Being a technology professional, my friends, family, and coworkers often seek me out for advice when they decide to buy a new computer. I'm often asked what I think the best vendor is, or what sort of specifications I think people should look for when they buy a new machine. I thought I'd take a moment to address a frequently-asked question here in the Tech Notes blog. Below is a fictionalized version of the type of email I often receive along with my answer to it.

Mark,
      My daughter will be starting college soon and needs a laptop. What would you recommend? What should I look for, and how much can I expect to spend? Is there a particular brand or model you like? What about this new Windows Vista? Should I get that or stick with Windows XP, since that's is what's on our computer at home?

      First off, my advice on laptops has always been to get as much as you can possibly afford. They're difficult and expensive to upgrade later, so you're better off maxing out your budget now. As for what she needs in a laptop, that depends on what she'll be doing with it. If she really needs portability, meaning she'll be carrying it around with her all day from class to class, go with something small and light- maybe a 12” display. If it'll be used most of the time at her desk in a dorm room, then spring for the 17" or larger display with a full-sized keyboard. The reality is that most people buy a laptop when what they really need is a desktop. Consider carefully whether you truly need a laptop, because they generally cost about twice as much as a comparable desktop machine. Also, laptops are inherently fragile. They're designed to be light and portable, and that always means less durable.
      As for brands and models, the truth is that they're all about the same. In reality there are only a very few companies in the world that make laptops, no matter what label is on the cover. If you have a Dell and your neighbor has a Compaq, they were most likely manufactured on the same assembly line somewhere in Japan. What differentiates one company from another are price and service. Price literally varies from day to day, but as I've indicated before, it shouldn't be a major factor in your buying decision.
      For years I've recommended Dell computers for the simple reason that their service and support was clearly superior to the other major manufacturers. Today, however, that just isn't the case. Again, due to global outsourcing your support call on your Dell laptop and your neighbors call for his IBM desktop are likely to be answered by the same call center in India. There's just not anything right now to distinguish one vendor from any other.
      Personally I'm a big fan of the Tablet PCs for versatility and portability. A Tablet PC is a special type of laptop with a few extra features. First off, the screen will rotate 180 degrees so that when the machine is in the “closed” position the display is on top, rather than facing the keyboard. It will also have a special stylus that allows for hand-writing on the screen. With the display in the tablet orientation a student can lay the machine flat on a desk and take notes by hand, rather than typing. Later the included software can translate the hand-written notes into standard text. This allows for a more intuitive use of the computer.
      Recent research indicates that when a student takes notes by hand she is forced to pay more attention to the lecture. Since hand writing is slower than typing, it's virtually impossible to “zone out” and simply become a passive transcriber of what's being said. The student must select and synthesize key points, thus resulting in a more engaged learning experience.
      As far as the operating system is concerned, I'm still advising people to stay away from Windows Vista. I've been using it on my office computer for several months and, frankly, it's just not as good as Windows XP. I have no doubt that in time Vista will become a solid, reliable, multifaceted operating system, but in my opinion it's not ready for the masses just yet. It may be difficult to find Windows XP from any major vendor, but if you can find XP, it's what I recommend.
      Since the next question I'm usually asked is “What kind of laptop do you use?” I'll answer that now. I have a Toshiba Portégé Tablet PC, and have been using it for just over a year. It cost me around $1,500 and I think it was worth every penny. I've used big, bulky, heavy laptops before and while they're great when sitting at a desk, they quickly begin to seem like anvils when being carried around a campus all day. For me, smaller is better, and the 12.1” display with a total weight just under five pounds makes it virtually effortless to carry with me.