HP Folio 13 Review | Is it the best today’s ultrabook?

HP Folio 13 Review | The Folio 13 is a business targeted Ultrabook with some consumer feature twists. It’s solid build, nice keyboard and peppy performance make it stand out in the Ultrabook crowd.

The HP Folio 13 is the first entry into the Ultrabook market for the biggest PC producing company in the world, yes, even though HP’s former CEO wanted out of PCs it’s still numero uno. Now that HP is again refocused on their commitment to the PC industry new and innovative products like the Folio 13 will determine whether the company stays atop the mountain or falls off due to being out innovated and out marketed by the competition. HP was late to the Ultrabook game relative to Toshiba, Asus and Acer but it’s not about who’s first to the game but rather who can offer the best product and support and price today. After all, Apple wasn’t first company to the SmartPhone market but that certainly didn’t hurt their ability to be a huge player in that category. So, is the Folio 13 the best Ultrabook right now? Let’s investigate.

Packaging and in the Box

I ordered the Folio 13 and got it direct from HP via the Home and Home Office Store. The configuration is fixed and the only upgrade options were in regards to OS version, warranty or accessories. Here are the full specs for the HP Folio 13 as ordered:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-2467M (1.6 GHz)
• Screen: 13.3-inch diagonal HD BrightView LED- backlit Display (1366 x 768)
• Memory: 4GB
• Graphics: Intel HD3000
• Storage: 128GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)
• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Ports: USB 2.0, USB 3.0, RJ-45, HDMI, SD Card Reader
• Battery: 6-cell
• Weight: 3.305lbs
• Web Cam: HP TrueVision HD Webcam
• Dimensions: 12.54″(L)x8.67″(W)x0.7″(max H)
• Warranty: 1-year

The above configuration cost $899.99, HP is not offering any discounts or coupons on this model at the current time. You can save a bit of money, around 6%, by purchasing via HP Academy student discount site. The Folio 13 arrived in a plain brown shipping box via FedEx:

Inside the box was the Folio 13, braced between Styrofoam protectors, power adapter and documentation.

Everything was packed well and, although presentation wasn’t anything out of the ordinary like you get with the Envy 17, it was still cleanly done.

HP Folio 13 Design

The Folio 13 has a very clean brushed aluminum lid finish on the lid and inside with a black finish accents on the sides, keyboard and touchpad area. The aluminum has a slight champagne tint to it, it’s rather odd in that the color changes slightly depending on the light in the room. Overall the design is very clean and professional looking. It borrows some design touches from the HP ProBook lineup, the ProBook 5330m comes to mind in particular. Inevitably you’ll hear comparisons to the MacBook Air simply because this is a thin laptop that uses an aluminum lid finish, there is no taper to the HP Folio 13 so the profile is actually quite different.

 

The plastic bezel around the screen is matte while the screen itself is glossy, I kind of like the contrast of matte and glossy here but others might disagree. The same black matte soft finish is used on the bottom of the laptop.

The keyboard uses a chiclet style design, borrowing from the consumer preferred aesthetic. Unfortunately HP chose to put a glossy tray under the keys, this makes for an area that shows and captures a lot of dust. The mouse buttons are integrated into the touchpad and delineated by lines, again contributing to the overall clean look.

HP Folio 13 Weight and Thickness

The weight and thickness are of course a big factor with anything marketed as being an Ultrabook. Though an Ultrabook is supposed to be under 3.1lbs according to the guidelines set forth by Intel, the Folio 13 actually weighs in at around 3.3lbs. The thickness of 0.70-inches uniform from front to back is befitting of an Ultrabook, but the weight to me makes it rather ordinary. We recently wrote an article comparing the Folio 13 and ThinkPad X220 pointing out the fact the X220 is actually lighter than the Folio 13. The reason for the Folio 13 weight is due to the thick aluminum skin and metal chassis, which in turn makes it more durable, a good thing.

If you add in the weight of the power adapter and cord the total travel weight comes to 4.05lbs.

