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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(guest post written by: Julie C. )

There are many options and features that that you’ll find in laptops for students in, or starting college. Since all students have different needs, there are going to be a wide variety of things that influence their decisions. This is also one of the most important investments that a student will make. I have had my laptop since I began college and have been very happy with the choice that I made.

In my opinion, cost, ease-of-use, and the aesthetic elements of a laptop are some of its’ most important features of the best laptop for college students.

First, a student should decide how much they want to spend on a laptop for students. The range of prices is very large. A basic laptop can be found for around five-six hundred dollars, while pricier and more complex models can be as much as two thousand. If you are only going to use your laptop for word processing and emailing, then a cheaper version may suffice. If you play computer games, or use applications that “eat” a lot of memory (i.e. music or architecture programs), then you may want to spend more to get a better system in your computer. If money is tight, going cheap may be best as you can always upgrade a few years down the line.

Students should make sure that their laptops are easy-to-use. Go to the store and try one out or talk to other students for recommendations. Also, finding out if you are a Mac or PC person may be the first step in this direction.

Lastly, aesthetics can mean a lot to many students. If you are going to take your computer out of the house a lot, then make sure it is portable. Get a laptop that isn’t too heavy or bulky. On the other hand, let’s say a student has poor vision. In that case, a laptop with a bigger screen may be the way to go.

These are just a few aspects of a laptop that could influence a student’s decision. Sit down and write a list of what is important for you. Also, I would always advise looking long and hard for good deals. It’s not fun when you buy a laptop and then find it for sale at a different store.

Reader Question: What laptop would you recommend for a college student, and why?

Every college student needs the perfect laptop to take their college experience over the top. When searching for the perfect laptop, one brand rises above the other, setting the bar for innovation and durability; Lenovo. Without a doubt, the best Lenovo laptop for college, outranking the others in performance, portability and durability is the Lenovo ThinkPad X300; ultra-light, super-portable, this laptop is nearly unbreakable and comes with a ton of features that make it a sweet deal for any student and one of the best laptops for college.

A 13” screen make this laptop user friendly for in-class use and for cramped dorm rooms, yet its rugged exterior makes it virtually indestructible, a must for any college student. The Lenovo X300 ThinkPad is also energy-star certified, making it environmentally friendly as well as user friendly. The integrated DVD burner and ultra-fast media streaming capabilities make it a cinch to turn your class presentations into something professional, which will no doubt impress your professors and awe your classmates, making you the envy of the dorm.

The Lenovo X300 also allows for easy sharing of documents and class lectures, making it all the easier to shrug off that early philosophy class in exchange for another hour of sleep or two. An Intel Core 2 Duo SL700/1.2 GHz processor comes standard and the Lenovo X300 comes Windows Vista capable, for those students who prefer that operating system. A Microsoft Office 2007 icon comes preinstalled with a sixty day free trial, as does Norton Security, with a 90-day free trial offer; all it takes is a click of the mouse and you can access and purchase the full versions of the programs.

The battery has an average run-time of 6.5 hours which allows for a full day of classes without needing to haul around the power cord and the three year limited warranty covers the basics and is similar to warranties for other laptops on the market. Power-saver technology allows for sleeper mode while not in use, extending battery life during down times in classes, a helpful feature during classes with a lab component.

Possibly one of the best features of this laptop is the fingerprint reader, a bonus for dorm room living, protecting both your personal information and your hard earned class work from the eyes of your dorm-mates and those around you at any time, as well as acting as a strong antitheft feature, not to mention adding to the overall coolness rating of the Lenovo X300 ThinkPad.

Other features include integrated Bluetooth and webcam, microphone and integrated high-definition speakers for rocking out those all night study sessions in style. USB and Ethernet slots as well as memory card slots and headphone jack come standard, making downloading pictures, syncing cameras, PDAs and other devices a breeze.

All in all, the Lenovo X300 ThinkPad could be the best college laptop on the market these days. Highly rated by reviewers and users alike, the Lenovo X300 lives up to expectations and is a sleek, smart laptop that delivers everything a college student could need, except of course the free pizza and beer. For that, you’re on your own.

Reader Question: For those who have owned a Lenovo, which one did you have and were you satisfied with it?

When you’re looking at the best laptops for college, you need to ask yourself “what are my needs”? What tasks will you be using the laptop for?

I’ve experienced using both a Mac and a PC/Windows and each of them have their good points as well as their bad. When I need to do my writing or working with spreadsheets, I prefer to be on a PC/Windows. I grew up with DOS then switched to Microsoft/Windows. I know the programs like the back of my hand and I complete my work rather quickly. A Mac was introduced to me when I needed better streaming video and graphic abilities. I see a Mac being more of the what the future needs. Mac also makes it quicker to operate with less keystrokes.

As you shop for a laptop for college this year, remember to tell the salesman exactly what your needs are. Yes, you’ll need to work with a word program and would want to have a better media player, but you can save money by cutting back on what you really won’t need? Do you need to have a CD/DVD burner? If you don’t, talk to the salesman about installing the basic CD/DVD and then put the money you saved toward boosting up your gig’s. Don’t want those extra programs? You know, the ones that are never used once you get the computer home. Talk to them about how you can swap it for more RAM.

Those are just a few of the different ways to build the best college laptop for you. No one else but you is really going to use it so why not have it the way you need it to be. So, what really is the best college laptop? The one that was made for you and your needs, not one off the “showroom floor”

Best College Laptops, Mac or PC?

Depending on different groups of individuals you ask will make a difference. Typically you would ask someone that you know, but do you ask the right person to answer. I’ve been a PC user for the last 20+ years. I’ve never used a Mac in my life. That does not mean that the Mac is better. It just means that a PC works for what I need it to do. Why should I try to change now? Both systems are good for what each person needs them for. If the PC did not live up to what I needed from it, I would have no choice but to learn how to use a Mac.

There are different opinions out there on this issue but here’s a couple of misconceptions on both of them.

#1- PC’s are too bulky compared to a Mac

Not True, there are some model from each of them that range in size.

#2-It’s too hard to learn how to use a Mac.

People who never used a computer before have learned to use a Mac faster than a PC. Less keystrokes for similar tasks.

#3-PC’s are faster than Mac.

With a Mac having less keystroke to do the same task, it does not sound likely.

#4-There’s no difference between Mac’s and PC’s .

If there wasn’t a difference between them, how come they’re not compatible?

#5-The Mac is the Best college laptop.

If your major is technology or multi-media, then this statement may be right. Mac’s seem to flow smoother.

#6-Windows/PC’s are cheaper

They sometimes do have higher initial purchase cost, but as of total cost over the life of owning them Mac are substantially lower.

#7-Schools should be using windows/PC’s since more businesses do.

Who really knows what the future holds for the technology/information era. With all the entrepreneurs that are on the rise in the internet world, it really depends on if both systems can out-perform the other and expand to the next level.

There are many factors involved in choosing the best laptops for college students. Price, functionality and features are all areas to be considered before making your final purchase.