Replacement Laptop Keys Are Easy To Find

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  By admin | July 11, 2011 - 3:11 pm | Laptops
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Replacement laptop keys are cheap, easy to find, and easy to install. One would think that, considering how many different brands and makes of laptops there are, it might be difficult to hone in on the correct ones. Luckily, website databases exist to help easily identify and buy the correct set of laptop keys, whether it is a full keyboard set or simply a single key. No matter your keyboard problems, websites now have the tools to help you fix it.

Your Typical Keyboard Retail Website

The makers and sellers of laptops and laptop paraphernalia know how frustrating it can be for a computer key to snap off, get stuck, or break. To lessen the frustration and anger, many websites that sell such replacement equipment come equipped themselves with visual aids for the already addled customer. They usually show a list of most popular keyboards and, when clicked, take the viewer to a webpage that gives a visual display of said specific keyboard. Some websites even make each picture of each key clickable and ready to order right there.

The Installation Process

A laptop’s keys are actually very easy to install. There are generally 3 different types of keyboard keys, and they must be installed differently. The “spacebar” key, for example, has metal prongs on the underside, while most of the typical letter keys simply snap into place. When buying a laptop key replacement, it will normally come with all the necessary items to repair your keyboard. When in doubt, consult the online troubleshooting guide, usually located on the website where the key was purchased. Manufacturer websites can also be helpful with the installation of PC keyboards.

Price of a Key

In most cases, a full replacement laptop keyboard will cost no more than $50. Individual keys normally cost only a few dollars. This varies slightly, depending on the quality of the laptop and whether or not parts are even still being made. Owners of very old laptops will have a much more difficult time finding the correct parts.

The hardest part about replacing a laptop keyboard is finding the motivation to go the website that has the correct parts, which still is not difficult. Replacement laptop keys are a dime a dozen and, in today’s world, only take a few minutes to order.

How to Fix a Slow Computer For Free

  By admin | February 18, 2012 - 10:05 pm | Computers
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Knowing how to fix a slow computer for free can be difficult. First, you have to figure out what is wrong with your PC, and then you have to decide which method or which piece of software to use. Not only that, but you have to know what software is trusted and that you are not downloading malware by accident. Knowing how to fix a computer virus is a completely new ballgame when the virus has altered something else. But what if it’s not even a virus on your PC?

Diagnose the Computer Problem. Do a Little Research.

Expecting any program you download online to find and fix any problem your computer is having is a bit unrealistic. Not only that, but it can be a huge waste of time surfing the Internet when you are not even sure what you are looking for.

Try to hone in on what is causing the problem, and if you cannot do that, hone in on what is being affected. Is your computer running slow only when you play video games? Is your computer lagging sometimes but only in certain situations? Write down the symptoms of the slow computer, and use those as criteria for diagnosing the PC problem. Most importantly, is an error message popping up? An error message is a great sign, believe it or not. You can copy the error message, word for word, and paste it into Google in an attempt to find someone that has had the same PC problem in the past. It is almost a guarantee that you will find someone who has had the same computer trouble.

This will save you the trouble of having to ask for help on a computer help forum.

Ask for help. You aren’t the first one with a computer-related problem.

There are forum-goers that love helping people fix their computers online. I am one of them. Unfortunately, this post cannot begin to specifically address a fraction of all the PC and MAC problems that exist. When searching the Internet has just been a huge waste of time, I suggest making an account at an IT computer help forum (just type “IT forums” or “computer help forums” into Google) and post your question. Here are a few guidelines for posting on a such a forum so that you are most likely to get a good answer.

1. Be Polite and Patient.

In my opinion, this should be an Internet law. Being polite is most beneficial when you are wanting something from someone, OBVIOUSLY. I see so many people who are rude, barging into a new community, and still expect to receive royal treatment.

Being impatient only makes people want to help you less. What you are saying might make complete sense to you but not to the one you are trying to explain your dilemma.

