student_computer_class Student’s Computer Buying Guide

Every year, computer companies offer massive discounts, hard-to-resist promotions, and exciting new features to attract back-to-school buyers. Big names such as Hewlett-Packard and Dell typically offer great value to their customers around this time of year. There is no reason to buy a $2,500 computer when a $600 computer system will do the trick.

The basics of buying a computer are the same whether you intend to place the computer at home or at the dorm. The most important thing is for you to know how you plan to use the computer system. It should be powerful enough to suit your requirements if your course requires sophisticated technology. For most freshmen students, the question ultimately boils down to whether laptop or desktop is better.

Well, there is actually no right answer. This is because some features that certain individuals find useful might frustrate others. The critical element here is actually personal preference. Usually, the laptop computer is more expensive compared to desktop systems with regards to dollar-value performance. Yes, portability does have its price.

But the laptop is incredibly useful for a student as well. It can be used for taking notes, for working in the library, and for group collaboration. However, the same convenience also makes the laptop more prone to being stolen or dropped. On the other hand, the desktop is completely anchored in living quarters. It is difficult to steal and most thieves won’t be interested in stealing it at all. In addition, desktops typically are more powerful due to its higher memory storage.

Below are other things to keep in mind when buying a computer for school:

Always consider the software. After you have the hardware, the next thing you want to do is to invest in software. Try to browse computer shops to have an idea about how much more you need to shell out for full software functionality. It would be best to make sure you can afford both the hardware and the software before you buy the computer.

Processors are not created equal. A lot of students misjudge the importance of computer processors. This is one of the worst mistakes they can make when buying computers. It is important to look past the numbers and the microprocessor brand. Take note that even if Intel’s Pentium and Celeron have similar speeds, the Pentium microprocessor can actually process information faster.

Look at the RAM. Basically, the RAM is used by the computer to manage active software applications. The higher the RAM capacity, the better the computer will run. The computer system will respond to commands faster and run smoothly if its RAM is adequate for your needs. Always buy at least 256 megabytes of RAM, consider 512 megabytes if you can afford it.

Size up the hard drive. The computer hard drive stores everything that’s not actively used. Always buy a computer with at least 40 gigabytes. If you want to download videos and music, try to get a computer with 80 gigabyte for more storage capacity.