Advice on Computer Purchase for College

Having just graduated with my Ph.D, I can offer a bit of advice. The less expensive hp would work fine for microsoft office programs, and internet browsing and downloads. However, the apples are the preferred laptop, she is right about that- but preferred is subjective. My no means is she required to have it, and it won't interfere with her studies/classroom requirements- she would have the same functionality of the apple as with an hp. But that depends on what she is using it for, if for graphics and designing, etc, then a mac is better.
But all that said, a mac really is a better system, but for a college student that will only use if for 4 years I would say promise to get her a Mac if she goes into graduate school/law school, etc. or give her money for an hp, and let her make up the difference for the MAC. good luck!

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Having completed my degree in the not so distant past I can tell you that an Apple is not necessary. In fact, a notebook isn't even necessary. Most colleges still have computer labs and I had several profs who insisted that all notebooks /laptops be stored during lectures because for the most part they are just used to play games and check myspace. To me it sounds like your child just wants the popular thing to have. Get her a laptop with a long battery life and a good warranty. That or have her write a detailed report on her various options and have her persuade you that the Apple is the way to go. Personally, I'd get an IBM thinkpad.

I like the ACER I bought at Wal-Mart. It even has a built-in webcam. I prefer it over the expensive hoity-toity ones.

After purchasing an apple laptop and using mine for the past 2 years I will never buy anything else. With pcs I always had problems with viruses and other issues......these aren't an issue at all with my mac. For the money though, there are of course cheaper options. Keep in mind that most (if not all) college papers will have to be in word format and this is an additional purchase on a mac- about $150 to have microsoft office. Of course she can always use the computer labs at the school for that, but then what's the point of having your own personal computer? Maybe she would be happy with a mini mac desktop computer that is only around $500? Good luck with whatever you decide!

E.,
I would check the student handbook or contact the school and find requirements for your daughters classes. For any online classes or assignments that need to be sent through the school (ie Blackboard system) the computer requirements are typically listed with class information or listed on the website, this way you can compare between the PC's and Apple for what your daughter will need. Also check the computer services department or student bookstore on campus as these places will have discounts on computers & software they can offer to students that are much better than the discounts online or in-store they will also make recommendations based on the college or specific professors.
Would definitely recommend purchasing Microsoft Office because she will use word, excel and power point quite a bit. I use both the PC and Apple daily each have good qualities and will last a long time. Good Luck with your search.

I attended college online and I started off with an old school IBM laptap and had no problems. Now I got a new Dell and it works all the same. I don't think you have to pay the extra for an apple when all the other brands can do basicly the same thing and run the same programs. So I don't see the need for you to shell out the extra money. I'm sure if you explained that to her she would understand.

Dell has great warranty and decent prices. Personally I do not like Macs because #1 they are not operator friendly, but I know people that love them and will never get anything other then a mac. I would say go with a dell. They are so easy to use.

My daughter is also starting college this fall and we just dealt with the same issue. My daughter really wanted an Apple and my husband wasn't convinced. We've always used HPs and he said we could get more (memory, etc.) for less when buying an HP. However, when we went to a college orientation in June and attended a meeting about computer technology, we changed our minds. The speaker told us that both computer types were fine and that it was a matter of personal preference. He said that the student will be using this for the next four years and that is should be their choice, if purchasing a new one. He definitely stated that it was personal preference and then told us what types of programs we would need on each type of computer. Often times, you can get an educational discount when buying a computer for school. Once we compared the recommended types (with the educational discount) we discovered the Apple was within the same range as the PC. (The difference for us is that it was much more expensive for us to purchase a PC with the basic set-up that the college wanted.)

If your daughter is leaving to attend college, i would definitely talk to someone at the college to see what kind of computer support they offer. (Actually, this might be a good idea for a local student, too.) Our school said they offered support for either type but had certain requirements they wanted on the computer. (operating systems,etc)

Another thing the school told us was that once you buy a computer to PLEASE let the student set up everything themselves. They emphasized that the student needs to be the one that goes through the process of hooking up to the school's network. (This was a big point for us, as her dad would LOVE to have just done all this for her.)

We spent all of last year telling her that it was much cheaper to get a PC and that it didn't make sense to get an Apple. However, after going to orientation and actually looking at the prices, and realizing that it is HER personal preference, not OURS, we bought a MAC. She has spent quite a bit of time setting it up the way she wants and is very happy. (Yes, she also had to help pay for it.)

good luck!

