| Size Matters | | | | The competition is on between PC manufacturers |
| When making the decision to purchase a laptop for | | | | and Apple for the hearts and minds of college |
| college one of the first things you will want to | | | | students. While some will argue that one is better |
| consider is the laptop's size and weight. Too many | | | | than the other, the real choice might be determined |
| students buy a laptop thinking they will be carrying it | | | | by the college program you enter. Some programs |
| from class-to-class only to find after a couple days | | | | actually preference one computer type over another. |
| that the thing is just too heavy to carry around all | | | | Some art programs actually prefer students have |
| the time. So, when you're looking for a laptop take a | | | | Macintosh computers while some business schools |
| few moments to consider how much the laptop | | | | would prefer students use a PC. Checking these |
| weighs and how big it is. Many students are | | | | preferences before you making your purchase is a |
| considering buying a combination of a desktop to act | | | | good idea. |
| as a stationary unit and a small netbook book | | | | Don't Forget the Software |
| computer to be their portable computer. | | | | Buying the laptop is only the beginning of the |
| | | | process. You need to also purchase the software |
| Some price conscious students might go for the | | | | you will need to do your work. Many colleges have |
| value laptop trying to save a few dollars, but when | | | | deeply discounted software agreements with |
| purchasing of a laptop, the best advice is to take the | | | | companies like Microsoft and Adobe and pass these |
| long view. Bargain basement laptops may save you a | | | | discounts on to students. It's best to check with |
| few dollars this year, but in a year or two, you may | | | | your campus prior to purchasing any basic software |
| find you have a computer that slogs through running | | | | to see if they have a discount software program. |
| the latest version of your essential software. You | | | | Buying a laptop is like making a new best friend. Take |
| need to think two to three years out about the | | | | your time and make a careful purchase because you |
| processor power demands you may encounter. | | | | will be sharing a lot of your college years with your |
| Mac vs PC | | | | laptop. |