SUNY JCC Computer Science instructor Jonathan Blair shares tips for buying the right computer for college.
One of the first decisions you will make when heading off to college is deciding what computer to buy. It may seem like a daunting task, but it can be made much easier if you just know what questions to ask. Before we start though, it’s important that you understand three key things:
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90% of the assignments you will have for your classes can be completed with almost any laptop in the $400 to $500 range. Think research papers. Lots of research papers.
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Most companies have academic discounts for both hardware and software. For instance, Dell currently has a 10% discount if you use your school email address. Once you have your school email address, take advantage of these opportunities.
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It is better to purchase a computer after the semester starts than to purchase the wrong one.
With that out of the way, the first step is for you to know what you are studying in school. Yes, this means you have to make decisions, or at least have an idea of what you want to be when you grow up.
When you know what you are going to study, visit the website for the academic department for your degree. There you will find a listing of all the courses you will take along with their descriptions. If there is specialty software required for these courses, you will almost always find them listed here. If you don’t see any listed, email the department directly and ask to make sure there is nothing special required.
If you do have special software you will need to use for your courses, simply go to the website for that software and look for the computer specs that they recommend. Here is an example of the information you are looking for using Adobe Photoshop.
Then go shopping. Just make sure whatever you buy meets the recommended specifications and not the minimum. No one wants a slow computer when assignments are coming due.
As mentioned above, if you’re still unsure remember it’s better to get a computer on the third day of school than the wrong one before it starts. When you get to school, talk to your faculty. Visit the computer labs and see what software they have available for your program. Then just follow the steps above.
One final thing. If you are coming to Jamestown Community College, don’t fret. We are committed to the belief that access to technology should never determine a student’s success. To that end, we have multiple departments throughout the college that provide resources to ensure that you will never find yourself unable to complete an assignment because you didn’t have the hardware or software to do it.