The Perfect Student PC

Desktop Versus Notebook

Having fashioned an idea of the capabilities your child's new PC should have, the next question you should ask is: desktop or laptop? Desktops are generally cheaper than laptops, and it's easier to swap in new parts, if necessary. If you're on a tight budget and plan properly, you can skimp on less crucial components now and upgrade later. So if the graphics card goes south the day before an important project is due, for instance, replacing it with a new one should be relatively easy.

The obvious downside is that desktops take up a lot of room. If you want to set up a second desktop for your teenager at home, you might not have enough room (or outlets) in the den. Space is even more of an issue in a campus residence--enough to make a laptop an attractive option.

There once was a time when buying a laptop meant either compromising on power or emptying your bank account. Today's entry-level machines are faster, cheaper, and better equipped than their predecessors, often including goodies like DVD playback, CD burning, and wireless networking--or in some cases, like the Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100, you get all three.

The advantages of a laptop extend to more than just high-tech note-taking in class. Many universities have started to implement wired and wireless networks throughout their campuses and residences, providing access to the school's resources anywhere a student might go. The University of Denver, for example, has over 24,000 wired network ports in common areas, classrooms, and residences.

Tempting as laptops may be, bear in mind that their best feature--their portability--can also be their worst, as they're notoriously easy to lose and to steal. Kensington and Targus both sell a variety of anti-theft cables that are ideal for using in a dorm room. They range from $30 to $60. Kensington also offers the $30 SonicLock motion-detecting alarm. It sounds like a good idea, except that the company says it's sensitive to "the slightest bump or jiggle." That might be more trouble than it's worth, given unpredictable dorm neighbors.

Some colleges have programs for registering laptops with campus security, and--if you want to cover all your bases--can recommend companies that offer laptop insurance.