Desktop and laptop computers are roughly equivalent in speed so the choice comes down to personal preference.

Desktops are generally less expensive and easier to upgrade than laptops. They can offer more in terms of hard-drive capacity, memory, and sound quality. They also accommodate larger monitors. Students living in Residence Halls or small apartments may want to consider space-saving, flat screen liquid-crystal display (LCD) monitors.

Laptops are generally more expensive and are less upgradeable than desktops, but are obviously more portable. Students can keep laptops in their backpacks and do homework or check email between classes by plugging in or using Purdue's wireless network. (Purdue currently has over 1200 wireless access points on campus and is moving toward the deployment of more applications to take advantage of this infrastructure.) Internal components and add-on drives for laptops are sometime proprietary and costly to repair. Because of their portability, laptops pose a higher risk from theft and damage.

The lack of space in the Residence Hall rooms might also be a factor in opting for a laptop.

Computers range from budget-friendly to high-end. Most models will meet the following suggested minimum configuration of 512 megabytes of RAM, a DVD writer, and a memory card reader. Before you decide based on price alone, think about how the computer meets your specific needs, now and in the future. In other words, buy a computer with capacity to spare so that you extend the machine's useful life. Some considerations to keep in mind:

• Is the processor fast enough?
• Is the hard drive large enough? Is there capacity for a second hard drive?
• Are the audio and video cards adequate?
• Does the computer meet the minimum requirements of software required for your field of study?
• Is the computer upgradeable, providing for add-ins?
• Are USB, FireWire ports, and camera memory card slots front mounted for easy access?
• Other considerations: multimedia capability; user convenience features (personal preference); power saving features; warranties; monitor display quality; number of USB ports; number of free PCI slots; number of FireWire ports; availability of DVI display port (connector for a flat-panel display with digital input).

You also may want to check user ratings in consumer and computer publications for such things as reliability and quality of technical support.

Printers should be selected based on the type and volume of tasks. For instance, laser printers are best for fast text printing. Inkjets are required if you want to print photo-quality digital pictures. There are also multifunction inkjets that permit you to print, scan, and copy all on one machine.

Before you buy a printer, check the costs for paper and ink or toner. Also, check to see if supplies can be purchased generally or if you need to buy from a specific vendor. These outlays may, over time, exceed the initial cost of the printer. Look for high-quality output and low per-page costs.

Considerations:

• Clarity and crispness of black text
• Number of printed pages per minute
• Photo quality
• Amount of time to print a color photograph
• Graphics quality
• Cost per page
• Support for PC and Mac computers

Many students, coming to college in possession of a computer they've used in high school, wonder if they can get by with the existing computer, if they should upgrade, or if they should buy a new computer that will see them through four years of college. Here are some guidelines that may help you make the best decision.

Desktops

• 512 megabytes (MB) or, even better, 1 gigabyte (GB) of memory
• 160-gigabyte (GB) hard drive
• DVD drive that can record both DVD video and CD audio
• High-end graphics card if you intend to do fast action graphic design or 3D gaming
• Microsoft Office

Laptops

• 512 megabytes (MB) or, even better, 1 gigabyte (GB) of memory
• 60-gigabyte (GB) hard drive
• DVD drive that can record both DVD video and CD audio
• High-end graphics card if you intend to do fast action graphic design or 3D gaming
• Spare battery
• Microsoft Office

LCD monitors are becoming increasingly popular but could cost $200 to $300 more than a CRT monitor of similar size. Comparative features include:

Other factors to consider: Readability of buttons and controls; clarity of on screen control menus; ability to tilt monitor on base; height adjustment; and warranty.

Prices and size of laptops vary so consider your other needs before deciding on these factors alone. Tablet PCs are a special subset of laptops that you might also want to consider. Tablets sit in your hand like a tablet of paper and include hand-writing recognition capability.

Most laptop models will meet the following suggested minimum configuration of 512 MB of RAM and a CD burner/DVD player. Before you decide based on price alone, think about how the computer meets your specific needs, now and in the future. In other words, buy a laptop with capacity to spare so that you extend the machine's useful life. Some considerations to keep in mind:

• Is the processor fast enough?
• Is the hard drive large enough?
• Are all ports and drives built in so you don't have to plug and unplug external attachments?
• Is the screen large enough and the display quality adequate for viewing text and photos?
• Weight of laptop alone and with travel add-ons (such as spare battery)?
• Length of battery power?
• Modular bays for removable extras such as a hard drive, a spare battery, a DVD drive?
• Other considerations: multimedia capability; user convenience features (personal preference); power saving features; warranties; number of USB ports; number of PC-card slots; number of FireWire ports.

Keep in mind that you do not need a modem for use in Purdue's Residence Halls as each room has wired network connectivity. However, most laptops come standard with a modem and network card and that would certainly be convenient when traveling off-campus. Make sure that you order a laptop with an 802.11b wireless card so you can access Purdue's wireless network. Purdue is also planning on upgrading some access points to the faster standard 802.11g so you might consider a laptop with a dual card that supports 802.11b and 802.11g.

You may also want to check user ratings in consumer and computer publications for such things as reliability and quality of technical support.

The computers on display in ITaP Shopping Offline are mostly corporate-class machines that you are likely to see in Purdue's faculty and staff offices. What's the difference?

Corporate machines tend to be more expensive, but more rugged. They are more durable and designed to be on 24-hours a day, seven days a week. They tend to be more upgradeable than consumer-class machines. They also are more consistent, with stable images and components.

For instance, the Dell corporate-class Latitude provides these benefits over the Dell consumer Inspiron:

• Superior technical support
• International warranty
• Longer life span. This is important in that the components (batteries, AC adapters, optical drive, floppies) will be consistent for the life of the series.
• Modular design leads to easier serviceability
• Parts and accessories will be available longer
• More extensive durability testing

Consumer-class machines tend to be less expensive and have more "glitzy" features, such as the latest software. Components are less consistent as the vendors select, for instance, the current inexpensive drives to keep prices down.