Laptops for college students?

[Stephanie218]

I personally have used my Dell Laptop (Inspiron 5150) for over 2 years at college without a problem at all....It's worked perfectly, and I've been really happy with it. Most of my friends and roommates all have different versions of a similar Dell, and none have had huge issues.

If you do end up with an Apple, be sure she knows how to convert files, if they convert? I'm not sure - I don't know anything about Apples, but I've had to do group work with people who own Apples and it's a horrible experience. They have different programs so it becomes much harder to send files back and forth to check and fix - many times formatting in Word Documents has seemed to change. Before Apple lovers flame me - this is only my experience, the people in the groups may not have known how to change files over or anything. Is there a way to do this, or is it a common problem?

 

[yearbook50]

Do not, I repeat, do not get a Dell laptop. Friends of mine had them in college and they were pieces of crap! I bought an Apple powerbook g4 last year and it was fine during my senior year. not a single problem, nor was there a problem using it within the network at school.
.

I have to disagree.
I bought a Dell laptop. I've had it for over two years now and its wonderful. Never had a single problem with it.

I love having a laptop at college. When you have presentations, you can bring your computer up to campus work on it with your group and move to place to place as needed. I've had a class where our final was open laptop. I couldn't imagine taking that test without having my computer with me. A flash drive is also a must.

I spent 2600 on my laptop though because of things I knew I needed for school. I'm studying Mechanical Engineering, concentrating in design so I made sure my computer had the most ram and the best video card available at the time. My computer is still up to date with the software becoming available now.

 

[TheDoctor]

My son has a dell and has enjoyed it. His school has wifi throughout most of the campus. He is recommending that my DD (his sister) get a Mac for college next year. Evidently, Microsoft is going to change operating systems in the next year or so and it is unclear how much computer you will need to run the new system.

Many schools encourage students to have some sort of computer. I am surprised that your child's school does not have some specs on their webpage. You could trying e-mailing the webmaster and seeing if they have the specs.

 

[asta]

I also disagree with the comments against Dell. After looking around at several different laptops I just bought my daughter a Dell laptop to take to school next year. I selected the XPS M1210. I liked that it is very light (just over 4lbs) and that it has an attached webcam that rotates over. If she wants, she can use the camera to tape lectures (this is a step up from the cassette tapes I made when I was in school years ago). Another strong point with the Dell is that her school's tech department is certified to repair Dell computers. I think that this is very important since I won't be there to help.

A great sight to get product reviews on anything technical is cnet. They evaluate new products and have forums where people give feedback on their purchases.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the Apple vs PC arguements. A lot of people appear to be in one camp or the other and are very passionate about their choice. I think that there are pluses and negatives to each type of computer. You need to fairly look at both to see which will fit your needs.

 

[Hedy]

1. Get the school's recommendation + what you can afford (more hard drive/memory, maybe).
2. I'm a bad experience with Dell-er and might try an apple, but it's up to your DD. Check apple refurb. if prices are a concern (you can still get applecare, etc. with one).
3. See what the repair facilities on campus are like. Do they only service computers bought through them?
4. VIRUS PROTECTION! VIRUS PROTECTION! VIRUS PROTECTION! VIRUS PROTECTION!
5. Consider insuring it.

 

[JudicialTyranny]

I have a Dell also and it's been fine. Other good brands of Windows laptops are HP, IBM (now Lenovo), Fujitsu, Sony, and Toshiba.

For Apple, there's really only one source - Apple. You can get them through different stores, but only Apple makes them.

You really want to be sure about what the school recommends - if the school's infrastructure is Windows-oriented, you don't want her fighting a battle to get the Apple to work - her time will be better spent elsewhere. And vice versa.

For some things it doesn't matter, but for others you can't just willy-nilly substitute a Windows laptop for a Mac and vice versa.

Two other things you will want to consider are weight and screen size. If she's really going to carry it around campus, the lighter the better. (But in general, the lighter the more expensive.) The Sony VAIO line and IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad (Z60) are very good in this department. But some light laptops sacrifice the optical (CD/DVD drive) - I don't like that, but it doesn't matter to some people. Some manage to keep it in there, like the Sony and some Dell's.

For screen size, generally a smaller screen size equates to a lighter laptop, but it also is easier to pack and carry. The downside are that the screen is smaller and it sometimes means the keyboard is smaller. Those models with the big 17" screens look awesome, but they are tough to carry around.

