What would be a good laptop for incoming college student in fall 2010?

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dethompson

I want a new laptop, looking at Inspiron 15 (1564). I like Dell and Sony laptops, what would be the best brands for a student, not gaming. Would it have Microsoft Word and other Office programs on it? Should I buy it now or in May or should I wait until I am closer to college in the fall?

Answer
My husband is quite partial to dell brand, so you can also check out those.
Honestly, i believe you get more bang for your buck with hp!
Whatever you do, don't get a gateway or compaq. Thier both really unreliable. I know from experience.

Most computers these days don't come with word installed. There are two programs that are free that i also recommend:

Sun has a free word suite substitute called "Open Office". It reads all the file types, even word documents. It is perfect if you are on a budget.
Also, for a Photoshop substitute, "Gimp" is a free program. I use it all the time.

Do yourself a favor, take time to research computers and look at ratings. You may not need a lot of memory because your laptop won't be used for gaming, but even so i recommend 4gb or higher. Tasks and programs run faster.
Also get an external hard drive. If anything happens to your laptop and you have anything important on there, it could be gone forever...which has happened to me before.

Lastly, good sales seem to happen right as school is ending for everyone. They lower prices because they know people that are going into college will need a laptop.

What is a good Laptop for gaming and school work?

Joshua Bou

I am looking for a good laptop mostly for gaming, But my mom wants me to get a laptop to help me during school. So i am looking for a laptop for both of them. I was look at the "Alienware M14x" from what i look at it look like an ok computer. Thought if anyone has some more Information or suggestions, any thought would help.

Answer
The Alienware m14x is popular with student who loves hardcore games also want a laptop to do school work.

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What is the best, yet not so expensive, laptop for a college student?

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kiahgirl

I am a female and will be in college next year. So of course I'll be needing to purchase a laptop. If you are a college student what worked well for you? If your a computer expert what do you recommend? Also what kind of Apps. do I need? (Powerpoint, Microsoft excel, etc.)

Answer
the new macbook pro is a great choice for college. No problems with virus, crashes and it has all the apps you need. personally, the only apps I use for school exclusive are Safari and Microsoft word, powerpoint (and maybe some games during boring lectures). If your budget is around $1000-1300, I really recommend macbook or macbook pro.

PS. Like Chris said, I'd wait until Summer for the free Ipod touch and student discount.

What kind of airline discounts am I eligible for?

kissmeimdu

I am a college student and am planning a trip to Italy this December. My other friends are flying Delta and I can get a round-trip ticket for about $750. If I call, do they offer any types of discounts that I might be eligible for?

Also, what are great ways to save money while traveling abroad?

Answer
A round-trip fare from the USA to Italy for $750 in December is good to great. Take it, especially if it lets you fly with your friends (same flight).

Airlines no longer offer student discounts, but take your student ID with you as museums and other attractions in Europe usually do offer student discounts.

Do join gthe airline's frequent flier program unless you already belong to a partner program:

https://www.delta.com/skymilesenrollment/skymiles/enrollment/index.jsp?t_cc=sm0010

Western Europe was expensive before the US Dollar took a pounding in the exchange markets, so there is a limit to how cheaply you can travel. However, being prepared and spending a little money before leaving home can save a lot of problems & costs later.

Packing properly will both save you from having to buy basics in Europe (expensive) and from having to waste time shopping for them.

Some tips (no particular order):

Check with your home medical insurance to find out if it covers you in Europe. If yes, take proof of coverage with you and have a general idea of how to make a claim from Europe (call them and ask). If no, you should get trip insurance. It's cheap and sold by travel agencies. You can also get coverage for trip cancellation and lost luggage.

Almost all airlines allow at least one checked bag free on international trips, but some now charge for a second bag. Know the airline's policy so it isn't a surprise. Tag your luggage inside & outside with your name (as it appears on your ticket), a phone number someone reliable will answer, your e-mail address, and our frequent flier number.

A small backpack makes a good carry-on, and you can use one you already have (ex. book bag). DON'T carry your passport or money/credit cards in your backpack.

You can travel almost indefinately using a carry-on and one suitcase of clothing. Choose items that mix & match and that don't need dry cleaning. Wear one set of not-too-casual clothes on the flight, pack a complete set of clothes plus basic toiletries in your carry-on, and pack 5 complete sets of clothing in your suitcase. Take one set of dressy clothing/shoes/accessories for going to nice restaurants/clubs unless you are certain you won't need it.

There will be laundry service in Italy. If using it isn't practical you can wash clothes in a sink using shampoo. Conditioner helps reduce wrinkles.

You don't say where in Italy you plan to go and it's not all the same weather in winter. Do the research and pack accordingly. For example, Rome is mainly chilly to damp + chilly in December.

Take a suppy of over the counter medications for headache/colds (Tylenol, etc.), indigestion (Rolaids, Alka-Seltzer), and travel diarrhea (Pepto-Bismol). Also bandaids, anti-biotic salve, eye-drops, and lip balm (Carmx). A travel sewing kit can save a lot of aggravation. You can get all of it in Europe but it will cost more, the brands will be unfamiliar, and you may need the items when it's not convenient to go shopping.

If you wear eyeglasses or contacts take an extra pair.

Pack water flavor packets like Crystal Light, and take a few snack bars so you don't have to find a store as soon as you arrive.

Don't take anything electrical that requires a voltage converter. Either get dual-voltage appliances or buy what you need in Europe.

The good news is that many devices now (laptops, cellphone chargers, i-Pods, etc.) normally accept any voltage and all you need is a plug adapter. Look on the power upply to be certain - it should say something like "Input 100-240V".

You can get plug adapters at luggage shops. This is an example of a plug adapter/surge protector, but stores like BestBuy sell them:

http://studenttravel.about.com/od/techtoys/gr/electricadapter.htm

Get an under the trousers security belt for your passport and most of your cash/plastic. This is an example and they are sold at luggage shops:

http://www.travelsmith.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&itemID=11019&fromNewSearch=true&mercadoResultId=1

You need a passport if you don't already have one. Consider getting a Passport Card in addition to the regular passport. It makes great secondary ID and lets you keep your passport tucked away.

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

If you don't want to or don't have time to get a passport card then take with you your state driving license or state ID card.
.
Call the issuers for any credit/debit cards you might use and let them know you are going to Europe. Otherwise you risk triggering an automatic security hold on the card, which will require calling the USA to get the hold lifted.

Scan the photo page of your passport, other ID, and the fronts & backs of your credit/debit cards and send the images to yourself in an e-mail message. That way you have access to the information in case anything is lost or stolen.

Public transit in Europe is usually good and passes (day, week, month (are usually available.

Every large bookstore will have multiple travel guides for Italy, and more are available online. Plan your trip and look for potential problems such as "The museum is closed on Tuesdays".

Prices for food & drink immediately around major attractions can be outrageous. Carry some snacks & drinks (backpack) you got at a grocery store instead of paying $10 for a Coke at the stand outside the Vatican (or whatever).

Most hotels offer a breakfast buffet that is included in the room cost. You can make some sandwiches and take them with you (backpack). Note that some hotels don't allow guests to take food away from the buffet. If you are told "no", don't argue but ask for directions to a grocery store.

