Financial Aid >> Browse Articles >> Cutting College Costs
The Ins & Outs of Buying a Computer for College
By Bridget Kulla and Mark Kantrowitz
September 02, 2008
A computer for college is essential but can add a hefty expense to your budget, so choose wisely. Consider these points when computer shopping:
Desktop or Laptop?
Laptops are more portable and since many campuses and public areas provide wireless Internet service, you won’t be limited to your dorm room to work. If your courses will involve travel or fieldwork, a lightweight laptop makes sense. You might want to get a ‘dock’ for the laptop so you can plug in a bigger display and a better keyboard and mouse when you are in your dorm room.
Desktops are less fragile and usually more affordable than laptops. Their hardware can also be updated more easily. If your dorm room is cramped, don’t forget that desktops take up more space.
Another alternative is a desktop-replacement laptop. Desktop-replacement laptops have wider screens and more features than typical laptops, but they also weigh more and are consequently less portable than smaller laptops.
Another possibility is a netbook. Netbooks are smaller and lighter versions of laptops, with less powerful processors. They’re fine for taking notes in class, sending email, browsing the web and giving presentations, but may not be able to run many programs simultaneously. Be sure to get one that is large enough for you to type comfortably, as some of the earlier models were too small. The keyboard should be at least 10 inches wide (90% or more of the width of a regular keyboard). Popular brands include the Asus EEE PC, Acer Aspire One and MSI Wind.
PC or Mac?
When deciding whether to get a Mac or PC, opt for the system you are more comfortable using. If you’re used to working on a PC, stick with a PC for college. Most schools are compatible with both systems. “Make sure you research the college, what the IT requirements are, before you even start deciding if you want Mac or PC” says Barbara Pliska, manager of the computer store at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.
todd9575
10 months ago
I'm currently an undergrad student and I found that a laptop is probably you're best bet. I hooked up my old monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc... because I was used to a desktop. When I went to write papers with friends, play video games and bring over music or movies to the dorm next door, I found a laptop very convenient. The one I bought was only $500 and it works like a charm for multitasking and gaming. Even played mass effect 2 without any lag for any gamers out there that know what I'm talking about. Here's all the info on the laptop I chose http://best-desktop-reviews.blogspot.com/ .
theheadsetshop
about 1 year ago
http://theheadsetshop.com was the link
theheadsetshop
about 1 year ago
I found a plantronics wireless headset at tiger direct once as in the last post and they sent me the wrong item, be careful buying from them.
ShannonD499
almost 2 years ago
WOW this article seriously needs some updating. Computers have seriously changed since 2008 when this was written... why is it even still linked from a 2010 Back to School guide? I think it's also important to note that "expect it to last all 4 years" is a bit misleading. Yes, if you're gentle with it and don't take it many places and don't ABUSE it like so many people do, it'll last... maybe. Stuff happens even if you ARE careful. So, hope and pray and plan for it to last that long, but have a backup plan and don't be surprised if it only makes it 3 years. Also, do your research. Don't get something that 50 out of 75 people who have reviewed it say it has one specific issue, unless you know for sure that issue won't affect you. If you're thinking of waiting to get there to buy one, be careful. Look up prices on the school's IT, computer depot, bookstore, etc. or whatever else department sells computers on campus to students, or CALL. My school's IT department only sells Macs and the only PC brand they offer is Dell. You have very limited options, and why would you EVER want to pay over $1000 for a laptop with a 160 gb hard drive, 2 GB of memory, a 1.3 GHz dual core processor, a 13.3" screen, and pretty basic other system specs? You can find something with double the memory, 2.1ish GHz or more dual core processor, a 320+ gb hard drive, a 15.6"+ screen which is big enough to allow a numberpad on the keyboard, AND a much better graphics card and other specs... for around $600.
FatimaK7
about 2 years ago
a 13' macbook pro will do anything and everything you need :)
Account Removed
over 2 years ago
Just upgraded my old desktop (Dell Dimension B110 - I'm ashamed of it as a computer nerd) for gaming purposes (ahoy Alienware Aurora!!) and my parents considered it to be both a "gaming and college investment." No way in hell I can push that beyond its limits...my parents were too scared to let me get a laptop since I'm known for being hard on computers (both physically and from the programs I run in tandem).
ChristopherM734
over 2 years ago
Personally, I bought a laptop for school thinking I would need the portibility, but found out I didn't after the first term. With the exception of tablet laptop that allow you to take notes with a stylus on the screen, taking notes on a computer during class is pretty much impossible; you need the freedom of being able to make quick sketches, side-notes, etc. So if you are thinking of a tablet, it may be a good idea. Otherwise, see my below comments.
The pros to a desktop really outwiegh the laptop. If you do a bit of homework (Wikipedia has excellent info on computer hardware), and put it together yourself (buying parts from places such as Newegg.com or TigerDirect.com), you can get a computer that is twice as powerful at half the price of a laptop easily. Unless your room is a 6x6 area occupied by 4 people (lol) or something insane like that, there is plenty of room for a desktop computer. They don't really take THAT much space. You can buy low-profile desktop cases that can fit under beds, go under your monitor, whatever. You can also easily add periphrials and upgrades to a desktop PC. For an engineering student like me, this is crucial. Since I am stuck with my laptop, I have to venture out to campus computer labs to use software my laptop cannot run on the campuses old, sluggish PC's becasue my laptop has limited capabilites. And if these weren't enough pros, the chance of you dropping and breaking your computer as a desktop are zilch compared to a laptop. That way, you aren't SOL when you just finished your term paper and accidentily whack your laptop and break it. Cold, hard steel surroundng your computer is a nice security blanket for this.
You could also buy a laptop that is as powerful as a PC computer and slightly more upgradable than the average laptop, but expect to pay no less than $4k for a computer you could have built for $1.5 =/ as a desktop unit.