the Apple 3G wireless network ability and WiFi, or just WiFi, and the option of 3G adds to the cost of the iPad by about $150. The iPad comes in different sizes of memory, from 16GB, 32GB to 64GB. I also really like the touch screen, and the thousands of apps available. You could think of it as a larger iPhone, but more like a PC tablet, without the phone capability. The iPad starts at $499, and goes up to a little over $800, cheaper than the MacBook.

Another personal favorite of mine would be the ASUS Eee pc, a small and portable netbook perfect for web browsing and taking notes. It is rather small, and is primarily used for just web browsing, at netbooks are made for, but at a price of around $400, and a full keyboard, it is still a pretty good deal for a college student. It does able you to run programs like Microsoft Word and programs you would generally need for classes, but only if you want a portable laptop for only taking notes and web browsing. Otherwise, the ASUS Eee netbook probably would not be what you want if you are looking at doing more than strictly class work on it.

Another top pick for college students would be another small one, the Acer Aspire AS1410-2954 laptop. It is a decent screen size of 11.6 inches, and is considered a laptop. It has Windows 7 on it, a relatively newer operating system, but it is not hard at all to get used to. It also comes in a very stylish maroon, instead of a traditional black, white or silver, giving it a little bit of character as well. It costs around $500, which for the portability, the features and the screen size, it is a pretty great deal in my opinion.

The last top pick I would suggest for college students is the HP Pavilion DV6-2162NR. Hewlett Packard has constantly kept its laptops fast, and fair priced, without sacrificing on much as well. It has a large screen of 15.6 inches, and allows to upgrade to a lot of RAM and memory for students who need more for classes like computer science majors, or for watching movies, playing games, or running multiple programs at one time. This laptop is under $1000 at the basic model, and adding more components, memory and features will raise the price, but for everything the laptop has to offer, it is a reasonable deal for students in college.

The best laptop for a college student truly depends on their needs for classes, and their personal preferences. Some students may prefer a Mac operating system to a PC, or they may want something smaller and portable. It also depends on your budget as a college student, and how much you are looking for in a laptop. It depends on how much you will use the laptop as well. Some students have a netbook or tablet and a regular sized laptop, so they can use one at home, and take the smaller one to class instead of a notepad. It all depends on the student and what is the best option for them.

In today’s technology-saturated world, lacking a laptop or even an up-to-date laptop can be a serious disadvantage. This is especially true for students, who represent not only the newer generation that relies upon technology more than ever, but also engage in a plethora of tasks that require specialized tools found most conveniently packaged in a laptop. Another boon for possessing a college laptop is its usefulness in taking class notes because it enables students to transcribe their professors’ points more quickly than the traditional pen and paper. However, the problem would be acquiring the laptop, especially when many college students are so cash-strapped due to increasing tuition costs and other fees. Luckily, there are many strategies for saving money when purchasing the best laptop for college students.

College students can decrease their expenditures by doing research, taking a class on information technology, and improving upon a lower quality laptop. Doing a little bit of research will go a long way toward helping college students save money on laptop computers. This includes getting a feel for the different styles and models available.

One of the most crucial questions many laptop-shoppers ask is whether to acquire a Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac book laptop. They can settle such issues through familiarity with the different types of laptops, and that often comes through paying attention to friends’ and acquaintances’ computers, as well as asking them questions about their likes and dislikes. Additionally, most college students have easy access to some of the top computer-experts in the world in their schools’ engineering and computer science departments.

These people, who undoubtedly have deep knowledge of different computer systems, would provide valuable assistance as well. Through people with better or worse laptop systems, college students can obtain information about laptops, which forms a necessary component of saving money when purchasing. Also, through this process of asking different people about laptops, potential laptop-buyers can gain critical insights into bargains that other people obtained, as well as good deals they have seen. This would serve as an addendum to ads and coupons the student personally found. These savings and sales can save laptop buyers a considerable chunk of change.

Secondly, taking a class on information technology can prove to be invaluable to anyone purchasing a laptop computer. The fact is that most college students today consider themselves quite tech-savvy because of their ability to operate a wide range of different technological systems. However, when it comes to understanding the details and underlying workings of these systems, many are lost. Yet, these seemingly superfluous details can be some of the most crucial when purchasing computers because they inform the customer of exactly what is needed.

