When looking for which characteristics are the best fits student laptops, the important thing is not to get carried away by the technology and use common sense! These can still be a pricey although very necessary item and one does not want to waste money, especially after the lessons learnt from the recession.
The first thing one must do going into this is that one should not the strayed by fancy words or lights that flash or interesting looking buttons. Thus, you will not fall victim to the pressures of your peers. Just because they have the 'latest' and, in their opinion, 'greatest' laptop it does not mean it is what you need or even want. If so called friends do not find you worthy of the herd just because you, in their opinion, have an inferior student laptop, forget about them, wise up and find yourself some real friends. If you as a parent are buying this item for your child do not fall the old lemon, 'All my friends have one so why not I?' When it comes to the acquirement of new technology, the best path to follow is acquisition of the simplest and most elegant version.
Now when one thinks of the simplest version, this does not necessarily mean the cheap student laptop. Like all things, you get what you pay for and the burden is on you to find out how and why you will be using this machine. In other words, what software applications you will be using most of the time. Also be aware that as a student you most likely will be moving around from class to class, so make sure your laptop is completely portable and has adequate battery power for your needs during the whole day.
Be guided purely on how this tool is going to be applied. Therefore, you will want to get a machine that will have enough long-term memory and RAM (Random Access Memory) to handle the particular applications you will be using. The guidance on these particular needs will be given to you by whichever institute of learning the student in question will be attending. Once this has been established it is also a good idea, before you even buy a student laptop and its relevant 'operating system' software, to get one of those guide books such 'A Dummies guide' to Windows. The next thing on order is that you do not start using your student laptop without the slightest idea where to begin. This will prevent you making those costly mistakes of pushing the red button instead of the blue one that you end up paying for six months down the road with some of these machines.
Also, keep in mind, the often frustrating phenomenon of the 'upgrade'. With the way technology 'progresses' exponentially nowadays, you want to make sure your actual student laptop machine is completely adaptable to new upgrades for as long a time as possible, into the future. Do not be afraid to spend a little extra money for this characteristic because you do not want to spend half your student career looking and buying a compatible machine every six months. You have more important things to attend too. Keep in mind that you should get only what you need to get the job done. No one cares about who has the flashiest laptop, unless they have psychological or self-esteem issues.
Therefore, we can safely conclude the best student laptops are not necessarily the cheap student laptops, but one should not be guided by the idea that just because it is the most expensive, it must be the best. Find a comfortable medium between expense and application. The best student laptop is reasonably priced, will comply with the application needs of the learning institution in question with space to upgrade its applications at least for 3-4 years in the future, or as much of your student life as possible. Remember you do not need the fancy stuff unless you are doing undercover work for the National Security Agency or planning on joining the M.I.T. blackjack team.
source:
http://ezinearticles.com/?What-to-Look-For-in-the-Best-Student-Laptops&id=3394328