Finding the best laptops for college students can be difficult.  There are literally thousands of different laptops out there from companies like Dell, HP, Asus, and Apple, so which one is right for you?  I’ve decided to do the research for you and will update this post every month with the latest deals.  I’m always surprised that some of the best laptops for students and also some of the cheapest laptops for college students believe it or not.  One final note before we jump into the best and cheapest…I’ve broken it down by category to help you get right to which laptop is best for each student.

UPDATED: Dec 2011

Best Laptops For College Students – On A Budget

These laptops for students won’t be the absolute cheapest, but they won’t be the most expensive either.  They have been picked because they’re a good compromise between price and features.

The Toshiba Satellite L655 is one of my personal favorites and what I my girlfriend ended up picking out as her laptop of choice when it comes to laptops for students this is my go-to recommendation.  It’s got an Intel Core i3 processor, a 640GB hard drive, 4GB of RAM and over 5 hours of battery life.

Cheap Laptops For College Students – Lowest Priced Options

The Toshiba Satellite C655 is the little brother of the Toshiba Satellite L655 mentioned above and it’s reflected in it’s price.  It still has the same amazing screen and overall Toshiba quality, but has a 320GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, and and AMD E-series processor.  Battery is around 3 hours depending on use.  Right now this laptop is almost $200 cheaper than other models which makes it the perfect laptop if you’re on a budget, but still want one of the cheapest and best laptops for college students around.  It’s also rated in the top 5 laptops on Amazon.com.

Best Laptops For College Students – Top Of The Line

I’ve actually got two choices here for the best laptops for students.  I went back and worth about which one to include or if I should include both and after using both and personally owning the Macbook Air, I just had to post both. Apple is one of the best laptops brands around.

The Apple Macbook Pro is simply amazing.  Every Apple computer I’ve had has been a pleasure to use.  They are extremely reliable and can even run Windows if absolutely needed.  Obviously they aren’t the cheapest laptops around, but I’ve never heard anyone who’s purchased one say they regretted it.

The Apple Macbook Air is my personal laptop of choice and what I would have used it was available in college.  This is the smallest and lightest laptop around.  I carry mine with me everywhere I go and even prefer it over the Apple iPad which believe it or not I sold to help fund the purchase of the Macbook Air.

Well these are my picks for the best laptops for college students.  Do you currently own one of these?  If so I’d love for you to leave a comment and tell me which model and what you love/hate about it.  If none of these laptops match what you’re looking for I’d recommend heading over to Amazon’s Best Selling Laptops.  I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for.

The invention of laptop computers have changed the way that consumers and businesses conduct business when traveling or during non-operating hours. Personal computers have expanded the way that data is acquired, sorted, and exchanged between businesses and clients around the world. Having a portable solution to provide a powerful version of a home or office computer is a major benefit. Businesses and industries around the world are now including small laptops for their employees. Keeping track of customers, clients, important business data, and market trends can now be completed at anytime by using these cheap laptops.

For travelers, a laptop is a saving grace for keeping in touch with friends and family. The ability to access email from popular Wi-Fi hot spots is an attractive benefit of small laptops. It now easy to bring a portable version of your home computer with you during traveling or seasonal visits. Having access to your information, music catalog, and email is a requirement in this decade. Consumers that do not have a portable computer are interested in purchasing the best small laptops for the price. Modern laptops include more power, memory, and expanded use options compared to laptops just 10 short years ago.

When shopping for the holiday season, major retailers offer small laptops for a reasonable price. These computers are cheaper to manufacture and are smaller in design. This creates a price point that is perfect for consumers looking to add a second computer or portable computer to the family. These portable personal computers are changing the way that families communicate with each other and the affordable price makes them an attractive option for purchase. The ability to burn compact discs or a digital videodisc is easy with cheap small laptops. The included features are constantly updated to reflect changing technologies.

Employers and employees that work in real estate, construction, sales industries easily benefit from the use of a portable computer. The best small laptops come with bright LCD screens to display housing or construction information that is useful in making important building and leasing considerations. When selling products to potential clients, having cheap small laptops make the selling process easier when customers can see and hear about the actual products or services that are offered. The batteries that are included in these small laptops are built for many hours of use and offer a reliable and portable option that easily fits into your daily needs.

