The following is the last in an in-formative series on how to buy the right computer.  This month’s column deals with what “extras” your college bound student student might need. 

Besides the computer itself, there are a few other things your student will need. Today a standard computer includes a modem, but chances are that the college will also want a network card installed to connect to the college’s network and internet services. Find out from the college exactly what they require before you buy.
 
If you’re not getting a laptop, you’ll need a monitor. Quality should be your first consideration; a poor-quality monitor can cause eye strain and migraine headaches.  A good-quality 15 inch monitor should be sufficient and will take up less space.  A 17 inch monitor is nice, but that’s a lot to move around.
 
A printer is essential, but you might not have to buy one right away.  If your student is in a dorm, you might be able to share the cost of a printer with the roommate.  When you buy a printer, balance the initial cost with the cost of supplies.  Inexpensive inkjet printers sometimes require expensive ink cartridges that run dry surprisingly fast.  A slightly more expensive printer may use less ink or be less expensive to refill. Check the college bookstore to see what printer cartridges they stock, so your student has easy access to replacements.

Speakers for the computer are a nice option, and let your student play music CDs.  If the computer has a DVD player, your student can watch movies, too. While not essential, they make the computer serve more than one purpose.  Add a TV card to the computer, and you won’t need to send a TV to school.

There are some interesting gizmos that might make your student’s life easier. A portable scanner lets the student scan in bits of text at the library and transfer the information to the computer.   Cross (the same company that makes pens) makes an electronic notepad. Using a special pen you write on a regular yellow notepad in a portfolio-like device. The written material is converted into computer files that can be transferred to the computer. The handwriting-to-text conversion isn’t perfect, but it’s better than writing and then retyping the same information.
 
As for software, make a budget and let your student buy it on campus. Schools are allowed to sell academic versions of software, which always are cheaper than retail versions. 
 
While it might be tempting to load the software you have at home onto the college-bound computer, there are two problems with this. First, it’s illegal. While there are specific situations where you can load the same software on two computers, this isn’t one of them. Second, if the software loaded on the college computer gets messed up and needs to be reinstalled, it can’t be done if you have the software at home.

Before you buy and ship a computer and the rest of the add-ons, see what’s available on-campus. Graduating students might opt to sell their computers rather than pack them up for the last time, and prices are sure to be reasonable. It’s worth looking into, and it’s also worth asking the school what they do with items the students leave behind in the dorms. Some colleges throw them out, others sort, salvage and sell the good stuff.
 
While a four-year-old computer isn’t going to be as good as a new one, you might find great deals on the monitor, printer and maybe some spare parts.  If your student is handy with computers, you might be able to ship out a bare computer (case, motherboard, chip, memory, and hard drive) and get the rest of the parts from salvaged units.
 
Keep in mind that most students take basic classes in the first year, and get into the tougher, more specialized courses later on. Maybe you can send your student off with a used machine to begin with, and plan on getting a brand-new model for your student’s second or third year when the courses are more demanding. By then, your college kid will know the ropes, know what’s required for classes and where the bargains are; and you can make a decision based on better information.
 
If  the curriculum re-quires a fast computer, plan on spending money on upgrades each year. If the computer is just for research, writing term papers and sending email home, you might be able to get some great bargains as the high-tech students do their upgrades. 
 
No matter how you look at it, your student will need some kind of computer at school, even if it’s just to email you for more pizza money. A good computer (not necessarily a great computer) should also make the schoolwork easier.  Isn’t that the whole point?
 
Donna Currie owns B.C. Computer, 633 Frontage Rd, Longmont, CO. 80501.  
Phone: 303-651-7433, 
Fax: 425-799-5042.  
She has a new web site and email address so be sure to log in at www.computertoyz.com and email to donna@computertoyz.com