good laptop/netbook for college student?

bobracecar

I am going to be starting college in the fall and want a good laptop/netbook that:

is good for web browsing, has a good battery, can run Microsoft office well, and isn't too big because I will be carrying it most of the day.

since im a biology major I most likely wont be using a lot of programs that require a powerful computer just one that can do the above and perhaps(optional) a bit of music and video.

my budget is between 400-800(before tax)

I was looking at this dell laptop
http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/174783
and it seems nice I would have to buy Microsoft office for a low price elsewhere and after tax and fees it totals 715.
NO MACS please too expensive and it can be lower than 400 its just an estimate im leaning more towards netbooks because of their size and because im not going to be using powerful programs something like the Asus EEE 1005HA P netbook is it good?

Answer
I don't know anything about Dell's but I really like my Sony Vaio laptop. I am a business student and so I too have to take lots of notes and write lots of reports and use all the microsoft programs. It is also light weight, not as light as the Apple air or anything but I'm a weakling and I can handle carrying it around with me.



I would reccoment going intot heir store and looking around depending on what features you want. I wanted a more so fully loaded and it was $1050 or so but there are definitely cheaper ones.

What's a good cheap laptop for a college student?

Miuki

I just need something that wont break the bank but would be decent enough for my day to day needs.

Answer
It will depend on what type of classes you are planning to take. For business and medical courses, anything with an Intel Core i3 or AMD A-4 processor will be fine, but if taking any engineering, computer programming, or graphic design classes, you would want an Intel Core i5, AMD A-6, or AMD A-8. If you want to play any games on your laptop between classes, you would want the AMD processors. The AMD processors have the power of a discrete graphics card built right into the cpu chip. Because of the great graphics characteristics of the A-series processors you can actually play most of todays video games on them. Here are several models available at Best Buy to take a look at:

Lenovo - 15.6" Laptop Model: 1068B9U SKU: 4960855 $379.99
Intel Core i3
4GB DDR3 RAM
500 GB Hard Drive

Asus - 14" Laptop Model: X44H-BBR7 | SKU: 5043709 $399.99
Intel Core i3
4GB DDR3 RAM
320 GB Hard Drive

Asus - 15.6" Laptop Model: K53E-BBR17 | SKU: 5036973 $479.99
Intel Core i5
4GB DDR3 RAM
500 GB Hard Drive

Lenovo - 15.6" IdeaPad Laptop Model: V570-1066AWU | SKU: 4676403 $529.99
Intel Core i5
6GB DDR3 RAM
500 GB Hard Drive

Asus - 15.6" Laptop Model: K53Z-BBR3 | SKU: 5043627 $349.99
AMD A-4 Dual Core
4GB DDR3 RAM
320 GB Hard Drive
Radeon 6480 Graphics

Toshiba - 15.6" Satellite Laptop Model: L755D-S5109 | SKU: 4857006 $399.99
AMD A-4 Dual Core
4GB DDR3 RAM
500 GB Hard Drive
Radeon 6480 Graphics

Dell - 15.6" Inspiron Laptop Model: I15RM-2588BK | SKU: 4830134 $479.99
AMD A-6 Quad Core
6GB DDR3 RAM
500 GB Hard Drive
Radeon 6520 Graphics

Gateway - 15.6" Laptop Model: NV55S04U | SKU: 3005237 $479.99
AMD A-6 Quad Core
4GB DDR3 RAM
500 GB Hard Drive
Radeon 6520 Graphics

Lenovo - 15.6" IdeaPad Laptop Model: 12992KU | SKU: 4845199 $579.99
AMD A-8 Quad Core
6GB DDR3 RAM
500 GB Hard Drive
Radeon 6620 Graphics

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Laptop for College student?

potterhead

I am going to be a psychology + political science double major, I'm going to be need a computer with: great processor, bank hard drive, my laptop right is dazed and its battery life blows..

I'm thinking a Sony Vaio but I dont know which one...any general recommendations?

thanks for the answers! i appreciate it.

Answer
Your laptop needs seem to be fairly basic so you can get one of the lowest priced laptops you can find.