Build Quality

The Folio 13 feels solid as a rock thanks to its thick aluminum case. The lid and palm rest areas are all made of aluminum. In other areas strong plastics with a soft touch finish are used. Every part of the body is rigid and there is simply no flex to be found on this portable 13-incher. The screen hinges are very rigid, opening the screen requires two hands. The screen stays in place without wobble due to the extra firmness of the hinges. I really can’t find anything to fault with the build quality of the Folio 13, the emphasis was definitely placed on making the laptop rugged and durable rather than being as light as possible and sacrificing the build in some way.

HP Folio 13 Performance

While the intention of the Folio 13 is not to provide the most blazing computing performance you’ve seen, it is supposed to provide above average performance for everyday tasks and business needs and provide fast boot up and wake times so you’re not left twiddling thumbs and killing productivity. The Folio 13 achieves the latter by using a fast SSD, the Samsung PM800 128GB mSATA SSD in particular. The boot time to desktop is a mere 17-seconds:

The wake time from sleep is even faster, at around 5 seconds. You’ll be up and working in no time.

In terms of overall system performance, the combination of an Intel Core i5, SSD and 4GB of RAM really go a long way to preventing any lag. According to the Windows Experience Index the “achilles heel” is the Intel HD3000 graphics, but that’s only going to have an effect on applications, such as 3D games, that need a lot of 3D polygon rendering. The web, email, Office apps and Skype require no such processing, the Intel Core i5 will handle all of those applications in a snappy manner.

To get an idea of overall system performance we ran PCMark Vantage, PCMark 7 and 3DMark Vantage.

Laptop
PCMark Vantage Score

HP Folio 13 (Intel Core i5-2467M 1.60GHz, Intel HD3000, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD)
9,026 PCMarks

Sony VAIO SA (Intel Core i5-2430M 2.50GHz, AMD Radeon 6630M, 4GB RAM)
7,007 PCMarks

Dell Vostro 1440 Review (Intel Core i3-370M, Intel HD, 6GB RAM)
4,931 PCMarks

Lenovo IdeaPad Y470 – Intel Core i7-2630qm, Nvidia 550M 1GB, 8GB RAM, Intel SSD
12,160 PCMarks

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420 – Intel Core i5-2410m 2.30GHz, 4GB RAM
6,056 PCMarks

Dell Vostro 3450 – Intel Core i5-2410m 2.30Ghz, 4GB RAM
5,901 PCMarks

Dell Inspiron N411z – Intel Core i3-2330m 2.30GHz, 4GB RAM
5,285 PCMarks

Lenovo ThinkPad T420 – Intel Core i3-2310m 2.1GHz, 2GB RAM
3,204 PCMarks

Laptop
PCMark 7 Score

HP Folio 13 (Intel Core i5-2467M 1.60GHz, Intel HD3000, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD)
3,168 PCMarks

HP dv7t Quad (Intel Core i7 2670QM 2.20GHz, 2GB Radeon HD 6770M, 8GB RAM, Crucial M4)
4,308 PCMarks

Sony VAIO SA (Intel Core i5-2430M 2.50GHz, AMD Radeon 6630M, 4GB RAM)
2,022 PCMarks

Lenovo ThinkPad W520 – Intel Core i7 2720QM, 4GB RAM, Nvidia Quadro 2000, Intel 320 SSD
4,299 PCMarks

HP Envy 17 3D – Intel Core i7-2670QM, AMD 6850M 1GB, 8GB RAM, 7200RPM HD
2,592 PCMarks

Lenovo IdeaPad U400 – Intel Core i5-2430M, AMD Radeon 6470M, 6GB RAM, 5400RPM HD
2,287 PCMarks

Dell XPS 15z – Intel Core i7-2620M, Nvidia GT 525M, 8GB RAM, SSD
3,604 PCMarks

Obviously the Folio 13 is able to outperform other larger Intel Core i5 equipped laptops simply due to its SSD. Having an SSD is really a big performance differentiator, more so than any extra GHz of clock speed on a processor is going to give you. We’ve come to a point where processors are so fast and efficient that it’s really faster storage that will net you the most gains, namely SSD.

