Choosing The Best Laptop For College Students
Editors note: This post was submitted by one of our readers; Marc JH
It can be a daunting task these days to decide the best laptop for college students. Are the more expensive ones better? In a lot of cases, it may not be so true. For most college students, cheaper is going to be better. And, with todays disposible socitey, this is a good rule of thumb for laptops.
The average laptop will only have a life of a few years at best. Let’s face it, that can of soda that dumped into it sure didn’t help to extend that life any. Neither will the fall off the table at the Student Union Building. So look for a good, tough laptop that does not cost a fortune, as you will probably need to replace it at least once before your college career is over.
A new trend is to go with a Netbook, or an ultra small version of a laptop. And there are good and bad points on these. One, the lower price is a good incentive to check them out. And the smaller, lighter size is another good point. But most of them do not have CD/DVD drives. So using any type of software is out of the question unless you can access it online too. And the smaller screen on a killer crunch study night could get to be annoying as well. It is probably better to go with one of the smaller screens on a regular laptop.
There are also some very light and very well equiped laptops out there that come with a hefty price for their portability. These are high-end models, that will cost a considerable bit more. There again, you will have to make the final decision on what you are willing to spend, and these loaded laptops are wonderful, but the price is a concern, and if you are looking at possibly replacing it half-way through your college experience is that going to be worth it, having enough memory to download half the documents in the free world, or play the latest, most graphics intense version of a video game? Really, do you NEED 1,000 songs on there? Get a smaller, less costly version for your college classes, and get that big old beast after you graduate!
Most of the budget laptops are bulkier, and do not have alot of the features that will allow you to be a gamer on them, but if you are just looking for a basic laptop to take to and from class and use for your studies, there are some GREAT deals out there. Check the “Bigbox” stores, as well as online sites, as they will often put out internet-only deals that can save you a ton of cash! Watch the advertisements, and go to stores and look around. See what is out there, and make notes of the ones that you might be interested in. Start a little bit before you need it, like at least a month before you go to school, so that you can price shop, and get the laptop and get it set up and ready to go and be familiar with it before you have to use it in earnest.
One thing that I think I would avoid however is purchasing a USED unit. Those can be tricky. Even if they are certified that they are refurbished, do you really want to take a chance on that laptop with ALL of your term paper in it crashing and dying? I think that new would be the best choice here. Yes, new ones can crash too, but you do get tech support for usually one year, so there is at least a hope that you might can recover something.
Deciding the best laptop for college students really has to depend on the student and the budget that they are willing to put out there! Deals can be had, it takes a little effort, and you have to keep your eyes on the prize. Go for lower costs, and less bling, and you will have a nice little unit that will serve you well! Good luck, and happy shopping!
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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.
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