Hope you have a good trip!

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How can i get money for transportation with my student loans?

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Michael

How can i get money for transportation with my student loans?
Okay my estimate for my pell grant is: 5,500 and staford loan: 10500.
I'm signing up for summer 2 and i'm going to need transportation and a laptop.
How would I go about getting this? Who do i ask for the money? Like i have no idea what to do.

Answer
before you make plans based on your federal financial aid, you need to know & understand
1) that is annual, you only mention 1 semester/quarter
2) the annual amount is broken into semesters (usually Fall & Spring) or quarters (usually Fall, Winter, and Spring)
3) your summer semester might be at the end of 2012-2013 academic year, if it is & you did not go fall & spring, then the maximum you could use of 2012-2013 fin aid is 1/2
4) you only get the semester/quarter maximum pell grant if you are enrolled full-time & student loans if you are enrolled at least 6 credit hours..... so, if your summer is on the end of 2012-2013 & you did not use any fin aid for fall & spring... and you only go 6 credit hours, then you would get up to 50% of the annual loan amount & up to 25% of the annual pell grant amount


the aid will be applied to tuition & fees first, also books if you charge them to your fin aid... if there is any left over then you can use that for bus fare or gas money as well as school supplies

the vast majority of college students don't actually need a laptop & you can always use computers at the school's library & various computer labs

final note.... if your school has not processed your aid to the point of Financial Aid Award (this tells you exactly what your semester/quarter maximum is that you could get as a full-time student)..... then your aid might not be in place in time for you to start that semester/quarter -- it takes most community colleges at least 8 weeks to process & universities longer

What computer technologies should I expect in 2012?

Borce

I want to buy a new gaming laptop for collage.I have this year an 1+ from high school and I am going to go in 2011-2012 in collage. I want a top gaming laptop of 3500-5500$
Will there be a new CPU, Graphic card, Ram that will be much faster then ?

Answer
This is sort of a pointless question.

Of course there will be new CPU's, new GPU's, faster and higher capacity RAM and hard drives. They are in a constant state of change, and new additions to each of those categories come out at least once a year, so you're looking at at least 2 generations better than what we have now.

But you might want to rethink your strategy, as a super powerful gaming laptop is not very portable and it's battery life will suck. And as a college student myself, you are going to want a laptop that you can take where ever you need, easily (both weight and size) and something that wont die in an hour. Come back to Yahoo Answers when you are ready to buy a gaming laptop, as any advice as to parts is pure speculation and will lead you astray.

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what are some laptops that are a good quality for a good price?

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Jalana

The laptop i currently have its going to peices and its time for me to buy another one. I need a laptop that is smaller(like 14.1 for the screen size) and is going to be good for a student in college to use. My parents are paying $300 to help me pay for another laptop, so i would prefer a laptop that is not too much more. The laptop i currently want is $800, but anything that is cheaper and still a good quality would be better.

Answer
14.1" and under $800 is not easy to fine, but there are always weekly ad. You should settle the brand name to Sony, Dell, or Toshiba, then HP. Research the sites like Bestbuy, Fry's, CircuitCity, or Officedepot, and decide what you like the best. This is going to be your laptop, you are the one live with it. Narrow down the selections then people can help you more on your decision.

Will I need a new laptop in community cpllege?

Igotyou

I am soon going to be entering into a community college for my associate degree in computer programming, and i was wondering if I will need my own laptop for the papers and assignments etc. I won't be staying at the college I will be living at home. We do have a couple of laptops at home but both of them have problems (one doesn't connect to wifi and the other always have to be plugged in otherwise it will die), so that makes them immobile. Please help guys I am really confused as to should i buy a laptop or not. I don't want to come to college unprepared.

Serious answerers only, Thanks!

Answer
The rules vary by school and class, but most professors insist that laptops be shut and cell phones turned off while in class. However, there is time between classes, and often a laptop comes in handy to do some of the required homework and assignments during the day. Also, some work is done in libraries and having your own laptop is a big aid.
There are some private schools that actually give all students a laptop. That is to assure everyone has one and uniformity in connections to get and provide information for registration, etc.

A laptop is now considered an essential tool, just as a book and pen and paper are tools.
It doesn't need to be fancy, and portability (smaller) is a plus.

If you have a laptop not connecting to wifi you can buy a USB wireless adapter for about $15 at Newegg, Amazon, Tigerdirect, Best Buy, Radio Shack, or other stores.

If the battery is worn on a laptop, you can buy a replacement battery.

With a degree and studies being in computer programming, though the classes may have desktop PCs in them, it is possible they will require you have a laptop.

Used and new laptops can be bought for under $300, though about $400 buys a lot more in performance, features, and reliability. For now, call it HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, but later you may find it is required by your school. You can often call ahead and ask them, but they should be telling you soon enough. There are often back to school sales, and clearances are already occuring for the switch in Intel level cpus. May check a local Best Buy for their clearance items.
CPU scoring: http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
Graphics is not as important for you unless getting into some specialties.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

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How do you find a product key for a just bought laptop?

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I just got my new laptop yesterday and Microsoft Word needs me to enter a product key in order to use Word Document - If not, I have to buy one and I don't have the money for that right now. Yahoo answers is my only option - BEST ANSWER?
Please help.

Answer
I'm aghast at the misinformation on this page!

A free trial copy of Microsoft Office 2007 doesn't need a product key. Just click the Continue button in the registration window without putting anything in the product key boxes.

Note: The 25-character product key on the computer case or laptop bottom is NOT the key for MS Office. Itâs only for the Windows operating system.

But be warned, the trial period is 60 days OR 25 uses of all Office programs (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, ...) combined. When it expires, you'll be able to read and print your documents, but not much more. When that happens, you'll have to buy a license (a product key) to continue using Office 2007 programs. Here are some of your options for paying less than full price for Microsoft Office 2007:

First, if you're a student, you may qualify for the Ultimate Steal edition of Office at a pretty good price ($59.95):

http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-us/default.aspx

Second, if youâre interested in buying just Word, check out this URL, especially the second group of listings.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX101754511033.aspx

Note that the higher of the two prices quoted is for a full version of that program and the lower, for upgrades from existing software. Read the list of upgrade-qualifying software carefully: MS Works is often one, and may have come on your machine.

Finally, if you're willing to spend a little to save a little, Microsoft Works is available in stores for about $40.00. You could buy a copy, install it, then buy Office at the upgrade level. I think you'd come out ahead. Note that the upgrade copy probably checks your machine for Works' presence, so don't get rid of it after you've installed Office. You never know when you're going to have to reinstall Office.

Also, if you have files that are locked up in the new Word 2007 file format (.docx), hereâs a possibility for salvaging them. Microsoft offers a free Compatibility pack that allows earlier versions of Word (and Microsoft Works) to read and write Word 2007 files. If you have access to an earlier version, this can at least give you back your documents. Some new features of Word 2007 will be lost or converted to straight text in the conversion to the earlier version.

Good luck.

how do I acquire the product key, to be able to use Microsoft office on my laptop?