Apple

Apple computers have always been great for me.  All the way through college I had a Macbook and then recently purchased both a Mac Mini and Macbook Air.  My reason behind recommending them as one of the best laptops brands is simple, they are reliable.  I have had very few problems with any of my Apple computers.  No company is perfect however and I did have a couple things break or go wrong which leads me to the next reason why they’re so great.  The Genius Bar…every Apple store has one and you can schedule a time with them and bring your computer in to get looked and and usually fixed for free.  Obviously if you need some new hardware they can’t help, but for most problems they are extremely helpful.

Toshiba

Toshiba laptops are my second favorite.  I’ve actually had the fewest problems with the two that I’ve owned.  I’ve always purchased the Toshiba Satellite models and haven’t been disappointed yet.  I’m not sure what else to say about Toshiba laptops other than they are usually a lot cheaper than Apple ones if you’re on a budget or looking to spend around $500 dollars.

So why didn’t I include Dell, Asus, etc on my list of the best laptops brands?  I guess only because I’ve had better luck with the two mentioned above.  I know people who swear by Dell computers and won’t purchase anything else, but I’ve had great luck and plan on sticking with Apple or Toshiba.

Original Post Below
One can never arrive at a conclusion for this question. Favorites will change with each individual as per his or her usage in the laptop. There are quite a few ones we can consider as best brand of laptop especially the laptops for students.

Coming to the point, laptops are usually used for its important feature called portability that makes it used by people every where. Frequent checking of the web and keeping ourselves updated of the developments through mails is very crucial with the work.

Hence, laptop being a very versatile machine is an importance for everybody. There are different kinds of laptop users and let us sneak in to their way of usage and explore the reason why few laptops are considered best.

Best Laptops Brand: The On-The-Go User

ASUS Eee Pc: This is the best brand of laptop for those who are always on the move. These netbooks are light weighted and priced at $399 with 11hours of battery life. All important functions such as word processing, web surfing etc can be done very well here. This is hence ideal and a best brand of laptop.

Best Laptop Brand: The ‘Just Basics’ User

Dell Inspiron: These laptops have fairly large screen and are affordable at $580. They can come in size as small as 11 inches to bigger ones at 15 inches. Simple computing, uploading pictures and photos, emailing and web-surfing, video chatting are some of the features on this reasonable powerful laptop with dual-core processors. This is one of the best brands of laptop for students.

Best Laptop Brand: The Cool, Creative User

Apple MacBook: These are ever-present in class rooms of most colleges, urban centers or coffee shops. Sized at 13 inches, this laptop is capable of handling functions like productivity and high end computing. This is priced at $999 and has an OS that is virus resistant making it the best brand of laptop for students.

When looking for one of the best laptops for students it’s important to find one that has as many USB ports as possible. I made the mistake of getting a laptop in college that only had 2 USB ports. I thought there was no way I’d ever need more than 2 at any given time. I can’t even begin to tell you how wrong I was. Here is a quick list of the 7 things I had plugged in almost all the time when my computer was at my desk.

1. External hard drive for back up and storage of all my music, photos, documents
2. External keyboard because it was easier to type on
3. External mouse to go next to the keyboard
4. USB Flash drive that had my current school work on it
5. My digital camera
6. My iPod / MP3 player
7. My printer

You can see how this was going be a big problem. There are a couple of solutions with the easiest being to buy a laptop with a lot of USB ports. You probably won’t find any cheap laptops for students that have 7+ USB ports which is ok. As I’ve mentioned in a previous article, getting one of the best laptops for students should include Bluetooth which will help with the keyboard and mouse problem. You can also get a USB hub that turns one USB port into anywhere between 4 and 8 ports. They are extremely cheap and very useful. Believe it or not you can actually run 127 devices off from one USB port.

If you do happen to see any laptops for college students that do have the new USB 3.0 ports on them that’s great, but most likely you are going to see most of them will have USB 2.0 ports which is plenty fast and the current standard. It’s always nice to look forward and try to plan a head. It helps make your computer usable and relevant to the future which is great for making that computer last as long as possible.

Thankfully, due to this increased need and subsequent demand, laptops for students are now being made available in a variety of different models, and at a variety of price points; several of which are quite reasonable. Students now have the opportunity to obtain a basic laptop with wifi and Bluetooth capabilities, good memory capacity, and word processing programs, for under $400.00 USD. For those individuals that desire or require a higher level of speed, memory, or additional functions, there also exist mid-level and luxury models that are generally available at slightly higher price points and for those who are looking to spend the absolute minimum can hunt around for $200 laptops.