I like Toshiba, Sony, and maybe the HP/Compaq line. You can find these at Office Depot, Staples, Best Buy.

If you're patient, I've seen Office Depot beat everyone's prices on Toshiba laptops. I'm partial to Toshiba because I've used them in business for years and they built to last and can take a lot of travel abuse. Most people don't think about Toshiba because it's not a "younger generation" brand (like Dell, etc...) BUT it's a workhorse.

I've bought 4 different laptops for me/family over the past 2 years and have gotten 3 Toshibas and 1 Sony. I did not pay over $579 for any of them. 1 was $459, 1 was $525, 1 was $549, 1 was $579.

All 4 were 1-3mb memory, dual-core, 1.8-2.0 mhz, 160gb-250gb hard drive, 15.4" widescreen, 3-4 USB ports, media drive for camera cards, etc...

Just be a little patient, visit some local stores, ask them about when their sales are starting, look in Sunday papers for the sales notice, etc...

What type of laptop should a college business student buy? Why? Where?

asker

I'm not really sure about the technical details when buying a computer; but i do know that anything over 2GB is good.
What are the other technical things (such as "AMD" or "Intel", which company, etc...) that go into consideration when buying a laptop?
And which one can suit a business student?
If you can, please also list the price
Thank you for all your help!! =)
Should I get a home premium, business, etc..?

Answer
Business students don't (in theory) need fancy graphics. I would suggest Dell- "Small business" section. The Vostro series is nice.

You can pay a premium for a lightweight, or for very large. 14 to 15 inch machines are the best compromise. I have a Vostro 1510 myself.

By cutting back on graphics requirements, you can splash you budget where it counts - CPU, disk drive, and memory (RAM). AMD and intel are competitors, if you cut throughg the B/S they are very similar, with Intel currently a bit cheaper.

Memory- don't bother with more than 3GB of RAM. It's got to do with 32-bit operating systems- but all you care about is that memory above 3GB can't be accessed so it's a waste of your money. Put the cash toward a better CPU or a bigger disk drive.

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Best laptop for a college student?

Bob

I'm a freshman in college with about a $750 dollar budget. I don't like macs and I hear a Dell probably wouldn't really last 4 years (or a low chance to) so it seems that I am aiming towards an HP.

I'm looking for laptop suggestions that suits me, a somewhat-frequent gamer, social media websites, music, streaming videos, and most importantly, to do homework (I'm a business student). I'm looking for a good performance and the best that amount could buy

Answer
I have a dell laptop that's wayyy way old and still works well for how old it is, so idk why people would say it wouldn't last four years. But definitely hp or dell is the way to go.

Looking for 13.3" Laptop for College Business Student / Portable / <$800 -/- NOT for gaming?

Yingerman

It seems like everyone is trying to make these fancy gaming laptops; I'm not into it. I'm going to college to get a Master's Degree in Business. I will only need this laptop for Note Taking in Class, Web Surfing, Office and Productivity Software, and Listening to Music. I've been fine with a netbook for years, but it's gotten a little dated and the screen is too small for writing papers (higher screen res would be nice).

I went to Best Buy the other day and I really liked the size and feel of the 13.3" ultrabooks. The problem was price; most of the nice styles cost over $1000! My favorite was the Sony VAIO T Series, and the MacBook Air (but I really dislike the Mac OS). The Sony VAIO T Series seems so nice at $750, but I feel like it might be overkill.


What is your budget?
$800 --Less is preferred, but I don't want a cheap build.

What country will you be buying this in?
USA

What size notebook do you prefer?
Thin and Light (13 - 14-inch screen)

What brands do you like or dislike?
Like: Sony VAIO, the feel of Macbook

Would you consider a refurbished laptop?
Yes

What are the primary tasks you need this notebook for?
Note Taking in Class, Web Surfing, Office and Productivity Software, Listening to Music --while nice speakers would be cool, I'll mostly use headphones

Where will you be using this laptop?
Classroom, Park, Dorm Room --It needs VGA output for my monitor.