Instead of spending a great deal of time puzzling through laptop specification and potentially making mistakes by buying laptops that contain unnecessary components or lack essential ones, knowledge of these details would solve the problem. A class need not be a formal lecture class, even though enrolling in a class with a group of other students often times is the most effective way to learn; listening to free lectures posted online or working through a textbook would suffice. Whatever way students choose to take their information technology class, the knowledge they acquire from the more general such an understanding of RAM and operating systems, to the more specific, such as the number of cores for the processor or the dots per inch for the LCD screen, will help them know what they want and need. The macbook/”>best laptops for college students will depend on the particular student, and taking a class will enable them to determine exactly what that best laptop should contain. By knowing what they need in a laptop, students will save both time and money from going to gadgets they do not need.

Lastly, a somewhat strategic method for keeping laptop costs down that students can employ is to purchase cheaper laptop computers and upgrade some of the lower-quality components in it. The knowledge from the information technology class comes in handy here because college students need to know which components cost more money and time, and are incredibly difficult to install, and which components are relatively cheap and easy to replace. For example, if students want more temporary storage, they can save the cost of purchasing a laptop with a great deal of RAM, and instead buy individual RAM chips for a much cheaper price and add them to their system themselves.

Also, students can buy laptops with lower-quality sound and video cards. In many cases, they will be sufficient for their purposes, and they will have saved money; and if it turns out that these lower-quality sound and video cards are bothersome, students can buy high-quality ones and install them for a cheaper price than wasting money purchasing expensive laptop computer with high-quality cards already built-in. Thus, it is evident that college students can decrease their expenditures by doing research, taking a class on information technology, and improving upon a lower quality laptop.

By going through this process, students not only invest in their bank accounts, but also in their futures. The time and energy put into learning about laptops, finding good deals, and doing some self-installation work benefit the student greatly because they provide the student with a deeper understanding of computer systems. As computers are such an integral part of society today and increasing in importance in many parts of the world, that understanding is good knowledge to have.

(Editors note: This review was written by one of our readers Helen R).

One of the best laptops for college students is the Apple Mac book laptop. The Apple Macbook is Apple’s most affordable laptop yet it still features the high quality components and the highly acclaimed Mac OS X Snow Leopard operating system that people have come to expect from Apple. The Mac book comes in a small 13.3-inch package that makes mobility simple. This will make transport of the Mac book to all areas of campus, including on trips home, a breeze.

The Macbook also features a built-in seven-hour battery. This will give students flexibility in their use of the laptop away from the dorm. It will allow them to venture out to class without a charger or any sort of wires. This makes setup in classrooms simple since the computer will go from sleep to active in a matter of seconds making it one of the best laptops for students in college.

Like other Apple laptops, the Macbook features a wireless ethernet card that allows students to network with their school network connections. This is important to a student because it enables wireless connectivity everywhere they may want to go.

In addition to the hardware specifications of the Macbook laptop, the Snow Leopard operating system supports various graphics and advanced media programs, which are of particular use to graphics design students. As anyone in the design community will tell you, Macs are the premier graphics design vehicles and there are many programs that run exclusively on that platform.

Besides being, in my opinion, the best laptop for college students, Macs are also great entertainment devices for students. Given the constraints of cramped dorms, the Macbook is useful in providing an entertainment center to students. It is versatile enough to serve both as a television from which to stream and watch movies, a stereo system from which to download, listen, and store music, and lastly as a gaming platform in which students can play games on.

The Apple Macbook’s greatest asset to students is its price. It is competitively priced at under $1000 for its base models. Should the student or user require additional memory, hard drive space, or software; the user is able to customize their laptop to suit their needs. Additionally, Apple offers amazing student discounts that further reduce the price of their computers thereby making them even more affordable. Check the back to school laptop sales for even more of a discount.

The Apple Macbook is clearly the laptop designed for the contemporary college student. Its multiple uses, both for schoolwork and for entertainment, combined with its incredible value make it a best buy for any college student.

Reader Question: For those that have owned a Macbook, why would you recommend it for a college student?

Choosing a laptop for college can be a complicated thing. There are so many options out there, offering such a vast array of capabilities, features, and bells and whistles that selecting the right one can be daunting. Laptops can run anywhere from about $300 to $2000 or more, and that price difference often has less to do with quality and reliability than with features and capabilities you may never need or use. How, then, should you make your choice? Read our tips for choosing the best laptops for college and use the coupons and codes listed here to save even more money!