2. Be clear and concise, without leaving out important details.

No one wants to hear your life story – Sorry. When posting a new thread, get to the point, and list important details. This includes your computer specs. At the very least you should list:

  • Operating System (Windows 32-bit or 64-bit?)
  • Amount of RAM (4 Gigs? 8 Gigs?)
  • Processor and Processor speed (My CPU is a dual-core, 3.20 GHz)
  • Video Card
  • Your Computer Problem
  • What you have already tried to fix your PC (This will save them plenty of time and give them an idea of your computer expertise, or lack thereof)

3. If the problem was solved, go back to the forum as a courtesy and tell them what fix it.

This is just being a nice person, and karma if you believe in it. Days before you fixed your PC, you would have wanted the answer you have now. So give back, and help someone that might have your problem in the future. Post your computer solution in the forums, so no one will be trying to pointlessly help you.

You Know What Type of Program You Need, You just Don’t Know Which One to buy.

Let’s say that you are sure your registry is corrupt and it is slowing your computer, and you need a free registry fix online (or possibly not free), but you don’t know whether to go with Registry Booster or Registry Mechanic. My personal opinion is that they are all, more or less, the same (in the case of registry fixing programs).

The best route to take before purchasing computer fixing software is to go to Amazon or Newegg, somewhere that has customer reviews, and consider what they say about the product. Many positive ratings will most likely be a worthy buy. Customers also can alert you of potential problems a product will have. If reviews claim that a certain type of HDD dies after 1 year of use, you might want to consider something else. With software, though, it was more to do with support — if the product is still consistently receiving updates and customer support is still lively.

Consider a computer upgrade.

Now let’s say that you have tried everything there is to try, and your computer is still crap. It might be time to get a new computer, or at least upgrade the parts in your computer. Concerning the speed of a computer, 3 pieces of hardware affect it more than anything else — RAM, CPU, video card. Having a lot of RAM can only go so far if your computer’s CPU is slow, and visa versa. Upgrading RAM is the cheapest choice, and for the money, you will notice the most difference. Only purchase hardware when you’re sure that will fix it. If you have a virus that is slowing your CPU, upgrading the hardware will be pointless.

How to Save Demos in Super MNC

  By admin | February 18, 2012 - 12:08 am | Uncategorized
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I looked around forever to find out how to save a .demo file for later video editing, and it took a while to figure out how. After figuring out how to save demos in Super MNC, I felt stupid simply because of how easy Uber Entertainment has made it.

How To Save Demos in Super Monday Night Combat

Video Explanation:


 

Written Explanation:

1. After ending a match, exit to the main menu.

2. Click on the “Community” tab near the top right of the screen. A list of demos will pop up.

3.  Scroll to the bottom and begin selecting the demos with your mouse until you find the demo that has your name in it.

If you cannot find the demo with your name in it, check back a little later.

4. Click the “download” button on the right.

5. The demo files are located in:

C:\Users\[USERNAME]\Documents\My Games\UnrealEngine3\MNCGame\Demos

 

Super MNC, Coming to a PC Near You!

  By admin | January 29, 2012 - 2:23 am | Uncategorized
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Super MNC, prequel to Uber Entertainment’s Monday Night Combat, is a 3rd person shooter / DOTA-style strategy game, lying somewhere in between the gameplay of TF2 and League of Legends. The game is currently in closed beta (or “invitational” as they put it). If you have a friend that you know is playing it now, ask them about it. Uber Entertainment gives away 2 free beta keys to people already in the beta via Steam Trading.

What makes Super MNC different than other shooters out there?

Unlike games such as TF2, Call of Duty: [w/e], Battlefield [w/e], etc, the game takes on a DOTA2-style approach, adding waves of bots, or “creeps” (as they are called in other games) that make their way to your Money Ball and your opponents’ Money Ball, which must be protected at all costs (puns are fun).

You have to make the decision to prevent enemy bots from gaining ground or killing that enemy player that’s racking up points doing the same.

Player Customization

Endorsements and products are what makes your pro play differently than other players, and buyable skins can make your pro look different. Skins can change your pro’s appearance into anything from a crash test dummy to a zombie.

Gameplay Types

A gameplay type known as “Super Crossfire” is the only currently available gamemode at this time. Uber Entertainment plans to add more in the future. This gamemode is different than the regular Crossfire because it has pre-built, un-repairable turrets stationed near the money ball. This, I predict, will be the gamemode that concentrates most on fast-paced gameplay.

How Can I Play?

