Expect to pay about 60-70 dollars a month access on cable modem. The Ask IT Service supports Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PhotoEditor and runs classes on Word, Excel and PowerPoint for students. When buying software, ask if there is an educational version or student discount. You will need a current student card for this. Read the IT Answers on Viruses for more information.
Warranty Check the terms of the warranty.
If you think you will need a lot of individual support, consider buying your computer from a company that offers a telephone help line. If you buy from some big chain stores, there's a danger of being lost in the crowd when it comes to service. If you buy from a small company, it could go under before your warranty runs out. Read the paper and check the prices of the large computer companies on the web. You can buy second-hand.