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The first thing to do is to develop a clear sense of exactly what you need in a college laptop. If you are primarily concerned with the basics, like word processing, internet access, wireless, et cetera, you may be fine with something as inexpensive and simple as a netbook. These are extremely compact, relatively no-frills laptops intended for basic needs. Unless you plan to study something like music or video editing, which may involve more elaborate software and capabilities, a netbook should meet virtually all of your academic needs.

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For most courses, you will only need to be able to write and edit on your computer, to participate in online discussion groups, and to e-mail, and almost any currently sold laptop will allow you to do those things. If you intend to study music or something involving video editing, you may need to do some research into higher-end laptops with more memory and possibly with more software included at the time of purchase. If you know your potential major and believe it may require particular computer capabilities, you might contact a professor or department chair to inquire about recommendations. Remember, the best laptop for college students depend on each individuals needs.

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Aside from academic needs, of course, you may want to consider other uses in a laptop for college. If you are interested in watching streaming video, for example, you may want to select a laptop with HD (High Definition) video capability, or higher-end wireless technology. You might also think more about audio and speaker quality than you would if you were thinking of your computer as a primarily academic tool.

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Once you figure out what features and capabilities you need, do some research about what brands are most reliable and represent the best deals. Consumer Reports is a good site for product reviews, and customer reviews on sites like Amazon.com can give good guidance. Hewlett Packard, Toshiba, and Dell are all reliable and well-reviewed throughout the range of laptop options, but each produces some specific models that are superior to others. You will also need to decide whether you want to go with a PC or a Mac. Both have advantages — PCs tend to be loaded with software that will be compatible with what most others have (like Microsoft Word), while Macs tend to be very good for music recording and similar applications.

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In closing, choosing laptops for college comes down to three steps: decide what you need for school, decide what you want beyond those necessities, and do some research to find out who makes what you need best for the best price. If you think of the process systematically like this, you should be able to make a solid choice with a minimum of worry.

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With all the hoopla out there on the best college laptops to buy, it’s hard to really get the correct and best information that there is. Go to any website and they’ll tell you that they have the best laptops at the best price. How can you know if they’re telling the truth or just feeding you the typical sales pitch?

First you need to search around at different places, either on the internet or in person. Once you familiarize yourself with who is out there doing business, it will greatly help in finding what you really need and want. After that, then you can look at the different brands and models to see which one offers the best deals.

With the way the economy is at this time, there are many business’ out there that will practically beg you to buy a laptop from them. They will offer almost anything and everything (including the kitchen sink). You need to be wise and patient when shopping for the best laptop. A salesperson can smell when they have someone looking to buy. If you don’t act like a desperate buyer, they will offer you services and accessories that they normally wouldn’t offer if they thought you would buy regardless of the deal

Choosing the best laptops for college is very important  so you need to take you time and choose wisely. You might even find out there were things that you didn’t know before following these simple steps. Your laptop is something that you will be using (and quite often) for the next four years while you’re in college so take your time and do your homework. Remember, you don’t have to buy the best laptop for college students, just the best one for you.

As for some ideas for what may be best for you, you can read some of the other articles on this site or just listen to the salesperson and take notes. When a sales person sees you taking notes, they will assume that you are not buying at that moment and give you all the information that you need without pressure. Make a list of what you’re looking for and what you’re not looking for. Think about how much money you’re willing to spend.

With a little bit of pre-planning and some research, you’ll find that shopping for your college laptop will result in the perfect laptop for you.

Suggestions for best college laptops from cnet.com:

The macbook/”>best laptops for college students and any others who may be on a tight budget should be looking for a laptop that will deliver the most bang for their buck. In particular, students typically want and need a notebook that is light enough for them to take back and forth all around campus but still be tough enough to take the everyday abuse it will receive being in their bag or backpack.
Key Features:

• AMD Turion 64, AMD Turion 64 X2, Intel Core Duo, or Intel Core 2 Duo

• At least 1GB of memory

• Big hard drive to hold all those MP3s

• DVD burner for backups and class projects

• Wireless and wired networking for classrooms and dorm rooms that are network-equipped

• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium or Apple Mac OS X