Oh yeah, then there's battery life. Some laptops have poor battery life compared to others (how long they work on a single charge). Check the review sites if you find a specific model you are interested in - they usually give "real world" times on battery life.

Right now, I'm using a Dell 710m, which has a 12.1 inch widescreen. It's very light and small (what I wanted), but I wouldn't want to type on it all day because the keyboard is small. But if she has small hands, it's not that big of a deal. And if most of her typing will be done in her dorm, get a USB full keyboard that she can plug into it for long typing sessions.

Here are a few sites to use for research:

NotebookReviews.com (also check out the forum)
CNet Laptop Reviews
And check Amazon.com for feedback if you find a particular model.

 

[helenabear]

Do not, I repeat, do not get a Dell laptop. Friends of mine had them in college and they were pieces of crap! I bought an Apple powerbook g4 last year and it was fine during my senior year. not a single problem, nor was there a problem using it within the network at school.

I would either look on your school's website for the Information Technology page where they will give some suggestions, or wait until you get to orientation or move in week to ask some questions. Some schools have specific guidelines as to what sort of laptops can be used.

I only can agree with the last part of what you said.

You get what you pay for... if you buy a cheap Dell, you are going to get a cheap machine. Dell laptops are 2nd on the list of good ones for me and only Lenovo Thinkpads beat them. Sorry, but you can't base it off of cheapy laptops that college friends had.

Not a fan of Macs at all. They are no longer superior to Microsoft and I found they totally lacked the software I needed for school and otherwise. If you mess up a Mac you are toast. I can always fix stuff with my YPC.

I do agree that you need to check with the school. Some definitely do not have support for certain OS out there. Also you may find that a certain type (Mac vc PC) will NOT be able to run software required for classes.

So I agree with the poster who said don't listen to Dell vs. Mac. There is a lot of people for and against those. And there are stigmas with each group (the Mac stigma alone keeps me from seriously ever looking at them... I like my iPod, but have enough issues to not want to touch Mac software in general) but in the end none of that matters.

See what the school supports and suggests. My school was PC based and those on Macs were left behind. It could be the other way at her school and you need to see what is best with that school first.

After that, do NOT skimp on what you buy. To save a couple hundred will make you wind up with a piece of crap. You'll get inferior parts that will fall apart, break, wear down, etc. prematurely. It's like buying a car, so keep that in mind.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My current laptop is a Dell. I haven't had lots of problems, but I'm kind of glad that my DD went with an apple. My Dell is not a cheap one and I haven't had many problems, except for the battery. Terrible battery life and it was the same with my last one. It also runs very hot, but I'm not really sure how it compares to my DD's apple.

 

[Tinijocaro]

You really want to be sure about what the school recommends - if the school's infrastructure is Windows-oriented, you don't want her fighting a battle to get the Apple to work - her time will be better spent elsewhere. And vice versa.

For some things it doesn't matter, but for others you can't just willy-nilly substitute a Windows laptop for a Mac and vice versa.

All new model Macs can run Windows too. No battles, no software issues.

 

[NewJersey]

I only can agree with the last part of what you said.

You get what you pay for... if you buy a cheap Dell, you are going to get a cheap machine. Dell laptops are 2nd on the list of good ones for me and only Lenovo Thinkpads beat them. Sorry, but you can't base it off of cheapy laptops that college friends had.

Not a fan of Macs at all. They are no longer superior to Microsoft and I found they totally lacked the software I needed for school and otherwise. If you mess up a Mac you are toast. I can always fix stuff with my YPC.

I do agree that you need to check with the school. Some definitely do not have support for certain OS out there. Also you may find that a certain type (Mac vc PC) will NOT be able to run software required for classes.

So I agree with the poster who said don't listen to Dell vs. Mac. There is a lot of people for and against those. And there are stigmas with each group (the Mac stigma alone keeps me from seriously ever looking at them... I like my iPod, but have enough issues to not want to touch Mac software in general) but in the end none of that matters.

See what the school supports and suggests. My school was PC based and those on Macs were left behind. It could be the other way at her school and you need to see what is best with that school first.

After that, do NOT skimp on what you buy. To save a couple hundred will make you wind up with a piece of crap. You'll get inferior parts that will fall apart, break, wear down, etc. prematurely. It's like buying a car, so keep that in mind.