Mark

I have Windows Vista on my Laptop. However, I am not able to use Microsoft Office because the program asks for a "25 character Product Key" and I do not have one. I guess this product key is to validate your microsoft office license. If someone could please help me in solving this dilemma, it would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

Answer
Yes, you have a free trial copy of MS Office 2007 that's good for 25 uses (of all Office programs combined) or 60 days. During the trial period, you don't need a product key. Just click the Continue button in the registration window without entering anything in the product key boxes.

But be warned: When the trial does expire -- with little or no warning -- you'll be able to read and print your documents, but not much more. When that happens, here are some of your options for paying less than full price for Microsoft Office 2007:

First, if you're a student, you may qualify for the Ultimate Steal edition of Office at a pretty good price ($59.95):

http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-us/default.aspx

Second, if youâre interested in buying just Word, check out this URL, especially the second group of listings.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX101754511033.aspx

Note that the higher of the two prices quoted is for a full version of that program and the lower, for upgrades from existing software. Read the list of upgrade-qualifying software carefully: MS Works is often one, and may have come on your machine.

Finally, if you're willing to spend a little to save a little, Microsoft Works is available in stores for about $40.00. You could buy a copy, install it, then buy Office at the upgrade level. I think you'd come out ahead. Note that the upgrade copy probably checks your machine for Works' presence, so don't get rid of it after you've installed Office. You never know when you're going to have to reinstall Office.

Also, if you have files that are locked up in the new Word 2007 file format (.docx), hereâs a possibility for salvaging them. Microsoft offers a free Compatibility pack that allows earlier versions of Word (and Microsoft Works) to read and write Word 2007 files. If you have access to an earlier version, this can at least give you back your documents. Some new features of Word 2007 will be lost or converted to straight text in the conversion to the earlier version.

Good luck.

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What is the best laptop for a student?

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nina4500

What is the best laptop for a college student? Or mention any cheap ones? But they dont all have to be cheap.

Answer
well if your using it for basic things like office programs and watching hd video/movies, then any laptop will do. i am gonna recommend this one. it is 249 from this site. i would however go to a local computer shop and get used RAM.i did that with my laptop. it will cost you ten dollars or less and they will install it for you for free. i would also invest in an accidental protection plan,that way if anything happens to it, then you will be able to get it fixed or replaced for free. and since you will be carrying it around at college the chances of something happening go up.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230600

if you want something a little more powerful with some extra RAM,try this one,it is a hundred dollars more. this site offers free shipping and only collects sales tax in california.contact me if you need more help.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834310623

what is the best laptop for a college student?

Pat B

I need to purchase a laptop/notebook for a college student. Which one is the best? I heard the Mac is, but if there is anything less expensive that won't give us a hard time, that would be great.
Also, which ones should I stay away from?

Answer
I'd say a HPDV9700 is nice. You can find it cheap online.

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How long before this camera is considered obsolete?

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upwardly_m

My son is a high school senior. Next year he wants to go to community college and live at home (at least that is reasonably affordable) instead of going away to school. He wants to take an expensive major however. Video production. We have been able to save about $5,000 towards his education. We are not wealthy people. The rest will have to come from loans and maybe a grant or scholarship.
We are looking at some "entry level" pro cameras in the $1500-1800 range. That's about 1/3 of our savings for his education.
Models include these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/518555-REG/Sony_HVRHD1000U_HVR_HD1000U_Digital_High_Definition.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/745707-REG/Sony_HXR_MC2000U_HXR_MC2000U_Shoulder_Mount_AVCHD.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/878341-REG/Panasonic_hmc40kit_AG_HMC40_AVCCAM_HD_Camcorder.html
and
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749467-REG/Canon_4922B002_XA10_HD_Professional_Camcorder.html

My concern is he starts September 2013 so these products may not even be available by then or others will be available. We hope he graduates May 2015. He tells us when he graduates he will maybe find a freelance job or shoot local cable news, build up some experience, maybe after 2 years go for a B.A. at least part time.
Is anything we buy him in 2013 (summer) going to be any use to him as a working professional in 2015 (summer)? So let's say you are a class of 2012 graduate with an AAS in video production. The camera you purchased in the summer of 2010 when you first started, do you still use it professionally? Can you make anything doing freelance news videos, PR videos or local account commercials with this equipment?
We're going to do everything we can to help him. No doubt he will still be living at home in the summer of 2015. By then he's going to have a student loan to pay off. We have a 2005 Hyundai Accent that we are going to give him for college. I hope that thing still runs when it is 10 years old and he isn't making car payments on top of that. The thing has 120,000 miles on it but runs really well. I just fear when he graduates he's going to be in deep debt and have limited employment. I may be wrong. What do you think? Thanks.

Answer
Hi "Upwardly Mobile":

Fellow Contributor "L" covered most of the bases quite well, but the only point he didn't underscore is that MOST good video & film production programs at community colleges HAVE the cameras, lights, mikes, tripods, and other gear that the students will learn on & use.

When I went to a local (but nationally prominent) university with a Broadcast/Film Dept., portable video was still fairly new, but all the film cameras, tripods, & light kits were supplied by the Department for students to "check out" as-needed for class projects.

And most video production students start out with Studio Production techniques (where it's easier for groups to learn 3-point lighting, camera setup & tripod/dolly operation, shot composition, audio techniques & mixing, etc.). No need for portable field gear there.

For field production & Electronic News Gathering, a good college will have a fair number of camcorders for students to use & check out (if needed for outside-of-class projects).

The same is true for Editing Software & computer workstations. Some college programs might be economizing and making students supply their own laptops for this, but all the major software companies offer Academic Editions of their normally-expensive edit suites at discounted prices. And of course, nowadays, apps like iMovie (Mac) and Movie Maker (PC) come "free" as part of the operating system and can accomplish what older (and expensive) software used to do, as far as basic editing.

As "L" mentioned, do a bit of "homework" yourself by contacting the community college's department head & instructors for your son's chosen major. Tour the facilities (studio and edit suites) and ask about the "equipment room" for student project gear. See what textbooks (a major expense) are required, and whether computer/laptop & software expense will be part of what's expected of your son. Only if there's little-or-no camcorder gear (or no hands-on studio cameras) would I recommend buying anything like the models from B+H that you listed.

Almost every cable TV & freelance video job I've had over the past 30 years has "supplied" (rented or company-owned) the cameras & grip gear I needed. I bring my own gear only when it's a "favor" or when what I have is better-suited to the task, or they want a "director with gear". My point being, your son doesn't need to own =any= camera gear to make a living freelancing. A good camera operator can stay busy in almost any part of the country, with just his/her skills. (Same for sound mixers & boom/wireless mike operators.)

hope this helps, and hope it saves you some money,
--Dennis C.
 

what is a good hp laptop made within 5 years?

Carlos

I'm looking to a new laptop for my birthday but don't know what to ask for. I prefer it to be hp designed and with at least 4 GB of ram and at least 150 GB of drive space. I feel picky but these are my preferences due to to the music, video, and program storage I use on a daily basis on my PC. Also I'm coming to the point in school where I'm going to need computerized data to submit to my mentors. My parent's budget is $600.

