18 yr. old son wants to buy an inexpensive laptop for college. What other expenses will he have to get online?
Bottom line, how much will it all cost after the initial purchase?
Sorry I'm clueless about laptops. Help.
Answers:
Well if you buy about a $700 laptop you got these factors to think about:
-Virus Software about $40
-Laptop Case - about $50
-Printer - about $50
Really other than these that all you'll need.
Most laptops have a regular phone jack (dial up internet) and
a network jack (high-speed internet) and they all most all come with wi-fi or an internal wireless card for wireless internet. Wi-fi is just basicly a way you connect to your internet, like for example I have a router that is wireless and I can use my laptop without a network cable. Most colleges have a system of wireless internet for their students. I'm sorry If I'm not explaining this in greater detail. I'm not a computer expert, but I could come close.
So about $850 for a good laptop, be sure to look for good deals like a laptop with a bag, printer, and maybe a cable lock (This is a lock that attaches to a special slot on your laptop that lets you lock it so no one can steal it.)
Hope this helps.
u have to pay for dialup yes .. and u need dsl or hi-speed to use wireless ...
just purchase the laptop.
Once your son is in college, he can turn on his wireless card and "borrow" someone else's wireless connection.
Some colleges offer free WIFI so you don't need phone jack or any other hardware.
BRAND NEW ONE HAVE WIRELESS BUILT IN, THE MOST EXPENSIVE DELL FOR STUDENTS WILL RUN UP TO 800+ WHILE OTHERS AND ONE THAT I RECOMEND IS THE 15.4INCH AND ITS 650$
I work for Apple, i seriously believe that they are the best buy for students, especially for their education prices.
you will look at around $1300 after everything, but honestly you wont be complaining.
You may be paying a lot more than you would for a Dell or HP but the customer service will be well worth it.
Most colleges offer internet connectivity. It's included in your bill as a "technology fee"--one of the MANY extras that you will have to pay that the college doesn't tell you about ahead of time. Count on an extra $500-$1000 in fees each year depending on the major.
It depends on the school.
If he is going to live on campus, many schools provide internet access to students.
if he will need access off campus, then montly expense for dial up or dsl or high speed internet via cable.
Most are in the below 35 dollar range depending upon the service provider.
My best advice for you, since you know nothing about laptops, is to either call your phone company and ask them these questions or talk to someone that knows a little more about laptops. I have a laptop and my mom pays about $30 a month for our internet. We have a modem that plugs into the computer and phone jack and then if you want to do wirless then I advise for you to buy a linksys router to use. I hope this helps.
You use a phone jack for dial up. You can get wi-fi if you have high speed/broadband internet and a wireless router. Of course you have to pay for service.
Most colleges now are wireless and free and all laptops have wireless reception. I would pay 700-1000 for a decent laptop. Make sure you have at LEAST 1 gig of RAM and dual core would be nice or centrino duo or pentium 4 as a last choice.
Is he going to live at home or on campus? At my school there is wireless Internet throughout the entire school, therefore there is no cost if you live their and have a laptop. If you cannot get the Internet and his school has a wi-fi he can do his work while he is at school. And as far as getting Wi-fi I am pretty sure you need a wireless pc card (at least that is what I have). He should be able to talk to the school about all of this. Some school's even have program for kids to buy laptops for school. They have everything you need included and the are often discounted. Hope that helped a little bit.
Dial up is $10/ mo and up (nothing else to buy unless the number is long distance)
You an get DSL from your phone company $24/ mo and up
Or though your local cable company for about $35 mo (unsure on cable prices)
Yahoo SBC is good if you have it in your area YET!!
For DSL or Cable you will need a Modem (usually included for free when you sign up for a year of service)
And if he is going to want wireless (around the house), you will also need a wireless router about $35 for a basic cheap one at best buy!!
WiFi is in alot of public places now days for free. Libraries, some schools, coffee shops, some parks, some restaurants etc!!
You should get a Toshiba Satellite M65-S9092 for your 18-year-old son. If you don't have a coax jack in your house, then you will need dialup. Nowadays, it is possible to get a dialup wireless router, so you can have Wi-Fi with dialup internet. Yes, you have to pay for dialup service.
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