Although 3D performance doesn’t matter much for this notebook, we ran 3DMark Vantage just to find out the score:

Laptop
3DMark Vantage Score

HP Folio 13 (Intel Core i5-2467M 1.60GHz, Intel HD3000, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD)
1,513 3DMarks

HP dv7t Quad (Intel Core i7 2670QM 2.20GHz, 2GB Radeon HD 6770M, 8GB RAM, Crucial M4)
6,139 3DMarks

HP Pavilion dv6z Quad Edition – AMD A8-3510MX, AMD 6620G Graphics
2,919 3DMarks

HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition – Intel Core i7-2630qm, AMD 6770M Graphics
6,373 3DMarks

HP Pavilion dm4x – Intel Core i5-2410m 2.30Ghz, 6GB RAM, Intel HD3000 Graphics
1,174 3DMarks

As you would expect, the Folio 13 paled in comparison to larger laptops with dedicated graphics.

HP Folio 13 Screen

The Folio 13 comes with a 13.1-inch LED backlit screen with 1366 x 768 resolution. The panel technology is a standard TN, there is no IPS screen with wide viewing angles like the Apple iPad or HP Envy 15-3000 have. When you tilt the screen vertically colors tend to distort so it’s much better to view the screen straight on (perpendicular to the eyes).

HP chose to go with a glossy screen even though this is a business style laptop. This is unfortunate, the reflections from a glossy screen when you have strong lighting from behind can be really annoying. For instance, if you tilt the screen back a little it will immediately reflect any lights above and behind you like you see in the picture below on the right.

In the left hand image above you can see the Folio 13 next to the ThinkPad X220, the Folio 13 is reflecting me taking a picture while the X220 is not as it has an anti-glare matte screen.

Outside of these complaints, the Folio 13 has what I’d call a decent screen. It’s bright enough at the highest setting, although not overly bright and it won’t serve as an outdoor laptop. The color saturation and contrast are decent, though nothing exceptional. We’re still waiting for a laptop manufacturer to produce an Ultrabook with a higher than standard resolution screen, for now the 1366 x 768 resolution the Folio 13 has is as good as it gets.

Overall the Folio 13 screen gets a passing grade, but leaves room for improvement.

Ports Selection

The number of ports you get on the Folio 13 is on par with other Ultrabooks, HP saw fit to included an SD card reader which is very nice to have and some other manufacturers, such as Lenovo with the U300s, have been excluding for whatever reason. Let’s take a tour of the ports on the Folio 13:

On the left hand side you get an Ethernet RJ-45 port, HDMI port, USB 3.0 port and SD card reader

On the ride side you a USB 3.0 port and headphone jack towards the back

On the back you just see the hinges and then heat vent of the Folio 13

Other than having less USB ports than a standard size laptop you really have all of the essentials provided here. The HDMI is the most popular consumer video connector today, if you wanted an old fashioned VGA monitor out port you can get an adapter for HDMI to VGA. Likewise, if you have a DisplayPort equipped monitor you can get an HDMI to DisplayPort converter for only around $12.

Keyboard and TouchPad

The Folio 13 keyboard definitely stands out in the world of Ultrabooks currently available. I’ve used the MacBook Air and Toshiba Z830, and the Folio 13 definitely has a more usable keyboard than either of those. The keys all have nice travel, not the shallow travel you find on the Toshiba Z830. The tactile feedback is also good, meaning you know exactly when a key has been struck and can release to strike the next key. The backlit keyboard, while looking very nice, also provides excellent usability in darkened rooms. While many people can touch type well, it’s hard to find those obscure keys such as Page Up and Page Down in the pitch black, so the backlight really helps in such situations.

