Do you ever spend too long searching for something on Google? If you feel like you’re just missing out on the right search terms to find what you want, the Google Wonder wheel search tool may be exactly what you are looking for.

When you search on Google you can choose Wonder wheel to see the related search terms. You can click on these search terms to branch out further — and further — to find exactly what you are looking for. The branching makes it easier to start with a broad topic and narrow it down.

You can see in our example below how we jumped from “Notebook Reviews” to “Gaming Notebook Reviews” to “Alienware reviews” and now have access to more specific popular searches that make it easier to find exactly what we want.

When you are searching with Google Wonder wheel search tool you can see your search results off to the right so that you can get to what you want quicker.

Google Wonder wheel is also a great tool for researching individuals, events and pretty much anything because it helps you quickly find related information and search for more about the topics. Wonder wheel is definitely a tool we wish we had access to while we were in college.

How to use Google Wonder wheel

1. Search for a topic like normal.

2. On the left side click on “More search tools”.

3. Click on Wonder wheel.

4. Click on the branches to expand your search.

Google Wonder wheel

How to Search Better with Google Wonder Wheel: Find Related Topics Faster is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

No Notebooks Allowed. That’s what you’ll hear if you try to take your notebook into the Missouri Senate, classrooms across the country and even in some coffeeshops. The argument is that the presence of a notebook or laptop can immediately strike down the ability of otherwise reasonable individuals to listen, debate and carry on a conversation.

It’s understandable that some individuals have absolutely zero self control and will waste away class time, that they are paying for, surfing the web even though it is painfully obvious to the speaker what’s happening. Yes, there’s bound to be one senator who can’t keep his solitaire or, Ahem, other addiction in check long enough to complete a meritorious debate on state law, but there’s much more to be gained by allowing technology into our classrooms and legislative bodies.

For example, students who are able to research a topic that comes up in class are often much more willing to add to a discussion and can bring concrete examples of current events or data, something that would have been unthinkable before notebooks became standard equipment for students. Speaking of the past, remember when notebooks weren’t there to stifle discussions and distract students? They still had notes, daydreaming and games that were designed to run on the TI-83 calculators, which I might add students were required to carry with them.

In the state of Missouri, notebooks are not allowed in the senate, even thought they can be found across the capital in the House and senators can absorb themselves in their BlackBerry devices. Backing the current ban on notebooks Senator Brad Lager told StlToday.com that, “There is a compelling argument to be made that a senator sitting there listening to the debate is engaged at a different level.”

Interestingly enough it is OK, and common for senators to be seen typing away on their BlackBerry devices and the rules would potentially allow for an iPad since it is not a notebook; even though you can turn it into a notebook with some accessories and apps.

Wouldn’t we, as a nation, be better served by representatives who can use 21st century tools to take notes and research matters of great importance while the debate is taking place instead of after a bill has been passed? The absurdity of denying access to technology due to the possibility of adults being unable to control their urge to check a website is astonishing.

If we are that worried about the actions of a few bad apples, let performance sort them out. Students who don’t pay attention will learn sooner or later that there are consequences to ignoring the professor. Senators who surf the day away will either be called out by a rival on the floor or caught on CSPAN looking at something they shouldn’t there’s no reason to handicap the whole for the actions of a few.

It’s about time that we accept technology’s role in our success as a nation. After students graduate they will be expected to carry a notebook or tablet to work and into meetings for the rest of their live’s, well unless they join the senate, so why do we feel they can’t handle the responsibility of paying attention until they earn a degree?

Isn’t it about time we stop blaming technology and strive to provide our students and our leaders with the best tools to accomplish their work and goals?

Image via Thunderchild7

Stop Banning Notebooks in Senates & Classrooms Because of Bad Apples is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

dropbox ipad appThe iPad is one of my favorite tools for teaching. While many people use the iPad for entertainment and relaxing it’s proven to be one of my most used tools for teaching. I teach a college level business course, but these tools could be used to teach in any discipline or any setting.

How I Use the iPad in the Classroom:

I use the apps listed below to keep my notes and related articles on the iPad so that I have them at my fingertips while teaching. Most often I use Dropbox to sync a PDF of my powerpoint slides and notes to my iPad. While I am showing the powerpoint on the projector, I reference notes or questions on the iPad. I also use the iPad during class discussions to keep my starter questions or guiding questions handy.