Actually, I had a Dell Desktop before I got my Mac. I absolutely hated it. Did I get every bell and whistle? No. But I did pay enough where I expected a quality product. And I sure didn't get that. Problem number one started when the CD-Rom drive no longer opened. Problem number two came when their A+ (yeah right ) customer service people walked me through reformatting my hard drive due to the amount of viruses and spyware that invaded my computer (of course it's not Dell's fault). But what was their fault, was the tech. guy not telling me to unplug all external devices such as my very expensive printer and my CD burner. When those stopped working after I reformatted I called back and another tech guy told me "oh, you were supposed to unplug those." Neither of those external devices have worked since. Problem number 3...the monitor burned out. It was a 17" flat panel that was about a year old. It shouldn't do that, I'm sorry. I could go on and on but I'm getting bored.

We can sit here and talk about our experiences with computers, but all I know is 4 of my friends with Dell's have had countless problems, one bought the cheap model, the other 3 spent the same amount I spent on my Mac. My parents computer is also a Dell, and they hate it too.

I'll never buy a Dell again. Others love them. Me? Not so much.

 

[TimeforMe]

Wow--Now I'm more confused than ever

I think I mentioned that the college did furnish us with specs for both a Mac and PC. When I questioned someone at the school, they said either is fine. Big help, huh? I think I will call back tomorrow and see if I can find someone that actually might have some answers as to support, etc. You guys have all given me great info, however.

Is it true that all the new macs can run Windows as well? I thought I read that somewhere else, too. Thanks for all your help, everyone!

 

[JudicialTyranny]

All new model Macs can run Windows too. No battles, no software issues.

Uhh, it's not quite that clean.

- Not everything works 100% (example: plug in headphones, sound still comes out of the speaker, possible driver issues if you add third party hardware)
- You need to buy Windows XP ($299 retail)
- Apple Boot Camp (the beta software that allows Windows to run) is unsupported by Apple, so you are on your own if you have questions or problems, other than Google searching

I would agree that it's a cool thing, but for someone who doesn't know a lot about computers or doesn't want a lot of hassles, it's not 100% there yet.

It's not like you are going to pull the notebook out of the box and immediately start running Windows.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you do end up with an Apple, be sure she knows how to convert files, if they convert? I'm not sure - I don't know anything about Apples, but I've had to do group work with people who own Apples and it's a horrible experience. They have different programs so it becomes much harder to send files back and forth to check and fix - many times formatting in Word Documents has seemed to change. Before Apple lovers flame me - this is only my experience, the people in the groups may not have known how to change files over or anything. Is there a way to do this, or is it a common problem?

I have Macs at home and have to use Windows at work.
I have Microsoft Office on both machines. The documents/files interchange very well. I take files back and forth all the time and there are no differences between the Mac files and the PC files. I also don't have problems with the formatting - I use the same default formatting on the Mac as I do on Windows. That might be why I don't have a problem on the documents that I am the author of.
I DO have problems (lots of problems) sometimes with documents at work that people send to my Windows machine from their Windows machine, Sometimes, it has been if we have different versions of Windows or (what seems to be the biggest problem) if their default formatting is different than mine.
And, I have some Powerpoint presentations that work fine on my Mac and the PC assigned to me at work, but when I open them on another PC, none of the animations will work.

 

[SueM in MN]

Not a fan of Macs at all. They are no longer superior to Microsoft and I found they totally lacked the software I needed for school and otherwise. If you mess up a Mac you are toast. I can always fix stuff with my YPC.

I think that depends more on what the user is familiar with. You are more comfortable with PCs. I'm not comfortable with them at all, but feel very confident doing anything with a Mac.

It's pretty hard to mess up a Mac and if any of ours do get messed up, it's actually pretty easy to fix. You run the System checker/Disk Aid software and it tells you in plain English what is wrong and then, step by step what to do about it.

I personally would not be able to keep a PC without having a system administrator. I have some issues with email on my PC at work that even the IT tech has not been able to keep fixed. My younger DD has a PC that she uses to talk with since she can't speak. It gets messed up pretty easily and usually it's Windows issues with compatibility with the talking program. It doesn't go on the internet or have any other files put on it, so I know it's not virus related. And, about viruses, my PC at work has been infected several times over the years - despite having up to date virus protection and a system administrator to keep it working. We've had Macs since 1984 and have never had a virus on any of them.

See what the school supports and suggests. My school was PC based and those on Macs were left behind. It could be the other way at her school and you need to see what is best with that school first.

I'd also suggest looking at what she is studying and what type of computers professionals in that field use. I know someone who went to a school that was much more supportive of PCs, so that's what she worked with. But, once she got into looking for jobs, she found that 99% of them expected/required familiarity with a Mac (she was in Graphis Design).

