How to Choose a College Notebook Laptop
Choosing the right type of laptop for college will depend on several factors, but after you have those determined, it's a pretty simple process. You may even prefer to shop online instead of going to a store to buy your laptop.
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Instructions
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Determine how much you want to spend on a laptop. Remember that you will get what you pay for. PCs tend to cost less than Apple notebooks, which have fixed prices, starting at around $1,000. However, you can sometimes get a small student discount on Macs. Check Apple.com for details on current offers.
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Consider what you will be using your laptop for in college. If it's mostly to take notes in class, write papers, do lab reports, make PowerPoint presentations, and use the Internet, then a basic laptop with either MS Office, Microsoft Works, or OpenOffice (downloadable freeware) will work just fine without breaking your budget. Extra features, like a webcam and DVD/CD player and burner, will usually make the price a little higher.
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When you have found several laptops that include features you want, check the weight, screen size, and battery life. If you will be carrying the computer to classes or the library, you will want a lightweight laptop. A larger screen size often indicates a heavier weight, but this isn't always true and depends on the brand. A longer battery life (at least 3 to 4 hours) will be important to you if you are taking notes in a classroom where you won't have access to an electrical outlet.
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Be sure you are happy with the brand name, if that is important to you, and check to see if a manufacturer's warranty comes free with the laptop. You also can usually purchase extended warranty coverage if you like.
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Tips & Warnings
Netbooks are a smaller, lighter, and much cheaper (as little as $200) alternative to notebooks. Netbooks are excellent for portability. Many people, however, use a netbook as an accompaniment to a larger notebook with more features. If you have the budget, a netbook is perfect to carry around for note-taking in class and accessing email on the go. Be sure to try out a netbook before you buy one. The keyboard size is much smaller than a normal notebook keyboard, and is something you will have to adjust to. Netbooks are not recommended for heavy writing.
Make sure the notebook has at least two USB ports so you can connect accessories or flash drives when necessary.
Try to wait for back-to-school sales and purchase your laptop then. Also check to see if your college offers any student discounts or reimbursements for laptops purchased exclusively for college use.
