Best Laptop Brands for College Students
Like selecting any electronic device, even selecting a laptop computer is not an easy task and can get very overwhelming for college students as well as their parents. With a wide variety of brands and models available in the market, don't get fooled by the flashy ads of most brands. It is always best to do a bit of homework and read reviews about the laptops ideal for college students. But find out first whether your college allows use of laptops and notebooks in the classroom. For most freshmen, a desktop computer or a laptop is required for class notes, for completing homework and for research.
It is important to first decide whether you require a desktop or a laptop, as both come with some advantages and disadvantages. Some of the top laptop brands for college students are Dell, Sony, HP and Lenovo. Consult your college website or your professor for the specific requirements for your major, and in some cases you might have limited options. But if you just need a portable computer for taking notes in class without any specific requirements, then this article would be your best guide:
Tips for Choosing
There are several tips that you need to remember before choosing one of the best laptop computers for college students. These are some tips from laptop buying guides for college students:
Specification Required: First find out what software and computer hardware is required for your college work.
Internet Connection: Find out whether your campus provides wireless Internet connection.
Size: The requirement of the laptop, whether it is mostly used at a stationary place or carried around, as this becomes the deciding factor while considering its size. If you travel frequently with a laptop, then always choose one below 15". If you need more convenience, then it is better to go for a notebook computer.
Cost: The budget you have, will decide the additional features and components in a laptop. Most of the laptops for college students come with price tag around $1000 and usually suffices the college requirements.
Best Laptop Brands for Gaming
Most students love gaming laptops, so if the budget permits, and you are looking for a laptop for dual use of academic and gaming purposes, look for a laptop with very high-speed computer processor, and a high memory to run heavy graphic files. Among the best laptop brands, for gaming are:
- HP: Models HP Pavilion HDX 16t and HP Pavilion HDX Dragon
- Dell: Models Dell Inspiron XPS and Dell Alienware M17X
- ASUS: Model Asus Republic of Gamers G73Jh
- MSI: Model MSI GT660R
Four things should be considered before buying a laptop for engineering students, like the ease of use, design required, heat and connectivity options. Even in engineering, the mechanical engineering field would have a different requirement from computer engineering field. But, in general, the best laptop brands for engineering students are:
- ASUS: Models ASUS UL30Vt-A1 and ASUS UL30A X5
- Toshiba: Models Toshiba Satellite M500 and Toshiba Satellite Pro A300
- Dell: Models Dell Studio XPS 13 and16
- Acer: Models Acer Gateway NV7802u and Acer AS5740-6025
It is difficult to name few best laptop brands because each models vary in some particular specifications. So the best for you would be as per your need. Many models of Sony, HP and Dell have been listed as the top brands for college students, for three years in a row. Some of them are:
- Sony VAIO CW
- Acer AS5740-6025
- Lenovo ThinkPad T400
- Dell Studio 15 (1558)
- Acer Aspire AS1410-8414
- HP Pavilion dv6t series
