Both my older children will be starting the school year with new laptops. Mr. College Bound will be shopping for his laptop soon, while Miss Freshman Year is required to rent a school-issued tablet PC. 
It's not as easy as plug-and-play when it comes to getting a new computer all set up. There are all those accessories that you need to buy.
My daughter is extremely adept at using the touchpad on a laptop and refuses all offers of a mouse. Her brother, on the other hand, has only used desktop PCs before, so he doesn't work well without a mouse. We'll need to make sure he's well-stocked with batteries for his wireless mouse as well.
If you find that your laptop throws a lot of heat (like my old one did), you'll want to make sure you have an external cooling system for it. These can run off AC power or plug into your laptop's power supply (note: if you choose that option, expect to see a reduction in battery life).
A friend of ours recently showed us her new laptop desk, a soft-bottomed lap desk designed to fit a laptop computer. Certainly that's a cushier option and just sitting your laptop in, well, your lap.
And don't forget the headphones (noise-canceling, please!), external speakers, microphone, numeric keyboard, and laptop bag. Finally, check into a USB hub to help you handle all those externals.
COUPON TIME
TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY!
$30 off a Portable DVD Burner with purchase of a Sony VAIO Y Series Laptop at Sony Style 
Valid through: July 31, 2010
See other sony style coupons!
TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY!
15% off Computer Accessories at ToshibaDirect.com 
Enter coupon code SUMMER15.
Valid through: July 31st, 2010
See other Toshiba coupon codes!
Don't miss our Back-to-School deals on everything you need to begin a new school year.
