Buying a Computer for College

You can't go to college without a computer. In many senses, your computer is your lifeline. You complete homework projects on it, take notes, read emails, stay in contact with parents, and so much more. However, buying a computer can be a very confusing, and expensive process. I have worked with computers for eight years, fixing, building and buying them. I hope to use my experience to provide you with some advice in regards to buying a computer for college.

Mac versus PC

Many people would rather die over this issue than stop to even try the opposing laptop. Many Windows users will claim that you simply have to have a PC if you want to be able to use the software required at college. This is simply not true and is a plain lie. I am an engineering major , yet I didn't hesitate to buy a MacBook Pro. AutoDesk, the company responsible for many programs utilized by engineers, has made their programs Mac compatible ages ago. So have other companies. In fact, when I went to an engineering fair at Stanford, most of the students were programming and controlling their robots with Macs. Heck, I can even run Auto Desk on my iPad 2! Compatibility is not an issue anymore, so the real question is, which computer will fit your needs and how much can you afford?

Apple Computers

I will begin by running through the available Apple products. As nice my iPad is, I would not recommend it as a computer replacement solution. It was not meant to be one and will not function as one. That leaves us with the MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros, since you need a portable solution. 

The MacBook Air is a beautiful creation. Both sizes are thin, sleek and very light. The biggest drawback to them is their limited hard drive space and lack of an optical DVD/CD drive. Now you may not need a large hard drive, in which case, the solid state drive included is perfect. SSD's are incredibly fast and much more reliable than regular hard drives. Unfortunately, they are still very expensive and have not reached the sizes of regular hard drives. Think of a solid state drive as a collection of SD cards, or flash drives. Think of a hard drive as a spindle of DVD's on a platter. In essence, that's the difference. So can you manage without a CD drive? Well, you can always buy the add on CD drive and use it when needed. Lots of software are found online now, so you can simply download and install rather than using a disc to install. That does leave you with problems if you still buy your music on a CD or like to watch movies. But again, the additional drive is a viable option. The MacBook Air is very light and you'll love using it and carrying it around. It only goes up to a 13" inch monitor, so if you want a larger laptop, you'll have to go for the Pro series. If you are only going to be using your laptop for notes and the internet, and don't need much power, then the Air is perfect for you.

The Pro series starts at 13 inches, the same size as the largest Air. The difference is power, being able to add additional ram, the CD/DVD drive, more ports and the larger hard drive. There are other differences, but these are the major ones. I chose to go for a 15" Pro because I wanted the extra power. I do a lot of video and photo editing, so the Core i7 was very useful. I also wanted the larger screen and work area, as I have very large hands. For most people, the 13 inch Pro is perfect. It's also $600 cheaper than the 15" which is a significant amount. I would not recommend the 17 inch for college purposes.

Windows PCs

There are hundreds of Windows laptops so I won't be able to go through all of them. I would not recommend buying any brand other than Dell or Lenovo. Acer products tend not to last and HP just removed itself from the consumer market. One thing to remember when you're buying a laptop is that you get what you pay for. You buy a $600 laptop, and it's going to treat you a lot poorer than a $1500 laptop. Of course, if you can't afford to get anything better, then that's fine. But if you want your laptop to last all four years of college, I would recommend spending around $800 or more. Click on the computers to go to sites that have them for sale.

I would highly recommend the Dell XPS 15. This 15 inch laptop has some great specs and starts at $799. The base model is already quite impressive and I see no reason to add anything more onto it. You may be able to get it cheaper since you're a student, but Dell student discounts can get tricky. This laptop, nevertheless, is great. The Dell XPS series is wonderful and reliable. You will be running Windows 7 Home Edition.

The Lenovo that I would recommend is the Ideapad Z560. This laptop has very similar specifications to the Dell XPS 15, and is also $150 cheaper. It has Windows 7, 4 gigs of ram, 500 GB hard drive etc. Lenovos are pretty solid machines. This computer also has a card reader built in, which is very nice and useful. Of course, it also has a webcam for Skype! 

I hope this post helps you figure out what computer will suit your needs. With the rapid growth of technology, all laptops will be out of dates in four years time, no matter what brand they are. Comment if you have any questions, I'll be sure to get back to you.

~ Jason

College Packing - How much is too much?

***Before I begin, I want to give a huge shout-out to my friends Rachel and Samantha, who were instrumental in making this post possible! These pictures are of their dorm, and the pictures of courtesy of Rachel.These were taken the day they moved in. Amazing huh? ***

Many students have already moved to college, and the remainder will leave this week. There is one group of students who will only be leaving in late September. These students belong to universities that run by the quarter system. Unlike the semester system, which is usually 15 weeks, the quarter system employs three, 10 week quarters. The fourth quarter is "summer school". Stanford is one the schools that employs this system. University of Chicago is another, and many of the UC's (University of California) do as well. There are many advantages to this system, but for the sake of this post, we will not go into them.

So now that all my friends have packed, moved and settled in, I am beginning to focus on my own move. Now, I am definitely not someone who typically worries about packing and completes the task ahead of time. I usually pack for my vacations (even those abroad) the day before. But packing for college is different. You are gathering the majority of your belongings, deciding between what is useful and what isn't (and bringing both anyway), and fitting them into a couple suitcases or boxes. However, whether you are traveling by car or airplane, space is a problem. So how much is too much?

