Smart steps for buying a student's personal computer (PC)

(NC)—The PC has become an indispensable component of education and learning. The right PC will help students stay on top of deadlines, collaborate with classmates, liaise with teachers and research projects. But what is 'the right PC'? Answer the following to determine the "how" and "why" the PC will be used to help guide the purchasing process.

Does the school have computer requirements? Increasingly schools are not just encouraging, but expecting students to use PCs. Many even have built-in networks that provide wireless Internet access on campus. Before buying a PC, find out what the school offers in terms of Internet access, technical support, and discounts or promotions with various manufacturers.

Will "mobility" be important? For many students, mobile computing is essential. With a notebook computer, students have the flexibility to work and study anywhere – in the library, in a classroom, at friend's dorm or while conducting research offsite. That said, a desktop PC may be the best option if the computer will be shared by multiple users for multiple purposes in the same living space.

How much PC performance is needed? Students tend to be the most demanding computer users largely because they use their PCs for homework assignments as well as to listen to music, watch DVDs, manage digital photo albums and more. All-in-one school and entertainment PCs require powerful processors, lots of memory (Random Access Memory or RAM) and a large amount of storage, referred to as a hard drive.

RAM works with the processor to ensure software programs run as smoothly as possible. Buy at least 128 megabytes of RAM. The hard drive — where school work, music, photos and videos are stored — should have at least 10-gigabytes in a notebook and 40-gigabytes in a desktop.

Buy as much processing power as possible, such as a top-of-the-line Intel Pentium processor Extreme Edition or Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading, to ensure the longest life for the PC. Other components can be upgraded over time.

If mobility is important, ensure high performance, wireless connectivity, long battery life and portability. Laptops with Intel Centrino mobile technology provide integrated wireless networking, high processing power, and extended battery life in thin and light notebook designs.

Is the living space small? Students tend to live in tight quarters. If living space is confined, a notebook PC can transform a kitchen table into a home office, library or home entertainment centre and is compact enough to be easily stored in a drawer. Desktops and notebooks both serve as space savers when used as all-in-one entertainment and scholastic devices.

What is the budget? Computing needs change over time. While prices of computers vary, generally the more expensive PC will have a longer life cycle compared to the less expensive PC and may be a better investment in the long run.

- News Canada