A home computer or laptop has become very much of a requirement for the majority of students these days and most young people will have access to a PC or laptop computer at home. For those who are embarking on a college or university schooling it is probably advisable to have a dedicated laptop that they will make use of solely for their studies. Not only will a typical further schooling student require constant access to the household’s computer but they may also be staying away from home and in this instance a laptop computer is more or less important.

Thankfully the cost of computers overall has dropped considerably and as technology advances then so the affordability raises. You really don’t have to spend the planet to get a good quality laptop and even budget ranges offer wonderful value when compared to what a device with a similar specification would have cost 2 or more years ago.

What to buy — obviously your personal budget will be the main factor, as will the type of course you are enrolled on. For most instances a device which can run office programs such as word processing plus spreadsheets will be more than sufficient. For those studying advanced topics involving complex designs then a machine with a dedicated images card may be worth considering.

Before buying a computer it can probably a good idea to look through the particular course prospectus to see exactly what applications you’ll be using. There should be a list of computer programs involved in the coursework and you can check what the minimum requirements will need to be in terms of available memory and storage capacity.

A laptop computer with an advanced dual primary microprocessor and 2 or even 3GB of RAM memory space will usually be sufficient for most applications.

Everyday Usage – it’s worth keeping in mind that, although commonplace, the laptop computer is still a sophisticated and delicate machine and will need to be taken care of.

Also, it can worth getting into good routines regarding battery maintenance plus backing up the memory. computer systems do get stolen and broken so it’s essential that you follow a regular back-up procedure at least once a week. Although this can become a hassle after a while you’ll certainly become grateful if the worst will come to the worst and you lose all your hard work.

Back-up options – Saving your work to a CD or dvd and blu-ray each month is a good practice to adopt. However, this kind of media backup is notoriously unreliable, so it’s a good idea to have a secondary backup option. This could be in the form of an external memory drive or might simply involve transferring documents to a main PC. the handy way to back-up workplace documents is to send them to your own email account as an attachment. Not only is this a quick and simple precaution, it also places your files on a remote control server which you’ll be able to entry from any computer.

Basic software program – because already mentioned this will depend to a large extent on the type of program you are studying. However, a basic office suite of programs will be essential. Word digesting, Spreadsheets and Presentation programs will be used often. There are totally free versions around which are very good or you may prefer to just buy a version of MS workplace and put this on your computer. the graphics program may also be needed and again there are totally free programs available. Some professional applications such as PhotoShop or even AutoCAD will be available with a college student licence at a much reduced cost for a limited time.

An anti-virus and protection program will also be essential; the particular paid for versions are usually greatest but again there are free choices. Most importantly it is essential that these applications are updated regularly and a full scan carried out at least once a week.

Maintenance — modern laptops are generally maintenance free and will run for several years without any major problems. It’s a good idea to make sure the battery goes through a regular cycle of re-charge plus discharge to ensure it works at its best. Other than this particular it’s just a case of ensuring the laptop is held in a suitably secure location and transported in a cushioned case to ensure it doesn’t obtain knocked about.

Modern laptop computers are extremely effective educational tools and will serve you well throughout your time in college. If looked after properly your laptop will not let you down and see you through university and into the start of your new career.