One of the biggest challenges of sending a student off to college is finding the right computer to accompany them. Most school’s recommend notebooks or give out guidelines so parents will have some idea of what they should be looking for but it’s still difficult, especially if you don’t want to go overboard on something that you know will be abused. In this article we are going to go over a few recommendations that will fit most students. Of course different schools and different curriculums will have varying needs, but here are a few starting points.
Most students will need one do-it-all notebook that handles all their computing. This is never an easy problem to solve, not because there is a shortage of systems on the market, but because there are so many options.In this category we are looking for something with good all-around performance, a full feature set, and that is sturdy enough to stand up to the rigors of college life. Almost any notebook would do the job, but these keep costs low while giving you something that should last for a few years.
Lenovo ThinkPad R500
When it comes to solid general performance and reliability the ThinkPad is always going to be one of the first options that comes to mind. I was send off to college with a ThinkPad and even now, years later, it is still worth considering. The R series is the most affordable model, but it still has many of the features of the higher end T series. The R500 will be a 15.4-inch laptop based on Intel’s brand new Centrino 2 technology. There is also a 14-inch R400, but the extra size will be appreciated by those people who tend to keep the noebook in one place whereas the smaller model will be easier to get from place to place. This notebook starts off very cheap, but you will want to make some upgrades to increase performance and make sure it has enough power to stay relevant for a few years.
Apple MacBook
The MacBook is more acceptable at college than ever before. It has always been well received at schools thanks to a nice discount from Apple, but problems used to arise from most people using Windows instead of Apple’s OS X. Today, it is easy to run Windows on your Mac, but most students will find it largely unnecessary. What you get in the MacBook is a very well-round computer that is extremely easy to buy and to use, no matter how computer savvy you are. In addition, it plays well with student favorites, like the ipod, iTunes, and the iphone. Parents who are familiar with Windows should no longer to be hesitant to buy their student a MacBook if that is the path that they choose.
HP tx2500z
Despite that most people that are entering college right now can probably type as fast (if not faster) than they can write tablets are still a great option. They can function as normal computers, but they also give the user the option of taking notes on the screen. The tx2500 (we looked at a previous version, the tx2000 is a small convertible computer that will be easy for student to get from place to place while being powerful enough for general use. It’s has a 12-inch display, which is a bit small for everyday use, but young eyes tend not to be bothered by this as much as older ones, and it means that the computer is easy to get to class or to the library.
HP dv5z or dv7z
These two models are both affordable and versatile, with the former having a 15.4-inch display and the latter having a 17-incher. The dv5z is a nice general purpose system with a great starting price, and thanks to AMD’s Puma platform it means solid performance and even gaming potential without having to break the bank. The larger dv7z adds in a 17-inch display with a number pad on the keyboard, and a Blu-ray option (even though, for most people, it is too early and expensive to consider). The downside with these models is that they are on the larger side so getting them to class will be an issue.
Toshiba U405D
The U405D is a 13.3-inch notebook, a size that is becoming increasingly popular thanks to it being the middle ground between a comfortable size and portability. This system is also based on AMD’s Puma platform so you get a good price and solid graphica power. Throw in 3GB of RAM and 250GB of storage and you have a strong all-around computer for under $1000.
As a side note, some people have been curious about where small, inexpensive netbooks, like the Asus Eee PC and MSI Wind, fit into the picture. No matter how much they may cost these are not substitutes standard notebooks and should not be considered a replacement for something larger and more versatile. If you want to factor one in your budget they will work well as something to bring to class or the library while a less portable system stays at home. The upside of this is that these computers are inexpensive and relatively rugged compared to the systems mentioned above so they would ideal for note-taking and using out in the quad. They are largely dependent on the internet, but with everywhere covered in WiFi these days, that is not a problem. If you are considering this route remember to buy one with Windows, unless if you are comfortable with the Linux operating system. Our current recommendation is the MSI Wind, but there are a number of other good options.
So picking a laptop for college is not as tough as you might think. There are lots of options, but with some information and a budget that you are going to stick to you can find what you need. The important thing is to get something that is good enough to last, without overspending as the possibility of a notebook being stolen or broken in college is higher than normal.
Toshiba on Thursday announced flash memory modules that hold a whopping 32GB of data — the largest capacity yet. 
