Back to School Shopping: What To Look For In A Computer

It's still a bazillion degrees outside, which makes it hard to believe that school will start up again in just a matter of weeks. Before you get back into the swing of lockers, lunch rooms, and logarithms, you'll want to set yourself up with a computer (or at least dream about setting yourself up with a computer). Aside from a screen and a keyboard, what should you look for? Do you have to spend every savings bond your grandma ever gave you to get the best product? And do you need different things for different projects, or will one Mac or PC cover all the bases? Here are a few tips.

If you're really into:

One-upping Monet, Picasso, Chagall, and all of the rest of those wanna-bes: Apple is still the gold standard for artsy stuff, and if you feel your calling is graphic/web design, illustration, portraits, or Photoshopping wizard costumes on to Miniature Schnauzers, you'll probably want to go with a Mac. Your computer can easily double as your sketchpad, so rather than squinting into a 14" screen, why not go for a desktop with a big, beautiful, 27" monitor? Microsoft Paint is fun, but if you're serious, you'll want to load up with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator; they're great for practical work, and they'll also give you the widest range of creative expression for sharing your stuff online. You can splurge on a Wacom tablet, which lets you draw directly onto your computer, and a decent, not-too-expensive, Epson scanner. That way, you get the best of both worlds; you can create purely computer-generated graphics, and you can still share your pencil drawings and collages with the interwebz.

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Writing the next great American novel: You're constantly jotting down amazing ideas for screenplays and poems, and your short stories make J.K. Rowling go, "MAN! I wish I'd thought of that." The great news is, you don't need much firepower to do your research and record your thoughts. A sturdy, no-frills laptop—something like a Toshiba Mini Notebook—will suit you just fine. It's got the portability you need, so that no matter where you're inspired, you can keep a record of your ideas. And it has enough storage space to keep track of your manuscripts. It's not the flashiest thing out there, but a massive computer is probably overkill for your purposes.

Absorbing every blog post, online video, meme, TV show, movie and pop culture reference ever: You need to know what's going on all the time. Whether it's a book, a vlog, an mp3, or an LOLCat, you've got to see and hear it. Now. Get psyched, because the oddly affordable iPad is this generation's portable TV.

Becoming the new Quentin Tarantino: You like making the movies, eh? If you've got the cash, go for a Mac Pro. You want something with tons of space, lightning-fast processing speed (so it won't take a year to upload your footage or render changes) lots of storage drives, and software including Final Cut Pro and Adobe After Effects.

Doing your homework, updating Facebook, and checking out the latest and greatest that Dan Bergstein's brewing: You've got pretty basic needs; you want something that'll let you bang out papers, surf online, store music, watch videos, and chat. Try out something like the ASUS 1201N Netbook. It's got lots of space on the hard drive, and gives you the option of using WebStorage that's accessible from any computer ANYWHERE. Also, since it weighs in at just over 3 lbs, you can stash it in your backpack and drag it to class and home again, all without incurring hideous back pain.

Also! A few bonus tips:

PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE make a backup plan: Computers break, malfunction, and get stolen all the time, and if you don't duplicate your data regularly, you'll be one frowny-faced camper. One way to protect your files: invest in an internet backup service like Mozy, DropBox or CrashPlan. These sites allow you to store all of your data on an online server, so no matter what happens to your PC or Mac, you'll still be able to access all your documents, music, and anything else worth storing. You can also burn your files to disc, but if you do, make two copies. And remember, ONLY use jump/USB and external drives to back up or transport your data. NEVER use them as a primary storage option.

AND

You don't need to break the bank: You can get some great deals on computers, both online and in brick-and-mortar retailers. No matter where you buy, make sure you get the most bang for your buck by checking out sources like Consumer Reports and cnet.com. Their reviews are pretty straight-up, and they'll let you know if you're getting what you pay for. Also, some places will give you an education discount just for being in school! So do your research, make sure you're getting what you ask for, and take advantage of every price-slashing opportunity.

Which computer do you have your eye on?

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