How many hours of battery life do you need?
5 hrs will do --It will be plugged in most of the time, as most of the desks have outlets. My current laptop battery life is <20 minutes.

Will you be buying online or in store?
online or in store

Which OS do you prefer?
Windows 7

List the screen resolutions that interest you:
Standard Resolution (1366 x 768) 3rd
High Resolution (1600 x 900) -- 1st preference
Maximum Resolution (1920 x 1080) 2nd

Do you prefer a glossy or matte screen?
Matte is fine

Is the laptops design important to you?
Yes --It can't feel like it will break in half if I touch it wrong. An aluminum build is preferred.

Approximately what date will you be buying this laptop?
Before 8/17/12

How long do you want this laptop to last?
6 years --I'm not saying it has to be top notch by 2018, but it must still function (again, it shouldn't have broken hardware by then). I take very good care of my laptops.

How much storage capacity do you need?
250 GB --Storage is not a big deal. I have 50GB of music, and that should be almost the only thing taking up space besides programs.

Are you interested in SSD for storage?
Maybe --A small SSD for the OS would be nice for a fast boot-up. Or a 200GB if it's not crazy expensive

Do you want a built-in optical drive, what type?
No --I don't need one, but I might be nice for audio CDs. An external would also work just as well.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I'm not planning on using this for gaming at all, so a high tier processor or graphics card is not needed. One of the most important things to me is that it feels nice, seens as I'll probably be using every day for the next 6 years! I love the feel of the Sony VAIO, and most of the ultrathin models. So far this SONY VAIO SVT13114GXS Notebook(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834127668), looks very nice, but I'm worried I will be paying too much for what I need. Someone else suggested the HP Folio, even though it's a bit out of my price range (http://search4laptop.com/?p=63).

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
THANKS!

Answer
The closest match based off your answers will be the toshiba portege.
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Port%C3%A9g%C3%A9-R835-P56x-13-3-Inch-Magnesium/dp/B004G8QOJS/?ie=UTF8&tag=utf8-qid-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

- Lightweight
- Clean and understated design
- Sturdy: most surfaces are made of metal (only the bezel, hinges, and a few bottom panels are plastic). You can easily lift it up by the corner with one hand.
- Battery life is good. Also, no "battery bulge" in the back!
- Trackpad has a nicely configurable driver (Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Mouse > Device Settings > Settings...)
- Value; saves enough money for an SSD compared to a competing system like a Macbook Pro

Detailed specs:
Intel Core i5 2410M Processor 2.9GHz
4GB DDR3 RAM
640GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
13.3-Inch Screen
Windows 7 Home Premium, 8 hours Battery Life


The second choice would be the ASUS..specifically this model
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-U36SG-AS71-13-3-Inch-Laptop-Black/dp/B007JDOW6Y/?ie=UTF8&tag=utf8-qid-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

It is $10 above your budget but it has 2 extra gigs of memory and even though the hdd space isn't a big deal...it has 750 gb compared to 640gb from the toshiba. You will not go wrong with any of the two.

Good luck with college.

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What is the best laptop for a college student?

Hello

I'm going to be attending college in the fall, and I figure I should start thinking about what laptop to get now. I'm going to be a business student, and I'm going to a college that's pretty neutral when it comes to PC vs Mac. The kind of schoolwork I'll be doing shouldn't be too demanding for a computer. Other than schoolwork, I'm always on the Internet, I download and listen to music frequently, I watch videos and occasionally movies online, and I play games every once in a while. I need something that is durable (must be able to survive college life) and portable. My price range is around $900-1,200. What would you recommend?

* If you don't want to recommend a specific laptop, recommendations on the specs that I should look for (RAM, hard drive space, processor, etc.) would be a big help too. Thanks!

Answer
Hi there,

Since you will be using your laptop at college, you should look into the more portable options, so that you can take it to class. Many laptops have 4 GB of RAM, which should be plenty for what you will be using it for. Since you seem to have a lot of music on your computer, make sure you get one with plenty of storage space.