Super MNC is currently in closed beta, and therefore you must be invited. To get invited, you must sign-up at http://www.supermnc.com.

Artist Growth: A New Artist Manager App

  By admin | January 21, 2012 - 11:33 pm | Technology
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Time management plays a large role in the field of music management. Anything invented that will save a manager time, effort, and confusion is always a welcome addition to the world. Artist Growth, “a sophisticated set of cloud-based artist management tools that also utilizes specialized apps for mobile devices,” was launched last Friday, January 20th.

In simplest terms, Artist Growth (seen on the right) is a program/mobile app that contains organizational tools for any up-and-coming manager. It keeps track of gigs booked, when those gigs are, and finances. It also comes with an industry search and news feed of relevant stories.

 

Everything is becoming “cloud-based,” and Artist Growth is no different. All information entered by the manager is safely stored in a cloud, so the information can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection. This is becoming a necessity for managers with increasingly popular artists who continue to add more and more onto their plates. The “Action Pack” feature seen at the bottom of the app screen gives to-do lists curated by industry professionals.

 

Considering every phone with app capabilities has some sort of phone, the finances section allows for snapshot and storage of receipts, giving the manager one less thing to worry about.

 

The AGtv button is filled with on-the-go music industry and management expertise. It gives the user access to “career trips, tools, and advice from record executives, Grammy-winning producers, artists, managers, and other industry experts on Artist Growth’s AGtv video portal, and more than 30K industry contacts via the Indie Bible.” The Indie Bible is what you might expect – a website that helps independent labels get their music heard by as many people as possible, and it also puts that music in the right peoples’ hands.

 

The subscription cost of this app is $4.99, but new users can get started with the AGtv section for just $0.99 a month. Artist Growth is compatible on any tablet, smart phone, or computer.

The original article may be found at The Hype Bot.

What Can the Bamboo Tablet Pen Do?

  By admin | December 28, 2011 - 7:41 pm | Technology
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When buying a tablet for the first time, people are always curious: What is the bamboo tablet pen actually capable of? Will the tablet pen make permanent marks on my tablet? Do I ever have to replace it? Does the bamboo pen require batteries ? Does it work with Photoshop? Read below to find the answers.

The pen is the same size a pen used for writing.

Will my Bamboo pen cause damage to my tablet over an extended amount of time?

No. At least not with proper use. Kids that use the tablet and its pen should know what not to do. The specific tablet I have receives no input from anything but the pen it came with, so there is no reason to use fingers that could oil up the surface of your tablet.

I bear down pretty hard when I want to draw thick, heavy lines. The surface is tough and will not leave permanent marks. I have been drawing like this for a couple months now, and it still looks brand new.

 Do I ever have to replace the pen that comes with the Bamboo tablet?

Unless you lose it, no. The tip of the pen is the only thing that will wear down over time. My tablet’s pen came with 4 replacement pen tips. Wacom calls them replacement pen “nibs,” not “tips.” A 5-pack of nibs costs about $10. If the buttons break on your pen and you need to replace the Wacom pen itself, it will cost around $25. So don’t lose them!

Does the Wacom Bamboo Pen Accessory require batteries?

No. And at $25 per pen, I am not surprised. They last as long as you can refill the nibs/tips. Those, as previously mentioned, are the only things that need to be replaced. The tablet, at least this tablet, is designed to only recognize the tip of the Bamboo pen. That being said, my sister recently was gifted a different model Bamboo Connect, and it responded to finger/hand gestures on the surface of the tablet. Mine only recognizes the pen, and that helps when I am drawing and want to steady my hand by lying it on the tablet next to what I am drawing.

Does The Bamboo Connect Pen work with Photoshop?

Yes. It definitely works with Photoshop. That is the main reason I use it. I can select portions of a picture with extreme accuracy when compared to the mouse. Furthermore, the pen does not take an extremely steady hand to outline something like it does with a mouse.

Not only does it work with Photoshop, it works with any other drawing or photo-editing program. Just consider the Bamboo pen tablet to be a computer mouse in pen form. Although pointless seeing as a mouse is faster, you could even use the Wacom pen to open programs on a desktop, click the “Start” menu, open folders, etc.

