Purchasing the right laptop is an important step for students preparing for school. While the decision isn’t as difficult as, let’s say, choosing which college or university to attend, you need to ask yourself some questions before taking the new-laptop plunge. Answer these questions honestly, and you’ll have the best laptop for school.

Does your school have laptop requirements?
First off, check your school’s website and/or orientation materials. Many colleges and schools produce a list of recommended or required computers. Even better, many times students can purchase these products at a discount — so start your search there.

How do you typically use your computer?
If you keep several windows and programs open and running at once, you’re a multitasker. You might want to consider upgrading your laptop’s memory (RAM) for better performance. Look for a computer with a least 1 GB of RAM. That will give you enough memory for basic school computing activities such as taking notes, writing papers and doing research online. If you’re a visual arts student, computer science major or a gamer, you’ll want to pack as much RAM as you can afford.

Which size hard drive do you need?
At a minimum, you’ll want 80GB. If you have a large music or movie collection, you’ll want something with more space, at least 120GB. If that’s not enough space, you can always attach an external hard drive.

Where will you be using your laptop most often?
Most students take their laptop all over campus for studying and taking notes in class. So the weight of your laptop is an important purchasing factor (you don’t want to add pounds to your already-heavy backpack).

Consider buying a laptop with a smaller screen size to cut down on weight. It’s easy and cost effective to add an LCD flat panel display for a larger view back in your room. You also might consider a netbook. It might be exactly what you need. With prices starting under $400, a netbook will give you an 8” to 13” screen and built-in wireless to access the internet. They’re perfect for accessing online course notes, doing research for class or just surfing the web. Unfortunately, most netbooks lack high-end video and gaming capabilities.

Do you own lots of peripherals?
Look for a laptop with at least 2 USB ports so you can hook up your digital camera, MP3 player, smart phone, printer and other accessories. You can purchase an external USB hub if you need more ports.

How much do you have to spend?
Ah, the big one. Because you’re already paying tuition and fees, it’s important to get the most bang for your buck. The good news is that there are many options for the cash-conscious student. The cost of new laptops has really come down. If you still need to save more, refurbished laptops are a good option. Refurbished laptops are usually tested by their manufacturer to make sure they’re up to quality standards. Many also come with warranties.

How are you going to protect your laptop?
Anti-virus software is a must-have on campus. Viruses often spread rapidly at schools, so you’ll want software that gives you protection. Make sure you have it set up for automatic updates. Chances are your school’s IT department or bookstore will have anti-virus software available at a discount for registered students.

Visual theft deterrents such as laptop locks make thieves think twice before committing laptop theft. You should also think about getting a laptop tracking and recovery solution. Computrace® LoJack® for Laptops offers a solution that many students have used to successfully track down and recover stolen laptops.