While my feelings about the keyboard are very positive, that’s not the case for the touchpad. While the textured feel of the touchpad is nice and I found moving the cursor to work most of the time, now and again strokes did not register or the cursor would jump unintentionally. Worst of all are the integrated mouse buttons, they’re very stiff and it takes a lot of effort to push them down. They really interrupt the ability to make a quick mouse click as you forget each time that it takes a hearty push to get a click to register. I recommend using a travel mouse whenever you can for easier mouse input.

Heat and Noise

One important consideration with a small laptop is its cooling ability. Cram everything into a small space and the thermals get tougher to manage. Thankfully the Folio 13 does a good job of staying cool, the warmest spot I found on the laptop was near the back where the heat vent is. The bottom and palm rests stayed cool, around 80F which is very comfortable, the very back of the keyboard near the vent got as high as 98 F. That’s no big deal anyway, and since your hands don’t come close to that area a non-concern in terms of comfort.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that the fan doing the work to keep the laptop cool emits an annoying high pitched whir. This will definitely annoy those sensitive to noise, it’s even audible with ambient noise in the room. Since the fan seems to run 90% of the time, this means for the majority of the time you’ll have to deal with this noise. I simply became used to it and it was background noise to my brain, but then again I have tinnitus so am pretty used to constant buzzing noises in my ear.

HP Folio 13 Battery Life

The Folio 13 has a 59Wh battery that HP rates at up to 9 hours of battery life. That’s an optimistic number, under normal usage conditions the battery life is still excellent based on my tests and usage. With brightness level set to 1/3, Wi-Fi on and a browser open refreshing every 60 seconds the battery achieved 8 hours and 2 minutes of life. If you were to do a torture test with video playing and brightness all the way up the battery life would fall to around 6 hours or just under. That’s still excellent, and enough to get you across the country on a flight.

HP Folio 13 Review Conclusion

While I’m not so sure the Folio 13 should be classified as a true Ultrabook, at 3.3lbs it’s heavier than ultraportables such as the ThinkPad X220, I still think it makes a great choice as a very capable performance portable laptop for business users or students that have the budget. It’s highly durable build is going to resist the bumps of business travel or campus, whichever your setting may be. The keyboard is very usable and has a great backlight and all the essential ports are in place. Design wise, the Folio 13 is both professional and sleek looking. The downsides include the annoying fan whir, hard to use integrated mouse buttons and average screen. For $899.99 the price is right and I’d take this over most other Ultrabooks on the market right now. We look forward to seeing what HP’s first consumer Ultrabook, the Envy 14 Spectre, has to offer!

Pros

• Keyboard is great, backlighting is nice extra
• Performance is very good for a 13” laptop, very fast 17-seconds boot
• Great 7 hour + battery life
• Excellent build, very durable feeling aluminum case
• Design is appealing and professional loking

Cons

• Integrated mouse buttons are hard to push
• Screen is quite average in quality, annoying glossy finish
• Glossy keyboard tray is a design mistake
• Fan makes high pitched whir, constantly on

source: http://www.laptopreviews.com

How to Choose a Laptop For Graphic Design

How to Choose a Laptop For Graphic Design | Laptops for Graphic Designers | Which one do you prefer to get your graphic design project done, on your desktop or laptop? There was a time when graphic design professionals was really  relied on their desktops PC for their work. Graphic designing on a laptop was not an option because -  mostly – laptops  were slower, too delicate to use, and of course, far more expensive than a Desktop PC with higher specification. Anyway, as people are now more mobile, the need of laptop for graphic design is now inevitable.

But that was a few years ago. Things have changed drastically. Today’s laptop uses latest hardware and software that enable it to perform much better exceeds what a Desktop PC could do in a years or two ago.

If you do need a laptop for your graphic design project, the first thing you’ve got in mind is to find a laptop which is strong enough to get your works done without wasting your time and also cheap enough to buy.

