Laptop 4 college freshman 2 b

[Tandyc]

My ds just graduated from high school and needs a laptop 4 college. He asked if we should wait for black friday to get a good deal. All you experts know more about this than us so I thought I would ask. When and where would you purchase a laptop for a kiddo heading to college?

Thanks for any insight.

Tandyc

 

[bgirl29]

Our oldest graduated last year and there were a ton of laptops on sale during the summer, when everything else back to school related is on sale too.

 

[Psychodisney]

The university my DS is going to said they will have deals during orientation.

 

[erincon23]

We shopped quite a bit last year, and ended up purchasing one directly from HP. They were offering free upgrades and free shipping. My son has been VERY happy with his laptop, and he's had it for a year. Several friends bought the same computer (or similar) from Best Buy or other retailer and have had major problems, but he has had no issues with his. We did check out the college student special discounts from Dell, but they were actually more with the college discount than the same laptop from the regular Dell website. If you want to wait until the college lets you know if they are offering any special deals, shop first and know what prices are. Often, you'll find a better deal elsewhere.

My brother worked for CompUSA for a long time in sales. I have no way to verify what he says, but he's been very accurate about these things: he says that Best Buy often gets lots of computers that are known for having problems (the batch of processors or whatever has a higher than normal fail rate, etc); Costco and Sam's get special packages put together to sell at a discount but have been known to have the same problems as the Best Buy lots.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

When my older DD went off to college she wanted a macbook. At the time they had a deal where if you bought a macbook they threw in an ipod and a printer for free. The deal went all summer long, if I recall. I agreed to get her the macbook because there is an Apple store in the mall right next to her college where she could take it for repairs or if she had questions or issues. I normally don't buy warranties, but I bit the bullet and bought AppleCare for 3 years. More than paid for itself as she had to have numerous components replaced; motherboard, hard drive, another hard drive, comm port. Finally they simply replaced it with a new one. Best of all, she was able to take care of it herself without cost even though I wasn't nearby.

Good luck to your graduate!

 

[briar_rose_59]

When my older DD went off to college she wanted a macbook. At the time they had a deal where if you bought a macbook they threw in an ipod and a printer for free. The deal went all summer long, if I recall. I agreed to get her the macbook because there is an Apple store in the mall right next to her college where she could take it for repairs or if she had questions or issues. I normally don't buy warranties, but I bit the bullet and bought AppleCare for 3 years. More than paid for itself as she had to have numerous components replaced; motherboard, hard drive, another hard drive, comm port. Finally they simply replaced it with a new one. Best of all, she was able to take care of it herself without cost even though I wasn't nearby.

Good luck to your graduate!

LOVE my mac, but wanted to add to be careful with macs & college. Some programs won't work on macs, and some run differently if you aren't used to a mac. For example, iWork will open and save as a word document/excel spreadsheet/powerpoint but if you don't buy iWork, opening the word document your prof sends you with instructions on an assignment can be tricky (happened to me in my 1st year). I would suggest if you're looking at a mac for college definitely check with the school and make sure they're "allowed" and then research research research! There is a bit of a learning curve with them.

 

[mountdew1]

If they are going to be starting in September, then I definitely wouldn't wait to buy them a computer on Black Friday. Most of the deals on systems then re usually on last years/older gear. Thicker/heavier laptops, slower processors, etc. Not to mention that a large majority of students have computers now. And professors are doing larger amounts of work online/through email. They can normally use computers in the library, but I doubt they will want to spend most of their time at the library instead of in the dorm.

