Edward C. Baig For other columns by Edward click here . I hear you, parents. You want nothing but the best for your budding Einstein and are perfectly willing to send the kid off to college with a portable computer. After all, you recognize a notebook PC is as essential these days as a spiral notebook was when you were in college.
Some universities even require students to own a laptop.
But since you already have surrendered a small fortune for Junior's Ivy League tuition, the machine you have in mind might be light on the bells and whistles. Your sons and daughters have another agenda. Their portable must celebrate music, handle DVD movies or recordable CDs, and look cool to boot. I think both sides may want to give a little. I'd spend no more than two grand or thereabouts, probably less.