The buttons on the pen serve as the right-click and a left-click would on a mouse. Double tapping the pen to the tablet serves as a double click.

Can the Wacom Bamboo Connect Tablet Pen trace over a sheet of paper?

Yes, believe it or not. My girlfriend is a writing a fantasy novel. Before I bought my tablet, she was using grid paper to draw a map of her novel’s world. To make it easier to edit later, she wanted to put it on her computer via my tablet. We did not know whether it would work or not, but she laid the piece of paper on top of the tablet and began to trace over it. The tablet still found the pen perfectly!

The Uses of Drawing Tablets and the Wacom Bamboo Connect Pen Tablet

  By admin | December 22, 2011 - 7:52 pm | Computers
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First off – this is not the same type of tablet as that of a Kindle Fire or iPad 2. There is no touch screen. There are no apps on the device itself. It is not its own standalone computer. There is a touch surface, but it will only react to the special pen that comes with it. Hand gestures and the like will not be recognized. It can sense the pen, and it can sense how hard you are baring down with the pen, allowing for hard or soft “brush strokes.” This tablet serves the same purpose as almost any other tablet of its kind – drawing, sketching, and doodling. Its main purpose allows a much more efficient method of drawing on a computer than a mouse.

Uses include:

    • Drawing, sketching, doodling
    • Precise highlighting in photo-editing software such as Photoshop or Gimp
    • Adding personality by allowing actual hand signatures in e-mails
    • Playing fun, group-oriented, drawing games such as “Draw My Thing” (DMT) found on Kongregate

What can a Doodling Tablet do That My Mouse Cannot Do?

Sketching with a drawing tablet is much more highly effective than that of a mouse. This next picture shows the limited capabilities of the mouse. The left doodle shows multiple lines with varying contrast, while the doodle on the right shows multiple mouse strokes, all of the same width and darkness. The one on the left was drawn using the Bamboo Connect pen; the one on the right was drawn using the mouse. No settings were adjusted while changing from pen to mouse.

Pen Style (Left), Mouse Style (Right)

The Tablet’s Surface is Pressure Sensitive.

Pressing the pen harder onto the tablet’s surface will yield a dark mark, while using less pressure will make whatever you’re drawing lighter in appearance. To get the same effect while using the mouse, you would have to frequently change to different shades of gray just to get the illusion of contrast.

Bearing Down with the Pen

 

I am no Artist. Why Would I Want A Bamboo Tablet?

I am not an artist either. I use the Bamboo tablet to highlight important sections in online articles and homework I might have for the night. And if you have ever tried to cut a selection of a photo in Photoshop, this makes it many times easier. Using the mouse to cut out someone’s face in a picture is a grueling task if you are nit-picky like myself.

“Writing” on the tablet and seeing it instantly appear on the screen might, at first, be disorienting. This is my first tablet purchase, and it did not take long at all to catch on and find it comfortable and controllable.

What is the Wacom Bamboo Connect Pen Tablet?

Package Includes:

 

  • 1 tablet pen
  • 4 extra pen heads (for replacement after wear & tear)
  • 1 Bamboo drawing surface (size depends on model but are generally very lightweight and thin (between .25” and .5” thick)
  • 1 USB Power Cable
  • CD Package which includes: 1 Driver & Installation CD, Software bundle (Autodesk Sketchbook Express and an apps program that allows you to install games/apps that will work with the tablet)

The tablet I own: Wacom Bamboo Connect Pen Tablet

The device itself is made of a durable plastic and is not prone to scratches or impressions from the pen. It feels sturdy in my hands; I don’t feel like I am going to snap it in two, nor do I feel like it would break in two if I dropped it. I have had mine for a little over a month now, and I really have no complaints about the device itself. A small perk is that it asks if you are right-handed or left-handed. This only matters when hold the device backwards and realize your hand motion is going down while the “ink” on the screen shows you writing upward. It is a nice touch the have.

The simplicity of the drawing tablet is also what draws me in. Pun intended. I cannot draw very well, so this model leaves no extra configurations for me to get confused. Other model tablets have programmable buttons sort of like fancy mice do. This one has no buttons on it – not even a power button; it stays on as long as it is plugged in.

