Welcome:
To your definitive resource for all computer related needs. We are here to help.
To your definitive resource for all computer related needs. We are here to help.
Have a kid heading to college asking for a laptop so they can be one of the cool kids? Are you a kid heading to college wanting a laptop to be one of the cool kids? We’ve got the answers to help guide you. After completing 6 years of college and achieving my Masters Degree I couldn’t of made it without my laptop. I did notice a tread though in my nearly decade of college, 2001-2007 and that is more and more students are toting around laptops. I agree they can be a pain, and honestly in a 50 minute class, you don’t want to look like a tool and bust out your laptop to “take notes”. Where they do come in handy is finding a nice calm quite place to do your homework. Whether you live on campus or off it can be tough to find. Me personally I still rock the Toshiba Satellite I bought what seems like forever ago.
If you don’t live under a rock you have no doubt seem all the apple ad’s targeted at college students, claiming to be the most popular brand of laptop on college campus’s. After all who wouldn’t want a purple laptop? As a self proclaimed MAC hater I will have to leave my personal feelings at the door and try to help with some real advice. I will say though, remember, no matter what color it is, it’s about what is inside, your computer wont run faster if you put a flame sticker on the outside. That said, it’s about what you are going to use it for. If all you are going to do is homework, then brand doesn’t really matter.
That said MAC computers are still more expensive for comparable hardware, and there are more hoops to jump through as college campus computer labs, and professors still use PC’s and will demand homework in that format. Yes, I know MAC can run office, I am just saying.
No matter what laptop you choose to take with you to college, remember that you will likely need it after college too. Don’t skimp too much on the specs and always make sure that upgrading at least the computers RAM is a relatively realistic thing. Laptops are going to be what they are forever, there really isn’t any upgrading them, except adding RAM that’s why I say it is so important to make sure and get everything you need upfront and at least be able to at some point upgrade the RAM because odds are a few years from when you get it, you’ll want to.
First of all, it’s college, enough said, anything could happen. Always make sure you keep track of it so it doesn’t sprout legs and walk off I have seen many of students suffer laptop theft. I have seen even more however suffer problems with their laptops that while they are in college they don’t have enough money to fix, that’s why the extended warranty is a good idea, you may have the cash before school starts but usually once it does, believe me it goes fast, and if it is your primary computer you can’t really afford for it to be down. Also many warranties like Circuit Cities for example offer a battery warranty, 1 new battery every year! This is money since most warranties cost about $200, but most laptop batteries cost roughly the same price. The batteries will die trust me, I am on my third, 2 of which were completely covered by an $180 extended warranty I bought.
Well I hope this little tid bit of information helps you in your decision when buying a laptop for college or any other reason for that matter. You can always email me at support@beyourownit.com and ask questions.