Best Laptops for College Students

Laptops for college students should be light in weight, have good performance, and Internet access to help them research online. The best laptops for college students should have the following specifications:

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
Choose a good looking laptop, as this is an important aspect for college students. There are many different colors and designs available in laptops.

Things To Be Considered 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 WiFi 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.

Important Note about Student Laptops
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. This laptop buying guide might help you in your search for the best laptops for college students.

The 5 Best Laptops for College Students

1. Dell Studio 15
   This is one of the best laptops for college students. This is great choice, if you are looking for some good performance in the long run. It has a Core 2 Duo processor. It comes in many colors and designs from which you can choose. It has a decent battery life. It has a 2 mega pixel built in camera, and a good sound system. It's priced under $900.
2. HP Pavilion dv2
   This laptop is thin, lightweight and portable, making it ideal for college students. It's got 4GB of RAM, and a good battery life, which lasts around 4 hours. It has a generous amount of storage space and comes in two good-looking designs. It does not come with a big display but is decently priced under $1000.
3. Apple MacBook
   Computers from Apple are good looking and reliable. MacBook is a beautiful model, and widely purchased by college students. It has Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM, and 160GB hard disk capacity. It has nVidia GeForce 9400M graphics card. It has a 13 inch display, and a battery life lasting 4-5 hours. It starts at $1299.
4. Sony Vaio VGN-CS215J/W
   It comes with a Core 2 Duo processor and a 4GB memory. It has an attractive design. This laptop is priced around $800, making it one of the best laptops for students.
5. Acer Extensa EX4630-4922
   It has 2GB memory and 160GB hard disk. It has a 14 inch display. If you are on a tight budget, this is a best choice. It costs around $500, making it a best priced laptop.

HP and Dell have good performance and reliability, but they are not as good looking as compared to Sony Vaio and Mac. I have included Acer, because it has the specifications required for a student laptop, and comes 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 you best.