Best Laptops for College Students

When a student is going for their first year of college, one of the most indispensable gadget they need is a laptop. Laptops are necessary because it helps the student to study better and efficiently. With Internet connected to the laptop a student has all the information possible which helps them to gather study material for their projects. Also, many basic to advanced design software make an important part of the student's curriculum. Hence, a laptop is an indispensable gadget for students. Apart from academic purposes it can also help the student to communicate with friends or family though web chat. Laptops for college students should be light in weight, have good performance, and Internet access to help them research online. Here are some important specifications checklist and some tips on buying laptops. Recommended below are also some of the best laptops for students and some affordable models too.

Computer Specifications Checklist

One should buy a laptop for a college student keeping in mind the below specifications. Make sure you buy a powerful machine so that you don't have to get it upgraded every few months.

Size: Laptop computers for college students should have a display monitor of 13 to 15 inches. The size should not be too big, because it might increase the weight of the laptop. A college student laptop should not be too heavy, as a student needs to carry it around the campus.

RAM and Hard Disk: A college student laptop should have a RAM of minimum 2GB, and a hard disk with a capacity of 160GB. A 2GB RAM will give good speed and performance. Also, a college student will require a laptop which will work well for at least the three years of his/her graduation. Today, everybody stores a lot of data on their computers. A 160GB hard drive will provide enough storage space for documents, e-books, music, movies, etc.

Graphics Card: A college student laptop should be able to do some basic photo editing. NVIDIA is well-known for its graphics card.

Looks: When computer shopping, choose a good looking laptop, as this is an important aspect for college students. There are many different colors and designs available in laptops.

Important Tips to Keep in Mind When Buying College Student Laptops

Many times you get stuck on deciding whether to go for a higher priced laptop loaded with features; or to buy the one which is efficient and priced less. You can get laptops for college students for around $1000.

• Laptop for students should have features like Wi-Fi and bluetooth technology.
• Students laptops should have a decent battery life of around 3 hours.
• Before buying a student laptop, check if the laptop has got a sufficient number of ports.
• It is advisable to fit an anti-theft device in the laptop.
• Check for the upgrade-capacity of the RAM and graphics card, as newer versions of software and operating systems are heavier than their previous ones. These new versions eat up the RAM and hamper processing speed. So, you might need to upgrade your laptop in the future.
• Look for a laptop with minimum 1 year warranty.
• Also, check if you are getting any freebies with the laptop.

Top Laptops Choices for College Students

If you are a student studying computer graphics, then you will need a powerful RAM and a better graphics card. If you are studying business, then avoid a fancy, bright looking laptop. For engineering students a laptop which has a powerful RAM and large hard disk is necessary.

Apple MacBook Pro MC700LL
Price - USD 1200 approx.
What it's best for? This is a high-performance and high-resolution laptop, which is sleek and looks great.
Features -

• 4 GB memory
• Battery life around 7 hours
• 320 GB hard drive
• 13.3-inch screen

Dell XPS 15z
Price - USD 1000 approx.
What it's best for? Manufacturer's claim it to be the thinnest laptop in the world. This lightweight laptop is good for students who are always on the move.
Features -

• 8GB RAM
• 2 GB Nvidia GeForce graphics card
• Hard drive of 750 GB
• Windows 7 Home Premium edition

Alienware M15x
Price - USD 1200 approx.
What it's best for? This is one of the best computer for gaming. It is best for students who like gaming, and want something which has a good value for money. It is also good for designing and surfing. This laptop can be upgraded for higher configurations too.
Features -

• 4GB memory
• 320 GB hard drive
• Widescreen of 15.6 inches
• Windows 7 Home Premium edition
• NVDIA GeForce GTX260M graphics card

Toshiba Satellite C655-S5118
Price - USD 650 approx.
What it's best for? This is an easy to use laptop, which has all the basic features required by a student, that comes with a great battery.
Features -

• 3GB RAM upgradeable to 8GB
• 15.6 inch display
• 320 GB hard drive
• Battery life around 4 hours
• Windows 7 Home Premium edition

Samsung Q430 14-Inch HD LED Laptop
Price - USD 800 approx.
What it's best for? This is a sleek looking laptop by Samsung which is loaded with features, which makes it one of the best portable laptop in this price range. It comes with a NVDIA graphics card which makes the video quality outstanding.
Features -

• 4 GB memory
• 500 GB hard drive
• Attractive aluminum display enclosure
• Island style keyboard

Acer Aspire TimelineX AS4820T-7633
Price - USD 700 approx.
What it's best for? This is a thin and lightweight laptop which makes it very portable, also it comes with a great battery life.
Features -

• 320 GB hard drive
• 4 GB memory
• Intel HD Graphics
• 14 inch screen
• Around 8 hours battery life

Lenovo G560 Series 067999U Laptop
Price - USD 440 approx.
What it's best for? Lenovo makes good affordable laptops. This is a durable and affordable laptop, which comes with all the basic features required by a college student.
Features -

• 4GB RAM
• 320 hard drive
• 15.6 inch screen
• Windows 7 Home Premium edition

ASUS Eee PC 1001p
Price - USD 200 approx.
What it's best for? A very affordable netbook that makes a decent personal computer for college students. It is sturdy and compact and comes with a good battery life.
Features -

• 1 GB RAM, upgradeable to 2 GB
• Integrated graphics controller
• 160 GB hard drive
• 8 hours battery life

Dell, Toshiba and Samsung laptops have good performance and reliability, but they are not as good looking as compared to Mac. I have also included Acer, Lenovo and Asus, because these laptops have all the specifications required for a student laptop, and come at a comparatively lower price. When it comes to buying laptops, many people stick to a specific brand, but it is wise to choose the one that suits your needs and budget the most.