Most college bookstores provide discounts for the purchase of apple computers. You should first check with them to see what kinds of package deals they have. With that said, MACs are significantly more costly than PCs like HP and others, often even with the discounts factored in. Whatever she buys now will least her for most of her college career (most pcs will normally last 3-4 years before starting to malfunction). By the time she finishes college she will probably need to update what she has (buy a new one)-- whether its a mac or a pc. I own a MAc and prefer it to PCs (I made the switch a few years ago.) But, I also realize that even though my machine crashes far less than my PCs did, I will need to replace it in a few years too. So, if cost is really an issue then a PC laptop should be sufficient to carry her through her entire college career. They are really cheap these days. And unless your daughter is working on advanced audio visual projects (movies or creating song tracks), chances are she won't notice the difference between the two. HEck, she won't even make use of the MACs best features. (One of the reasons I got a MAc was to use the video editing software that comes with it.)

Provide your daughter with a budget and take her to the store to show her how much she can get for that much money. I am pretty sure she will pick the PC when she sees just how little she'd get for the money with a MAC. Again, if money is an issue remind her that each semester brings with it a new -- hefty price tag -- for 'old school' media like BOOKS.

I know that bookstores and colleges favor the Macs usually because they are often more stable machines and because they do better with audio-visual projects. However,
the vast majority of my students (at a private liberal arts college) use PCs simply for the price. (I have worked as a professor at small liberal arts schools as well as Big-10 & Pac-10 institutions and PCs are the most common there too.) Your daughter will see that once she starts school.

Best of luck!

My son goes to UW Madison, they have a campus computer store that if you purchase the laptop through them theu give you free antivirus software and free problem assistance through the year, they also have great student discounts and are helpful in helping your child pick a computer that will best fit their needs. Maybe check with her college to see if they have a similar store?

Hi E.! Get her the Apple. For using it on a college network, and the things she's going to have to do it's an investment well worth it. I wish I had one when I was in college because I would have spent MUCH less time messing with how to get it to work instead of actually using it. While Apples might seem much more expensive upfront, you'll find if you get the right one, you'll be less likely to have to upgrade things, or buy a new one over her college career. It's well worth any money paid.

I know sometimes kids can con their parents, but I would say this is an area that she's right. Having a Dell/IBM etc would put her at a disadvantage, and yourself honestly. You'll be glad you did spend the extra money. :)

I would check with the college on what she will need for her freshmen classes & for her major on the computer & the mac may fit your budget. Also, when I attended college I worked for the bookstore, computer dept of the university & we sold computers at educational discounts - check with the university, she will need her university ID to get that discount. Also, if she has to do group work in a year of two, having the type of computer that is recommended by campus should help since her classmates will have that as well. It is all about ease of use for her & she will have it for 4 or 5 years while getting her degree.
Good luck

I am a college student myslef and bought my first ocmputer this year. I went to best buy and asked a lot of questions and they were really helpful. I ended up buying a gateway that cost me about $700.00. I didn't need anything fancy, so this has done the job just fine, depending on which college she is going to, and what all she plans to do with the computer, I would go for mid price range.

Here is my 2 cents.
Since she is an adult, give her an amount you can afford for a computer and let her decide what is really needed and if she wants to use her own money to make up for the difference for a more expensive computer.

Look at the Best Buys ads or online to see what an average computer costs.

Apple, Apple, Apple. I use both, and prefer the Apple so much over the PC. Much more user-friendly, a lot fewer problems. Macs and PCs most certainly do talk to each other, and the Apple actually excels at it. The Apple store offers a discount to students and faculty (a very good one), and may also give extra rebates. (You do need to provide proff from the school.) When I bought mine, they were offering a free printer. They are worth every penny that you spend. Good luck!

Dear E.,

Most colleges don't have a "preference" as to what kind of computer you use. Anything that has to be printed can usually be done by sending yourself an email and logging in at the computer center to then print. Colleges have many different softwares that they use. I think your daughter will find that she will use her computer for email, communications between her teachers, and a few papers but not as necessary as she may think.

A mid-range computer should take care of all of her needs. I know several college students that don't even have a computer. They go to the computer lab to get papers written. It certainly makes it easier to have your own, but not an absolute necessity.

Just my humble two cents....with a senior and a sophomore in college.

C.

E., I was very tough to see on the Mac that my husband purchased, but now I LOVE IT!! It is very user friendly and more simple. I think that your daughter will love the mac!!! Good luck!!
N.

