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When deciding what computer to buy for a student you need to first be aware of what you want to get out of the machine. Depending on the major, some students will find that they will get better use out of a laptop or a desktop, and in some cases it may even be very beneficial to buy and apple computer instead of a PC. Here are some things to consider:

1. Apple or PC.

For most people, this is a no-brainer. Unless you're doing art, music, or design, it's not going to be worth the extra money to buy an apple. Recently they've had very good luck defending against viruses, and they have a very slick user environment. The drawback is the money, and if you're willing to spend it, Apples are among the most powerful, compact, and usable machines on the market. For those on a budget, however, they are usually not the best choice.

2. Desktop or Laptop.

This decision is a tougher one. What will the student get better use out of? Desktops are more easily upgradeable, and are almost always more ergonomic (they are more comfortable to use). Laptops offer flexibility. You can't take a desktop to class with you. As a rule of thumb, if you want to get four years out of a computer, move towards a desktop. A laptop will run out of expansion room, and upgrading to new technology will be more expensive, or may even mean replacing the whole computer. On the other hand, with most schools installing wireless networks, the ability to work anywhere might be valuable to students. Commuter students will like the availability of having their laptop with them when they can't just run back to their dorm room to get something done or check email.

3. Where to buy.

Brand name computer companies test specific combinations of parts to ensure that they will work well together. When you pay more for a brand name, you are paying them to ensure that the pieces that they assemble into your computer work well together. The quality and consistency of this service has increased dramatically over the year as large companies like Dell and Sony have been challenged but bargain companies like eMachines and others. Wherever you buy your computer, you should expect to receive a unit that performs well, but understand that brand name products will most often be marginally more reliable and in some cases faster.

4. How much machine do you really need?

This is the final question to answer, and everyone's answer will be different. Here are some points to help you make a decision.

Base models are set up to be good for basic office applications. You can type documents and spreadsheets, do email, and surf the web. If you're looking for more than that out of your computer, it is usually a god idea to upgrade RAM, Processor Speed and Hard Drive capacity.

Music collections are all the rage. Any computer will be able to play music just fine, but storing your library might be problematic. Plan on at least 100GB hard drive if you an avid music fan.

Audio/Video processing and computer gaming soak up the most resources for a computer. If you will be doing a lot of either of these, look into a higher end system with more RAM and processor speed. If you're in this category, screen size will also be an important thing to consider.

As with many things in life, the maxim "Know thyself", is the first step in deciding what computer a student should buy. If you can answer some basic questions, then the shopping becomes the fun part. Happy hunting!

Learn more about this author, Eric Drew.
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