Choosing a Laptop for College: 5 Keys to Choosing the Right Machine
http://article.nanolive.com/articles/149169/1/Choosing-a-Laptop-for-College-5-Keys-to-Choosing-the-Right-Machine/Page1.html
David Wilson
David Wilson is the man behind College Hunter Blog, a site devoted to helping students find the college of their dreams. Please visit the site to find out more great info on online degree programs, scholarships, application tips, test prep, and much, much more. By David Wilson
Published on 09/30/2008
Going off to school? Looking into getting a laptop? Be sure to read this before shopping.
If you're a student planning on going off to college, you're almost certainly considering purchasing a laptop. This is a great idea. As a college student myself, I realize how incredibly useful having a laptop computer rather than a desktop can be. With a laptop, you're not tethered to any one location for doing your work. You can be in the library, at a friends house, or in lab, and have all your work with you!
In fact, a laptop is probably one of the most important items any student can own. Your laptop will become a much valued accessory during your college years. However, you need to make sure that you get the right laptop for your needs, and thats where this article intends to help. Below are five tips to help you select the right laptop for college, quickly and easily.
1. Know Your Price Range
This is important. Since you're about to spend a ton of money on tuition, you don't exactly have a lot of extra cash to blow on a laptop. Fortunately, you can get very usable laptops for very low prices these days, making them more accessible than ever. You may even find that you can buy used to save even more money.
2. Get the Right Size
Size matters. Getting the wrong size of laptop will lead to frustration. To large, and you won't be able to carry it around easily. Too small, and you won't be able to get anything done with such a small screen and keyboard. Be sure to try out different sizes to see which ones work well for you.
3. Watch Out For Battery Life
Battery life is a very important factor for the student user. Since you'll likely be spending a lot of time using the laptop unplugged, you'll want enough battery life to keep things going. Be sure to check into extended life battery packs that will greatly enhance your battery life at the cost of a little extra weight.
4. Mac vs. PC
This is a huge debate. Don't buy a Mac just because you think they are cool, be sure that they are in line with your needs. Certain popular software packages do not run on Macs, so if you need these for your course work, be sure to look elsewhere. However, if you like the convenience and ease of owning a Mac, than by all means do so. This article was written on a Mac.
5. Don't Forget the Software!
Don't forget to get the software you need! Things like Microsoft Office are pretty essential for every student, so don't forget to include these in your budget.
So, I hope this helps you see how you can select the right laptop for college. It's not rocket science (though that could be what you are studying!), but keeping these basic factors in mind can really help out. Thanks for reading.
In fact, a laptop is probably one of the most important items any student can own. Your laptop will become a much valued accessory during your college years. However, you need to make sure that you get the right laptop for your needs, and thats where this article intends to help. Below are five tips to help you select the right laptop for college, quickly and easily.
1. Know Your Price Range
This is important. Since you're about to spend a ton of money on tuition, you don't exactly have a lot of extra cash to blow on a laptop. Fortunately, you can get very usable laptops for very low prices these days, making them more accessible than ever. You may even find that you can buy used to save even more money.
2. Get the Right Size
Size matters. Getting the wrong size of laptop will lead to frustration. To large, and you won't be able to carry it around easily. Too small, and you won't be able to get anything done with such a small screen and keyboard. Be sure to try out different sizes to see which ones work well for you.
3. Watch Out For Battery Life
Battery life is a very important factor for the student user. Since you'll likely be spending a lot of time using the laptop unplugged, you'll want enough battery life to keep things going. Be sure to check into extended life battery packs that will greatly enhance your battery life at the cost of a little extra weight.
4. Mac vs. PC
This is a huge debate. Don't buy a Mac just because you think they are cool, be sure that they are in line with your needs. Certain popular software packages do not run on Macs, so if you need these for your course work, be sure to look elsewhere. However, if you like the convenience and ease of owning a Mac, than by all means do so. This article was written on a Mac.
5. Don't Forget the Software!
Don't forget to get the software you need! Things like Microsoft Office are pretty essential for every student, so don't forget to include these in your budget.
So, I hope this helps you see how you can select the right laptop for college. It's not rocket science (though that could be what you are studying!), but keeping these basic factors in mind can really help out. Thanks for reading.