Using a Pen Tablet on a Crappy Laptop

If you are wanting to buy a Bamboo drawing tablet and want to know if your computer can handle it, all you have to do is ask yourself one question: “Can my computer handle a mouse being installed?” That really is all a tablet is – a really fancy mouse made for a more specific purpose. As long as your computer can open MSPaint and doodle with the mouse, the Wacom Bamboo tablet will run just fine.

That being said, some programs are RAM-intensive. If you constantly wonder, “why my computer keeps freezing,” you might want to invest in more RAM. RAM is not as expensive as it used to be. Invest $50-$100, and you will not have to invest in more RAM until you buy a new computer (most likely). Such programs that can hog RAM include Photoshop and possibly other Adobe products. In this day and age, this problem is becoming extinct. Nothing that comes with the Wacom Bamboo Connect Pen tablet will use much RAM.

Is the Wacom Bamboo Connect Pen Tablet Expensive?

I bought my tablet on Amazon for a little under $80. Refurbished versions are also sold and their price tag is slightly less at around $60. Within the company, prices vary based on features (such as programmable buttons) and size of the canvas. Other tablets also come with special extras like being able to turn the pen over and erase like you would be able to with a real pencil. This saves time from having to click the eraser button every time a mistake is made.

I would definitely recommend the Bamboo Connect Pen Tablet

This tablet is great for people new to the tablet world. There is very little to get confused about, the price tag is fairly small, it comes with amazing Autodesk software, and it is an all around well-made product.

What My Dad Uses His Crappy Laptop For

  By admin | December 20, 2011 - 5:06 pm | Laptops
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My Dad is cheap. He will not get rid of anything, and in some cases that is his weakness. In this case, though, the inability to throw things away that technically still work has saved him some pocket change. His crappy laptop is now on close to 100% of the time, sitting beside his huge flat screen and is used to watch Netflix on TV through his computer.

My Dad pokes fun at the rest of our family for being addicted to electronics like smart phones, Internet video games, and picture editing software (my mom is obsessed with photography). Meanwhile, my dad devotes a good portion of his free time to the, what some might call, “man cave.” He has an upstairs room situated with a computer desk and big screen TV. What is most funny is that the furniture is arranged so that he may watch movies on his TV while he fiddles around with Youtube videos on his computer.

He can’t be bothered with buying an electronic box specifically for playing Netflix (such as the Wii, PS3, or Boxee), at least not before he has squeezed every last living drop out of the current hardware he has that works “just fine.”

I know it sounds like I am coming down hard on him, but in this case, I say that as long as it works, it works. Laptops, and computers in general, have many programs running in the background when compared to TV electronics like previous mentioned. It would normally be a waste to use a PC for just a single task. His laptop is almost broken. It needs replacement laptop keys, a new screen, etc., and has seen a lot for its time. What other way to keep getting use out of it than to sit it down beside his TV and hook it up to one another and give it only one task – playing Netflix through the TV. It isn’t really good for anything else unless he wants to replace substandard or even broken computer parts.

He could have his broken laptop taken to a shop, have it repaired, and have it working like new in no time. But when it fits his current needs so well, why bother? There are much greater issues of his to talk about, like why he also has a sauna in that upstairs room!

Advice For Buying Laptops for College Students

  By admin | August 6, 2011 - 1:37 am | Laptops
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It is my final year of college now, and if I could back in time to my first year of college, I would do so many things differently. I would procrastinate much less, be more decisive, save more money, and in this case, be more aware of what laptop I am buying as a college student. When asking the same question to most other people, their response would be, “I regret nothing.” That just cannot be true.

What Makes A Laptop For Students Different Than Other Laptops?

Intent and affordability. It is as simple as that. When thinking of laptops for college students, the first question that pops into everyone’s minds is “How much is it going to cost?” or “Can I afford it?” I am here to tell you that it is completely possible to buy a laptop to fill every student’s needs. You have to ask yourself just two more questions:

What DON’T I Need In a College Laptop?

Graphics card capability for a student laptop for cheap is not going to be great, but luckily, a high-powered graphics card is far from a necessity. Leaving out the expensive gfx card is the best thing you can do to reduce the cost of your laptop. A lower power video card also means a laptop that does not get as hot or loud. Fans have to work harder with expensive parts because they usually run at higher temperatures. In other words, your pants won’t become all warm and fuzzy from it sitting on your lap for a while.

