CultusWhile tablets seem to be the trendier choice of computing devices among students today, laptops are still highly sought after.
According to an IDC report, about 200.9 million units of portable PCs were sold in 2012, and the figure is expected to rise to 209.5 million in 2017.
Laptops continue to be popular because they are more suitable for certain computing tasks than tablets, such as composing documents and storing large quantities of data. College students who wish to purchase a new laptop can use the following tips to get the best deal possible.
What to look for in a laptop?
When you are choosing a laptop, the first thing you need to take into consideration is the type of computing tasks you will be performing on it. As a college student, you have to write lengthy documents every now and then, and therefore, it is important that you get a laptop that has a good full-sized keyboard.
If you are studying design or other field that requires you to view and create graphics frequently, you may want to buy a laptop with a high-performance graphics card. Since you probably have to carry your laptop around a lot, from classrooms to lecture halls to the library, it is a good idea for you to choose a laptop that is highly portable. However, you should avoid getting one that has a small screen, because you may over-strain your eyes if you use it for an extended period of time.
How to get the best deal on a laptop?
Do comparison shopping
The price of a laptop can vary significantly from one retailer to another. Go to the websites of a number of reputable laptop retailers and find out the prices they offer for the laptop you wish to purchase.
By comparing the prices, you will know which retailer offers the best deal. Try to get prices from retailers of all sizes.
Many people think that large retailers sell laptops at higher prices, but some major retailers, such as Walmart, may offer college students some of the best laptop deals around.
Get a previous generation model
The latest laptops with the most advanced processors and hardware may be very tempting, but laptops that are slightly older may be good enough to meet all your computing needs.
A laptop that was released a year or two ago can be substantially cheaper than its newest version, and it may not be noticeably inferior in terms of performance.
Buy at the right time
If you are not in a hurry to get a laptop, it is advisable that you buy it at a time when retailers are offering sales.
You can find very good deals on laptops during the back-to-school season, on Black Friday and around the end of the year. It is possible to save up to 50 percent on laptops if you shop at the right time.
A good laptop can make your college life easier and more productive. As such, you have to make sure that you get a laptop that suits your needs perfectly.
About the Author: John McMalcolm is a freelance writer who writes on a wide range of subjects, from social media marketing to Cloud computing.