mtech wrote:
> A friend of mine is searching for a laptop for her son for college.
>
> My daughter has a dell and I have a broken compaq but I'm still
> finding it hard to determine what manufacture makes a solid laptop
> that lasts.
>
> I haven't owned an apple or a sony to compare to so that makes helping
>
> her find one even harder.
>
> Would any of you recommend a name brand that you would buy if you had
> a son going to college and you had about 1200 to spend.
>
> Thank you for all your help,
>
> Steve

One other thing to consider is a machine that has a docking connector on
the bottom.

It's nice when you get back to the dorm or apartment to plop the
notebook into a dock, and use a standard keyboard and mouse, and an
external monitor, without having to deal with any cables. It'll make the
laptop last longer. Often the docks have some kind of security system as
well, though most laptops also have a Kensington lock slot. Laptops are
popular items to steal on college campuses. I think a small safe,
similar to hotel room safes, should be included in dorm rooms.