Articles
Smart Shopping for Students: Laptops
First Posted: October 27, 2007
By Andrew Lau
Whether you’re a first year college student or a graduate student, you’ve probably flirted with the question of buying a new computer and in particular, whether or not to invest in a notebook computer. In this article, I'll present some tips on how to identify your important computer needs for university or college life and ideas on how you might meet them without breaking your budget. You might just save some money for important things like tuition and books… or beer.
Do I actually need a laptop?
This is the first question you really need to answer. The answer for this probably won't be that clearcut unless your program of study requires you to have a laptop. For everyone else, you will need to honestly assess your personal needs, habits, and budget. Here are some basic things to keep in mind:
- A laptop computer can be a great asset if you are going to use its primary feature: its portability. If your laptop stays on your desk because you already have 5 or 10 pounds of books in your bag or you only have 2 classes per day 3 times a week, a laptop may not be the best use of your money.
- If the program you are enrolled in requires you to have a laptop computer, well, this decision has already been made for you. Be sure to find out about specific hardware or software requirements for your program.
- You can expect a laptop to cost approximately twice as much as a similarly equipped desktop computer.
- Laptops are inherently less upgradeable than their desktop counterparts. If you ever want to upgrade a laptop down the line, expect options to be limited and pricey in comparison to desktop computers. Internal components for desktop computers are almost never compatible with notebooks.
- Know yourself. Is having a laptop in class going to be productive for you or serve as a distraction? Are you going to take notes or are you checking the latest funny link someone emailed to you? Can you type notes faster than you can write them?
- Know your program and courses. Courses with heavy math content often require formulas and symbols in note taking that are not easy to reproduce on a laptop. Tablet PCs, or good old pen and paper may be more suitable in such cases.
- If your idea of “productivity” is habitual checking of email and MySpace, remember that most institutions have robust libraries and computer labs. You may have to wait in line for a computer, but most schools will provide you with sufficient means to surf the net between classes or even get some work done from time to time.
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