I will be a freshman in college next year and i am planning on buying a laptop but i need advice.?

How much memory do i need? (i also download lots of music)


I want a dell...but which one is best?


What programs do i need for my college classes?I will be a freshman in college next year and i am planning on buying a laptop but i need advice.?
Which Operating System do you wish to have? Windows XP or Windows Vista? Since the majority of PCs now come with Windows Vista preinstalled, you have very little chances of finding a laptop running Windows XP. Although, Microsoft has just extended the deadline of Windows XP to 2010 which means your chances are slightly higher. But keep note, Microsoft only extended the deadline for the sake of the low-price PCs and to exclude Linux out of the competition.





Enough with that, let's now look at the specs of your preferred laptop. In college, it is recommended that you have a laptop with Windows XP because most of the software used in your preferred college could run on Windows XP - Windows Vista lacks support.





You should look for a laptop with an Intel Pentium M processor or better. I'd prefer the Core2 Duo Centrino if you're into multi-tasking plus it comes very handy when you're runnng more than 2 applications. The minimum memory you should have is 512MB or more but if you have Windows XP, it's better that you have 1GB if you're running heavy programs such as MatLab, AutoCAD, Physics Simulator, etc.





Asides from the 2 important features (processor and RAM) I've mentioned above, I suggest that you purchase a laptop with a ';Vista Capable'; sticker which states that the laptop is high end and comes with the latest hardware. Although, it doesn't necessarily mean that your purchase a laptop with Windows Vista preinstalled at least if you want to because like I said, a lot of people have experienced problems with Vista and decided to stick to Windows XP.





You said you wanted to get a Dell laptop? Dell laptops are good but it depends on your taste; there are models for all-around gaming; models for office or student use; and even models for both. In my opinion Dell laptops are the best choice because the brand is preferred by many colleges in the US and abroad - it is the most preferred brand for educational computing.





About your programs to use in class, I don't think I can help you there. It depends entirely what course you're going to take. But for the good part, you could at least borrow the software and install it on your laptop. Just wait for your orientation on your first day in college and try to soak in the information pertaining to what you need and what is important. At the most, the school should be able to provide you with software to install but you should first seek permission.





That's just about it... Get a Dell laptop with a Core2 Duo Centrino processor and at least 1GB RAM. With these configurations, you should be able to download a lot of music and run multiple applications without lag or data loss. The preferred OS should be Windows XP Professional (Home Edition would do) but if you'd like to give Windows Vista a go then why not?I will be a freshman in college next year and i am planning on buying a laptop but i need advice.?
If your just using it for school


These will be perfect for you





http://www.dell.com/content/products/fea鈥?/a>





Inspirons they are offering free upgrades to 3gigs of ddr2 ram and a 320gb HDD which is perfect for what your doing.





You will also be able to pick a color
Get youself a laptip with 2gb ram and at least 160gb hard drive. You can download free software like Open Office to take care of all the programs you will need for college. Dont pay of Microsoft anything. Also make sure you have a DVD R/W / CD R/W.





Maybe post the question at http://www.desktopsupport.tv/phpBB3/inde鈥?/a> or go here to find computer help info - http://www.desktopsupport.tv/dttv.php
Go to http://www.dell.com for all the available options and speciafications for laptops. My partner and I have been using Dell for several years and are very pleased with their computers. I have a desktop. My partner has a laptop. You can order a laptop from Dell online, but I suggest that you work out your order by calling Dell's 800 number and speaking with a real live person. This could save misundertandings and the Dell rep can answer just about all the questions you might have.





You'll need the usual stuff so you can access the Internet and you'll need a word processing program. I suggest either WordPerfect or MSWord. Both are very reliable.
I do not recommend Dell because I have had 5 years of bad experience with their computers.





HP laptops are pretty good. For memory, I recommend a 1GB-2 GB, and for Hard Drive, since you listen to A LOT of music, and will probably need programs for your classes (you didn't list them, so I don't know what programs you'll need for your college classes except Microsoft Office), then I recommend at LEAST a 200 GB HD.





I just bought an HP computer, and it runs very well. It was only 1300, and is has 2.5 Ghz, 2 GB of RAM, and has Windows Vista Ultimate. Make sure to get the normal version, not 64/32 bit for Vista though.





I also recommend Apple. I have an Apple Macbook, and it's pretty good. It's lightweight, easy to use, and it also has a long battery life. However, I recommend getting the Black edition (1499) because it has a large HD, large RAM, and is fast, 2.4 Ghz.





DO NOT GET THE APPLE MACBOOK AIR. If you do, then you'll also have to buy a USB optical drive since the macbook air does not have an optical drive.





The macbook pros are good, but I don't think you need it, unless you do some programming, videos, multimedia, etc.





Lenovo is also good, but is too pricy.





My top two picks are Apple and HP