Hi,
Go to:
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/back_to_school....
Students and faculty can get a $100-$230 discount on an Apple computer plus a free iPod after rebate. There are also links on that site for Adobe software education discounts.
Good luck!

If she really wants the Apple ask her to cover the cost difference. I doubt that she needs to have an Apple computer, I'm sure it is more of an want.
good luck!

I'm an Apple person and have been using their laptops since 1999. They cost more upfront, but they have far fewer problems then non-Apple machines. Get the Apple Care, for a laptop-- costs a bit more, but if something does happen, odds are you're covered for repair (exceptions: damages caused by spilling liquid on the keyboard). Apple offers student discounts. Apple runs Microsoft word programs now, too. It's a good computer, more simple to set up and easier to take care of. Also, they get fewer viruses, as not as many hackers write for Apple.

Hi E. - I would suggest getting online and checking out the college website for their recommendation. Alot of schools offer free virus software as well as Tech support as long as you have the computer recommended by them. This will save you lots of $ in the long run and will be worth any cost difference in the beginning!

I graduated from college about 2 years ago, so I can offer some advice... Macs are really not necessary, and most colleges actually use PCs in their computer labs. I would definitely agree that if she is going to school for designing or anything like that, then she would need a Mac. But PCs work great, and are definitely less expensive.

Before making any decisions, I would contact the school and see what computers they use in their labs and what they suggest. I am sure they will say either is fine.

I would also make sure the battery has a long life. I agree with another poster about most profs not liking students to use them in class. Contrary to what you may see on TV and movies, students still take notes with pen and paper these days. In all my 4 years of college, only 2 or 3 students total ever used laptops in class. So keep that in mind as well, since she could actually go for a regular PC instead of a laptop even.

Good luck!

She really wouldn't need an apple unless she plans to go into a program that particularly requires apple computers because of the computer programs and needing to be able to only teach one set of shortcuts or the program is only able to be used on an apple such as graphic design, animation and possibly film. Otherwise an HP would work just as well. I went to school for graphic design and had needed to purchase an apple...now I don't even use apple because they are so much more expensive. There used to be a real difference between the capabilities of apple and other brands, but not so much anymore. My husband built the computer I currently use and I am happy with that. I can work between the two systems. Hope that helps.

i have to agree, go mac!=) but really, any computer would get her through unless she's going into something really computer heavy (my school had all pcs except in the science and math, design and computer science buildings where they were all sun labs or macs) anyways, i agree about the cost. my sister is in college right now and desperately wants a mac. but she can't afford one so she went to dell and and built her "dream" computer-- still lower on the specs than our imac and a bit more expensive. her current laptop was purchased when we got our powerbook, and ours is still great and barely outdated (as of about jan...), while she had been struggling to get hers to run any of the needed programs properly for several years already (both comps are about 8 yrs old) another plug for mac: we have spilt FULL cups of water, coffee, soda, you name it on ours, while running even (three kids make lots of "accidents =) ), and it hasn't phased them a bit =) check out macmall.com i think it is and you can find "late models" for cheaper and the mac store gives student discounts. but really, any computer should do her fine =) one issue that we find is that windows doesn't like macs so there are sometimes problems when trying to take files for work from mac to windows. we have never had a problem the other way around

I myself had to buy a Computer for school a few years ago..I am an avid HP user but for my laptop I chose Apple, yes it was pricier but I was able to use it for my papers and presentations as well as my hobby of playing with graphics and such. I do know that other students stuck with Dell or HP an had no problems..again it is all on what her major is...Apple is best for graphics..HP and Dell will work for notes and papers and such.

MOst schools programs here anyway are run on the MAC, and my husband who is a teacher can not use our home PC to do his school work as the files are all different. I would check with the school she is attending what they reccomend. Apples seem to be more expensive than say a Dell. Shop around too. Prices vary from store to store.

I would check out Newegg.com before heading to an electronics store. My husband and I have always gone there to purchase our desktop computers and have gotten computers that would retail at $900 for under $350 with all the bells and whistles. I've never looked at their laptops, but they've always had great deals on everything else, so I'm sure they'll have something for you too.

I think if she "needs" to have a more expensive computer, then she should pay the difference at the least. My parents didn't pay for a thing when I went to college. I had to get loans and scholarships and work, so I think she is already very lucky that you are willing and can afford to shell out this money. I would have loved the luxury of a laptop. It would have saved me from using the school computers. If a laptop is "required" I would think the school would offer some kind of program to help students get them for cheap. The other thing you may be able to do is check in to scholarships for computers. Best Buy sometimes offers that kind of stuff. I know non-profits can get grants from Best Buy for computers for their clients to use. The other thing to remember is that the computer purchase would count under the college tax stuff, so save your reciept.

