Buying a High School Grad a computer? Read this first!

You have a child graduating from high school and are considering getting him/her a laptop as a graduation present. While it is a great idea – hold off! There are several things to consider when buying a college student a laptop.

First is the operating system. Many people today are flocking to the Mac platform. In full disclosure, I have been a huge Mac fan since their inception in the late 80’s. Macs have always been great for graphics and music. In addition, they have always been intuitive and easy to use. Most errors are human ones – like filling up the hard drive, thus preventing programs from opening!

That being said, for many years, the Windows platform has long been the industry standard for business. There are several programs that have only been created for Windows, like MS Access and Publisher.  Windows has always been more susceptible to viruses, spyware and malware. It is important to keep your security up to date regardless of the platform you select!

Some colleges today provide students with laptops as part of the tuition payment. They are loaded with the software needed for student coursework. Those that do not supply a laptop, usually have a discount program or platform and software recommendations.

Reasons to wait until August:

• Local stores will also be having “back to school” specials in July and August.
• Windows 8 is set to be released in October. Chances are any computer sold late in summer will be able to upgrade for free to the new OS (Operating System).
• Intel’s new processor, “Ivy Bridge” is starting to make its way to new machines – in a few months more PC’s will have it, and those that don’t will be sold at a discount.
• Mac will be releasing their new OS this summer – Mountain Lion.

Talk to your graduate regarding platform choice, check college requirements, and shop both online and at locals stores. One last recommendation is to check any extended warranty. While I am not a fan, they may be worth it in this case. Read the fine print, some do not cover dropping the laptop, or spilling liquid on it – which are a possibility in the life of a college student!