I also use the CourseSmart app to pull up the textbook anywhere I have an Internet connection. This is incredibly handy, though there have been one or two times over the course fo the year where the service was down for an hour or two. Not a huge problem, but enough that you may want to keep a hard copy around.

The rest of the apps mentioned below are used sparingly, but often enough that you should check them out. For more tips on how Evernote is used in the classroom, check out Evernote’s blog where you’ll find 10 tips for teachers.

iPad Teaching Apps: Most of the apps I use are easy to use, and best of all they are free or really cheap.

• Dropbox – Syncs my PowerPoints and documents between computers and the iPad
• iBooks – Opens PDFs of PowerPoint notes or articles
• CourseSmart – eTextbooks allow me to always have my book with me, handy if a student asks a question late at night the day before an exam.
• Evernote – Keeping track of the various web clippings I want to share in class
• Note Taker HD – Taking notes of Student presentations, I can import a rubric as a PDF and write on it if I want, or free hand grade

Does the iPad Distract students: On the college level I’ve only found the iPad to gain attention the first day I use it. This could change as you go to lower grade levels, but the iPad is common enough now that there is less attention paid to it.

Tips for using the iPad in the Classroom:

The best advice for using the iPad, or any other new technology in your class, is to test it out ahead of time. There were a few speed bumps at the beginning, but most have been worked out by now. I definitely recommend taking a backup of paper notes if you need them for the first two or three classes.

For more, check out how I use my iPad for notes, presenting, entertaining and more.

If you use your iPad in the classroom let us know what you do with it and what apps you use in the comments.

How I Use my iPad to Teach – Demo, Apps and Tips (Video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Last month, we posted our first impressions of the Lenovo IdeaPad Z360. Below is a first impression from a college student’s perspective.

First off, the island-style keyboard is great. It has a great feel to it and was very easy to type on. However, I have to agree with Josh that Lenovo should not have messed with the right Shift key. The fact that it is smaller than a normal shift key almost ruined the entire user experience because I would constantly hit the arrow up key instead. Though I eventually got used to this re-sized shift key, attempting to write a paper on this proved to be problematic.

Along with that, I found the trackpad to be in the way while I was typing. I would frequently hit the corners of it that would then click somewhere on the screen, messing up where I was typing. Other than that, the trackpad has an interesting tactile feel to it. I personally liked the little bumps, but some of my friends that used the notebook were not fans of the dimpled surface.

One big selling point of this notebook is the Dolby Advanced Audio. I decided to test out the Lenovo against my 2007 Apple MacBook Pro. Honestly, it was fairly close, but the MacBook Pro was still the winner. Turned up to maximum volume, the Lenovo had some distortion, with the high tones sounding a bit tinny. Playing the same song at maximum volume, the MacBook Pro did not experience any of this. That being said, is the Lenovo IdeaPad Z360‘s audio quality above average when compared to other notebooks? Absolutely, it’s just not the best that I have heard from a notebook.

One major complaint is the overall build quality of the Lenovo. The notebook feels, for the lack of a better word, flimsy. It does not securely latch by any means when you close it. When carrying the notebook around while closed, it made a squeaking noise with every step that I took, sounding like plastic rubbing against plastic. The cover has a glossy black finish that shows every single fingerprint. The only aspect of build quality that I particularly liked was the metal alloy used on the interior, which brought a much needed premium feel to the notebook.

Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad Z360 is a great notebook and would be a great fit for the average college student so long as they carry it around ins a form fitting case. The shift key and the trackpad may take some getting used to, but aren’t dealbreakers. Also, seeing as college students want better audio quality in their notebooks, the Lenovo IdeaPad Z360 fits the bill. With its Dolby Advanced Audio, the sound quality should provide ample satisfaction to most students.

Currently, the Lenovo IdeaPad Z360 is on sale from Lenovo for $749, though we have seen it as low as $649 from select retailers. For more information, stay tuned for a full review of the IdeaPad Z360, or check out our previous Lenovo IdeaPad Z360 first impression.

Video Overview of the IdeaPad Z360:

Lenovo IdeaPad z360 Detailed Specs:

• Intel® Core™ i3-370M Processor ( 2.40GHz 1066MHz 3MB )
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 32
• Intel HD Graphics
• 3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz
• 13.3″ HD LED Glare 1366×768
• Industry Standard Touchpad
• 500GB 5400
• DVD Recordable (Dual Layer)
• 6 Cell Lithium-Ion
• Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250
• Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR
• One Year Warranty

Lenovo IdeaPad Z360: College Student’s First Impressions is a post by Carter Sprunger from Notebooks.com.