Most of graphic designers considers Apple Macbook as the best laptop to replace their desktop. Well, it is hard to deny that people would easily related graphic design with Apple. The problem is, however, that not all designers can afford Apple MacBook – they are much more expensive than their Windows laptop.

Today, the nice thing for graphic designers is that they can buy laptops from brands like Dell, Toshiba, Asus, and other for half the price of the Apple models. These Windows’ laptop are generally cheaper.

Ok, now let’s see what we must consider before finally pick a laptop for graphic design.

• Large screen: A laptop for design work should have a large screen. Designers should pick a model that has at least a 16 inch screen – bigger is definitely better. However, screen size in inches is not the only way to measure. Screen resolution in pixels also plays a decisive factor. Many laptops today sport a default resolution of 1366×768 pixels. However, graphic designers can opt for a laptop that offers a resolution of 1600×900 pixels. Design professionals should opt for large screen laptops because screen real estate is ideal for working with two or more apps at the same time. Here portability is not the priority.
• Fast processor: A laptop meant for multimedia and design work should have a fast processor and oodles of RAM. The Intel Core series CPUs are really fast and they help in smooth multitasking. There are some models running on AMD Phenom triple core CPUs but they are a tad slower than their Intel counterparts. It is hard to gauge the true capability of a CPU just from the tech specs though. The latest Intel Core series CPU based on the Sandy Bridge architecture are the fastest according to industry experts. They not only offer fast performance but also consume less battery. If you want to see how a specific processor stacks up, here is a great resource for checking processor speed.
• Lots of RAM: Designers should opt for a model that has 6 to 8 GB of RAM as anything less is not suitable for multitasking. To get maximum RAM memory, you should choose a laptop model that comes with 64 bit operating system installed (e.g., Windows 7). This is essential because only 64 bit Windows OSes support more than 4 GB of memory. Once you’ve worked on a machine with 6Gb or more of memory, you’ll never want to go back.
• Separate graphics card (GPU): If you can afford it, all web designers should opt for a machine with a separate graphics card. Many of the latest processors have on-board graphics cards that will work fine, but these types of graphics cards share the system RAM and processor power with other functions. For maximum performance when using powerful apps like Photoshop and CorelDraw!, design professionals should get machines with discrete GPUs, such as cards from Nvidia. These cards should have memory of 512 MB or 1GB. Some laptops, such as high end models from Sony and HP, sport Nvidia Optimus technology. This technology enables users to switch from the integrated graphics to the discrete GPU in the laptop without requiring a reboot. Designers should also make sure that the GPU used in the laptop is capable of supporting dual monitor setups. This is often a prerequisite for hardcore graphic design work.
• Warranty: Since designers are not always computer jocks, a laptop for design tasks should come with longer warranty and excellent customer service. Designers should check out the support policy of a company before buying model. The multimedia laptops can be expensive and spare parts can also be costly to replace, so a good warranty can save you in the long run. The laptops also come with useful apps preinstalled. It is useful to buy the models that come with OS recovery DVD and driver CDS.

Hopefully these tips will help get you going in the right direction in your quest for a new graphic design laptop. In addition to the items above, designers may also also want to consider investing in some laptop accessories like cooling pads and cleaning kits etc. These accessories can be useful for proper maintenance and increasing the longevity of the device.

