<p>I would like to get my daughter a new laptop for HS graduation and I saw on some websites many colleges require certain specifications for laptops. I did not see that on FSU's website. I was hoping for any suggestions current students might have toward directing me in purchasing a laptop that will meet FSU's criteria and hopefully last a while.</p>
<p>For many undergrad students they(FSU) aren’t so picky about laptop specifications.
You need one that will at least last 4+ years and has the specs that your daughter wants/needs on her laptop.
I have a MB from 2008 and it’s still like new. Never had an issue and the Apple Store is super helpful if a problem arises.
It really comes down to personal preference. </p>
<p>Sent from my iPhone using CC</p>
<p>What is her major going to be? I know that some colleges within FSU might recommend a certain operating system over another, or that some majors might advise someone to pick a different OS (for example, many arts-related majors might recommend something running Mac OSX because Apple has LOTS of programs for that sort of thing), but aside from that it doesn’t really matter.</p>
<p>If you have an idea for a budget, how long you want the laptop to last, when you would like to buy it for her, etc, that would be really helpful. </p>
<p>It’s also a good thing to note that a new generation of processors from Intel will be releasing in just a couple weeks, so new lines of laptops are right around the corner, and if you don’t mind getting something from the current generation of parts- which isn’t any big deal- that means that clearance sales on current products will likely start any time now to make way for the newer, shinier stuff. </p>
<p>It’s really tough to make a suggestion for a specific laptop though. Pretty much anything that you see in stores is going to be sufficient for FSU, so it really comes down to what you’re willing to spend, what features you (or she) wants, etc. </p>
<p>It’s weird that they removed the recommended requirements for a new computer though. I know that it used to be readily available. Off the top of my head I think the basic requirements were something like:
- 2.0 GHz dual-core processor
- 2GB RAM
- 160GB hard drive
- Ethernet and Wireless capabilities
And that was pretty much it. Pretty much anything on the market today meets those requirements, from a $300 laptop up to the $5000 top of the line ones.</p>
<p>Sorry for the long-winded post that doesn’t really say much though. I can ramble on for hours when it comes to discussing computers.</p>
<p>There are also a few CGS classes that require your papers to be compatible with the latest software on a PC. So if you chose a Mac your daughter might have to swing through Strozier to make sure her assignments or papers are fully compatible with the PC version of her software. My daughter only had that issue a few times.</p>
<p>Something I forgot to mention was a printer. Most likely, your daughter will want/need a printer, although she can print stuff from computer labs on campus. My personal recommendation is a low-cost monochrome (black & white) laser printer. I personally have a Brother HL-2140 printer that I got about two years ago from Staples for just over $30. Replacement toner can run upwards of $60 for the stuff direct from the manufacturer, but the $12-15 generic replacements for it that I have purchased work just as well. I can typically print around 1250 pages before I have to replace the toner, which means it typically costs me around a penny a page give or take. </p>
<p>I highly recommend against an inkjet printer. The ink costs are often upwards of $40 to replace (and some inkjets are near impossible to get generic ink to work with) and you’re lucky to get a couple hundred pages printed before the thing says you’re out of ink. </p>
<p>I took a chance on my laser printer at the end of my freshman year since it was cheaper to get it than to buy ink for my inkjet printer, and since then I have needed to print in color exactly one time- and it cost me I think $1 at the computer lab in the student union to print in color.</p>
<p>Janna also has a good point. I think it was CGS2060 Computer Fluency where it was either more difficult or actually impossible in one case to do the work on a Mac. I don’t know if that changed at all since (I believe someone posted here that that changed a few semesters ago) but I remember when I took that class that one of the assignments wasn’t able to be completed on a Mac at all.</p>
<p>I am currently in CGS and they offer tutorials and accept assignments from Mac computers. I don’t actually have a mac though so I do not know if they are harder or not</p>
<p>A good place to shop is here: </p>
<p><a href=“http://faq.its.fsu.edu/Computing/Computer-Store-at-FSU[/url]”>http://faq.its.fsu.edu/Computing/Computer-Store-at-FSU</a></p>
<p>I would suggest a minimum of 4GB RAM and an Intel i5 processor. The academic version of Microsoft Office is very reasonable. A similar <em>free</em> software package is OpenOffice, available here: [OpenOffice.org</a> - The Free and Open Productivity Suite](<a href=“http://www.openoffice.org/]OpenOffice.org”>http://www.openoffice.org/)</p>
<p>Pasbal is right about a printer. My daughter loves her wireless printer/scanner/fax. I bought it for her at Christmas for about $50. Her apartment community had said they have a business center but then once she moved in they limited her to 10 pages a day for printing. So, it became as necessity. </p>
<p>Anyway, Same Old Thing, her CGS class also accepted the uploaded assignments from her Mac but there was just a caveat in the syllabus that the assignment had to be in the latest version of the software for a PC. And it was recommended by the professor that you check the assignments completed on a Mac at Strozier or somewhere else with a standard PC and the latest software because points would be deducted if there were any discrepancies. She only found some formatting issues or functional issues on a couple of her assignments (she has a Mac) and corrected them and then uploaded. It wasn’t a big deal just something that it might be good for the OP to consider. It didn’t stop my daughter from buying a Mac though. :)</p>
<p>I don’t believe the CGS class uses Access anymore (which doesn’t work on Macs).</p>
<p>I personally think it’s cheapest and easiest to just go with the mainstream PC (you don’t have to worry about installing a separate OS to get certain software to install). Plenty of computers out there with good specs for under $500.</p>
<p>I have an inkjet printer, and completely agree with the folks saying get a lazer printer. Pages come out to being cheaper, and it prints nicer and quicker. Wish I would have gone that route.</p>
<p>But will a $500 laptop last at least 4 or 5 years?</p>
<p>I don’t see why it wouldn’t. My current laptop cost $400 when I bought it almost three years ago, and it’s still running strong. The only issues I’ve had with it that weren’t caused by me were relatively minor and either inexpensive to remedy (such as a dead charger, cost about $8 to replace with a generic) or there were workarounds available (SD card slot not working… external readers are about $5).</p>
<p>Laptops nowadays are pretty much all the same internal parts, with relatively similar build qualities when you are looking at consumer grade laptops. Sure, some are slightly better build quality than others but it’s pretty much the same. Business class laptops can be had around $500 that are designed to last through your undergrad years. Pretty much anything from around $400-650 (give or take) is pretty much the same quality; above that you start getting into the business grade builds.