Looking for a hot Black Friday laptop deal on a laptop to start off next semester the right way?  There are plenty of deals to be had, but we have compiled a list of our top five Black Friday laptop picks for college students. Our picks keep every budget in mind, whether you need a simple, basic-use laptop, or a media powerhouse.

eMachines eMEs28-2325 – $198 (savings unknown)

This 15.6″ laptop would definitely be categorized as a budget laptop. Its basic specs include a 2.2Ghz Intel Celeron processor, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, WiFi, and Window 7 Home Premium. This laptop would be suitable for surfing the web, sending email, and composing documents. Be sure to note that this laptop does not include a webcam, so an external one would need to be purchased if you plan on video chatting with family back home.

Acer ASPIRE AS5742-7653 – $499 ($200 savings)

Quite a step up from the previous laptop by eMachines, the Acer ASPIRE AS5742-7653 offers quite a few more features as well as processing power. This laptop comes with a 2.53GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, 1.3-megapixel webcam, and Windows 7 Home Premium. This is one of the best Black Friday deals we have seen this year. With the Turboboost technology offered by the Intel Core i5 processor, this laptop should be able to handle photo and video editing, along with web browsing, email, word processing, and modern gaming.

Dell Inspiron 14R – $629 ($110 savings)

The 14″ Dell Inspiron 14R is one of the most popular laptops for college students that mixes an element of style with functionality. This laptopfeatures an Intel Core i3 processor, 3GB RAM, a 320GB hard drive, a 1.3-megapixel, and Windows 7 Home Premium. This laptop has enough power to handle basic use as well as some light photo and video editing.

Dell XPS 15 – $899 ($99 savings)

Gamers rejoice, as the 15.6″ Dell XPS 15 will be available for $99 off this Black Friday. This powerful gaming laptop sports an Intel Core i5 processor, 6GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M, 2.0-megapixel webcam, and Windows 7 Home Premium. This laptop should handle basic use, as well as photo and video editing. Thanks to the Dell XPS 15‘s dedicated graphics, this laptop should also handle any modern games.

Apple 15.4″ MacBook Pro – $2039 ($159 savings)

If you are more of an Apple fan, MacMall has a few Black Friday Apple Deals. Included is the most expensive laptop on this list; Apple 15.4″ MacBook Pro with an Intel Core i7 processor. It also features 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, free shipping, and free Parallels Desktop 6.0 after rebate. Due to the Core i7 processor, this laptop has enough power to handle basic tasks, as well as photo and video editing, gaming, and pretty much anything else you want to throw at it.

The Best Black Friday Laptop for College Students is ….

We think that out of these five laptop picks, the Acer ASPIRE AS5742-7653 is the best option for most college students. Given the amount of savings and the processor power you get for the price, there aren’t many laptops that can compare with the Acer ASPIRE AS5742-7653. It should suit pretty much any need that a college student may need the laptop for.

For more deals, check out our Best Black Friday Laptop Deals by Price:

• Best Black Friday Laptop Under $250
• Best Black Friday Laptop Under $300
• Best Black Friday Laptop Under $400
• Best Black Friday Laptop Under $500
• Best Black Friday Laptop Under $600
• Best Black Friday Laptop Under $700
• Best Black Friday Laptop Under $800
• Best Black Friday Laptop Under $900
• Best Black Friday Laptop Under $1,000

Best Black Friday Laptop for a College Student (Black Friday 2010) is a post by Carter Sprunger from Notebooks.com.

Great news for Dropbox users who have a .edu email address. The file syncing and online storage tool announced that it would be giving out 500MB credit for referrals that come from a .edu email address. This means if you have a .edu address and refer a friend, you’ll get an an extra 500MB of storage.

Even better, the credit is retroactive, so that means you’ll get a bump for all of the referrals you already have, and you don’t need to have a Dropbox account tied to your school email address by default to make this work.

To gain the .edu bump you need to visit the Dropbox Education landing page and enter the .edu address you want to verify. DropBox will then send you an email to verify and you’re good to go.