source: Carol Brown

Asus Transformer Prime TF201-B1-GR Tablet

Asus Transformer Prime TF201-B1-GR is a Asus Eee Pad 10,1 inch tablet with 32GB internal memory and now it has a special price of about $599 $499 (view deal and price). This tablet is also known as Transformer 2 and it is the latest tablet from Asus. (I don't know if the name will be the same because the guys from Asus have some legal problems, as I heard, with Hasbro - the company that makes the Transformer Toys.)
TF201-B1-GR’s specs
Asus Transformer Prime TF201-B1-GR has a grey color, from here the GR code from the end and it's Tegra 3 chip is one of the latest and best mobile processors. This processor is different form others because it has 4 cores and an additional fifth one that has about 500 Mhz. This 5th core is used when the tablet is not used for gaming and it's the standby mode, for example, or does nothing. There are are more technical specifications to tell about but I don't think that the specs are important. I think what you can with the gadget is more important. ;) Read more Asus Transformer TF201-BR-GR’s details specification here!
Pros and cons
Pros: you should get this kind of gadget because it is easy to use, very portable, it's battery last about 12 hours and because it has a Tegra 3 chip with 4-5 cores. Another plus is the thing that it has two cameras: one for taking photos and the other one for Skype. You can even attach a keyboard if you want to type better because the brand that produces this gadget sells even a keyboard or dock that is attachable. This dock has USB ports and a supplementary battery. (The default autonomy of the gadget is around 10-12 hours but with the keyboard you get even more.)
Cons: it does not have Android 4 - Android ICS, but it has the latest tablet Android which is 3.2. But I think that Asus will update all his tablets (also Transformer 1) with the latest operating system from Google.
Conclusion
If you want a great tablet than I think you should go with Asus and the model Prime TF201-B1-GR because their tablets are very light, portable and intuitive in usage. I think a child will have no problem using this tablet for gaming, drawing or other things that kids do.
Buy Asus TF201-B1-GR from Amazon today and get the best price
Five Reasons Why Asus TF201 Could Replace Your Laptop
Asus Transformer Prime TF201-B1-GR Accessories

Five Reasons Why ASUS Prime Transformer Tablet Can Replace Your Laptop

Five Reasons Why ASUS Prime Transformer Tablet Can Replace Your Laptop | There are many reasons why this Asus Transformer Prime TF201-B1-GR looks so attractive. This time, you can see how easy it is to take this latest Asus’s gadget as the best Android Tablet 2012.

The best value ASUS Prime Transformer is allegedly able to replace a laptop, what would be the reason to replace your laptop with ASUS Transformer Prime? Asus Transformer Prime TF201-B1-GR review

Portability

In terms of portability, ASUS Prime Transformer is more portable than the smallest laptop. Its 10 inch screen with a resolution of 1280x1280 pixels is large enough to let you do your computing works in a better way than in a laptop .

Flexibility

Tablets often do not extensive enough in terms of text input. For those who prefer a physical keyboard or a keyboard dock,  you can find it here, as ASUS Transformer Prime  TF201 already has the qualified additional component. You could just take a tablet or linking Transformer TF201 with the keyboard. This makes it simply equivalent to a laptop.

Long Battery Life

Sometimes, you may have to work all day without access to a power outlet. Generally a laptop's battery last longer, but for general use on average a laptop can only survive within five hours, and it's much shorter than your need.

As a tablet, ASUS gives you longer battery life on this TF201. Android OS is also designed to effectively consuming the power. Although it is powered with 4 quad processor, Asus says that the Transformer TF201’s battery can last for 9.5 hours to watch a 720p videos. You can also extend the battery life to last up to 18 hours when connected to a keyboard dock owned by Prime. Of course, this allows you to work all day with tablets ASUS Transformer Prime.

Software

If you work outdoors, you may often use cloud-based applications like Google Docs or Office 365. With ASUS Transformer Prime, you do not need to make changes such as applications like Google Docs or Office 365. They  work well on a Transformer.

If you do not have network access, Asus Transformer has a Polaris Prime Office and other applications like Quickoffice Pro HD available on the market. These applications allow you to view and edit Ms. Word, spreadsheet and presentation files that are stored on the tablet. For software problems you need to use software that only runs on PC or Mac, there is MyDesktop application included, but the market also includes many other applications that allow remote control for PC or Mac.

Performance

Transformer TF201 full specs | No matter the specifications written on a paper if the actual performance of the device was slow, it is useless. But, take a look at this: 1.3-GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3. This is the first quad-core tablet in the world.

Transformer promising itself to be able to get an upgrade to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwiches. In terms of performance they also promised to promote more applications to be optimized. Will ASUS Transformer Prime replace your laptop? What do you think? Read more about Asus Transformer TF201 here.

