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IF YOUR KID IS HEADING TO COLLEGE THIS FALL, you may be feeling pretty protective of your wallet. But equipping your offspring with one of the cut-rate laptops in those back-to-school fliers is a false economy. "You can't expect a $500 laptop to last four years," says Yancy Phillips, director of IT user services at Indiana State University.
For a model that goes the distance, Phillips says, expect to spend around $1,000. Take this Laptop Shopping 101 course to find the right notebook for your collegian. Mom and Dad, you may want one for yourself too.
What to Buy
SEE WHAT THE SCHOOL SUGGESTS
Most universities publish minimum hardware recommendations on their websites, says Kenneth Green of the Campus Computing Project, a research organization. Some name specific models that work well on the network and that IT people are trained to support. Needs may differ by major, so have your kid check with his department.
THINK BEYOND FRESHMAN YEAR
The configurations colleges suggest are normally meant to see students through four years of school. Thus they generally include an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 160GB hard drive. Skimping now could cost you another laptop later.
BUY FROM THE PICKS AT RIGHT ...
if the college doesn't specify models. They're good values and meet most schools' standards. Just be sure to get the specs listed.
Best for most students
Great value
For liberal arts majors
Dell Latitude E6400; $997
One of colleges' most recommended machines, the E6400 scores best all-around player honors. You'll have a hard time finding an equally long-lasting, capable laptop for less money.