With the new school year just around the corner, it may be time to invest in a new computer. Friendly Computers found a guide to finding the perfect back-to-school PC for your child (or yourself, for the college students out there). Read more below…
So your favorite student is going back to school in a few weeks, and the PC that he or she have been using is either ready for the scrap heap or is being passed down to younger siblings. What should you look for in a new desktop PC? It depends partly on the price and partly on the form factor, but these days you can get the kids outfitted for way below the $2,500 that used to be the norm for desktops just a few years ago.
Mac or PC?
Some schools require their students to have Windows-based systems, so their IT staff doesn't have to support other operating systems, but in general you can use Mac OS X or Windows (Vista or XP) on your computer. Linux is always an option, particularly in the geek quarters and the sciences, but be prepared to do your own tech support if you follow the penguin. Check Web sites like www.apple.com/education/shop or www.delluniversity.com for school-specific deals online, or check your school's Web site for the computer store.But what about Windows 7, slated to be released in October? The majority of Windows-based PC makers should have an upgrade coupon in the package or on their Web site by the time you read this. If it does, I would hold off on the upgrade. Unless you school upgrades their PCs en masse over this school year, your school will be unlikely to use Windows 7 (if at all) before the 2010-2011 school year. The majority of your students' classmates will still be using Mac OS, Windows Vista or XP.
Check Your Curriculum: Needs and Wants
High school and college students will need to consider their curriculum needs when they make their computing choices. For example, the Liberal Arts student concentrating in Creative Writing will need a simpler PC than the one a potential J.J. Abrams successor would need in a Graduate Film program.In a nutshell, consider the following when choosing a desktop for school:
Does your school mandate Windows XP, Vista or Mac? Buy with the herd if you need to; otherwise go with what you like.
Netbooks and nettops are fine for simple writing and researching.
The majority of "full blown" desktops are perfect for most students' needs. Find a dual core-powered system for the best balance between power and price.
Students in the Sciences and the Arts will want a quad-core system, for added computing power. High powered quad-core multimedia PCs are perfect for students that need to crunch a lot of numbers before their next study session.
Integrated graphics will be fine, unless your curriculum mandates a certain graphics card. For example, a card capable of running CAD/CAM for engineering or a high –powered graphics card for work in Adobe CS4. Your pre-term information sheets should point out the cards that your school recommends.
All-in-one PCs fit great on tiny dorm desks, can be used to watch movies during downtime, and have larger screens than almost any laptop.
Though it may be tempting, don't buy the cheapest PC available. Remember that "cheaper" PCs will feel "slower" before you know it.