If you aren’t familiar with Dropbox, this file syncing and cloud storage tool made our Must have back to school software list because it can keep your files in sync across multiple devices including computers, smartphones and really any computer with Internet access.

DropBox just released a Dropbox BlackBerry app and updated apps for the iPhone, iPad and Android.

Dropbox offers .edu addresses 500MB referrals [College] is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

If you haven’t already seen Apple’s latest announcements concerning the new lineup of iPod’s and the refresh of the Apple TV, definitely check it out using the links provided.

Both the iPod Touch and the Apple TV are now an even better value to college students. Let’s talk about why:

iPod Touch

The iPod Touch has become increasingly popular with students thanks to its great battery life and other features borrowed from the iPhone. Apple has offered back-to-school specials which afford students a free iPod Touch with the purchase of a new Macbook. With the proliferation of WiFi in schools, it’s not uncommon to see students using their iPod Touch for music all around campus and quickly checking emails and Facebook between classes.

Apple’s latest iPod Touch adds some features that will certainly be appreciated by users, such as increased performance with the Apple A4 chip, and a great new high resolution display. However, I’m willing to bet that the most useful new feature for most students will be the front and rear cameras.

Better display:

Apple has bumped the iPod Touch’s resolution up from a measly 320×480 to four times that at a whopping 960×640. The new screens (same resolution and technology as the iPhone 4) look incredibly crisp and make it much easier to see detail in games and other apps. This new display also makes reading on the iPod Touch a new experience.

Cameras:

Apple has added a 0.9MP rear-facing camera to the iPod Touch which is capable of recording 720p HD video great for capturing campus events or for remembering what happens during wild parties. Some film students will appreciate the HD capability as an upgrade over outdated campus provided video cameras! The rear camera also takes photos which will see plenty of use (especially with the popularity of Facebook among college-aged students). Sadly, the rear camera only snaps photos at a paltry 960×720 resolution (much smaller than the iPhone 4′s photos), but the photos will likely be better quality than most cell phone cameras out there and definitely better than that crappy point-and-shoot that you never have with you when you need it!

FaceTime:

And let’s not forget the front-facing camera for it’s FaceTime use. That’s right, the iPod Touch is Face Time enabled which will absolutely change the way that students conduct their inter-campus communication and even the way that they stay in touch with extra-campus friends and family.

Faster processor:

The new iPod Touch now uses Apple’s A4 chip, the same powerful processor that’s found in the iPad and the iPhone 4. This puts the iPod Touch on par with Apple’s fastest mobile devices and makes it compatible with the very latest demanding games.

No contract (like iPhone):

The newest iPod Touch is the closet thing you can get to owning an iPhone without actually paying for a massive monthly contract. You’ve got access to most of the great features like Facetime, the Retina Display, the App Store, and HD video recording. What is the iPod Touch missing out on that the iPhone 4 has? GPS, compass and high-resolution rear camera, however, most of the awesome stuff is still there.

An easy to use, personal web browsing, video conferencing, social networking device right in your pocket? The new iPod Touch is an absolute must-have college companion.

And probably best of all, the iPod Touch remains reasonably priced at $229, $299, or $399 for 8/32/64GB storage respectively. The iPod Touch is going to be at the top of many Christmas wish lists this year.

Apple TV

It’s very common to find students with 22” 32” HDTVs in their dorm rooms and apartments. And now, thanks to the Apple TV, students have a very affordable and simple way to get great HD content to their HDTVs.

The new Apple TV is small enough to fit in the hand, and setup couldn’t be easier. It uses an HDMI port which means just one single plug will hook up your audio and HD video. And trust me… for my friends who can’t even figure out the old color coded plugs, this single cable setup will be much appreciated.

On top of it being simple to set up, the Apple TV is simple to use. New movies can be rented in HD for $4.99 and HD TV shows are just $0.99 per episode! Everything is streamed right to the Apple TV, so you’ll need a sufficient internet connection. Renting an HD movie for $4.99 from the seat of your couch and being able to start the movie in mere seconds absolutely beats the pants off of finding your way to the nearest movie rental store with no car and paying $8 for a non-HD movie rental!

The folks back home might have a Netflix subscription, but you can’t get those movies delivered to your door when you are away at school. Fortunately, you can use the Apple TV to stream movies and TV shows from Netflix’s Play Instantly” collection which will even stream in HD! And if you are an advanced user, you can stream photos, videos, and music from your own computer.