What Laptop Should I Buy for College in 2012?

Choosing the right laptop for school is an important decision, a lot of school work you do will be produced and submitted electronically so a laptop that helps you to work efficiently can make you more productive and successful in school. Think of choosing the right laptop as choosing the right tool for the job, making the right decision can make the work a whole lot easier. Several factors go into making a laptop well suited for students, budget is obviously a big concern but with the power of todays laptops you can get a lot of performance for a reasonable price, and there’s no need to spend $1,000. Here’s a set of guidelines to follow in choosing a laptop that is well suited for college:

1. Screen Size and Weight – The most popular screen size laptop on the market is between 15 and 16-inches, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best size for the average college student. An average 15-inch screen laptop weighs over 5lbs and combine that weight with a bag full of textbooks and you might as well pre-schedule an appointment with a chiropractor, your back will be hurting. Add to that the fact lecture hall desks are often tiny and the footprint of a 15” laptop will not fit and you’ll see that a more prudent screen size laptop for on campus is between 11” and 14” — a nice portable size and big enough for comfortable screen viewing.
2. Long Battery Life – There’s a good chance you’ll have some lectures that last for 3 or more hours or have the need for a laptop to last you through back to back classes without the ability to plug in your laptop. If your laptop only has a couple of hours of battery life then you’ll be out of luck for taking notes or referencing material on your laptop when the battery conks out. It’s very important to get a laptop with at least 4 hours of battery life on a single charge, and if not make sure your laptop has a replaceable battery and take a spare battery with you.
3. Manufacturer Reliability and Support – When you buy a laptop you’re also buying into a brand so you should research what the support and warranty will be like from that company. If you get unlucky and your laptop has problems it will be important to get help and have it fixed fast so that you don’t lose productivity. A strong manufacturer warranty and a reputation of good support are important items to consider.
4. Durable Build Quality – It might be tempting to get a $300 laptop made entirely of plastic, but such laptops might not survive the rigors of campus. Consider that the laptop will likely be smashed into a tightly packed bag, jostled around as you walk around campus and repeatedly pulled in and out of a bag and placed on desks and you can see how something built durably is a necessity. Look for features such as metal casing or internal chassis that make a laptop more sturdy.
5. Cool running– The number one cause of laptop failure over time is heat buildup that leads to parts getting stressed and eventually breaking. Heat is bad for a laptop and also bad for your comfort if it’s sitting in your lap! Do your research and make sure to get a laptop that uses superior cooling techniques and components that use less power as that translates to less heat. A mid-range dual core mobile processor and integrated or switchable graphics are often good component choices. Don’t get the fastest processor and graphics card you can find, they generally create a lot more heat and use a lot more power.
6. Modern Dual Core Processor – Processor technology has come a long way in recent years and the latest laptop processors from Intel and AMD are great choices. Look for either Intel Core i3, Core i5 or AMD VISION branded processors to know you’re getting the latest technology and something well suited for student needs.

Student Discounts on Laptops

Before you hit the buy button at any online retailer for computers it’s good to check if they offer a student discount. Many of the major manufacturers for computers do, so here’s a quick list of how to access the student discount portal:

• Dell University – offers around 5 – 10% discount on Dell computers
• HP Academy – offers around 8% discount on most HP computers
• Lenovo Student Discount – Lenovo gives a 5% discount to students on most products
• Apple Student Discount – Apple offers around 10% off Mac products to students
• Sony Education Store – Get up to 10% off Sony VAIO laptops

Conclusion

College can be hard, choosing the right laptop shouldn’t be, but with all the choices out there in 2012 and the stiff competition among manufacturers choosing a laptop can become overwhelming. Hopefully this guide serves to help you narrow those choices down, any of the laptops highlighted will serve you well throughout college. And if you find another laptop not mentioned here that meets the guidelines we set forth then you should feel comfortable knowing you’re making a good decision.

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