One laptop worth checking out is the Dell Studio 15 because is has 4 GB of RAM, 500 GB storage, and a nice screen size for watching movies (it's also only $699).

Another great option is the Sony VAIO FW. It is a bit heavier than the Dell, but also has a larger screen. It even has a Blu-ray player/burner.

I hope this was helpful. You can use a tool called PC Scout to find other laptops in your price range. Check out the link below!

Cheers,
Isabella
MSFT Windows Outreach Team

best laptop for a college student?

Tyra

1st year college student
current major: photography
future major: either double majoring with photo and forensics, or i may just choose forensics
i need a laptop! any words of wisdom on where i should look and what i should look at? i would say a laptop for photography but it really just needs to support Photoshop (current version). macbook is too expensive as of right now so its out of the question. i looked at ACER, TOSHIBA, SAMSUNG?, LENOVO. i know i have to do research on what best for me, but any advice? pls and thank youu!

Answer
Allow me to save some space and links by not repeating a lot of the same information.
In this answer, I discussed and linked to information about CPU, graphics, and quality:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApSwGG9oDuTpL8HKJPkxp5Lty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20130829113645AAdBKCH
That is despite whether a person's favorite brand is considered good or bad. Truth gets a thumbs down every now and then.
Rescuecom issues occassional industry quality reports, and PCWorld does an annual survey.
Within a laptop brand, they have their own tiers.
High to low
Lenovo Thinkpad and then Ideapad and then Essentials
HP Probook, Elite, Envy, and then Pavilion
Dell has Latitude, XPS and Precision as their good ones, and then Inspiron.
All Acer-Gateway is questionable
Sony cheap laptops are not good but their expensive ones are OK
Samsung's new ATIV 2 is their new consumer low end, but the rest of the product line is generally excellent.
Asus is simple to understand, the more they cost, the better they are. Their under $400 is low grade, but as you go up in price they do a better construction.
Toshiba business line is excellent, but Satellites are not rated well.

In Photography, you should try to afford a 1080p display.
You need to offer a price point and whether battery life and weight are important factors.
If you can afford it, Lenovo Y510p with a 1080p display at about $1000 is impressive.
Google Lenovo Student Portal, and Lenovo Barnes and Noble Gold for a small discount.
$655 (plus tax in CA, TN, NJ) for a Sony with a low voltage i5 and 1080p display would be nice
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834126019
Even though only HD 4000, the 1080p display is a big plus to photography.
If trying to go as cheap as possible but still good, look for a Samsung with i5-3210M, and a decent graphics card would be a big bonus.
$580 Samsung - No optical drive
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+ATIV+Book+4+15.6%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+6GB+Memory+-+750GB+Hard+Drive+-+Mineral+Ash+Black/9041061.p?id=1218974707060&skuId=9041061
$770, a Toshiba Satellite with a quad core Haswell i7, GT 740M graphics card, but a standard display
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834216541

What can you afford?

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What are some good laptops for engineering college students?

best laptops for college business students image

Brandon

Here are my requirements:
-Windows 7
-A intel core i5 or i7 processor
-At least 6GB ram
-At least 500GB hard drive
-Wireless Networking

I am looking for something that would work for my next 4 years in college. If you don't really know about engineering school, there are some programs that take a lot of ram and need a decent graphics card, so it can't be a piece of shit. If it meets the requirements it should work good though. I am looking for something in the $500 - $1,000 range, but definitely under $1,500. I can get some pretty good discounts on Dell, HP, and Lenovo computers through my school so those are the preferred brands. I also would prefer a full keyboard and something that has at least a 15 inch screen. Thanks for all your suggestions.

Answer
Hey, that is a great question, thanks for coming to answers, I hope this information helps.
http://www.onedollarcomputersolutions.com/laptop.php

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-3121_7-5758â¦

Most reliable laptop brands: the results

Apple tops the list, as might be expected from such a premium PC builder. Apple products are far from cheap, but they do offer a quality experience. Runner up Dell has a very different business model. It, like other high-ranking brands HP and Asus, operates as a volume laptop maker, selling many thousands of laptops every week. We would expect to see them, and Lenovo, high up in our list because they sell so many PCs: but their higher ranking suggests a lot of satisfied customers.