Heck, my old laptop is still running and it’s 5 years old and it was $500. And I’m not exactly the most careful when it comes to taking care of my computers. </p>
<p>I honestly can’t recommend the FSU Computer Store like parent2noles suggested above. I looked at what they offered on their online store, and all of the PCs are overpriced. The $690 HP can be had regularly for around $550 online- and has dropped as low as $450 in the last few months. </p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind though is that if you decide to go with a Mac instead of a PC, that the Macbook Air (the new base Macbook, $999) does not include Ethernet. If your daughter lives in a dorm without WiFi, that means her laptop will essentially be useless for her while she is in her room.
While FSU is apparently going to be improving the WiFi coverage in dorms and around campus this summer, I can attest first hand that the WiFi is not all that reliable, and that you will be glad to have a wired internet option as backup.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your help. There are so many choices out there and I really appreciate the printer suggestions. She really does want a Mac…but, I think we are going to go with a regular Windows based PC. Needs over wants right now- especially since we are still waiting to find out if Scott signs the pre-eminant university bill. I still can’t get my mind around the possibility of tuition going up more than the 15%.
Thanks, again.</p>
<p>If I was shopping for a computer today, I’d look for something that isn’t as heavy as my present notebook that weighs around 6 lbs. There are powerfull, not too expensive netbook/ultra portables available now that weigh as little as 2.5 lbs. </p>
<p>Too, if your kid doesn’t have a smartphone, and you are on budget, maybe get a less costly computer to have money to buy a smartphone. Smartphones are almost a “necessity” at college now too.</p>
<p>[PC</a> Buying Guide | ASUS CampusLife](<a href=“http://campuslife.asus.com/index/products/pc-buying-guide/]PC”>http://campuslife.asus.com/index/products/pc-buying-guide/)</p>
<p>Nole2016 - If your daughter wants a Mac and you are looking for less expensive ones you can go into the online store and look for refurbished. They carry the same manufacturer warranty (one year) that brand new ones do and will save you a little bit of money. But honestly, even being a Mac user and devotee myself, a PC will do the job and will be cheaper.</p>
<p>If needed, you can run Windows on a Mac with Parallels or VMWare.</p>
<p>My personal experience with cheaper PC laptops and netbooks has not be positive. It might be worth spending a bit more to get something sturdier if this is to be her primary computer.</p>
<p>My daughter has a PC but we are planning to get her an IPad with a bluetooth keyboard to upload her textbooks to and take notes. She can upload everything she creates to the cloud and then use her PC to pull her documents from the cloud to send off to professors. We’ll see how it goes but we talked to an Apple rep who is using one for college and that is the solution he came up with to have portability and the most functionality. It sounds like digital textbooks will be cheaper than new (although not as cheap as used and no ability to sell back).
Anyone have feedback on this option? We haven’t made the purchases yet…</p>
<p>So far, only a minority of my textbooks have been available in digital form. Also, has she typed with an iPad before? It takes some getting used to.</p>
<p>Digital textbooks are awful in my opinion. Their cost is only marginally better than new- and that’s IF you’re lucky enough to have them available digitally in the first place. Digital textbooks might be the future, but they aren’t the now- I’ve only had a few textbooks actually have a digital format available that didn’t also require me to buy either an access code online or a copy of the book anyway. Plus as you pointed out, no selling textbooks back, and the digital versions are more expensive than a used copy of the book, which are both big drawbacks. </p>
<p>An iPad also isn’t much smaller than a laptop (aside from weight wise). And typing on the keyboard might sound great, but good lucky trying that in a class where the desks are about 15" x 15" in size. The cost is also another thing. An iPad can run just as much, if not more, than a decent laptop, and its functionality is still limited.
Finally, an iPad doesn’t have any ethernet capabilities, which is important to consider since a good part of campus isn’t yet covered by WiFi (and many dorms don’t have WiFi either). </p>
<p>If she has a PC in addition to an iPad, that might help, but I don’t think just an iPad is really all that feasible of an option by itself.</p>
<p>The FSU Computer Store may not have the best prices, but they can be very helpful with on-site service any student can get to without a car.</p>
<p>As much as I love my Macs (iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, etc.), it is a Windows world in business. I’d suggest becoming expert with Microsoft Office while at FSU or earlier. Most jobs will require some interaction with this software package.</p>
<p>Digital textbooks have their pros and cons:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It would be far cheaper to buy your textbooks on Amazon or Half. You can also then sell them.</p></li>
<li><p>Sometimes, it’s better to be able to flip through pages. Also, how many book are available for ipad?</p></li>
<li><p>Benefit is that all your book are on one little pad, and I’m guessing it has a search function. That’s a huge benefit in that you can just search anything you want to look up and don’t have to look for it.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’m a big fan of technology, but when it comes to text books, I prefer to stick with the actual paper.</p>