Today's students may find little reason to put pen to paper. With lessons hitting the interactive virtual world and a wealth of knowledge resources like Wikipedia and Google Scholar, being unable to access the Internet wherever one is has become more of a handicap than a disadvantage.
Unless the parents happen to be the type who buy sports cars as a hobby, a typical unemployed student would have limited finances to purchase a notebook. Fortunately, with prices dropping as technology advances, even powerful systems like the BenQ JoyBook S41 can be had for just over S$2,000. Budget systems are more than sufficient if you course of study demands only endless essays and the occasional PowerPoint presentation. But future engineers and architects will do well to select a more powerful system with a discrete graphics card. On the other hand, if you refuse to be caught dead with an ugly black or silver box, Dell and Sony now have a range of colorful yet affordable portables as well. Here are our top picks for student users.
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BenQ JoyBook S41 (Core 2 Duo T7100 Processor 1.8GHz, 1GB RAM)
CNET Asia rating: 7.1 out of 10
The good: Integrated Webcam; powerful graphics performance; inexpensive.
The bad: Basic warranty coverage; no multimedia buttons; underpowered speakers.
The bottom line: As possibly the only 14.1-inch machine to hold the powerful Nvidia GeForce 8600M GS graphics card, the JoyBook S41 offers fantastic performance for a portable unit. For students in courses which demand superior graphics performance, this JoyBook is not only light enough to carry around campus, at S$2,099 it's also a very affordable solution.
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Acer TravelMate 6291 (Core 2 Duo T5500 Processor 1.66GHz, 1GB RAM)
First take
Barring its flagship high-end models like the TravelMate 8215 and Ferrari series, most of Acer's lineup are targeted at consumers on a budget who are unwilling to compromise on performance. The TravelMate 6291 does not depart from this strategy, offering a good set of features at an entry-level price for students. If even more processing power and a fingerprint biometric sensor are required, its higher-end sibling in the form of the TravelMate 6292 is also available for S$350 more.
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Dell Inspiron 1420 (Core Duo T7100 Processor 1.8GHz, 2GB RAM)
Outlook
Launched recently, the Inspiron 1420 is the baby of the new colorful Inspiron line offering Core 2 Duo performance in a relatively portable 14.1-inch package. Though the basic configuration is based on Intel's X3100 integrated graphics solution, it can be upgraded to a discrete 128MB Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS card for S$79.80. Note that while a discrete graphics processor (GPU) offers stronger video and gaming performance, the downside is the battery drains much faster. Fortunately, there is an option for an extended battery which will set you back an additional S$32.55. With a range of eight colors and priced under S2,000, students can most certainly find a shade that suits their image.
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Apple MacBook-Core 2 Duo (Core Duo T7200 processor 2.0GHz, 1GB, 13.3-inch TFT)
Outlook
Updated with a faster processor and larger memory from the previous incarnation, the Apple MacBook received high scores in our Lab tests for its simple design and multimedia capabilities. However, some may find its glossy exterior a little high maintenance, especially when moving around on campus.
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Sony VAIO VGN-CR 11GH (Core 2 Duo T7100 Processor 1.8GHz, 1GB RAM)
Outlook
The VAIO CR series is an update of the colorful Sony VAIO VGN-C22 series. The key difference from its predecessor is a larger 14.1-inch screen (the VAIO VGN-C22 had a 13.3-inch display) while maintaining almost the same dimensions. Though it is certainly more handy than the 14.1-inch Acer Aspire 4920G, it weighs a hefty 2.5kg, while 13.3-inch models like the Apple MacBook, ASUS W7S and the recently launched Dell XPS M1330 are most certainly lighter and smaller. With a selection of five colors at an affordable price tag of under S$2,000, students will love this affordable VAIO.
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