AOL Shopping has put together a list of cheap laptops for students. There’s something for everybody, with most prices falling under $500. That’s less than the cost of your textbooks. And can you tweet from your Organic Chemistry book? Think not. Take a look at the list and find the right school laptop for you.
Highlights from their picks:
- Toshiba mini NB205-N210 Netbook: Lots of storage space for school files at a price under $350
- Sony VAIO Netbook: Less than $500 gets you a durable, lightweight PC with plenty of storage space
- Dell Inspiron 15: Great processor, loads of memory and hefty hard drive space
- Acer Aspire One Netbook: Weighing under 3 pounds, this PC has 8 hours of battery life, making it great for taking notes in class
- MacBook Pro: Pricier than the other options, Macs are the go-to laptop for design students
As you can see, there’s no shortage of low-cost laptops for students. But do yourself a favor: With the money you save, think about how you’re going to protect your new school laptop. Here are some tips:
- Purchase Physical Protection – Laptop locks attach to your laptop’s security slot and secure your laptop to your desk or working area.
- Pick Up LoJack for Laptops – This tracking software locates your laptop in the event it is ever stolen, with the reliability of a professional laptop theft recovery team.
- Think About Your Laptop’s Appearance – Use a backpack instead of a conventional laptop case to keep your laptop incognito in public. Once out of the case, the personalized look of laptop skins are a stylish way to keep thieves away.
- Encrypt Your Data – The data on your laptop is arguably more valuable than the cost of the hardware. Password-protect your computer and consider free data encryption options to protect your important financial and personal information.
Follow the tips above, and the amazing deal you got on your laptop will last you through your entire school career. Now that’s smart shopping.