And let’s not forget YouTube. YouTube might not be very old, but for college students, there is a definite group of YouTube classics” that result in seemingly endless laughter. Apple TV will bring classics such as N64 kid” to the big screen in front of the comfy couch, which is a great alternative to having everyone crowd around the tiny computer screen without chairs! I’m certain students will waste away hours sharing their favorite videos (when they should probably be studying).

Can you name two other gadgets that will get you: HD video recording, FaceTime video chatting, a 960×480 screen, access to 250,000 apps in the App Store, in your pocket, and Instant on-demand HD entertainment right to your HDTV starting at just $328? I doubt it!

Apple’s New iPod Touch and Apple TV Are a Great Value to College Students is a post by Ben from Notebooks.com.

Recently medical experts from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine issued a warning about Laptop-itis — a health issue that arises from poor posture when using laptops and is characterized by headaches, soreness and a tingly feeling. These symptoms are a precursor to larger issues like back problems and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Laptop-itis isn’t limited to college students but the popularity of laptops combined with busy on the move students and dorm room regulations that prevent many ergonomic accessories accentuate the problem.

Given the nature of a dorm room, we set out to figure out the best way to create an ergonomic workspace working within the limits of a typical dorm room. That means no drilling into walls and limited space as well as a limited budget. You can pick and choose from the following items to achieve an ergonomic workspace for as little as $50 for a stand and a keyboard or invest $300 in your health and have the most ergonomic dorm room out there.

The first rule we want to get around is the inability to drill into a sturdy structure. We will do this by adding a loft to our dorm room. The easiest, and cheapest, way to get a loft is to purchase one used at your university since you’ll know that it fits the beds, but making one isn’t that difficult and you can customize the setup to accommodate your ergonomic setup. For more details on building a loft find the measurements of your dorm from the student life office on campus and then visit Instructables for a plethora of loft plans.

Next up is finding a cheap monitor. You can look locally but it is hard to beat the prices of monitors from Geeks.com. If you want an excellent monitor at a great price, check out the Samsung SyncMaster P2350 which we recently reviewed. When looking for a monitor you don’t need to pay too much attention to the base, just make sure it has standard VESA mounts, which most monitors do. You should be able to find a 21″ to 24″ monitor for around $150-$225. If you want to double your value you can pickup a small HDTV to mount under your loft in case you want to watch TV while your roommate is using the big screen.

Next up we’ll need a mount that supports the weight of your monitor. There are several mounts that will fit your needs but if you are able to afford one that is adjustable in numerous ways you’ll be thankful later. One of the top brands is Ergotron which offers a wide array of mounts that could be bolted to your loft. If you are looking for a cheaper mount you may have to sacrifice a few articulation points but you can find a wide selection at ProVantage or CyberGuys.

Along with your mounted monitor you’ll want to find a good mouse and keyboard to provide a better workstation while you’re in your room. You can find many models, but the Microsoft keyboard models offer a comfortable typing surface at a reasonable value. You can pick up the Microsoft 6000 Wireless Mouse and Keyboard for just $26.99 right now.

If you plan to hook all of these things to your notebook, but don’t want to be tethered to your desk be 15 cords than you should check out a notebook dock that will allow you to connect USB peripherals and a monitor to your laptop with one cord. One of these universal notebook docks we showcased earlier this month would be a great choice.

If all of this is too expensive or too much work then you should at least check out the HP USB Media Dock or a similar laptop stand an external keyboard which will bring your screen to the correct height and  provide a better typing experience.

While you’re at it stick that wooden dorm room chair in a corner and pick up an ergonomic office chair that allows you to sit with 90 degree angles at your elbow, waist and knees. Prices will vary, from next to nothing to more than you spend on books but if you look around you can find a good deal on an office chair that will last you though your college career.

However you go about preparing your dorm computer setup for the coming year you’ll appreciate the effort when you don’t have back pain and tingly fingers at midterm time. While it may look like a large cost up front, keep in mind all of these items should last you at least 4 years and at the end of college you can always sell your loft to the next incoming class.

How to Make your Dorm Room More Ergonomic is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The school year is about to kick off and the team at Notebooks.com has chosen our favorite back to school notebooks and netbooks in a variety of price ranges, sizes and colors. After netbooks the notebooks are grouped by ability and price and represent what we consider to be some of the best on the market today to meet the needs of students. If you are still looking check out our new Laptop Finder, which makes it easy to find the best deal on a laptop that’s right for you.