What DO I Need In a College Laptop?

Basic Computer Setup: I am going to assume you are not a big gamer and that you just need your laptop to be there and work when you need it. Taking out the power that is required for a gaming laptop will save you the most money. Trust me. I am, and always will be, a gamer. Searching for computers with enough RAM, CPU and video card processing power jacks the price of a PC way up. Simple word processing and Internet access is plenty for the average college kid on a budget.

CPU speed is the one thing, if anything, you would want to increase if you have the extra money. It is definitely not required to have a nice CPU, but the faster your CPU is, the faster your computer will boot, shutdown, and run programs. This means that turning in late papers does not have to come down to the last second.

With baseline computers increasing in power, 2 G of RAM is the standard minimum. The more RAM within a computer, the more programs that can be open and running at one time. RAM also increases the speed of computers but is limited by CPU power. Going with the RAM minimum is a money saver and is enough to support the writing of papers and writing of e-mails on the go.

Laptop protection for a college student is worth mentioning. If you are careful, and/or your laptop does not travel much, it might be OK to skip this feature. If you constantly find yourself carrying your laptop back and forth to the library every night, it might be worth purchasing some form of laptop protection. By “protection,” I mean physical protection. Your basic laptop carrying case is not that expensive and frees up your hands. Laptop skin is another fairly inexpensive option and protects your college laptop from simple wear and tear, scratches and dinks. A laptop lock is also a great form of theft protection. The dorm I used to live in came with a bed and desk in it. That is pretty standard. The desk had a ring clamped to it for one purpose – locking up my laptop. Roommates can be shady, especially if you were not allowed to pick them ahead of time. Locking the laptop to the desk with make it that more much difficult to by “misplaced.” Finally, while not technically the type of protection I am talking about, anti-virus software can be found for free but is also still a good idea.

Get Laptop Insurance! This is Important Enough to Have Its Own Bolded Header!

This is another one of those things that I wish I had taken advantage of. The price of insurance is not cheap, but considering the luck laptops have in a college setting, they could break at anytime, especially because they will take so many trips back and forth between dorm and library. A broken computer is never expected, and in college, you need to be able to replace broken parts. While a simple laptop keys replacement is a couple of dollars, more expensive parts like the screen can take longer and cost money that you wouldn’t have to pay if you had insurance. Generally, PCs come with a warranty that might last a couple of months, but they often start getting their problems (aside from accidental trips and falls) after the first year. Rather than throwing up your hands yelling, “Why is my computer so slow?” you can send it in to be fixed. Trust me, going uninsured with a laptop is like driving an uninsured car. It is just stupid. Places like Newegg offer insurance at checkout, so check that out! It is normally a one-time fee that last about 5 years.

Can I Buy A Decent Laptop Under $1000? How About Laptops Under $500?

Buying Decent Laptops For Students with a budget of $1000 is easily manageable. Laptops for less than $500 might be a bit trickier. You might just want to find a middle ground between the two amounts. Sure, there are minimalistic laptops way under $500, but you have to take into account many things like tax, insurance (mentioned above), payment plans available, and optional, yet sometimes needed, laptop accessories.

Take advantage of sales and events like:

  • Tax Free Weekend
  • Black Friday
  • Closeout and Liquidation sales
  • Craig’s List
  • Close-to-campus Garage Sales

Tax free weekend, while always overcrowded, will save you a good chunk of change when buying electronics. As an even bigger incentive to buy, retail stores will often put up sales that coincide with events like Tax Free Weekend or Black Friday. Black Friday is definitely insane, but that is the day of the best deals you will be able to find. Stores are trying to push out their inventory for the new year, and so they sell everything at crazy low prices. Craig’s List is sometimes thought of as sketchy, but it has helped me out of jams and make excellent deals in the process. As long as the deals are being done locally, and preferably between two college students, nothing is likely to go wrong. Just remember that with electronics, it is important to test the merchandise before you buy. There is no worse feeling to a poor college kid than to have paid something for nothing. Another event that new college students might not be aware of is garage sale-type events that are actually held on campus. Students that are graduating or moving will often sell their extra belongings for cheap just because they do not want to just throw it away but do not have room for it either. This might actually include a decent computer (at least a decent enough one to tide you over until you’re working on campus, making a few extra bucks). Campuses sometimes host these type of sales. Students who want to get rid of items will just leave them in a designated pile, and then the group hosting the event, usually a fraternity or sorority, will sell the items for a low price as a fund-raising event.

