Its time to go back to school yet again! And there’s so much to do to prepare for the big day! For many, it’s going to be a first step into the unknown and being the “New Kid on the Block”.  I’ll assume it’s your first year of college.

With so many things to prepare for, there’s a common question on many College Freshmen minds this time of year. With so many different laptops to choose from, how does one know which computer is the right one for them?

Well, that’s a great question.  It’s not really about getting the best laptop as there really isn’t a “best” one out there. It all depends on what you need from the laptop that becomes the best one for you.

 Now, let’s take a look at some familiar laptop characteristic/performance battles “Step by Step” and see if you can decide which one is the best one for you.

1.)Super-Size Screen vs. Standard Screen

Larger screens make for easier reading and viewing when it comes to a laptop, that’s a given. However, it’s not always necessary. Keep in mind that the bigger the screen, the higher the price of the laptop and the heavier it can be to tote around. Suggestion: If you have decent vision and really just need your laptop for writing papers, researching things on the web and the once-in-a-while, (let’s be real here, every other minute) Facebook status updating, a smaller screen will suffice. If your major is somewhere in the visual arts area, a larger screen may be necessary for better visual quality.

2.)Fast vs. Faster (processor size)

Most freshmen college laptop users will never push their computer’s processors to the max. So my advice would be to save money and not get the highest processor known to mankind. Unless your major is in video game design , software development, or computer-dependent majors relative to those,  I’d say stick with a processor that’s just suitable enough to get the job done.

3.) Battery Life

About two hours of time is the deciding factor on this one.  If you think you are apt to use a laptop for more than two hours without a wall outlet nearby to recharge on a regular basis, then investing in a laptop with a larger capacity battery is the way to go. But keep in mind that longer-lasting batteries can be a bit more costly.

4.) The Weight Debate

Shedding pounds on a laptop can be another costly move.  Less is definitely more in this debate.  If you can manage to tote around the extra weight of a laptop, you’ll be happy to feel the extra weight from the leftover cash sitting in your pocket, too.

 Hopefully this helps some of you with trying to figure out what kind of laptop you are looking for characteristic/performance-wise for your freshmen year. As far as computer brands go, search for one that meets most of your performance needs mentioned above first, and see what brands comply with those.

*The buzz around town is that:

A Dell or HP laptop is good for a college student who plans to write many papers and do research and web surfing. (English, History, Education, Accounting majors, etc.)

An Apple (Mac) laptop would be best for a student that is majoring in visual arts. (Graphic Design, Website Design, Videography, Music Engineering, etc.) This student will need this more expensive laptop for editing purposes and a Mac is the way to go!

Alienware laptops are for the extreme- gamer college student. They usually come with the best visual graphics cards and highest processors to get those games loaded and/or developed :)

**These are just some views on what I’ve heard works best by talking to  friends that were in various majors during their college experience.  Hopefully this will help guide you to discover the best computer for you!**