When looking at the picks keep in mind that while price will often be a deciding factor in which notebook you purchase that when you move past budget notebooks into Mid-Range notebooks you not only gain access to newer processors but also to more durable notebooks that are designed to last longer under constant use. For notebooks that are designed to withstand use for 3-5 years be sure to check out the  durable business class notebooks.

Back to School Netbooks:

Netbooks offers students an incredible value for in terms of portability and price. While they can’t handle every task the small size allows students to always have a computer with them for access to word and email. For extended typing sessions be prepared to invest in a monitor and a keyboard or head to the computer lab.

HP Mini 5103 – $399 – HP Mini  5102 review

This 10.1” netbook is actually a business class netbook with durability options that should allow it to see you from freshmen year to graduation without showing the same wear as consumer notebooks. This netbook offers an incredibly good keyboard for such a small device.

Specs – Intel Atom N455 1.83GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, Bluetooth 2.1, 6-cell battery rated for 10 hours.

HP Mini 210HD – starting at $329 – HP Mini 210 review

The HP Mini 210 HD is a capable netbook in the 10.1″ range that offers a small package, easy access to the inside for upgrading the RAM or hard drive and comes in a variety of colors. Add a Broadcom HD accelerator to your Mini 210HD configuration for HD video playback.

Specs – Intel Atom N455 1.66GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, 6-cell battery rated for 6.5 hours.

Samsung NB30 – starting at $329 – Samsung NB30 Review

The Samsung NB30 offers many options not found on consumer notebooks in this price range including a spill resistant keyboard and a hard drive sensor. The outside fo the NB30 is coated in a textured rubber that adds a bit of grip and gives it a cool look even when you spill something on it.

Specs – Intel Atom N455 1.66GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, 3- cell battery rated for 2.5 to 3 hours.

Acer Aspire One 532h - starting at $279 – Acer Aspire One 532h Review

There are many Acer Aspire One netbooks, but the 10.1″ Acer Aspire One 532h offers a good mix of price and power. While you won’t be watching HD content on this notebook you can watch standard def streaming video and type up notes in class, though you’ll want to invest in a keyboard if this is your only computer on campus.

Specs: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive and a 6-cell battery rated for 6.5 hours of battery life.

Budget Back to School Notebooks:

These notebooks are more affordable computers that offer users looking for a larger screen and more power than a netbook a good option that won’t break the bank. While they may not all have the newest technology these picks offer enough power to tackle the tasks of your average student.

Lenovo Edge 13 or Edge 14 – starting at $549 – Edge 13 review, Edge 14 Review

The Lenovo Edge notebooks with either a 13.3″ or 14.1″ screen are aimed at small business, but they pack enough power and battery life into a portable package to appeal to college students. The business focus also means that the notebooks come with more durability than most consumer notebooks. When you consider the low starting price the Edge represents an amazing value.

Specs: AMD Athlon Neo X2 Dual-Core processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB hard drive and 4-cell battery – Other configurations include Intel processors and more options.

HP Pavilion dv5 – starting at $599 – HP dv5 Review

The 15.5″ HP dv5 may come with a higher price in the budget range, but its AMD processor and metal body that adds durability combine to offer features typically found at a higher price.

Specs: 2.3GHz AMD Turion II processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB hard drive, ATI Mobility Radeon 4250 Graphics and a 6-cell battery with a 5 hour life.

HP G62 – Starting at $499 – HP G62 Review

The HP G62 notebook comes in at a budget price but includes a new Intel Core i3 processor and a generous 15.6″ display offering students a large canvas for working and enough power to handle some photo and video editing. Check out the HP G62-234DX at Best Buy for an excellent value.

Specs: 2.26GHz Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, Dual Layer DVD burner,  6 cell battery rated at 5 hours.

Mid- Range Back To School Notebooks:

Offering the latest processors and plenty of memory and hard drive space these notebooks offer students a powerful package as well as extras in the form of Wireless Display, portability, extended battery life, longer warranties and more.

Toshiba Portege R705 – starting at $799 – Portege R705 Review

The 13.3″Toshiba Portege is a top pick in the Mid-Range notebook because ti offers significant value for its $800 price tag. Not only does it come in at 3.2 pounds and offer a new Intel Core i3 processor with Wireless Display, it also comes with a spill resistant keyboard and a hard drive sensor.