 

[MrsPete]

A computer for a college student is in no way optional these days.

One of my former students came back to visit us at the high school recently, and she talked about how important it is to have your own computer. She pulled up her math professor's page (logged in with her code) and showed me that the whole semester's homework is posted there. Each assignment had a due date, and she explained that she's requried to send her homework to the professor by that due date. She said the computer grades it, and he just sees whether she did it and what grade she earned. She said that her other classes are also tapped into the world of the internet: professors send out articles, etc. to their classes.

A student who didn't have a personal computer in college these days would be very badly handicapped. I assume they still have computer labs for student use, but this student gave me the impression that she uses her computer for literally hours every day. I think not having a computer would be akin to not having textbooks.

I have a two-year old Dell laptop that's still working very well. The CD drive did "shake loose", but it was still under warranty and was fixed with no cost to me.

 

[SueM in MN]

A computer for a college student is in no way optional these days.

We were recently talking to my DH's cousin who is a college professor. He was telling us how things have changed since he started teaching and the biggest thing is computers. He posts reading lists, artciles, homework, grades.
He also said students are required to submit term papers in electronic form so they can be checked for cheating. His school has a program that looks at them and searches the internet for articles that use the same phrases. He has personally found some students who just cut and pasted their term papers from things that were posted on the internet. he's also heard of people who sold term papers that they got good grades on in the past. His school has a library of old term papers they can check new ones against. And they have found a few people who turned in an old paper. In the old days, it would have just been the professor thinking a paper sounded familiar. Now they can check.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

when people insult Dell, it makes me feel like they are insulting one of my children.

No seriously. I have owned several Dell machines over the years and I just ordered a new notebook from them. For the most part, I find Dell machines to be quite reliable and nice. My HUGE issue with Dell is their customer service, which over the past 5 years or so (ever since they started using a center in India) has become a train wreck like you would not believe. You can get around that by insisting to speak to somebody in an American Office as soon as "Charles" or whomever comes on the line, but they will fuss and insist on trying to help you first. The wait times on hold are forever plus a day. Seriously, they are THAT bad.

I really can't speak to Apple computers because I've never owned one. The people who use them seem almost cult-like in their love of them however, so they are probably pretty good.

The big issue with notebook computers these days is the heat generated. Some of those puppies get so darn hot you can't stand to put them on your lap. It's caused by the huge push to make laptops as powerful as desktops - they are shoving all those compentents that are meant to be spread out in a larger space into little itty bitty notebooks and the ventilation and cooling fan just isn't there.

As far as not needing "all the bells and whistels," I semi-agree. I'm kind of have the mindset that it is much better to sink a couple hundred extra dollars into your computer at the beginning, and keep it for years. At the minimum, I'd make sure she gets a decent graphics card, plenty of RAM, and a good solid processor. She's a college student, she is going to want to play games, music, surf the net and do all the fun stuff on this machine. College is about alot more than just typing on a word processor.

 

[jsmith]

Toshiba Toshiba Toshiba-if your not going MAC they are the greatest-lots of bells and whistles for reasonable money-and tough-and adaptable-ours has been to Iraq twice and is still going strong

 

[crcormier]

Toshiba Toshiba Toshiba-if your not going MAC they are the greatest-lots of bells and whistles for reasonable money-and tough-and adaptable-ours has been to Iraq twice and is still going strong

I would vote for an APPLE first and second a vote for a TOSHIBA second. I work in an IT department, and we have bought many DELLS. They aren't bad, but we definitely have had a lot of service calls on them. The two Toshibas that we used for work for 3 years had none.

Now with the advent of Boot Camp I use a MacBook Pro at work. (I'm currently posting this on it, while running Windows.) The new Intel chips work great. There are still a few hardware bugs as another poster mentioned, but the software to let you boot Windows on a MAC is still in Beta. The final release is due with the next version of the Apple operating system which should be out in the next month or two, after their big show in San Francisco.

I disagree that if things go wrong with a Mac you can't fix them. Things are much easier to fix and backup on a my Mac than on any of the PCs I work with. I've also made photo albums, movies and DVDs with ease on it as well. I love my Macs, and now that I can use it at work, I love it even more.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I haven't read all of the responses, but I wanted to add one thing -

Make sure you purchase a lock for the laptop! DD had her first one stolen out of her dorm room last year. She went to the library for all of 20 minutes and when she came back, it was gone.

She had a Dell Inspiron, that I think cost just under $1k. She replaced it with an Apple, that she likes a lot better than the Dell. And keeps it locked.