(NC) - When August and September roll around, it's time for most students to trade in their flip-flops for a laptop. For those students buying new hardware for the school year, it's important to have the right tools. The dramatic rise in the popularity of laptops has transformed back-to-school necessities from pads of paper and cases of pencils, to sleek and stylish computers.
Purchasing a laptop can be daunting if you don't know what you're looking for. Consumer electronic retailers like Best Buy have knowledgeable experts on hand to offer advice based on a student's needs, although it's a good idea to be equipped with the right questions before you start shopping.
This summer and fall, consider these following hassle-free pointers to help make the best decision when buying a new laptop computer:
1) Battery Life
It may not be the most glamorous aspect of picking a new laptop, but how long the battery lasts is critical. If the computer falls asleep in lecture before the student does, something isn't right! Battery life can range between two and five hours depending on the brand. Students looking for additional battery life for long days on campus could also consider purchasing a removable battery.
2) Size
When it comes to laptops, bigger isn't always better. Screen sizes can range from 8.9" to 20.1" and up. Weight, depth and thickness are also important factors and remember that many times the larger the screen, the heavier the computer. If your laptop accompanies you everywhere you go, it is wise to choose a widescreen laptop 15.4" or smaller with an average weight of 2 to 3 kg, so it can still fit in a stylish backpack. If you are looking for a new twist to a classic laptop, try the new 16" & 18" 'True Widescreen' laptop which combines Blue-Ray technology with an unparalleled movie-watching experience.
3) Storage
Move over book reports and research assignments! With the rise in digital photos, music and videos being stored on personal computers, storage capacity is more important than ever before. It's extremely important when purchasing a laptop to make sure there's enough room for a student's work life and personal life. Measured in Gigabytes (GB), the memory of a computer hard drive can range from 120 to 640 and up. 150GB is a good starting point for a student's needs. Keep in mind that if your storage is limited, there are other options like thumb drives and external hard drives to safely save your photos, documents and videos.
4) Software
Just like your cellular phone bill, hidden costs can hit computers too. Beware: not all laptops come with office applications even though it's essential for a student's needs. Many low-priced systems have only bare-bones essentials. Since most laptops don't come fully loaded with word processing software, it could cost upwards of $200.00 to buy and install it separately. Other important software considerations are antivirus and spam and spyware protection - don't let a semester's worth of work be lost as a result of inadequate protection.
5) Entertainment Capabilities
Time for the fun stuff! The latest technology including high-end speaker systems, DVD burners, and built-in webcams (to name a few) are always new and exciting for students. New features include Blue-Ray players and burners, dedicated graphics and HDMI. But, try not to get distracted by the latest gadgets if you're on a budget, as they may add up. Good news is that many of these features are now built in to even the lowest price, entry level computers, so shop around if these features are important to you.
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