The most important thing to remember is that we are moving into college freshmen dorms. The keywords in this sentence are "college" and "freshmen" and "dorms". And no, I'm not being cynical. This is part of the excitement though. We are moving into a room that we get to make our own for a year. Sure, the space will be small and not "ideal". But it will be fun, and it's part of the iconic college experience. The point of this rant is to remember your space limitations of your dorm. Your most useful spaces will be under your bed and in your closet, so we'll focus on storage options for those two spaces later.

Luggage, Boxes and Storage Containers

If you are traveling by car, you should use boxes and/or storage containers for moving your things. I recently moved my best friend into his dorm at the University of Tennessee. My friend had all his things in a duffel bag and small boxes. The guy who arrived in a car next to me had no such organizational techniques employed. All of his clothes were on hangers. Items such as fans, iPod docks and CD spindles were simply lying around. The mound that he built on the curb looked like a "free for all" pile at Goodwill. Don't be that person! It must have taken him and his dad several hours to move into his dorm. Do yourself a favor and buy some boxes or storage containers. 

Storage containers are great because you can use them in your dorm as well as for moving. They can be used to store food, shoes and miscellaneous items. The items I am including here (click on the pictures to view the products on Amazon) are great ideas. Clear tubs are great if you plan on using them for storage later on. Since they're clear, you can easily see what is inside. You may not want the items inside to be seen, so then a solid color tub should be bought. These tubs are very expensive on Amazon and other places online. I would highly recommend buying these items at Target or Walmart. They can be purchased for much less there.

Whether you are flying by plane, or driving by car, a duffel bag can be very useful as well. I am taking one along with two suitcases. Duffel bags fold away nicely, and are also useful for weekend trips away from college. I highly recommend getting a duffel, whether it's small or larger. You will use them while you're gone, and they're fabulous for packing. The duffel bag to the left is the one I would recommend. It's smallish, but can pack a lot. It folds away nicely, as well, which makes it very useful. Duffels are very easy to carry and transport as well. I have a large duffel bag, which features wheels, several compartments and more, and I'll be bringing it on the plane with, but for most, this is perfect. You really need at least one type of luggage with you, as backpacks do not count, and this is perfect. Click the product to see it on Amazon. Stores like Target and Walmart also sell nice duffel bags.

If you're arriving by plane, such as I am, you have a few problems. The biggest problem is the fact that airlines restrict the number of suitcases/pieces of luggage that you check in and carry on board. In fact, they want to charge you to check even one bag in nowadays! Fortunately, for me, I have Silver Card status with Delta and Sky Club, and my father has the highest status, Diamond. That means we can both check two bags, sometimes even three, for free. This gives me options, thankfully. Others will have to stick to checking in one or two bags. Either way, it is important that you buy quality luggage that will not break due to constant use. You will be using these rectangular pieces of nylon to transport your belongings, or at least some of them, every time you fly home. I recommend Swiss Gear. Swiss Gear luggage is more expensive, but in the end, you get what you paid for. They hold up very well, and they're designed well. When buying a large suitcase, there are two sizes that you will mostly find, 24" and 28". The problem with getting a 28" is that you will quickly hit the 50 pound weight limit before you even fill your suitcase. That's why I stuck to the 24". I get it nice and full and I hit 49 pounds. Perfect! Click on the image to see which suitcase I have. I love them! You can also get them at Target. Definitely buy black luggage, as grey or light colors get dirty and nasty quickly.

These are your moving options! I am taking the large suitcase I talked about above, a smaller suitcase, my duffel bag, a backpack with my many cameras and then a box with my bike in it. Most people won't be bringing their bike with them, so that's irrelevant. But I'll have two large pieces of luggage, and two small. This is a good amount. My dad will be with me to help, so that's another plus. You can ship some stuff right before you leave, but honestly, are you going to have space to fit any more items in your dorm? I am picking all of my dorm belongings (bedding, storage bins etc) up when I get there, so I am carrying just my personal belongings. You don't need all of your clothes. Plan on skiing while at college? Well, the ski season really only begins in December, and you'll be home for most of December, so bring your ski things back with you after you visit during winter vacation. Same with shoes. Bring a couple pairs with you, and then more as you visit home once in a while. Try to prioritize what you really need, and what you want. Also remember that you won't know the size of your room till you move in. So try to pack light and fit all your things into two large suitcases or boxes, and two smaller ones.

Hope this helps!

Hey! That's my bike!

Stanford is regarded as one of the most bike friendly campuses in the US. I am very thankful for this, and so are many students, because of Stanford's large size. However, bikes are used as the major form of transportation for students all over the country, so it's important to make sure you know everything you need to know about bikes before you get one and go to college. This blog post will go over the basic details about the three types of bikes that you could consider, as well as how I am personally preparing my own bike for constant use on campus. (Again, click on images to go to the product on Amazon.com).

