{"id":1126,"date":"2018-12-04T08:00:39","date_gmt":"2018-12-04T13:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tech2.mountdesales.net\/?p=1126"},"modified":"2022-05-06T08:59:04","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T12:59:04","slug":"buying-a-computer-for-college-an-opinion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tech.mountdesales.net\/?p=1126","title":{"rendered":"Buying a computer for college – an opinion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Some thoughts on choosing a laptop when you are heading off to college next year:<\/h3>\n
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The first thing: check with the college you are heading to [or the several possible colleges!<\/i>]. They will often have suggestions for what will work.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Secondly: check out the CERTIFIED refurbished markets. The “big box” stores have impressive displays, but you can often get a better deal\/more powerful machine online, with less hassle.<\/div>\n
Apple: https:\/\/www.apple.com\/shop\/refurbished<\/a><\/div>\n
Bing Search for Dell: https:\/\/www.bing.com\/search?FORM=U523DF&PC=U523&q=dell+certified+refurbished<\/a><\/div>\n
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Here are some specific aspects of machines to be looked at, and some thoughts:<\/div>\n
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1) Operating System:<\/b> the big four are Mac, Windows, Chromebook, and Linux.<\/div>\n
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The MaconMacGuy\u00a0 prefers Mac [obviously<\/em>!], but he uses Windows AND several versions of Linux daily.\u00a0 You\u2019ll see “interesting” arguments for all fo those online – for some, it\u2019s almost a religious thing.<\/div>\n
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For me, Macs last longer – their hardware is generally higher quality, unless you are comparing Windows laptops in the same price range [in the over $1000 price range].<\/div>\n
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Many people [obviously<\/em>] prefer Windows.<\/div>\n
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The bottom line: use what helps you get your work done.<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Stay away from the el cheapo machines UNLESS you want to have a “throwaway machine” because you break stuff a lot.\u00a0 The more expensive laptops generally have better quality components.<\/div>\n
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ChromeOS [used in Chromebooks<\/em>] is workable in many situations, but ONLY if you will not be using it to run separate apps [AutoCAD, for instance]. If you are doing everything in a web browser [like writing papers with Google Docs, creating spreadsheets with Google Sheets, etc], then it should work OK.<\/p>\n

STAY AWAY from real cheap Chromebooks – they break easily.<\/em><\/p>\n

Linux has come a long way in terms of usability. I like it for a variety of reasons – but most people are going to go with Mac or Windows, and there is better organized official support for them on campus. I will say that Linux can seriously extend the useful life of old hardware, and [with a bit of effort] you can make a Linux box do more than a Mac or Windows can.<\/div>\n
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2) Screen size<\/b>: generally, bigger is better. Then again, bigger means a bigger gizmo to carry around, and less battery life.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
3) RAM<\/b>: get as much as your pocketbook can afford. At a minimum get 8 gig – 16gig would be better. 32gig is probably overkill – unless you find a real good deal.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The one exception:<\/em> The Apple Silicon Machines [with the Apple M1 chip]. You will only have a couple of options when buying one – for most people it will not matter much. Apple Silicon handles memory radically different than other platforms, so it isn’t as much of an issue.<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n
4) Processor:<\/b> IN GENERAL later\/faster is better. You\u2019ll see references – in the Intel world – of the generation [10th gen, 11th, gen, 12th gen, etc.<\/em>] and and the product line [i3 vs i5 vs i7].<\/div>\n
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I’d stay away from i3 unless you abolutely have to go that route. It isn’t as powerful, and you will grow out of it soon. i5 is a goodbalance between price and performance – i7 is more powerful, but tends to be more expensive.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For practical purposes you probably won\u2019t see much of a speed difference between successive generations [10th vs. 11th, for example.] 10th gen to 12th gen IS a bigger difference in terms of practical speed.<\/div>\n
Generally the latest generation of chips is the most expensive.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
There are also subcategories within those designations – you\u2019ll see letters like \u201cm\u201d and \u201cU\u201d and such. They also refer to how powerful the processor is and how fast they drain the battery – but in the interest of keeping things simple let\u2019s just ignore that part.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If you really want to compare using a simple “power rating”, surf to www.cpubenchmark.net<\/a> and type in the exact processor. The site gives a number that is useful for comparing different processors.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
5) Storage<\/b> – aka Hard Drive or SSD. To use an analogy – the hard drive or SSD is your filing cabinet. As in real life, the bigger the better. [Bigger also means more room to lose things, though.]\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
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SSDs are MUCH faster than hard drives – but also more expensive. MDS Tech prefers an SSD, but you can get a MUCH larger hard drive [“filing cabinet”<\/em>] for a much smaller amount of money. Most machines now come with SSDs<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
6) Backup <\/b>– MDS Tech also suggests setting up a backup system. This usually involves some software and an external hard drive, OR you can use an online setup [Google Drive **CAN** be used like this, but there are a ton of other options<\/em>]. You basically want to have a backup of documents that is accessible so when [not if<\/em>] the thing dies or the computer hamsters go on strike,\u00a0 you aren’t stuck.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
On the Mac side the iPad guy uses Carbon Copy Cloner and an external set of hard drives. There are similar backup schemes available for the Windows side as well.<\/div>\n
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7) \u00a0Printing<\/b> – Wait until at least 2nd semester to get a printer.<\/strong> Generally colleges have printers available on the network.<\/div>\n
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Yes, having one in your room means convenience – but it ALSO means more headaches [YOU have to keep it running, stocked, and fend off dorm-mates who want to to do a quick printout – really, I’ll pay you later for the ink and paper\u2026\u2026<\/em>]<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Updated May 2022<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some thoughts on choosing a laptop when you are heading off to college next year: The first thing: check with the college you are heading to [or the several possible colleges!]. They will often have suggestions for what will work. Secondly: check out the CERTIFIED refurbished markets. The “big box” stores have impressive displays, but … Continue reading Buying a computer for college – an opinion<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,28,1],"tags":[414,413,137,177],"class_list":["post-1126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-more","category-student-devices","category-uncategorized","tag-college","tag-computer","tag-laptop","tag-senior"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p42ogX-ia","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1445,"url":"https:\/\/tech.mountdesales.net\/?p=1445","url_meta":{"origin":1126,"position":0},"title":"Dell laptops and batteries","author":"tech","date":"11\/12\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Sometimes a Dell laptop will refuse to charge a battery, or won't recognize the battery. That **could** be because the battery is dead, or the laptop doesn't recognize the off-brand battery you bought - but it could also be because the sensor chip in the battery has gotten confused. Here\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Make Tech Easier"","block_context":{"text":"Make Tech Easier","link":"https:\/\/tech.mountdesales.net\/?cat=111"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tech.mountdesales.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tech.mountdesales.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tech.mountdesales.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tech.mountdesales.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tech.mountdesales.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/image.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1437,"url":"https:\/\/tech.mountdesales.net\/?p=1437","url_meta":{"origin":1126,"position":1},"title":"Dell: 10% coupon","author":"tech","date":"10\/26\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"If you are looking for Dell computers, etc. - ordering though the MDS Dell portal has an option for 10% off. 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