How to Buy a Laptop as a University Student

Buying a laptop as a university student is far different than buying a computer for work or pleasure. Not only are most university students on a tight budget, they are constantly on the move. A laptop helps you to keep your class notes and projects organized, allows you to work virtually anywhere and, in today's modern world, is as essential as your course textbooks.

Instructions

1. Look for a laptop which has a long battery life. While the average is 2 hours, many offer batteries which last 5 to 6 hours. Because it can be difficult to find a convenient plug in on campus or in class, a longer battery life is essential for a university student. As an alternative, you can purchase an extra backup battery for your new laptop.

2. Choose a laptop with a practical screen size. Because you will most often be working on a small desk space, carrying your laptop in a backpack with other books and moving around with your computer, it is important that your laptop is lightweight and discreet. A 12-inch screen us usually all you'll need for school purposes and can be carried easily.

3. Select a well-known name brand when buying a laptop as a university student. The major brands are major because their products are quality, their service is reliable and they come with warranties. While selecting an inexpensive brand will save you money in the short term, over time, computer crashes and lost school work will potentially become an expensive and frustrating nightmare.

4. Visit a computer store and use the laptop before you make a decision. Check for noises created by typing, the hard drive, loading and other sounds can disturb a classroom or library setting quickly. As a university student, noise is an important consideration.

5. Make sure that you laptop comes with a warranty and read the fine print. You will need to know hidden repair costs, time it takes for repair or replacement and other fine details of the warranty agreement. Make sure the warranty lasts at least 2 years and pay to upgrade if possible so that you are assured to have a working laptop during the length of your university career.

6. Buy essential student accessories for your laptop and USB portable memory. USB drives help you to share work with other students, back up your files, transfer information to other computers and generally have a back-up plan if something were to happen to your laptop. Don't get stuck losing all of your work right before finals.

7. Decide which computer you would like to buy and then check online for student discounts. If you do not find any information online about student discounts, check the contact information and call the company directly and ask. Often these deals are available in the fall for students returning to classes and come with financial breaks, fun accessories or other promotions.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have chosen the computer you want and have a definite price, visit the campus student financial aid office. While not commonly advertised, all students have the opportunity to apply for a loan specifically for a computer. Your financial aid experts can help to explain the details; however, it helps if you already know the computer you would like and have a price quote printed.