The Street/Racing Bike

This bike is what professional street bike racers use, like on the Tour de France. What makes them unique is their light chassis, very thin tires, and aerodynamic design. As you can see, the handles curve down, allowing bikers to "hug" the bike, decreasing their wind resistance. The chassis is usually extremely thin and light, built for speed. The tires, again, are thin to decrease resistance against the road. They don't have any treads either. While these bikes are great for people who bike long distances regularly, or even competitively, they are not ideal for typical "campus" bikers. They will not withstand abuse, as their makers are not intending them to be thrown about, bumped, dropped etc. The tires are not intended for constant stop/start, as well as the rough terrain you may bike over when you choose to take a shortcut. They are also more susceptible to punctures, and they are quite difficult to change out unless you are used to fixing them. If you enjoy biking, and will be doing so for long distances, this bike is for you. Otherwise, stay away from buying these bikes!

The Beach Cruiser

The beach cruiser is a classic bicycle. Made with one gear, these bikes are simple, classic and plain fun to ride. The wide handle bars, large seat and curvy chassis are all characteristics of a beach cruiser. Typically, these bikes will have tire covers, those plastic pieces that stop mud and water from splashing the rider. They also have a bag platform on the rear tire. The tires are quite thick, with enough treads to stay in control on pavement. They're fun bikes to have and I would recommend them to any student who won't be riding their bike for much more than to class and back. You cannot ride these bikes on rough terrain, and they are not very efficient for going long distances, so if you plan on using your bike to go off campus, don't purchase this bike. Otherwise, beach cruisers are fairly inexpensive and easy to maintain.

The All Purpose/Mountain Bike

The term "mountain bike" can be misleading sometimes. A true mountain bike is very expensive, customized and tricked out. But for the most part, most "bikes" that aren't either road bikes or beach cruisers, are capable of handling themselves on rough terrain, thus the term mountain bike. For the purpose of this blog post, I will refer to the all purpose bike as a mountain bike. A mountain bike has thick-sih wheels with solid treads for gripping any terrain. Many mountain bikes have shocks built into them, however they don't have to have. Mine does not. They have a solid chassis construction, and can often be quite heavy. Many times, these bikes will include vertical handles, which aid in climbing steep hills. These bikes are the nicest to have for on campus, in my opinion. They always have multiple gears, which makes them very efficient. They can take a beating and still be usable. You can use them on campus, off campus, and on long rides. The are a little harder to maintain, but with good care, these bikes will last over ten years easily. I would highly suggest buying one of these bikes if you could be biking a lot and want to make a good investment into a bike.

Preparing Your Bike for College

Even if you already have a bike, it's a good idea to make sure it's ready for daily use at college. This is my bike, and as you can see, i'ts pretty basic. It's a great mountain bike though, and I use it a lot. I am doing various things and buying various parts to make sure its ready for college. I'll list the parts I've used and include pictures. Again, simply click the image to see the product on Amazon. If you buy the product, or any similar products, I do get a small referral fee. This will help pay for my books while at Stanford. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I will most definitely get  reply.

The seat is one of the most important parts of the bike. You will be sitting on this thing for many many miles, and there is nothing worse than a hard, sore seat! Make sure you have a padded, comfortable and durable seat. I recently got this Schwinn seat for my bike. My other seat was horrible. This new seat is very soft and comfortable. It's wide enough without being too wide. It is only $16 as well, not a bad deal. It was very easy to install as well. You can pay much more for a good seat, but this $16 seat is more than adequate.

A kickstand is something most mountain bikes do not have on originally, but they are very important nevertheless. You will be propping your bike up a lot, and a kick stand will be very useful. This kick stand is also made by Schwinn. It's only $7, and was easy to install. It has adjustable heights, and the spring action is very smooth. It's also small and nondescript, and when it's folded away, it's barely noticeable. It's definitely a good investment for a college bike.





A bottle cage is another item that most bikes should have. This bottle cage is slightly different to mine, because mine came with my bottle that is intended for heavy bike use. However, this cage is nice because it adjusts to most water bottle sizes. Even if you only plan on biking on campus, during the spring and summer, the weather will get hot in most parts of the country. Having a water bottle that is easy to grab will help you wonders. This cage is also only $6, not that bad!



Buying all these accessories is pointless if your bike gets stolen. I have been searching for a long time trying to find a good security solution. The problem with cables are that they're easily cut. The problem with D-locks is that they only encompass the front or rear tire and the metal post you're connecting to. I came across this product and bought it instantly. It is a very thick D-lock (they call it a U lock) that includes a very thick cable. The cable runs through the whole bike, such as the other tire and seat, and then back to the d-lock which is locked with a key. This provides two layers of protection. The more a thief has to deal with on a bike, the less likely he/she will target your bike. This accessory isn't cheap, but $35 is a lot better than having to replace your whole bike. If you're only going to buy one item that I suggest, buy this one. You will NOT regret it.


I hope this helps! Stanford students, get your bike ready! I am taking my bike with me, all the way from Tennessee. I'm boxing it up and putting it on the airplane. But even if you buy a bike once you arrive to campus, get these items anyway. Remember, you can use your student account on Amazon.com to get free two day shipping, so you don't have to worry about shipping at all.