Answer
I have some issues in your wording. A new laptop in the US was made within the last few months since inventory tends to move quickly, and there may be a few about a year old still waiting to be sold. 5 years ago, HP probably did make and sell laptops, and now, like Acer-Gateway-Packard Bell, they are a Procurement and Re-seller and they are designed and produced by several Taiwanese and Chinese companies with an HP label and a bit of shell customizing. All laptops are pretty much made by these companies in China. HP on some adds a Beats profiling and a sub-woofer designed into some models.
In the last few years, the HP reliability and quality surveys do not look good, although they still like HP and Dell in India for some reason.
Here is my documentation:
2012: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2020725/apple-macbooks-lead-in-laptop-features-and-reliability.html
HP in the bottom half

2011: http://www.pcworld.com/article/244419/laptop_reliability_and_satisfaction_macbooks_rule.html
HP second last

2010:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/211402/laptops.html
HP last place

The basic laptop sold in the USA today above $400, if not a solid state drive will have 500+GB HDD and 4+GB RAM

If you only want HP, even though Acer-Gateway, Dell home, HP-Compaq Home, Lenovo Essentials G series are mostly the same weaker results, and all other laptops under about $400 are also a bit questionable, there are good initial reviews for some HP ultrabooks.
Personally, I think Lenovo did a good job with the Ideapad Z400 Touch, that at Lenovo.com is $600 plus tax with an i3, and $660 as a better i5 model, as Windows 8 is aimed at Touchscreen technology, but you did say HP-Only. Maybe you have a long memory when they used to be better.

Again - all based on extensive surveys; not my personal experience other than Y/A issues reported with overheating and crashing. Google will also tell you a lot. The number of refurbished systems out there tells you something also.

Newegg shows about 18 HP laptops that are new and not open box or refurb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&N=100006740&IsNodeId=1&minPrice=400&maxPrice=625&Manufactory=1186%2C44242%2C1548&bop=And&Pagesize=50

Here is a basic one for $500 after rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834256720
HP Pavilion g6-2260us Notebook Intel Core i3 3110M(2.40GHz) 15.6" 4GB Memory 750GB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi Intel HD Graphics 4000

HP is offering Touchscreen starting at $600. Is there a student registration for a discount? HP has all kinds of discount codes hiding on the internet to scour out.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-office/-/products/Laptops/Laptops?SearchParameter=%26%40QueryTerm%3D*%26categoryusagelaptops_dte2%3DTouchscreen%26CategoryUUIDLevelX%3DjeEQxXjbj14AAAE0syxcZzOW%26%40Sort.TieredPricing%3D0&PageSize=15

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Macbook Pro users: how satisfied are you with the product?

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epetitv

I want to start saving up for a macbook pro (or whatever the newest version is called at the time) but with big investments like this, I always worry that the product will not be worth it. So are you glad that you purchased the macbook pro? Pros and cons?

Thanks!

Answer
Hello lovely. I'll preface my answer with a disclaimer about my bias for Apple products. Some people have strong preferences for PCs, and some have strong preferences for Macs. I fall in the latter category. I've only owned one PC in my life, and it was an exceptionally dissatisfying experience, but many others have very positive reviews. The HP I had got a hostage ware virus from a fake Facebook video two weeks after it was purchased, overheated to the extent that it would burn my fingertips and shut down, had to be shipped off and mailed back for repairs three times with a turnaround time of about 11 days, had very poor customer support, and the hinges and shell of the laptop broke after one year. Quite literally everything about owning that product was the opposite of what I've had with all my Macs. Of course, people have had PCs that performed flawlessly for years and Macs that were lemons. I'll include some reviews of the Macbook Pro below to give you a more balanced perspective.

I have a 15 inch 2012 MacBook Pro with retina display that performs beautifully and feels like working with a smart piece of art, and a 2010 13 inch MacBook Pro that is still in excellent condition. The only upgrade I've needed to make was replacing the battery last December, which I did myself with an inexpensive generic battery from Amazon. I do love the sublime resolution of the retina display and the magnificently fast performance, but I don't feel like all that is offered on that model is worth the additional cost for a college student. You'd be perfectly fine with the 13 inch MacBook Pro for about a grand less.

Reasons I love my Macs:
~ Anytime I've encountered any issues, from user error to some sort of technical problem, I've been able to make an appointment at the Genius Bar and mosey on over. There's an Apple counter on my campus bookstore, and an Apple store in the mall on our campus, so obviously it's much easier for me to pop into one than it is for many people. If you do not live within reasonable proximity this will not be as much of an asset, though you'd still be able to get assistance online or over the phone.

~ Apple Care is excellent, unlike many other extended warranties. My 13-year-old sister accidentally knocked her MacBook Pro onto a concrete surface, and the Apple store is fixing all the repairs for free.

~ I love the applications it comes preloaded with, like Garageband. I also prefer Apple software like iWork 09 over Microsoft Office 2011.

~ I love the simplicity of the user interface. It feels more intuitive and straight-forward than Windows.

~ I love the reliability and longevity of all the Apple products I've owned. My very first laptop was a blueberry clam shell iBook that I got in elementary school, and both of my little sisters used it when they were small. It still operates more than a decade after it was purchased. I received the 15 inch laptop last fall as a gift. I could have used the 13 inch all throughout college. I still do bring the 13 inch with me to classes sometimes since it's smaller. My secondary school issued MacBook Pros as part of tuition in lieu of physical textbooks, and most of the laptops survived for years.

~ I love how my Apple products play well with one another. I go to one of the most Mac-centric campuses in the country, and we have our own IOS app that the majority of the campus uses. I love how all my devices sync with one another. I use Apple TV instead of paying a monthly cable bill at school, and all I have to do is go to Hulu, or BBC or whatever, launch what I want to watch and hit the Airplay button to send it to my TV. I can also Airplay from my iPad and iPhone to other devices.

~ I love that even though Macs can get viruses, they are far less prone to having them, and I've never gotten on after using Mac products since the age of seven.

I'd rate my MacBook Pro satisfaction level at 91 out of 100. I do occasionally have minor frustrations with it, and it is more expensive than a lot of PCs.

TIPS:

~ Before purchasing any Apple products, check this site: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/
It will give you a reasonable estimate as to when the next model upgrade is due. It's currently advising against buying the MacBook Pro right now because upgrades are anticipated in the near future.
~ Apple has some fantastic back-to-school specials for students that usually begin around mid to late July and extend through mid September. I'd buy a product then. You usually get anywhere from $50 to $200 off computers, plus a freebie. In 2010 when we bought the 13 inch Macbook Pro we got $100 off, plus a free iPod Touch that retailed for $200. Last year my dad (who obviously isn't a student) was given the student discount when he mentioned to the employee that he was buying the laptop for me. He got $200 off, plus a $100 iTunes gift card.

~ skylark : )

Where should I buy my computer?

paupau

I have 1000 to buy a laptop for college. I'm a English major so I don't need too much fancy stuff. I do take a lot of pictures and put them on my computer, if that means anything. I also need wifi. I'm not sure if I should get a pc or a mac, a mac would be more expensive, I understand, but I don't know if its worth it. Thank you for your help.

