What is the best computer for middle school and high school students?

Answer 1

Hardly any studies at those levels require immense processing power. If you go for new, even the cheapest ones should be fast enough.

A laptop's mobility is something I myself appreciate a great deal. If you want the least hassle, go with Windows, I suggest getting either a new laptop (which will probably ship with Windows 7), or a used laptop with at least 1 GB of memory, preferably 2. A computer with that much memory installed most likely has a fast enough processor. If you buy a used computer, you will most likely have to install Windows 7 yourself or have someone do it for you. A used computer may include a license (pre-installed or not) for Windows Vista, which is OK too, although a bit less refined.

Ubuntu is a good choice if you want a Linux (free). It's very user friendly and it's got plenty of software to get along with, but for a novice user, I'd still recommend Windows for compatibility reasons.

Of course there are Macs too. The price gap between PCs and Macs has diminished significantly, but there's still a whole lot of air in the price if you think about the computer solely in terms of performance.

Used desktops can be very cheap if you don't care much about gaming performance. Desktops have better expandability (not very significant for study purposes though), but they usually consume more power. If you want a big screen, a desktop is not a necessity: virtually all laptops can be connected to an external display (and external keyboard&mouse too, if necessary).

A new computer, at least if branded, usually comes with some kind of support package for the warranty period. If a problem occurs on a used computer, you'll either have to have some expertise/interest yourself, or someone you can rely on. Commercial support is naturally available for used computers too, but might be a little more time-consuming than getting support from the original manufacturer.

Answer 2

I you are on a low budget I would recommend a netbook or cheap laptop, but if you can spend a bit more money I would recommend a MacBook, MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air. Out of these the most suitable for school would be a MacBook Air for its portability

Answer 3

Assuming its purely for school work - something with a long battery life for taking notes throughout an 8 hour day!

If its a personal laptop too - somehting that will be used for school, home, play etc.. lots of RAM, a WiFi card and a reasonable processor.

Pretty much any modern laptop will do as long as its not one of those terrible little laptops that will virtually fit in your pocket!!

Answer 4

Lenovo idea pad because lots of people use it at home, so it will be easy for them to use because they will know how to use it.

Answer 5

The OLPC xo laptop. Its $100.