We have a Mac book and LOVE it, very user friendly and Apple has great warranties! Apple care covers EVERYTHING even if its your fault which with two little ones happens often and will in a college dorm as well!
good luck!

Unless she is going for something that requires a mac such as graphic design, music recording, any kind of web design, don't waste your money. And most colleges us pc's except those specific depts. I have been in love with Dell since they came out. They service is second to none I've been blown away when ever i had to call them. One time i dropped something on my lap top and broke a bunch of keys. Called them and they had a box to pick mine up the next day and they didn't send mine back they sent a brand new one and the next model up!!! Free!!! I would look in to them they have some good one starting at 5-600. Good luck!!

Hi! Check out this website:
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_life/college_c...

I really think it will help you decide what is "needed".

Good luck!

While Apples are the "trendier" computer when it came time for my husband and I to get a laptop we went with a Toshiba laptop. We did this because my husband said that PC's don't "speak" to Apples and my existing files that I needed to transfer onto the laptop from work and our old PC might not work on the Apple. I don't know, I am not a big technical person, but Apples should be used primarily for art and design student. If your daughter is majoring in something like economics or something of that nature you might want to stick to a PC.

I have had my Hp for 4 years now and I love it. My husband bought an Acer and it is a total piece of junk!

We have a Gateway laptop and have been very happy with it =)

Hey, E.! My husband is a software engineer and has a masters degree in computer science (finished the degree just a few years ago). I know things change quickly in technology, but when he was still in school, he used HP/Dell computers. We have a laptop at home (a Sony Vaio) and the computers he uses at work (Medtronic) are all HP or Sony. Apple seems to be the trendy choice with younger people. It may just be that your daughter has a strong preference for the Apple since it seems to be what everyone else is buying. I would go with the suggestions to contact the school or look on their website. Most colleges have their own computer store where you can purchase the computers at a slight discount. They can help you with what computer would be best for the work she'll be doing and still be able to fit into your budget. If after talking to the school, she still wants an Apple...then offer her the option of paying the difference. It will make the computer more valuable to her if she helps pay for it. My husband and I both had to make our own way through college, through student loans and scholarships and we both did a better job in college because we weren't being helped and the responsibility was solely ours. Things are more valued when you have to work for them. Good luck with it and with your daughter's first year of school!

My daughter is going to Northwestern next year and they do require the students to have a computer. I don't think most colleges do, though. It is a pretty necessary thing, though.
You want one that is going to last through college, but you don't want to break the bank, either.
Apple isn't necessary. However, you could price out a computer and offer to pay that much, and if she really wants an Apple, she can make up the difference. After all, if she is in college, she is an adult and you are not responsible for all her expenses, but she is also able to make choices about what she really wants next to the responsibility of paying for it.
We buy our children a laptop for Christmas their senior year, then they have one when they leave home. Partly for college, but also so we can keep in touch with them. My oldest is going in the Air Force, and he bought us a video camera so he can keep up with the little kids growing up.

Apples are not used by most colleges - that would be absolutely incorrect. They're used the most by elementary students... because of the ease of use. They do have the lowest possibility for catching viruses, but they're pricey and the software is all specialized... unless she is going into the graphic arts field - then it would be justified because many firms today are still using macs. By the way - apples are not preferred for web design (which was stated before...) Only about 2% of computer users are macs, so why would web designers use a mac interface in order to design for the other 98%?

Definitely go for a PC - the versatility would pay for itself before the apple would, and all the colleges that I know of use microsoft products.

hi,
we just bought my daughter a new laptop, its an HP 17 inch screen, under $1000, including 3 yr warranty. We bought it from best buy. Her last one we bought at circuit city and would never do that again. The warranty started out ok, then it changed to we had to send the laptop ourselves off to get fixed, it never did, they kept sending it back with more problems than before, finally it was dead after only 2 yrs. we also have a team mobile wireless card for using the laptop in flight and anywhere there isn't internet service.
I hope this helps, and by the way not all schools still have apples, her school didn't. But apples are suppose to be very reliable.

What an exciting time for your daughter! She may be getting her information from the buzz on the street, and at college that is not a good source of information. I am not sure that most colleges use Apple, they are very expensive for colleges, too. However, if they do, Apple is now more compatible with other operating systems. You can contact the college to find out if there is a real need for an Apple, but my guess would be that there is not. I would check on the most important feature that a laptop has to offer, a good battery that will last; expectations should be for one that will operate wireless between four and six hours. Do a search to find the best. I would also check out the weights of the laptop, carrying around too much weight will get tedious. Good luck to your daughter!

