The first thing to consider when purchasing a laptop is Mac or PC. Mac's price point makes the brand more of a reach than a steal, but students interested in design or publishing may find this a moot point when they must work with software designed for the Mac. When purchasing a Mac, be sure to include software like the Microsoft Office Suite, which will expand your compatibility with PCs. PCs, on the other hand, are much more cost-efficient and come in brands such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Gateway. However, they are more virus-prone due to their higher portion of the market.
RAM, or memory, on your computer, makes running several programs or multiple open windows possible. If you're a multitasker, get as much RAM as you can afford. If you prefer to finish one task before taking on another, you can get away with less RAM. One gigabyte of RAM is passable for most users; gamers should aim for two or more.
All files on your laptop, from term papers on Word documents to downloaded music files, are stored and take up space on your hard drive. Typical laptops range from 200 to 320GB of hard drive space. If you have many spring break photos or an extensive music or movie collection to store on your laptop, PC World suggests investing in an external hard drive as well.
All college students know that size matters. A smaller, more portable Netbook, available at electronics stores or through many wireless carriers, can do the job and is ideal if you also have a desktop at your disposal. If the laptop is your primary computer, treat it as such and invest in a quality machine that will last you the next four years and even through that victory lap fifth year.