When you're buying the best college laptop, you need to ask yourself what your needs are. I've experienced using both a Mac and a PC/Windows and each of them have their positive qualities as well as their negative.

When I need to do my writing or working with spreadsheets, I prefer to be on a PC/Windows. I grew up with DOS then switched to Microsoft/Windows. I know the programs like the back of my hand and I complete my work rather quickly.

A Mac was introduced to me when I needed better streaming video and graphic abilities. I see a Mac being more of the what the future needs. Mac also makes it quicker to operate with less keystrokes.

As you shop for a laptop for college this year, remember to tell the salesman exactly what your needs are. Yes, you'll need to work with a word program and would want to have a better media player, but you can save money by cutting back on what you really won't need. Do you need to have a CD/DVD burner? If you don't, talk to the salesman about installing the basic CD/DVD and then put the money you saved toward boosting up your GIG's. Don't want those extra programs? You know, the ones that are never used once you get the computer home. Talk to them about how you can swap it for more RAM. Those are just a few of the different ways to build the best college laptop for yourself. Nobody but you is really going to use it (which is what you should do anyway). So why not have it the way you need it to be.

So, what really is the best college laptop? The one that was made for you and your needs, not one off the "showroom floor."