Please do not make the same mistakes I did when purchasing a laptop for college. I pretty much said, “oooo shiny” and bought it. Do a little research, and make an educated purchase so you do not regret it later. Laptops have a short shelf life, but keeping good care of it and buying a good one to begin with are 2 great ways of making yourself feel like you made the right decision.

Attention Parents! Tips for Buying the Best Laptops for Students Going To College

  By admin | June 6, 2011 - 9:55 pm | Computers
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The best laptops for students in college or going to college must depend on reliability over anything else. After all, important term papers, power point presentations, and other assignments are all stored on there. Speed is a close second, but cheap laptops are probably ideal if you ask the parents of college students. Durability is also important. As a college student myself, I know that college computers can end up practically anywhere. They need to be able to stand up to the “weather” of college life. Correctly picking out the right laptop computer at the beginning of your son or daughter’s college career will prevent later questions of “Can I get a new laptop?” when it is only his or her second year of college.

Laptop Computers From a College Student’s Point Of View

Let us just pretend for a second that your kid has just graduated high school and is ready to start their college life. You know they need a new laptop for college, and you agree to pay for it no matter the cost. Assuming that you agreed to get any laptop they want, do you know what laptop your kid would get and why they would get it? Well, if they are smart and computer-savvy, there will be a few important factors that will attract their attention (in approximate order of importance):

  • Battery life
  • Weight
  • Size
  • HDD size
  • Processor speed
  • RAM amount

What makes a College Laptop Expensive?

Price is heavily dependent on these specifications. The more compact a laptop is, the more it will cost. Strangely enough, the larger the screen, the more costly it will become. The hard drive, or HDD, size is not too costly, but things that make the laptop run faster are heavy money hitters. Often, a trade-off must occur. Tiny laptops for college students just will not have as much potential in terms of power, but since they tend to use less power, their battery life is longer. The bottom line is prioritizing specifications. Laptops will never be the best gaming computers, and besides, your daughter or son should be using the laptop for school, not for gaming! Go for specifications that will increase the life, stability, durability, and dependability of the laptop, while leaving speed for the PC or desktop computer. Laptops in college only need enough speed for simple tasks like word processing and web browsing. This, of course, varies based on college major. A graphic arts, computer design, or other computer-related majors need that extra power.

Laptop Computers From a Parent’s Point Of View

Now, let us pretend that you agree to pay X amount, that amount being fairly low. Luckily, there are many available laptops under $500 and even cheaper. Affordable laptops for students are what parents are targeting, mainly because they have to be the ones to pay for it! If there is a budget, and you, the parent are in charge, I suggest again to prioritize what your kid needs in a laptop. Take everything previously mentioned into account, but also consider the following factors of importance:

  • Warranties
  • Previous user feedback
  • Any guarantees from manufacturers
  • Popularity

Believe it or not, popularity of a certain laptop is a pretty good indicator of excellence. User feedback provided on laptop computer websites helps you understand the specific strengths or downfalls of a certain college laptop.

Get Insurance for Your College Student’s Laptop!

Warranties and insurance are definitely important when concerning laptops. Laptops are not made to last forever. They actually are not my computer of choice just because of their lifespan. Unfortunately, college students practically need laptops to operate in today’s universities. Invest in laptop insurance so you do not get screwed over if something unexpected happens…because it will. Statements like, “My computer keeps freezing” or questions of “Why is my computer so slow?” are far too common with laptops. A broken laptop computer is almost inevitable, but with a warranty and insurance it will hopefully be fairly painless.

Buying affordable laptops for college students can be difficult when you have to juggle your kid’s taste in computers with your paycheck. Just remember that this is not their gaming computer, and do what you have to do to get a decent college laptop that will last at least 4 years. In graduate school, they are on their own for laptops for students.

Any questions you want to ask a college student regarding what your child will need for college? Go ahead. Comment.