First, check with North Dakota State Varsity Mart to see if they recommend specific hardware, software or even a manufacturer, such as Dell. Dell recommends purchasing from a company that allows customization to your exact requirements, lifetime toll-free telephone technical support and a service plan that will travel home with you during school breaks.

In general, desktops are less expensive and more flexible for upgrades. But with more campuses being set up for wireless networking and other notebook-friendly features, the extra investment in a notebook may pay off. Notebooks also make it easy to work in groups, take notes in class or work easily in the library. If mobility is important to you, a notebook such as the Dell Latitude™ is the way to go. To continue the notebook vs. desktop debate, stop by North Dakota State University Varsity Mart.

With a faster processor, you can take advantage of the newest software and technology better and more easily and use multiple programs at the same time without bogging down your overall speed. Intel is the leading processor manufacturer, offering the popular Intel® Pentium® III and the latest Pentium 4 processors. The Pentium 4 is manufactured with a new generation of technology that offers even more power-enhancing features. Choose at least an 800MHz processor for a desktop system and 600MHz for a notebook.

Memory is one of the most important determinants of performance. It helps you multitask and run large applications. In fact, increasing the amount of memory in your PC is one of the most economical ways to increase its performance. You can add memory as your needs grow, but it's often much more cost-effective to buy memory up front.

The size of your hard drive will depend on what kinds of things you're storing. Music, graphics and video, for example, can take up a great deal of space. With a larger hard drive, you can have more "closet" space to store your important files, have more of the larger, more memory-heavy programs on your computer and have room in the future for newer entertainment packages and DVD readers as they become available. Consider adding a ZIP® drive or CD burner to give yourself removable storage options.

Notebook computers come with built-in displays ranging from 12" to 15" in size. Desktop PCs offer a wide variety of sizes, from 15" (13.8" VIS) up to 21" (19.82" VIS). The device that most affects what you see on screen is called a video card. If you will be working on graphics applications or viewing videos on your computer, consider investing in the best video card you can buy. Contact North Dakota State University Varsity Mart to find out about the latest and greatest on displays and video cards today.

Once you have a leading-edge video card and a CD-ROM drive, you're one step closer to joining the multimedia age. Upgrade your sound card, add a good pair of speakers and you're ready to roll. Also consider getting the most out of your multimedia system by adding a DVD and an MP3 player.

To take advantage of your school's network, your PC must have a Network Interface Card (NIC). A modem is a must if you want to utilize a dial-up connection to access the Internet or send a fax with your PC. Combo modem/NICs and wireless NICs are also available. For more information on Internet and network connections, talk to the access experts at North Dakota State University Varsity Mart.

When it comes to software, it can be useful to consider a package with more than one application. Often schools will require specific software platforms for different courses, majors and years. Microsoft® Office is the leading choice among higher education students, since it includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint®.

Think of peripherals as anything else on the outside. An inkjet printer with a print speed of at least 4 pages per minute is a must. Consider upgrading your standard keyboard to an ergonomic keyboard and your mouse to an optical mouse. Once you try them, you'll never go back.

Whatever your technology needs may be, we hope this overview of the computer decision-making and buying process has helped. Be on the lookout for future e-mails about what to look for in a computer. And if you're ready to buy, please visit us at North Dakota State University Varsity Mart today. If these 10 steps have helped you, they might help a friend who's also computer-shopping. Please forward this information to any friends who you think might benefit from it.