Answer
A mac wouldn't really be worth the extra money, based on your needs. I would suggest looking at either an ASUS or Toshiba laptop or a Lenovo Thinkpad. They all have very good build quality. Toshibas and Thinkpads are very durable while ASUS laptops have some of the highest quality hardware available.
For good prices on computers, you may want to check out Newegg.com and Tigerdirect.com

@Skylar Oh wow. Well, fanboys will be fanboys, I guess. Where to start?
Well, Macbooks do come with some simple photo and video editing software, but then, so do some Windows computers. And there are free programs for those that don't have this software. Both offer more advanced programs, but they're around ~$200 on both platforms(Final Cut Pro, Aperture, etc on Macs).
Microsoft Office Home and Student does not cost anywhere NEAR $400. You're just making stuff up, there. It costs $150 if you buy from Microsoft, and you can find it cheaper on Newegg and Tigerdirect.
PCs don't NEED virus protection, all you need is Common Sense 2011. Virus protection just means you have to be less cautious. And there are TONS of free antivirus out there. Most notably MSE and MalwareBytes free version.
I don't know where you got that "...the last time a Mac had one that wasnt installed purposly was 2006" thing from, but I know people who have had viruses on Macs. It's poss

I need help finding a topic for a sales speech. Any ideas for me?

best value laptops for college students image

Jen

I have to sell a product or service, real or make believe, to an audience of college students. This is a group project in which we will have to speak for 30-40 minutes. I need this idea to be something that college students will use, because basically I am "selling" them my product or service.

ANY IDEAS FOR ME????

THANKS!

Answer
Well you could try some of these things:
1. One of those people who writes peoples essays for them
2. A laptop with a built in printer so its easier for students to print out their papers where ever instead of waiting for the line in the library
3. Maybe some sort of frozen meal thats easy to make and really healthy
4. Some sort of bar with all the days nutritional value
5. Something that can keep you up all night for studying or writing a paper

How useful is the Apple iPad for college students?

CeeCee

I'm starting college in 2 weeks and I'm really looking for the ultimate portability since I will be on the go daily. I don't have enough money to get a macbook and the laptops I look at seem way too bulky to carry around. So could I use the ipad as a word processor? what are your thoughts?

Answer
The iPad is NOT a laptop replacement. Not yet anyway.. A friend of mine has 1 and 2, and while typing on the 2nd one is easier thanks to a flat back, Its best you get a cheaper laptop as the iPad is like a big iPod touch. Its designed for web browsing and apps, stuff like that. Get a vaio laptop as apple is too expensive or you, as they have great quality, and offer great value for money.. Hope I helped,

Matthew

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What laptop do you recommend for a new college student?

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suspended_

I am going to college this fall (leaving in 1 week!) and I will be buying a new laptop for college. What laptop is best? I am particularly looking for one with a lot of memory, good wireless internet and (hopefully) less than $1,000.
The $1,000 price range is flexible but not by much.
Any help/comparisons between laptops you can recommend will be helpful.

Answer
It depends. Are you more partial to certain brands? When buying a laptop, remember that it only comes with trial software. Things like anti-spyware and anti-virus software, as well as Microsoft Office will have to be bought separately. Make sure you factor that into your overall budget.

The majority of laptops come with wireless cards already integrated, so that takes care of one part. High memory for a laptop is between 3-4 gbs of DD2 memory. 3 should be sufficient for a college student, unless you tend to use a lot of memory.

The next factor is size. Are you looking for something very portable? If so, you should consider something with a screen about 14.1"-15.4". There are 12" ones, but those are almost too small.

Next, consider whether AMD v. Intel is important to you. Intel processors tend to be more energy efficient, meaning they don't get quite so hot, while AMD is cheaper.

Not only that, but only 2 brands come with restore disks: Dell and Toshiba. Any other brand you would have to either have the disks made for you, make them yourself, or buy them (Restore disks allow you to put your computer back to factory settings in case you need to reboot/reset). It takes about 3 hours on average to make a set of restore disks, sometimes more.

Using those things will help you narrow down your selection significantly. Your best bet is to look at laptops on BestBuy.com and use the left hand menu to narrow down the selection. You can choose brand, size, memory, hard drive size, processor brand, etc that way. I personally recommend buying an HP, along with services like Optimization/Restore Disk Creation from Geek Squad.

Good Luck =)

What is the best laptop for a college student?

Q. i want an overall good audio, picture, and most importantly affordable with a big hard drive. At least a 500GB hard drive
dual core processor
15.6" display
different colors would be fun and make the laptop even better (:
1.0 MP at least webcam.
under $600 would be amazing. thank you for inputs and references!

Answer
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Laptop+/+AMD+A-Series+Processor+/+14%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+320GB+Hard+Drive+-+Pewter/2715258.p?id=1218346636604&skuId=2715258

this is a new processor from amd called the AMD A4, it is equivelant to the i3 but it is better in two ways. it has turbo boost,meaning it runs at a normal speed, but when needed,such as when a specific program needs a faster processor, it can speed up to 2.5ghz. that allows your processor to work more efficiently and helps your battery life. in addition to turbo boost, it has a dedicated 512 gb graphics card with it, if you bought a comparable intel processor you pay extra for the graphics card. along with other processors on the class, this makes AMD processor better then intel( the A6 and A8 processor have 1 gb graphics cards already packaged with them). So for 379 you are getting a laptop that should cost alot more.

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What kind of laptop do I need? What kind of specs should I be looking for and what do they mean?

best laptops for college budget image

teacompany

I am a total novice.

I'm a freshman in college and I need help picking out a laptop that I can do my coursework on, as well as use for social networking, web browsing, occasionally streaming movies, storing music, etc. I really don't know what I need. I'm on a college budget, so please be mindful of that. (Penny pinching)
Do you have any suggestions?
What kind of specs should I look for in a laptop?
What's the best I can get on a low budget?

Answer
Basically , most of todays laptops will do your job for you. For web-browsing , streaming movies, storing movies etc. All you need is a laptop with a basic processor, good RAM, hard drive etc.
I will recommend a list of good low budget laptops below for you. See them.
1. ASUS X75A-DS31 17.3-Inch Laptop (Black) $399
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B7K11PU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00B7K11PU&linkCode=as2&tag=cheonlsto-20

2. Acer Aspire V5-171-6675 11.6-Inch Laptop $379
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009JXJYKG/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009JXJYKG&linkCode=as2&tag=cheonlsto-20

3.HP 2000-2b19wm $322
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BJ8C02I/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00BJ8C02I&linkCode=as2&tag=cheonlsto-20

4. Lenovo G500 $364
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BJ8C02I/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00BJ8C02I&linkCode=as2&tag=cheonlsto-20

What is a decent gaming computer and for school work under 500, but prefer 400 dollars?

Andrew

I am looking for a new laptop and on a college students budget unforchantly lol.
I play online games such as minecraft and perfect world and maybe thinking about diablo III, i just want one that will run decently without over heating. Thank you, any ideas will be helpful.

