What is the best laptop for a college student?

best laptops on a budget for student image

Shelb

I am on a budget (go figure a college student who is poor lol), but I need a new laptop and I know absolutely nothing about computers! What would yall suggest for the best performance and price??

Answer
We did a lot of internet searching and reading reviews to pick our daughters computer, on a budget and get what you pay for.

We got her a Lenovo. It has a smudge proof outer shell (not so important but nice feature), fingerprint security (use your finger to be able to access the computer) and also face recognition security too. It also has a webcam and microphone (because you need to Skype your family and do free videochats with your old friends and family while in college).

So we ended up finding a review where they compare all the laptops and grade them on the laptop and the service from the company and we chose the Lenova. My daughter loves it and she even had to call them for something and they were super helpful to her and nice. Here is the review site: http://www.laptopmag.com/mobile-life/scores-by-brand-best-brands.aspx#axzz167RQ48GW

Here is what we bought. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-+Laptop+/+Intel&%23174%3B+Pentium&%23174%3B+Processor+/+15.6%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+-+Black/1403286.p?id=1218255559557&skuId=1403286&cmp=RMX&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=1403286

What is the best type of laptop for a college student?

maggles12

I'm looking to buy a new laptop for college but I'm not very computer savvy. I don't need one for making movies/music or whatever but just for papers, internet, etc. I've used both a mac and a pc and don't really have a preference. I simply want the best quality laptop that will hopefully last for 4 years. Also, price is not a factor in the decision.

Answer
I would get a PC for the following reasons..


PC=Variety of specs, options, quality, prices, vendors, support
Mac=One vendor, limited options, still more expensive. Look below for more information..

Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. Apple also has been changing suppliers to try to "lower the price" and thus lowering quality. Even with the lower prices, Macs still cost more, they spend a higher percent of budget trying to make it look pretty, and marketing.

Today, Macs use the same hardware as PCs. Why spend extra to get the same CPU chips, graphics cards and OS X isn't as secure as you think.. Look below.

WINDOWS ADVANTAGES:

Aprox 90% of the market is Windows. Most PCs include windows already pre-installed.
1) A number of websites still require Internet Explorer to view and IE for Mac Stinks (it is really ies4osx which is the Windows IE version running really buggy on OS X and illegal if you don't have a legitimate copy of Windows, too many problems with it).
2) More supported peripherals (printers and other things you hook into the computer) on Windows.
3) Many more games
4) Like the Dock on OS X (Mac)? google/yahoo rocketdock, objectdoc.

Install at least Free Versions of Avira AntiVir, Avast, Comodo Firewall on the Vista.

LINUX ADVANTAGES:

1) Install Linux, and then get tons of software for free.Update software easily and automatically. (Checking a checkbox in either two ways to install (Add/Remove or Synaptic Package Manager), search for something you want, check a box and click apply)
2) Like the Mac OS X effects? go yahoo/google COMPIZ FUSION. It can do just about any cool effect a Mac can do and more...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3gkX9HDfEE (there is no flickering when you use it like on the video, not sure why the person has the flicker)
3) Like the Mac OS X Doc? google/yahoo Cairo Dock, avant window navigator.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rf5q_cairo-dock-mac-os-x-leopard-dock-on_tech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0hzi22g2DE
4) It is faster/MORE SECURE. Surf the internet and even run some windows programs with Wnehq/Crossover..

LINUX OS
If you are worried about viruses, spyware, security, Try Linux (it is free), I have included some information about Linux and links so you are not lost if you decide to try it.

Easily turn your system into a Dual booting computer with Linux, fast, safe and secure, easy to use (contrary to belief). You then get the best of both worlds (Windows with all of its supported products, freely go online without the worry)

Installing Linux in general is very simple and much more secure than OS X(Macintosh) and free.
Also, most Linux distributions have a LiveCD which means you can try without installing...
UBUNTU, KUBUNTU, FREESPIRE, PCLINUXOS, etc.. all have live CDS.
All you have to do is..
A) to download .iso file off the internet from the Linux website
B) burn the .iso file to a CD or DVD (Make sure your burning software can burn an ISO or get InfraRecorder http://infrarecorder.org/ )
C) restart the computer with the CD in the drive
D) As computer is restarting, press on F12 Key a bunch of times to get a boot menu
E) Select the option to boot from CD or DVD.

Click on this link and follow instructions up to the point of "Once the system has started up...", (the rest is how to backup windows) for an easy picture guide for steps A-E above http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/
For easy instructions on setting up Dual Boot http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm

ANOTHER QUICK NOTE: People have been able to run OS X on a PC since the PC and Mac use the same hardware. This is not legal and I would not recommend it for security and legal reasons, the purpose is to show that there is nothing special about the MAC.

A)Price... (may not matter to you but why pay more than you have to)
A similar equipped PC is much cheaper to purchase than Mac. Lets use Dell (but you can compare with another PC Brand if you like)

**(LAPTOP)
Dell Inspiron Laptop $849 dropped to $799
15" Screen
CPU: (upgrade to) 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Memory: 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drive: 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
Optical Drive: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) - WRITES DVDS,CDS, READS Blue-Ray Disks

Macbook $1349 just dropped to $1224
13" Screen (SMALLER)
CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (SAME)
Memory: (upgrade to) 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (LESS RAM)
Hard Drive (upgrade to) 250GBSerial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SMALLER HARD DRIVE)
Optical Drive: (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) - (Writes CDs, DVDs, cannot read Blue-Ray) (WORSE AND 1/2 SPEED)

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