Nine silly and serious reasons why college students need laptops:

1. Bid on ebay auctions…during lecture!
2. Take legible notes in school
3. Keep all school notes, documents and files in one place
4. Research and write papers faster
5. WI-FI connections on most campuses--get the net anytime
6. Access to digital textbooks, or books with digital media
7. The Coolness factor (always important)
8. Have all your pictures, music, and video wherever you go
9. Play games during boring lectures (or listen to soft music while you sleep…)

Why buy from ebay?

• Ebay is much cheaper (30% or more in my experience)
• The biggest selection you can find
• Used or slightly used machines are available

What type of computer college students need:

• I have gone through over 12 laptops in the past few years.  They range from:
• Dell C400,  Dell C600,  Toshiba Tablet PC,  Compaq N800c,  Sharp MP30,  HP DV2000, Compaq R4000
  
• Dell Inspiron XPS m1210 (my current one)

After testing these machines out I have a few recommendations for you:

Get good application software:

• Microsoft Office 2003 or 2007.  Get the academic version for a discounted price!  Or you can download Word and PowerPoint reader/viewer from Microsoft
• If you can’t afford MS Office, try OpenOffice or other free programs like it
  
• OneNote 2003 or 2007:  
• This is a must for every college student!  You can have all of your notes organized in one place, you can integrate tasks and assignments with Outlook.  You can link to audio, video and document files.  You can record class lectures right along with your typing.  It’s also completely searchable.  I have used OneNote for every class since I was a freshman!

Small Small Small!

• Why lug around a 19 inch beast?
• I have had machines ranging from 10 inches or less to 17.1 inches.  There is really no need for the extra screen size.  It’s also more likely to get damaged

Buy Name brand

• Dell, Toshiba, Compaq, Mac, etc.  The off-brand computers use off-brand technology…it’s cheap crap!  
• My sharp MP30 was a great computer but the “efficion” CPU was useless!

Core Duo?

• Core Duo is a helpful technology that fuses two CPU chips into one processor.  It allows you to run multiple programs without hindering performance.  
• It is very good if one program craps out because the other CPU will keep the computer running fine
  
• I think it’s very important for Windows or Microsoft programs because they crash frequently…
• Core Duo is in most newer machines.  Its only for students with a budget of $650 or more.

Tablet PC?

• I had a tablet, worked very good.  The computer could read my writing quite well (only myself, my mom, and my tablet PC could read my writing)  
• I got rid of it because I am a biology major and I only do typing anyways.  You will learn to type faster than you can write if you haven’t done that already.  
• I recommend a tablet only for those who have to draw lots of figures and can write neatly.

Specs:

• 512MB RAM minimum (college students need multiple programs running at once) 1GB Recommended
• CD-RW DVD minimum (unless you have access to school desktops with this)
• Graphics:  It depends on the programs you use.  I only have 256MB Shared
• 40GB hard drive minimum (80GB or more and you’ll never fill it)
  
• 2.0 GHz CPU (core duo would be 2 x 2.0 GHz)
• Good Battery:  6 cell minimum, a 9 cell battery can get you 8+ hours of note-taking

• My XPS M1210 can go 5 hours+ on its 6-cell battery.  I only bring the power adapter for long days.

• Microsoft Windows is best for powerpoint, word and other software applications that most prof’s use.  Buy an Apple only if you know how to use it and can afford the much higher price.
  

How much does this cost?

• You can get a machine for these minimum specs on ebay for less than 500 bucks.  The XPS I use cost $1000 refurbished on ebay, or $1300 from Dell.  I plan to keep this one for some time.  A good friend of mine has a similar unit from Toshiba—it cost him $1100 a few months back.  
• Remember: Don’t buy the latest machine, just one that can get your work done.  The dell C400 is an old machine that you can find for under $100!  (that’s less than the price of a school textbook!)

When you get your new computer, I have a few recommendations:

Basic things to do with your new machine:

• Get a goon note taking program:  I think Microsoft OneNote is the best (20 bucks for the 2003 version)
• Get spyware and virus scanning stuff up and running (try AVG, Adawar, Spybot as the are free)
• Get a folder system set up for all your school files
  
• Get all your personal documents, pictures, music and video copied on it

What do I (DJPTech) do with my computer? (some advanced tips)

• Ebay business management from school
• Record lectures with OneNote (every word the teachers says is integrated with my typed notes)
• I use a high-quality USB Mic for this but any Mic will do
• Save the office locations and faculty contact information onto my machine—I can find my profs anywhere!
• Remote desktop to connect my home computer (if I forget my paper at home…I can just copy and reprint it)
• (for nerds only)  Integration with my cell phone and car audio system…rebroadcast lectures through my car speaker system!
• Follow/Edit teacher’s Powerpoint notes during lectures
• Digital textbooks—digital books are cheaper and greener!

• Never play games during lecture!  If this will be a temptation for you then a laptop may end up hurting you.  I have see dozens of good students waste an entire lecture on a game of solitaire and then fail an exam because of their poor study habits.  

Ok, shopping time is over.  Get Back to You Studying!