Answer
Here's a great laptop for the price (400): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Inspiron-17R-7110-17-3-Intel-i3-2-10-GHz-GT-525M-6-GB-500-GB-Black-/170926619349?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item27cc053ad5
Please note all computers are from ebay, only way you'll get what you want.

It has a GT525m gpu (better than integrated) and a i3 2310m (good). It is used but in good condition. I'm not personally selling it but the seller has 100% positive feedback (great). I highly recommend this buy, it's a great deal.

The first Dell is ancient? It's still being sold from Dell.

And I know in most cases it's a bad idea however this gpu is known to overclock well and isn't hot.

I would never recommend overclocking a laptop in any way unless I knew the cooling was adequate. My friend owns the second laptop listed, I know what I'm talking about. His is actually slower than the one listed.

This might be able to do what you need: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Latitude-D830-2-5GHz-T9300-Quadro-NVS-140M-256MB-500GB-4GB-WUXGA-DVDRW-XP-/220904096021?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item336ee90115

It's really good for the money, I recommend overclocking the GPU though (the 140 is known for overclocking well, just don't go crazy).

I'd personally overclock it to these levels:
Core 475mhz
Ram 700mhz IF the ram is at 600mhz already
Shader 950

To overclock you'll need an overclocking tool but you can easily find that online.

If things get glitchy after overclocking just lower the clock speeds 5mhz at a time still it's stable.

If you don't care about screen size then this would perform better but with a smaller screen:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Latitude-E6400-Intel-C2D-P8700-2-53Ghz-250GB-4GB-Nvidia-NVS-160M-Win-7-Pro-/281001209877?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item416cfa301

Andy clearly doesn't understand what "under 500" means hahaha. I know the laptops I listed weren't the best but they are great computers for the price. The people that disliked probably have Core i7 laptops that couldn't even comprehend having a Core 2 Duo in their system despite it being a decent processor. Ignore the dislikes, please. I know what I'm talking about, if you wanted a $520 laptop I would suggest something different but that wasn't what you wanted. Maybe if people READ what you wanted they wouldn't be giving me thumbs downs.

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What is a good medium priced laptop for a student entering law school.?

best laptop for law school student image

summerbean

my daughter is entering Law School. She doesn't have a whole lot of money to spend,probably between 600-799. She will want to be able to do multi-tasking and will need a wireless one. Is there anything wrong with a refurbished one? I tend to shy away from this type of thing myself. I have looked online at Dell, Sony, and Gateway. Sony seems to be out of her price range, and the others in her range are usually celeron. If anyone knows of something, please let me know. Thank you.

Answer
Many people spend far more than they need to for a laptops. A college student or in this case a law student only needs to type on the keyboard, retrieve e-mail and do online research. As you pointed out a wifi card is a must and can be added to an older laptop for $30. Rather than spending $600 plus there is no reason why she could not spend $300 to $400. Type "used laptops" or "refurbished laptop" into google and check out the first 2-3 companies that come up.

Why should I choose a mac over my current Lenovo ThinkPad?

Cheyenne

I have a Lenovo T61 ThinkPad, and I'm about to start law school in the fall. I have been told that Macs are much more stable, which is what I'm looking for. Why should I choose a mac over my current computer and what features of a Mac make it so?

Answer
There is no right answer to this question. The answer really is "what is right for me?" Since you're going to be a law student, it might not be all that clear.

Windows systems:
-Most widely used, so you're almost guaranteed to find the applications you need. For example, if your courses require you to use any custom software, it's most likely only written for Windows machines.
-Ease of use: you already know how to use it, so there is no learning curve
-Viruses and other malware: almost all malware is designed for Windows systems. Some malware masquerades as anti-virus software, making it difficult to distiguish between the two if you are a new user. Solution: spend $60 on a well-known anti-virus product like Kapersky, Symantec, or ESET.
-Moderately reliable and moderate speed: Windows systems are more likely to crash than Mac systems; windows takes more resources (RAM) to run and is slower.
-Super-user factor: Windows has many options and ways to customize it. Users can change almost anything they want about the system.
-Price: can be half the price for a system with similar hardware to a Mac.

Macintosh OS X systems:
-Reliability and speed: Mac OS usually requires a restart whenever there is an update, as opposed to the daily restart typically required for Windows. Mac OS programs run faster and freeze & crash less often.
-Limited compatibility: Mac OS features many of the same applications as are offered on Windows, but often look and print differently. This may be an issue if you need to write and submit documents electronically if they have tables and graphics.
-User experience: Mac OS is designed for user simplicity. It is easy to use. It is also very difficult to change some settings. For example, changing the theme involves using the command line to type commands. The system is designed to not overwhelm the user with options.
-Price: can be twice as expensive as a comparable Windows PC with similar hardware. BUT you will get far better performance with the hardware in a stock Macbook than with a stock Lenovo at half the price of a Macbook.
-"Just works" factor: it really does "just work." You can take it out of the box, fill in your information, and it will start working and get you on the internet. No need to go through wizard after wizard to install or use something. You will, however, have to learn a new system. You already know how to use Windows.
-Security: Mac OS is designed to protect the user from malware. Programs that make changes to the system require you to authenticate them first. It is what Windows UAC should be. Not much malware is written for Mac OS.

Bottom Line:
You mentioned stability in your question; Mac OS is more stable than Windows. But if your courses require you to use custom software, you may be out of luck if it isn't written for Mac OS.

To keep using your Thinkpad is free; to buy a Mac is $1100-1800 (after tax). To learn how to use Mac OS might take a few hours that you might not want to spend. Your Thinkpad can run faster if you upgrade the RAM.

Basically, unless your Thinkpad is crashing and causing you to lose work, I would recommend you keep it. If you have a thousand bucks burning a hole in your pocket, and want to have a laptop with a glowing apple sign on it, then buy a Mac. I love my Mac, but I bought it only because I was replacing a four-year-old laptop that was crashing all the time.

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Who should I have take pictures of my boyfriend and I?

best laptop for student photographer image

Cute Cupca

So my boyfriend and I have been together for 9 months, I know it's not that long but the only pictures we have together are a few silly, poor quality webcam photos on my laptop.

If we end up being together for years to come, I would love to have pictures to look back at and be glad we took them of us together :)

We can't afford to pay a professional photographer, so who is a good person to have do this for us?
Any ideas?

Thanks!!! So much!!! You rock!!!

Answer
Going to school? Know anyone that is? I had my senior pictures done by a girl who was getting her degree in photography at the time; usually students will gladly do some work for less than what a professional would charge. Because they need the practice and the money!
Otherwise, trust a friend or family member with the camera; might not look professional but it'd be better than a webcam:)

which is more important for a starting photographer?

Wishing St

I am just starting out with photography. Learning the basics and experimenting with different types of subjects. I have a student version of Photoshop that I use to touch up images. Here is my dilemma:

1- My laptop is old, and doesn't support pixel shader (the one needed to have the best results from photoshop).
2- I only have an entry-level SLR, a Canon t2i, and want to upgrade the kit lens to a sigma 17-70mm.

The problem is, as a student, I only have funds to do one of these things. I am wondering which is more important to get better photographic results. I am leaning towards getting the lens now and upgrading the computer later in the year. But i'm just not sure. I would really appreciate a professional opinion about this.

