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. Remember, the best laptop for college students makes lie easier, not more difficult.

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.

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 for your laptop. 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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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.

There are varying answers to these two questions. The first thing should be to choose which laptop is the right size for you. Most students will want a comfortable laptop tote for college to use around campus. You should look for a laptop that is lightweight versus getting a larger screen. You should also look at the brightness level on the screen. Some students tend to work outside on their laptop and the brightness level will play a very important part. Many students look for more of a fashion statement with their laptop than for actual work. If that’s the case then find a vendor that sells a choice of colors and designs on the laptop.

The next thing one should look for is the price. Most college students will want to purchase cheap laptops. However, if you wish to store a large volume of music or other data collections you will need to have a larger hard drive. If you will be watching movies on your laptop, you will need to find one with a DVD player and maybe purchase one with a larger screen for easier viewing. If you happen to be a gamer, then you will want to go for the higher end specs, such as more processor power, more powerful video card, and bigger hard drive with more ram and drive space. You can even try to check out a promotion, such as free laptops with a purchase.

The last thing you should be concerned with would be accessories. You will need a bag to tote and protect your laptop moving from place to place and even to store it in your room. You may wish to purchase one with a built-in web cam to keep in touch and view loved ones at home. If you want the best laptops for college students, make sure the computer has a built-in wireless network.