If you need to buy a computer before heading off to college, you may have a hard time deciding amongst the many offerings available. When looking at all laptop computers, there are so many that the choices can be overwhelming. You may even have trouble deciding whether a laptop or a desktop would be the best choice. Here are a few guidelines for selecting the computer that's right for you.

The size of a laptop is important when you are looking at the keyboard and the screen. Trying to type normally on a keyboard the size of a half sheet of notebook paper can be very uncomfortable. Try out the keyboard for size. Those who expect to use a number pad for 90 percent of data input will want to consider the placement of the number keys as well.

Test the weight of the computer. It should have a solid feel, but not too heavy. Keep in mind that a laptop carried to class may not weigh much, but you may also be carrying half a dozen heavy textbooks in your book bag.

The battery life should be longer than just a few minutes. Often, the estimated battery life defined by the manufacturer is not accurate. There are many factors that affect the amount of time that a laptop can be used before it must be recharged. Make certain that the computer can make it through a class period without dying.

Laptop screen sizes vary a great deal. When you spend a lot of time looking at the screen, you should look for the physical screen size and the number of pixels. Always look for the larger number of pixels if you need crisp images. Getting data into a computer is useless if you can't see what is on the screen once it's in the computer.

If you want to put a lot of information on your laptop, consider adding a DVD drive. You can easily transfer class notes to a disc and store on an external device. This allows you to avoid slowing down the operation of the laptop for features that require faster loading.

Many laptops today come equipped with anti-theft devices. This may be as simple as a cable that allows you to padlock the computer to a work table. You can choose software that disables the computer if it is determined to be stolen. Better yet, software can tell you where the laptop is physically located. Don't let your new laptop become one of the hundreds of thousands that are stolen each year.

All laptop computers are not created the same. Define your computer needs precisely and then only look at those that fill those criteria; you will cut down your search time immensely. With access to a large in store inventory of models to try before you buy, you can get a better idea of whether a specific model is going to work for you. Then you can compare prices on one model rather than just looking for the lowest price and buying a computer that turns out to be unusable in real life