Apple: 19%
Dell: 12%
Asus: 11%
HP: 11%
Acer: 9%
Lenovo: 9%
Toshiba: 9%
Samsung: 7%
Sony: 6%
Alienware: 3%
Fujitsu: 1%
MSI: 1%
Panasonic: 1%
I do not agree with this. But this was the results of a large survey...

That is a great question, hope I was able to help. Good Luck...

People First! Thatâs my motto at Yahoo Answers. I am dedicated to providing you with an excellent experience. I am here to answer your questions and resolve any problems you may have. We promise to persevere in finding a successful resolution. You are my focus. Resolving whatever issues that brought you to Yahoo Answers is our mission.
Hey, If the above information helped or you appreciate the effort, volt best answer...

Source(s): CompTIA A+ Certified Computer Professional

What are the best brands of laptops for online college?

shaiwilla

I have Lenovo and Asus in mind, esp. Lenovo. I like their security features (fingerprint, facial recognition, etc.). I'll be a business student (accounting), so I don't think i'll need GREAT graphics like those meant for gaming. I'll be borrowing no more than $800 from my parents.

Answer
Find out what is needed in a laptop for your college, plus any features you need for when you are not taking courses, and select the one that fits those needs. Would a desktop work better for you, or are you planning on being mobile with the computer?

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What are some good laptops for engineering college students?

best laptops for college business students image

Brandon

Here are my requirements:
-Windows 7
-A intel core i5 or i7 processor
-At least 6GB ram
-At least 500GB hard drive
-Wireless Networking

I am looking for something that would work for my next 4 years in college. If you don't really know about engineering school, there are some programs that take a lot of ram and need a decent graphics card, so it can't be a piece of shit. If it meets the requirements it should work good though. I am looking for something in the $500 - $1,000 range, but definitely under $1,500. I can get some pretty good discounts on Dell, HP, and Lenovo computers through my school so those are the preferred brands. I also would prefer a full keyboard and something that has at least a 15 inch screen. Thanks for all your suggestions.

Answer
Hey, that is a great question, thanks for coming to answers, I hope this information helps.
http://www.onedollarcomputersolutions.com/laptop.php

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-3121_7-5758â¦

Most reliable laptop brands: the results

Apple tops the list, as might be expected from such a premium PC builder. Apple products are far from cheap, but they do offer a quality experience. Runner up Dell has a very different business model. It, like other high-ranking brands HP and Asus, operates as a volume laptop maker, selling many thousands of laptops every week. We would expect to see them, and Lenovo, high up in our list because they sell so many PCs: but their higher ranking suggests a lot of satisfied customers.

Apple: 19%
Dell: 12%
Asus: 11%
HP: 11%
Acer: 9%
Lenovo: 9%
Toshiba: 9%
Samsung: 7%
Sony: 6%
Alienware: 3%
Fujitsu: 1%
MSI: 1%
Panasonic: 1%
I do not agree with this. But this was the results of a large survey...

That is a great question, hope I was able to help. Good Luck...

People First! Thatâs my motto at Yahoo Answers. I am dedicated to providing you with an excellent experience. I am here to answer your questions and resolve any problems you may have. We promise to persevere in finding a successful resolution. You are my focus. Resolving whatever issues that brought you to Yahoo Answers is our mission.
Hey, If the above information helped or you appreciate the effort, volt best answer...

Source(s): CompTIA A+ Certified Computer Professional

What are the best brands of laptops for online college?

shaiwilla

I have Lenovo and Asus in mind, esp. Lenovo. I like their security features (fingerprint, facial recognition, etc.). I'll be a business student (accounting), so I don't think i'll need GREAT graphics like those meant for gaming. I'll be borrowing no more than $800 from my parents.

Answer
Find out what is needed in a laptop for your college, plus any features you need for when you are not taking courses, and select the one that fits those needs. Would a desktop work better for you, or are you planning on being mobile with the computer?

Powered by Yahoo! Answers