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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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.