Thanks

Answer
There is nothing wrong with the camera and lens you have. It is fully capable of producing professional looking photos if you have the skills to do so.

In order to be able to use Photoshop and/or Lightroom, you need a fast computer (Intel i5 CPU or better) with at least 6 gb of RAM

After you have honed your skills using your fine T2i over the next few years, then consider buying a new camera body. Lenses you can buy as you find you have extra money. For now learn how to use your 18-55 mm lens to its fullest potential

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What is the best brand for a laptop that is reasonably priced?

best laptops for college students under 1000 image

Kujo

I am a high school student in search of a laptop. I've seen many laptops in ads for best buy and other stores that are under $1000. Some of them are as low as $600. I was wondering, for my purposes, would one of these laptops be good enough? Also, in 2 years when I go to college, will this laptop still be good enough? Finally, I was hoping to find a colored laptop, preferably red. The only one I've really seen so far is the sony vaio, which is way out of my price range. Any suggestions?

Answer
Dells are very good. They have a new laptop that comes in different colors. It starts at $699 I would order it directly from
Dell then if there are specific things you want you can get them built on in the beginning. You also can get skins to go over your laptop. They are stickers to put on over it to help protect it. You can even download a picture to use as your skin if you want to. Go here:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/notebooks?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

I hope this helps!

What kind of Laptop to get for a college bound student?

Tiffany

I'm entering college very soon, but I'm in need of a laptop? What kind of laptop and features do you recommend? And for all you MAC and APPLE lovers, I'm sorry to say that's out of the questions. I simply cannot afford it, no matter what I do. I prefer to keep everything under $1000.

I plan to hold music (a lot) and a lot of school documents. I'm not going to hold movies, play/install hardcore games, or anything big other than music.

Answer
You can get a really nice dell studio xps laptop. Prices start about
700.00-800.00. www.dell.com

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Just curious: Which MacBook should i get?

best laptop for mba student 2011 image

Dina

im not in college yet, im a student, i do sooooo many activities its not even funny i have a hard time staying organized so i was thinking of getting a macbook that can keep me organized so i can do my homework on it (cuz im always doing homework at track meets or other afterschool activities and barely get any sleep trying to finish) :(

..anyways im a girl if that makes a difference..

i want to get either the Macbook Pro or the Macbook Air, i just dont know which one is better,, what do you think? something portable would be nice cuz im always doing school stuff on the go (in the car, at soccer games, while babysitting, etc) so im wondering which one would you suggest- Pro or Air? it needs to have good battery power and can stay on standby for long periods of time, and to me it doesnt really matter about how the Air is like 3lbs, isnt the Pro just as portable? i just want the one that has better quality and better features :) thx!

btw dont say get other laptops, this question is specifically for macbooks, cuz i need to be able to facetime others while im doing homework instead of just aim or facetiming on my ipod touch or something cuz that gets really annoying thx :)

Answer
It heavily depends on how much you're willing to spend and if you can do without certain features. For example, the 13" MBP has a DVD drive for watching movies, installing apps of CD's, etc.

MBA is very light, and easy to store in a bag. Only down side is that it doesn't have a DVD drive. You'll either have to connect it over network to another computer with a DVD drive if you want to install something, or buy an external DVD drive for it.

Having said that, I think that MBA would probably suit you best. It just depends on whether you want the 11" or 13" model. As for typing papers, I recommend you get a copy of Microsoft Office 2011 instead of iWork, because Office is a more widely used software package of the two (most computer users have Windows and Office) so there will be less compatibility issues (even though iWork is compatible with Office files).

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What kind of school supplies for college?

best laptop post college image

Clint Samp

I'll be a college freshmen and I'm not sure what would be the best way to organize my school stuff. What kind of supplies do I need? Ive got my text books ordered and all that.

I have 3 classes each day. Would it be easiest to have a binder for each day, or each class? Any tips are appreciated?

Answer
Anything you will need to turn in may have to follow an explicit set of rules. You should have a stapler with staples, paper clips (probably both big and little ones), extra printer cartridges and paper if you are bringing a computer and printer, both pens and pencils, and some letter-sized paper that you take with you to class in case you have to do in-class assignments. You will not need report covers for things you turn in.

If you have 3 classes that meet MWF and 3 classes that meet TR, it might be worth having two binders or 3-subject spirals, one for the first 3 classes and another for the latter 3. If you have at least one class that meets on either Monday, Wednesday, or Friday and also meets on either Tuesday or Thursday, then 2 binders or 2 spirals will result in you having to carry them both around at least one day a week. I would suggest that if you want to go with binders or spirals (which seem to be the most popular choices), you either get a binder for each class or a binder for the classes that meet only on MWF, another for the classes that meet only on TR, and a third for the classes that sometimes meet on MWF and sometimes on TR.

If you intend on taking a laptop to class to take notes on, you should still have at least one notebook: some professors will not allow you to use a computer. Also, you'll still need a way to keep handouts and printouts together, and you definitely need to have each of your notes files saved in 2 places -- like on the computer and also on a flash drive -- or you need to e-mail your notes to yourself on a regular basis so that you can go to any computer, log into your mail account, and download them if something happens to your own computer.

Some specific classes will require specific tools: calculators, art supplies, lab notebooks, and so on. You probably want to wait until you know the exact details of what is required before you buy these. If the school store is too expensive for you, you can order things from office supply websites and get them delivered quickly, and if you think ahead and buy things you'll need later as well as things you'll need soon, you can often get shipping waived.

By far the most of your work will not be turned in. It will be notes taken from lectures and discussions, readings, your own investigation into topics covered in class, your own work drafting things to be turned in, etc. It's up to you what kind of supplies you wants to use for these things.

You will need to take something to write on, something to write with, and some way to keep your notes and handouts together to every class. Different people handle this in different ways. One person might choose binders with loose-leaf paper and either folders or hole-punchers to hold handouts and anything he prints. Another might decide she prefers to use a system of spiral notebooks, again with folders. I use manila folders (full ones at home for all the material covered in class so far and then ones I carry with me with just the pages I expect to need on a given day) and legal pads. You can carry mostly pencils or mostly pens.

You will also want any kinds of study tools you have found useful in the past: index cards, highlighters, pens or pencils in different colors, etc. If you are planning on selling your textbooks when you're done with them, you should write on Post-It notes stuck to pages of the books rather than on the pages of the books themselves. Clean copies bring more money than marked-up copies.

You should have an academic planner, but this is one thing that I think is worth waiting to buy at the school store, because the store will very likely have planners that already include important dates like the last day you can withdraw from a class and receive a W on your transcript, and the day that registration for the next semester opens. If you get a generic planner you will want to look all these days up and add them by hand -- and it's just not worth the couple of dollars you can save.

What are the essentials to buy for a college dorm?

Jazlin

The upcoming fall is my freshman year at college! So I'm staying on campus and going to go dorm-shopping this summer or so. What things should i buy?