What's her major? If she's going into graphical design or something artsy, yes Apples are the ones used. I wouldn't say preferred, but they're the easiest. In all honesty though, if she's not doing graphics/arts for a major, she'll probably be fine getting something else if price is an issue.

As for other brands, some people will love one brand and despise another.

Dell has an outlet where you can get laptops for around $600. Wal-Mart has laptops now that sometimes get down to $250 that that are pretty decent for starter laptops.

If she's just using it for internet, writing papers, emails, and basic stuff, go for a pretty basic laptop. 2GHz or better, get at least 2GB of RAM if you're getting Vista. For the hard drive - 80GB is probably fine unless she has an MP3 player. If that's the case, try and spring for 120GB or more. That should last her a few years. Wireless/Ethernet are pretty standard, but double check that they're there. To save more money, you can use Open Office (http://openoffice.org) instead of Microsoft Office or Word. It's free, open-source office suite that is comparable to Microsoft office and can read/save in the Microsoft Office formats.

A laptop would be nice for a college student. When I was in college, I wish I had one, because then I can go to a study hall,cafeteria, or to really get away - to Barnes & Noble, to study if my roommate had company or was a little loud. It can also be taken to class to type notes rather than lugging different notebooks for each class. Apple vs. PC...I would check w/the college first to see which is used more. Their tech support should be able to tell you that. I personally didn't like Apples at all. The reason being is that my college mostly had PC's and so opening MsWord and other programs on different computers was less of a hassle. I felt comfortable w/PC than Apple because I grew up w/the PC (IBM, Dell, Gateway). Either way, to get good deals, go to techbargains.com .

Definitely check with the college's book store on the educational discount your daughter is eligible to get.

Also, one thing to consider is that the MacOS is UNIX "under the hood" with a slick, friendly, graphical user interface on top. Current models of Macs contain Intel chips, so you can run both the MacOS and Windows on the same machine. That means that if some piece of software your daughter needs runs only under Windows, she just runs it in Windows on her Mac. She's not locked into buying only MacOS software.

There are also many free, open source software applications out there for both platforms. If one suits her needs and saves files in a format others using commercial software can read, she can skip buying the commercial equivalent.

My Husband is in IT so I know more about this sort of thing than I would like to;) The reason that Mac seems so much more expensive is because the features that they come with. If you build a pc laptop with the same specs they are usually just about the same price. I don't agree that the Apple is the most preferred laptop, in fact in all the colleges that I have gone to (for grad and undergrad) and the ones that I have taught at have more pc's with the exception of the Art Department. Sounds like it's what she would prefer and it's not a bad choice. If she's not going into graphics she doesn't need a MacBook Pro but a nice ibook would be great. And if she has her ID already she can get a student discount at the mac store. You can also buy software through her school at a student price which is much much cheaper. With a mac she may have some issues viewing online teaching aids that are pc based. It's not that a mac can't run them you just need to make sure the right apps are installed.

My husband works in a pc world and loves his mac. He even had windows on our mac so he can work from home. He says that windows runs better on the mac than his pc. Bottom line is you should go with what is affordable and what you like. Hope this helps, sorry my thoughts are a little random (typing as fast as I can cause a baby needs me)

Good luck!

Apples are typically better for any type of graphic design, and school related projects in general. I have an HP also (also am happy with it) but Apple notebooks are really the way to go for a college student if you can afford it.

I worked in the university systems and only saw the Apple computer used for design. I would make a call to the school to see what they use. The school may also have a student discount, most do.
C.

We bought a laptop for our daughter when she graduated from high school. She is now entering her junior year of college with the same laptop and is still happy with it. We bought her a Compaq Presario at Best Buy. We did by a three year warranty program with which she gets free yearly cleanings-check-ups(hardware and software)amoung other services. Even replacement when unrepairable for whatever reason. She a had a minor issue with DVDR's which they helped with. (It just ended up being a certain brand wasn't compatible with her computer.) We don't usually get those extended warranty programs but felt it was worth it in this case and has proven itself worth it. The computer and service has been great. We did get her the larger screen. (15-16inch) She was very happy with that. Because of her product and experience I would recommend BestBuy.
I also read an article just today from a computer tech, and he said Apple is not their friend, just for the fact that it is a great computer with little problems. (kind of like the Maytag man)
As far as "needs" I tend to somewhat agree with that. Computers are readily available at colleges,though busy times like midterm and finals it's more difficult to have access to one. However, I think it is most helpful to have your own. If she is to be involved in sports at all - alot of traveling is involved and time on the bus can be spent doing homework on your own laptop. Also study groups and trips home for weekends or break it's nice to have your laptop with as well. Good luck and congratulations on a daughter going to college.