When beginning your search for the perfect laptop, be sure to identify your needs. If you mainly use computers for simple word processing tasks such as completing written assignments, for collecting information online, or communicating via email, you would likely benefit from a basic, inexpensive laptop. If you are a heavy computer user however, who enjoys online gaming, or who works on serious multi-media projects, then a higher-end, more expensive model with speedier processing and increased memory may be required.

To obtain the best deals on a variety of laptop makes and models, be sure to conduct extensive research, and do not forget to inquire with your post secondary institution. Frequently, university and college bookstores or technical support stores will offer special deals on laptops for students that can only be applied to purchases made by current students of the given institution, and directly through them. This option, if it is available, can save students hundreds of dollars, and will often include word processing programs at far below the set retail price.

Look into the variety of best laptops for students available on today’s market, and discover how the convenience and speed that they offer on a daily basis can benefit your course of study.

Laptops are an excellent tool for post secondary students due to their excellent portability, and the convenience that they offer. Students no longer have to spend their evenings inputting their hand written notes into their home desktop computers; instead they can easily take notes with their computer placed comfortable on their laps during class lectures, while cross-referencing terms or ideas with internet resources in order to clarify hard-to-understand concepts.

The best laptops for students are lightweight and easy to fit inside a school or book bag. They should have comfortable keyboards to facilitate regular and large volumes of typing, and screens that are large enough to provide comfortable viewing without being cumbersome or adding to the computer’s weight. Most modern computers are now constructed to include a wireless card, allowing internet access with the touch of a button and the input of a password. This feature will prove invaluable to students, who will easily be able to perform research, check online class schedules, or chat with classmates, from virtually anywhere.

The best laptops for students should also have adequate RAM and hard drive capabilities. In lay terms, they should have fast processors and enough internal memory to store necessary programs and files. Frequently students will also use their laptops to collect and listen to music, play games, or watch movies. The best modern computers have the capacity to perform all of these functions without compromising performance, speed, or quality.

Although students’ laptops do not need to be of the highest quality, they do need to be durable in order to sustain long days of wear and tear, and they should last at least for the duration of the degree program. Students should be sure to inquire about warranties or guaranties offered by various companies, manufacturers and retailers, in the off chance that the computer system should be compromised in any way. At the very least, look for companies that offer technical support for their products, either in person or over the phone.

With the right laptop, students can increase their productivity exponentially, while having access to the internet, and a means of communicating with friends and family. The best laptops for students will allow them to perform all of the above functions, and so much more, quickly and easily.

When looking for an inexpensive laptop, identify all of the elements that you will need to have included on said laptop. Basic models may be offered at very low prices, but may not include certain essential features or programs that, when purchased separately, will bring up that initial purchase cost. Cheap laptops for students should still include an introductory word processing program, some form of anti-virus protection, and enough RAM and memory to process all computer projects quickly and reliably.

Be sure that the laptop computer you eventually purchase is only cheap in price, and not in quality. The laptop should last for at least the length or your degree program, but ideally should last beyond that. Purchasing a laptop that sacrifices quality for price could end up costing more in the long run, since unexpected breakdowns, or undue necessity for replacements, are more likely to occur in a shorter period of time. Students, as well as every individual, should inquire about the warranty that is included with the laptop purchase, and ensure that there is some form of backing from the manufacturer in the case of defect.

One consideration for locating cheap laptops for students is to search for refurbished laptops. These are computers that have been lightly used and returned to the manufacturer. The manufacturer then conducts a thorough inspection of the computer, makes any necessary repairs or corrections, and puts it back on the market at a reduced price point. Although refurbished laptops are not always the newest models on the market, they function as well as a brand new computer, at a fraction of the cost.

Additional ways of obtaining cheap laptops for students include inquiring about special offers. Often as a buying incentive stores or manufacturers will offer additional products with deep discounts, or even for free, with the purchase of a computer. This way, students can not only obtain a well-priced laptop computer, but also a printer, ink cartridges, or an added warranty package as well, bringing down the overall cost of the computer and necessary accessories.

College students will benefit from owning a laptop computer in a number of ways. Not only are laptops for college students an efficient and organized way of keeping notes, completing assignments, and conducting research, they are also a comprehensive and compact home entertainment system that perform multiple useful tasks outside of the classroom. Many students are now using their laptops to store and play music and movies, and with excellent internet resources, they can now even download the latest television shows in a manner that is completely free and legal.

In order to accommodate the multiple and varied functions of modern laptops, manufacturers are including higher levels of RAM and memory into each individual machine. Additional common features of the newest laptop computers on the market include Bluetooth technology, and built-in wireless cards, for anywhere internet access.

