by Jennifer Shipon

Created on: June 26, 2008

The "best" computer is a subjective term based on many factors, including desired utility and price range. While most college students don't have the budget to snag a high-end machine (unless Mom & Pop are chipping in, of course), they do have a predilection for portable, lightning-fast laptops with uber-intense graphics.

The laptop market has grown considerably in just the past few years. The sheer number of brands to choose from - Toshiba, Dell, Apple, Sony, HP Pavilion, Compaq, Lenovo, Acer, and dozens more - can be completely overwhelming. However, several minimum standards apply to all laptops today. Any laptop with an Intel Core Duo or Core 2 Duo processor is preferable over one with an older, single-core processor. Today's applications need at least 1 gigabytes of RAM to run efficiently. 128 megabytes of video RAM should do the trick for users who only want to watch DVDs, but for those college students who want to get their game on, between 256 to 512 megabytes is essential for smooth gameplay. Battery life should clock in at at least 3.5 hours, and every good student laptop should contain an optical drive for burning and rewriting CDs and DVDs.

A college student looking for ultra-portability would be best served by a Lenovo ThinkPad X61. If an even lighter laptop is desired, the 2.4-pound Toshiba Portege R500-S5001X is practically a feather, although it does add approximately $500 or so on to the price.

If your main focus is on music or video-editing, or something else on the creative end of the spectrum (for instance, graphic design), a Mac is without a doubt the way to go. Although Macbook users sometimes experience compatibility issues with Apple's non-Windows platform, Mac equivalents have been developed for most Windows applications. If you don't mind a little bit of creative maneuvering, most incompatibilities can be solved with a little intelligent web browsing. In general, Macbooks make for easy sailing with artsy types, but are probably not the best option for college students looking for more basic features.

For students looking to spend on the higher end of the spectrum, Sony VAIOs are also an option. The VAIO's sleek design and long battery life, not to mention its abundance of ports, make it a sort of collegiate indulgence for the slightly more financially able.

For a laptop with all the necessities that won't break the bank, any type of Dell, Toshiba, or HP computer is ideal. Their fairly low cost, combined with hardcore durability and relatively light weight, make them the guiding lights in any clueless college student's search.

Keep in mind the minimum requirements for a speedy modern laptop, find one suited to your specific needs without blowing your price range, and head off to school confident in your new technological triumph.

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