Answer
Essentials for Daily Living:
Pillows, Pillow Cases, Bed Sheets (Twin or Twin Extra Long if your dorm has extra long beds), Mattress Pad, Clothes Hamper, Clothes Basket, Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, Clothes Hangers, Your Clothes, Table/Desk Top Ironing Board, Iron, Over the Door Full Length Mirror, Over the Door Shoe Rack, Shower Tote/Caddy, Shower Shoes (an absolute must have), Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Soap, Razor, Shaving Gel, Body Lotion, Wash Cloths, Hand Towels, Body Towels, Bath Robe (an absolute must have), Toothbrush, Toothbrush Holder, Mouth Wash, Blow Dryer, Hair Spray (if you use it), Hair Accessories (if you use them), Perfume (if you use it), Make-up (if you use it), Back Support Pillow (for sitting up and reading or viewing television in bed), Garbage Can, Garbage Bags, Alarm Clock, Desk Lamp, First Aid Kit that Includes: Band-Aids, Ace Bandage, Small Packets of Tylenol, Benadryl, and Icy Hot, Small Bottle of Nyquil, Cough Drops, Ice Pack.

Ideals for Daily Living:
Mini-Fridge and Microwave (Can be purchased at Bed, Bath, and Beyond), Floor Lamp, Television, Stereo/Radio with CD Player, DVD Player, DVDs, CDs, Ipod or MP3 Player, Small Vacuum or Dust Buster, Coffee Pot, Bottled Water and other Beverages, Easy to Microwave Foods, Plastic Washable/Reusable Plates, Bowls, Cups, Forks, Knives and Spoons.

Essentials for Academics:
Pencils, Pens, Highlighters, White-Out Pen, Mini Stapler and Staples, Pencil Cap Erasers, Paper Clips, Index Cards (work well for flashcards and test study questions and answers), Post-It Notes, Folders with Pockets and Prongs, 3 Ring Binder (at least one), Loose Leaf Paper (for the binder), Notebooks, Graphing Calculator, Dictionary, Thesaurus, Textbooks (You'd be surprised at how many students fail to buy the books and then wonder why they fail the course!), Daily Planner/Assignment Book, Large Desk Calendar, Dry Erase Board and Dry Erase Pens.

Ideals for Academics:
Laptop Computer, USB Cord (for connecting to the internet on campus), Printer/Scanner/Copier In One Unit, Printer Paper, Extra Printer Ink.

Stuff to Make the Room Pretty:
Tape (for hanging posters), Posters, Cork Board and Thumb Tacks (for hanging up pictures), Pictures of Family and Friends, Framed Pictures for the Desk

Keep in Possession at All Times:
Driver's License or State Issued ID Card, Student ID Card, Debit Card, and Minimal (no more than 20 dollars) Cash.

Have on Move In Day:
Two forms for Proof of Identification- License or State Card, and Social Security Card.

Look at Purchasing:
Renter's Insurance (Most students and parents don't think the student qualifies, but you do, because you signed a contract, which is similar to a lease and you'll be paying/renting the room for about 9 months. Get this to protect you and your belongings from fire, storms, and/or theft.)

If Your College Allows It:
Loft Your Bed! (This gives you a lot of extra space to store things, like clothing that didn't fit in the dresser drawers or closet.)

Contact your roommate to see who is bringing what when it comes to ideals for the dorm. You don't want 2 fridges and 2 microwaves and stuff like that because it will take up too much room.

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What are the different processor types good for? I'm looking for a laptop to suit my needs at my university.

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Crissy

I'm a science student who deals with graphics I also want to collect music, burn DVDs and CDs. I'm confused whether I should get a pentium 4 processor or some other type. Can somebody help me PLEASE! I need major enlightenment- a detailed answer as soon as possible.

Answer
I personally recommend a Pentium dual core.
avoid "celeron" as they are a stripped down version of a Pentium.

I don't know how much you have to spend, but for a good laptop they are very expensive, at least the really good ones are.
If you have enough money I would get a "very good" desk / tower computer and a very cheep laptop and have them synchronized, or your own personal net. Even though its a cheep laptop be sure and get WiFi built in.
That way if you lose or drop (Yes it happens) your laptop you don't lose all your data.

Here's a good place to browse. www.tigerdirect.com

Hard drive replaced in laptop. How to get microsoft office back?

Sandra

Hi
My laptop (Dell Inspiron N5110) would not turn on and the hard drive needed to be replaced. Because of this all files have been wiped from the laptop.
I have managed to get my norton account back and other files that were backed up. However, I am unable to get my microsoft office package back. It was a student deal so I got other programs free with it.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Answer
When you purchase MS Office Student you received a product key code for it and you will need that to re-register MS Office Student, Did you install MS Office Student from disc or download from Microsoft? If from disc just re install on the laptop, if downloaded from Microsoft download it again and use the product key you originally received to re register the software. If you have a problem contact Microsoft support or the school or place you got MS Office from. You are allowed to re install Microsoft software onto the same computer it is originally installed on with out purchasing a new product key code.

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How can i apply a student visa from aupair?|?

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(*^0^*)F_A

I am an aupair and im a filipina, I want to apply a student visa after my contract as an aupair, What I am going to do? How can i apply and what is the requirements on it.

Answer
You can only apply for a foreign student visa from within your own country. Therefore, you must be accepted by a US university, apply for the student visa while you are in your own country, and prove you have sufficient funds for all of your school related expenses (tuition, fees, books & supplies, laptop, etc), and all of your living expenses (room & board on campus or rent, utilities, transportation, food & household expenses, health insurance, clothing, etc), plus your transportation back to your own country immediately upon completion or termination of studies. Average costs for 4 yrs of college for a US citizen runs over $250,000 now, and that average includes a great many kids who live at home and go to local community or 4 yr colleges, thus seriously underestimating the average costs of foreign students (or anyone who goes to school away from home).

It's getting late to apply for the 2010-2011 school year. You need to take your SATs (or ACT), complete the application processes, pay all of the application fees, etc. Then you would have to be back home to apply for your visa probably by about May-June to start that process - if you are accepted at a school, and if you have the money to pay for school.

Remember, student visa holders are strictly forbidden to work! And financial aid is nearly impossible to come by. Last statistics I found (for last year) showed only 8% of foreign students actually received financial aid from their US schools. Of course, those who obtained financial aid from their own countries are not included in that figure.

What netbook or a very lightweight laptop in your opinion is great value for the money right now? I need help?

heyyy

I like HP, I have never tried Apple,

but will never try Dell. Bad experience.

I am a college student and I have 3 bulging discs in my neck and back. I have two years left in college. I'd like something budget friendly and light to carry. I would like good functionality with software. I already have a dv6 artist edition laptop that I will keep at home. But it's too heavy to carry for me.

Answer
Budget friendly and Apple don't mix. You can't have both in that case. HP still makes their HP Mini last I checked, which is a nice 10.1" netbook. Acer makes the Aspire One, which is another good netbook (I own the 2010 version, but the 2011 is just as good, if not better, using the nicer dual-core Intel Atom processor) Both are around $250 and are good for taking notes and doing simple tasks, but for doing any real intensive tasks, they just don't cut it, and you may have to find a way to cope with the dv6. Good luck! Hope I helped!

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