The biggest challenge when looking for laptops for college students is not finding a machine that has all of the above-listed capabilities, but finding one with all of the above that is within a moderate to low price range. To facilitate this search, students should begin by looking not at electronics stores or outlets, but within their own community. Some methods of obtaining inexpensive, all-inclusive laptops include searching E-Bay or Craigslist, looking into laptops that have been refurbished by the manufacturer, or by just getting the word out around school or work that they are searching.

Refurbished laptops for college students may not be the newest products on the market, but they are often of better quality that the brand new computers that are cheaply priced due to their lower quality. Refurbished computers, when purchased from the manufacturer, have been carefully inspected and upgraded with the newest features, in order to provide a slightly older product that functions like a brand new machine, without the accompanying price tag.

Frequently, in order to keep up with the most advanced technologies, individuals will upgrade their computers yearly, selling their gently used, slightly older model, for a fraction of the original price. By identifying what they require in a computer, and consulting trusted sources on what to look for when purchasing a gently used laptop, students can get great deals on products that they couldn’t afford to buy brand new.  Another thing to take a look at is a laptop computer stand.  Almost every student will be able to benefit from purchasing one and they aren’t a huge investment money wise.

Wireless Keyboard – When you’re at college you’ll be on the move a lot and will be bringing you laptop with you.  If you have Bluetooth on your laptop you won’t have to worry about continually plugging in and unplugging your laptop from the keyboard.  Instead with the Bluetooth, when your laptop gets within range of the wireless keyboard it will automatically know to connect.  Simply place your laptop on your desk and start using the wireless keyboard.

Wireless Mouse – The same concept applies to the wireless mouse as it does to the wireless keyboard.  When you place the laptop on the desk you can switch and start using the regular mouse instead of the small trackpad that comes on the laptop.  You can usually find a Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse as a package deal for a fairly good price at most electronic and office supply stores.

Everyday people are coming out with new gadgets that take advantage of the Bluetooth protocol which is why it’s such a good idea to make sure you include it on your list of required things when searching for the best laptops for students.  Even though you may not see a need to have Bluetooth now you might later on after buying the laptop and considering it doesn’t add any real cost to the laptop it’s a great idea to plan ahead.  If you are looking way into the future you could also justify getting Bluetooth for the resale value.  The person buying your used laptop may use Bluetooth everyday.  Overall it’s a little thing that is overlooked and is worth a second look.

TIP: The range on a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse is pretty good.  You could leave you laptop on your desk and take the wireless Bluetooth keyboard and mouse over to your bed so you would be more comfortable while you are working on your homework, term paper, or just surfing the web.

TIP: If you’ve already got a laptop and don’t have Bluetooth don’t worry!  You can by external Bluetooth adapters that plug into any of the available USB ports on the side of your laptop.  It’s a good compromise to going without Bluetooth.  It’s still best when searching for the best laptops for students to plan ahead and make sure it’s included.

802.11 (1997) – This was the first version of wifi released.  It’s been over 10 years since this version came out.  You won’t find this on any of the best laptops for students.

802.11a/b (1999) – This version was a great improvement both in overall speed and distance that you could still keep a decent signal.  A lot of used laptops for students that you find might have this version.  All current wifi systems still have backward compatibility for this version of wifi.  Transfer large files can be very slow using this type of wifi though.

802.11g (2003) – Most of the best laptops for students will have this version of wifi.  This was another huge jump from the 802.11a/b protocol released in 1999.  While there wasn’t a large increase in overall distance for this release, the speed increase is very noticeable.

802.11n (2007) – This is the current standard and the future of wifi.  When looking for the best laptops for students this is definitely the wifi type to look for.  This version supports both of the common frequencies.

My best suggestion is to get 802.11n if possible, but I wouldn’t have a problem settling for 802.11g.  While 5 laptops for students might all have the 802.11n version, some will have better range than others.  This is due to the manufacturer’s construction of the laptop and also what type of material the laptop is made out of.  For example a metal based laptop might not have the same distance as a similar laptop made from plastic.  If by some chance when looking for the best laptops for students and you do find one of the older protocols I would avoid it no matter how tempting the price may be.  Also make sure to check reviews about that particular laptop you are looking for.  Don’t forget that you can make your desktop computer wireless as well with a USB WiFi adapter.  It’s a lot better option then having cables all over your dorm room.