Kids today are just as attached to their computers as they are to their cell phones. Homework, socializing, and their music are all contained on their computers. Checking e-mail and instant messages are often the first thing they do upon waking in the morning and the final thing they do before bed. Don't be surprised if you see your student toting their laptop around like a textbook!

While any parent might hope a new laptop would solely be used for homework, that's not very likely. Teenagers today use their computers for storing music files, surfing the Internet, gaming, and watching movies. It's important to consider how the laptop will be used before purchase.

Before you buy

Does you high school students play computer games? Many games require high amounts of RAM and storage space. Consider this when selecting a laptop.

Is your teenager an avid fan of music and photos? Lots of storage space is required for MP3 music files and digital images. Make sure to purchase a laptop with no less than 40GB of storage space.

Is the laptop wireless ready? More and more students research and study on-line rather than visiting the good old library. Make sure the laptop has wireless capability.

Where will your student be using the laptop? Some high schools allow students to compile their classroom notes on their laptops. Make sure to purchase a laptop with an adequate battery life to allow your student to for use away from home. Also, choose a laptop that is light for portability but also sturdy enough to handle being tucked into a student's backpack.

Buying tips

When purchasing a laptop for your high school student, most parents focus on price. Since computer technology advances so quickly, some laptops may be obsolete very soon after purchase. With that in mind, let's make the assumption that most parents want to purchase a laptop for right around $1,000. Yes, it really is possible to find a great laptop that's loaded with features for this price. And if you're really lucky, your high school student just might later take this very laptop on to college.

Another note, many computer companies sell products at greatly reduced prices through on-line vendors. It's important to price-shop to get the best deal. Visit www.retailmenot.com for online computer discount codes. I purchased a Dell Inspiron for my daughter last year and saved over $200. I also finagled free shipping.

What to buy

It's a safe bet to base your choice for a laptop on respected review sites such as www.reviews.cnet.com and www.pcmag.com. Don't attempt to purchase a laptop without first doing some research. Ask your child if they would like a web cam, DVD and CD burner, certain software packages, and blue tooth capability. Do they want headphone ports? Kids frequently know a lot more about computer technology than parents so ask these questions before purchase.

HP offers the Pavilion dv6500t laptops that is very light at 5.8 pounds. This laptop features a 120GB hard drive with plenty of space for music files and photos, 2GB RAM, and an Intel Duo processor. It's fast for applications but light and portable. The laptop comes with a web cam, wireless capability, and headphone ports. HP Pavilion offers a standard 3-hour battery but an upgrade is available. Prices run about $900.

Dell puts out great products. Dell Inspiron 1525 is no exception. These machines typically have a long life so their technology is far obsolete before they stop running, much like the Energizer Bunny. This laptop features 120GB of hard drive space, Intel graphics card, Windows Vista, and 2 GB RAM. Inspiron is just 6 pounds with a wide screen. This notebook comes in many different colors and is very slim in design. Priced from $800.

Acer Aspire 4710-2013 offers a 5.5-pound laptop that is priced from $600-650. Don't let the low price fool you because this laptop is loaded with features. Aspire has a 14-inch screen, 4 USB ports, DVD burner, but only offer 1GB of RAM, which can be upgraded. This notebook is using 1-year-old Intel technology to make it more affordable.

An note about Apple Computers

Apple always packs a punch with any product. Apple's cheapest laptop is the Apple iBook G4 priced at right around $1,000. This notebook features a 14-inch screen, 60 GB hard drive and DVD burner plus many other features. If you're considering buying a Mac for your student, you might want to consider upping the budget a few hundred dollars to buy a Powerbook. Mac always offers reliable products with great track records so any Mac laptop purchase will be worth any money you spend.