Check with your childs college. Many schools offer discounted computer purchases. And most manufacturers will offer some sort of deal over the summer.
The previously mentioned Apple/iPod deal. They have run some variation on that deal for several years now. So if they want an iPod as well its a great way to save some money. Check the Apple website as they have a section for students where I believe you can save like 10% or something off MSRP. You can do that in store as well, but they may ask for a student ID. (High School should work fine) Regarding incompatible software and Macs, for the most part unless they are taking a heavy science curriculum, I don't think its really an issue. You can get MS Office for OS X, iWorks will handle the files as well, along with a handful of free office suites.
Check the outlet/refurb sections on the major sites as well. Apple, Dell, HP all offer refurbed fully warranted systems for a decent discount off of list. Typically they are just systems that were returned, Dell especially due to their heavy customization, and as such cannot be sold as new.
And check with your place of employment. If your IT group buys most of their systems directly from say Dell, Dell will usually offer an employee discount.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Good point. I bought her Microsoft Office for Mac so she would be using the same programs. I don't know if she has or had iWork or not. I'm just the mom

LOVE my mac, but wanted to add to be careful with macs & college. Some programs won't work on macs, and some run differently if you aren't used to a mac. For example, iWork will open and save as a word document/excel spreadsheet/powerpoint but if you don't buy iWork, opening the word document your prof sends you with instructions on an assignment can be tricky (happened to me in my 1st year). I would suggest if you're looking at a mac for college definitely check with the school and make sure they're "allowed" and then research research research! There is a bit of a learning curve with them.

 

[ssawka]

LOVE my mac, but wanted to add to be careful with macs & college. Some programs won't work on macs, and some run differently if you aren't used to a mac. For example, iWork will open and save as a word document/excel spreadsheet/powerpoint but if you don't buy iWork, opening the word document your prof sends you with instructions on an assignment can be tricky (happened to me in my 1st year). I would suggest if you're looking at a mac for college definitely check with the school and make sure they're "allowed" and then research research research! There is a bit of a learning curve with them.

But, there are a number of ways to run windows apps on Macs, and modern Macs can have Windows installed on them. That being said, Macs are considerably more expensive than PCs.

OP, there are a number of deals going on now. Microsoft, HP, Dell, and Best Buy are offering a free XBox with the purchase of select laptops (all over $699)

Apple has still not announced their deal, but it is expected this week. Last year their deal was a free iPod Touch 8GB.

Personally, I'm considering getting a Sony (I'm entering a PhD program in the fall). You can get 10% off if you buy the extended warranty (not a bad idea on a laptop). I had an Apple Powerbook during my Mater's program. It was a good computer, but I don't feel it was worth what I paid.

 

[clh2]

I also agree not to wait unitl Black Friday. There is no guarantee that YOU will score one of the doorbuster deals. Plus - that will almost be at the end of the first semester. Almost too late in the school year IMHO.

 

[karen l]

When my oldest DS went to college I bought him a laptop(dell) & he hated it.
Viruses, poor performance & Dell's helpline was useless. We switched him to a mac & he was thrilled with it. No viruses & very reliable. He took it everywhere, trips to Europe as well as travel here in the US. He even spilled Guinness on it & it survived. He's now in grad school & upgraded to a mac book pro. My DD got a mac in college & now my youngest DS has a mac for high school. They all got the free printers and either a free ipod or ipod touch.
They may cost a little more but they're well worth it. When the home pc got a virus I purchased a mac & couldn't be happier.

 

[MrsPete]

No way should you wait for Black Friday.

First, it's not reasonable to think a college student can be successful without a computer for 3/4 of the semester. Second, those Black Friday deals -- IF you're one of the few who'll actually get one -- tend to be on stripped-down models.

Also, be careful of the school-sold computers. A budget-minded friend of mine told me that she considered the computer offered by her freshman son's college (and it did sound nice to have it picked, waiting in his dorm room) . . . but when she compared it to the same computer at Best Buy, she found that the school was selling it for almost TWICE THE PRICE.

Incidentally, I suggest that you buy two more things to go with your son's laptop:

1. A warranty. I rarely buy warranties for things, but a college student's going to haul the computer around in a bookbag, it's going to be left out on the desk around people who are eating/drinking . . . chances of this computer being damaged are fairly good.

2. A laptop lock. At a college information fair, I asked a campus security officer about crime on campus. He said that violent crime is essentially zero, and the #1 crime -- by far -- is laptop theft. Students (or their roommates) leave their laptops out in their dorm rooms while they run down to the laundry room, or they leave their laptops on the library desk while they take a few steps away to retrieve another book . . . and they're gone. Laptop locks only cost about $20.