I would say that your daughter it pushing the limits. Apple computers are mainly used for graphic/design purposes. Of course they are amazing computer but not necessary for e-mailing, facebooking and homework. (the main reason college students have computers... in that order. lol.) I myself have a mac and love it, but I use it for design.

I am ALL Mac, have been from the first. I am a Graphic Artist and Macs are the best for my purposes. My iMac is a workhorse and has never had to go in for repair. My former eMac sits behind me, still working wonderfully after about 7 years of daily use. Large malls -- MOA, Ridgedale, I think, have Apple stores and Best Buy is now a reseller. Macs are coded more strictly and rarely get a virus. They are less trouble all around and the initial cost is made up for with no repair problems. Yay Mac!!!

After reading the other advice, I would like to add that Studica.com and Journeyed.com are two places I have purchased student software for my son. I wasn't checking out the systems as we had that set up already. The cost for software was about 40-50% less from them. I imagine there are other student sites as well. We just emailed a copy of student ID to them.

We are the midst of the college search process. Each college has different requirements regarding computers. Some that we have visited have computer labs in nearly every building that are open 24/7 so they don't require students to have a computer at all. Check directly with the college your daughter is attending. Sometimes colleges also have deals worked out that will get you a discount on a computer. One college we visited had their own Apple store on campus, accessible to students only. I do know that Apple has a deal right now where they are giving free Ipods to college students who purchase a computer. Maybe she is interested in that.

Actually E., she does need a computer because most of the assignments are now dictated on-line AND are expected to be turned in on-line. Add to that the FAFSA form debacle, and you have a real need there!

The rumor that Apple computers don't get viruses is true and is THE reason she should get an Apple over a PC. Because students are open to the internet through the college and coffee shop WiFi, they are quite susceptible to computer viruses.

The reason HP laptops and computers don't last as long as Apple is directly related to this problem. They are easily corrupted and shut down. Virus writers love Windows because it's browser programs are so easy to write virus's for, and with over 80% of computers on Windows, the impact is greater.

I was also faced with this choice and bought my daughter an Apple. She couldn't be happier ~ and the Apple is, seriously, the most innovative and exciting computer on the market. Get her one and see for yourself.

My husband runs a computer repair business (www.IowaComputerRepair.com). Here is what he said to tell you:

It depends on what she is studying and what she intends to do after college.

Apple computers are good machines, but expensive. Quite frankly, if you spend the same amount of money on a non-Apple machine, you will have an equally fine (or better) experience.

If your daughter will be studying or working in the arts (graphic arts, video production, or something similar), then yes, an Apple computer is a necessity and the norm for those professions. Alternatively, if that is not the case, then it makes more sense for her to be familiar and functional in the Windows Operating System environment (which is what she will be expected to function with in the usual business environment).

Students often prefer the portability and "coolness" factor of a laptop, but it may not actually be a requirement. A desktop computer is going to be more cost-effective over time and will provide performance and service longer than a laptop. Determine if she actually NEEDS a laptop, or just WANTS one.

If you do purchase a laptop, a "replacement level" service plan is highly recomended (particularly if you can get one that provides replacement within 24 hours). Unfortunately, this kind of protection (while HIGHLY recommended) is usually almost 25% of the total cost of the laptop (and worth every penny). Make sure they cover screen damage, accidents and theft too. Dell and HP offer excellent programs if you buy direct. Other manufacturers may as well. What you're looking for here is providing a stable, reliable computing platform for the next 4 years, minimizing disasters, surprises and down-time. She'll have enough to think about without having to worry about her computer (same goes for you).

The best brands to go with are going to be the mainstream ones: Dell, HP, Toshiba, Compaq, Sony, Acer (in that order for laptops). Stay away from the lowest end in any brand). If you buy from a big-box store, find the geekiest kid working the floor and get his recommendations for what is REALLY needed. Make sure you are getting enough processor, memory and hard drive to meet her needs, without going way overboard (I doubt she is interested in gaming, that's usually a guy thing).

Best wishes to you and your daughter...