 

[dnbent]

The only other thing that I would recommend you consider is purchasing it at a store with an outlet near the college.

Our daughter was just finishing a major paper her junior year when sparks started coming out of the back side of the lap top. Off to Best Buy she went for a warranty replacement.

Her Dad and I were in Florida so way to far away to be helpful. Thank you Best Buy warranty.

 

[jsmith]

1) Find out if your students college wants them to have a specific laptop. If they do and the student recieves a scholarship the laptop may becovered. My oldest went to Clemson his freshman year and a Lenovo Thinkpad was included in his scholarship package. It lasted him thru undergrad and then he purchased a Mac Book pro for grad school ( hes getting a phd in physics and Linux or unix OS's allow for greater use of processing power)

2) Do not buy into the Mac hype-do your research and make an informed decision. Macs are NOT immune to viruses and other security hacks-OS 10 (leopard) has roughly 7 times the security vunerablities of Windows 7-they simply are less exploited althought that is changing. Those we have ( both of my sons are in math intensive grad programs) are absolute Hardware lemons compared to my Toshiba PC laptops. If you must buy a Mac buy the apple care with it.

3) any computer can be a lemon-it just happens-always always back everything up.

 

[MrsWendy]

2) Do not buy into the Mac hype-do your research and make an informed decision. Macs are NOT immune to viruses and other security hacks-OS 10 (leopard) has roughly 7 times the security vunerablities of Windows 7-they simply are less exploited althought that is changing. Those we have ( both of my sons are in math intensive grad programs) are absolute Hardware lemons compared to my Toshiba PC laptops. If you must buy a Mac buy the apple care with it.

There are zero viruses affecting the Mac and an extremely small number of trojan horses, most of which are ineffective. Can you provide some evidence to back up your claim that Windows is more secure than the Mac?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There are zero viruses affecting the Mac

Absolutely not true, although the incidence of MAC viruses is far smaller than PC viruses.

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-weeklies/index.ssf/2011/06/macs_get_hit_with_virus_scare.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/1253727.../t/macs-no-longer-immune-viruses-experts-say/

http://www.switched.com/2009/09/01/apple-quietly-admits-macs-get-viruses/

OP - You need to see what computers are recommended through your son's school before purchasing. It's likely you can get a deal through their bookstore.

 

[horseshowmom]

When my older DD went off to college she wanted a macbook. At the time they had a deal where if you bought a macbook they threw in an ipod and a printer for free. The deal went all summer long, if I recall. I agreed to get her the macbook because there is an Apple store in the mall right next to her college where she could take it for repairs or if she had questions or issues. I normally don't buy warranties, but I bit the bullet and bought AppleCare for 3 years. More than paid for itself as she had to have numerous components replaced; motherboard, hard drive, another hard drive, comm port. Finally they simply replaced it with a new one. Best of all, she was able to take care of it herself without cost even though I wasn't nearby.

Good luck to your graduate!

I agree about the long term warranty. We got my daughter a Dell Latitude her second year of college and got the 4 year Complete Care Gold warranty. If she had accidentally dropped it down the stairs, it was covered. She had excellent service, but did have some expensive issues a few months before the warranty went out. They came to her house and took care of it (had to replace the screen, I think). Getting the warranty was worthwhile to me because I didn't have to worry about her computer for that 4 years.

 

[Tandyc]

Wow! Thanks to all for the absolutely invaluable information.

Love love love all your excellent advice.

Thanks again!

Tandyc

 

[marie1203]

I am a college student and have a Mac and I love it. I will never go back to PC. I have Microsoft and never had any problems as far as opening things from classes, etc. Second I had a Mac for 6 years and I've never bought an anti-virus. To this day I have scan my computer and nothing has ever been found. My sister is also a college student with PC she has had more than 3 problems with viruses even thought she has a very good anti-virus. Her HP lasted 2 years my Mac is still working great. So i will so go with a Mac if the school allows it.

 

[LaDonna]

I read in more local paper not too long back(ClarkHoward article I think) that Laptops were supposed to see a drastic discount by then end of the year