Specs: 2.26GHz Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, Intel Wireless Display, up to 8 hours battery life

Dell Studio 15 Best Buy Next Class Model – $799, other models from $599 – Dell Studio 15 Review

The 15.6″ Dell Studio 15 Next Class model sold at Best Buy comes with a specs that meet the needs of most students including a new Intel Core i3 processor but because it is part of the Next  Class line of notebooks it also includes a full version of Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Student, 12 months of antivirus a backlit keyboard and more. More Dell Studio 15 models are available.

Specs: 2.26GHz Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, 4.5 hours of battery life.

MacBook – $949 – MacBook Review

The MacBook is Apple’s most affordable notebook and it is well suited for most college students needs with enough horsepower and storage. The MacBook also comes with a free iPod Touch offer until September 15th which is a welcome companion, or can be sold on eBay to reduce the purchase price by around $150.

Specs:  2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 230M graphics, 10 hour battery life.

HP TouchSmart Tm2t – starts at  $771 with education discount – HP tm2t review

The HP TouchSmart tm2t is a convertible tablet that offers all the use of a normal laptop but can convert to a touch enabled not taking machine by swiveling the screen down to form a slate-like surface. Heavy note takers may appreciate the ability to keep their notes digitally in Evernote or OneNote using the included stylus.

Specs:  1.2GHZ Intel Core i3 CULV processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, up to 6 hours battery life.

Durable Back To School Notebooks:

If you are looking for a notebook that will last, and we mean really last, your entire college career then you should consider a durable business class notebook. While these options won’t always satisfy your entertainment needs they will survive the bumps and drops that are bound to happen in a 4-5 year college career.

ThinkPad T410 – starts at $849 – ThinkPad T410 Review

The 14″ ThinkPad T410 brings with it the traditional ThinkPad reliability and durability but offers an attractive price for the Intel Core i3 processor or for $100 grab an Intel Core i5 powered model. The T410 comes with the renowned Lenovo keyboard that students will appreciate during crunch time and pairs nicely with a generously sized multi touch mousepad.

Specs: 2.40GHz Intel Core i3 or i5 processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB hard drive and a 4 cell battery.

HP EliteBook 8440p – starts at $1,199 – HP EliteBook 8440p Review

The 14″ HP EliteBook 8440p is a great choice for the student who needs a powerful business rugged notebook that comes with a decent graphics solution. Pick up the WH256UT model and you’ll find an NVIDIA GPU with 512MB RAM that is wrapped in a durable magnesium alloy case that protects your notebook and is designed to last.

Specs: 2.40GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, NVIDIA NVS 3100 graphics with 512 MB dedicated gDDR3 video memory and a 6-cell battery rated at up to 6.5 hours.

High End Back To School Notebooks:

If money isn’t an object or you have a very specific need like creative design or premium audio then you should look into the following notebooks, but be warned — even with student discounts the price tags reflect the category.

MacBook Pro 15 – starts at $1,529 (refurb) – MacBook Pro Review

If price isn’t an option and you’re looking for a Mac to handle creative design take a look at the MacBook Pro 15 which comes with a long battery life and a thin and durable aluminum unibody case. This notebook comes with the latest Intel Core i5 processor and can be purchased with a matte screen for a more usable display in bright settings. This notebook also qualifies for the free iPod Touch offer.

HP Envy 14 or 17 – starts at $1,099 – HP Envy 14 Review

The 14″ and 17″ HP Envy Notebooks are a Windows powered alternative to the MacBook Pro that comes with metal etched case, new and faster USB 3.0 as well as a backlit keyboard and HP Beats audio. HP Beats is a premium audio experience from HP that makes use of special hardware to deliver music that compares to what you would hear in a music studio.

Specs: 2.26GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5830 Graphics and a battery rated for up to 6 hours.

Sony VAIO F series – starts at $999 – Sony VAIO F Review

The 16.4″ Sony VAIO F series offers a large screen and a powerful Intel Core i7 processors as well as Blu-Ray and NVIDIA graphics giving you an entertainment notebook that can also handle video and photo editing. For $1,259, bump your VAIO F up to a larger hard drive, better graphics and a backlit keyboard.

Specs: (Base Model) 1.73GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB hard drive and a NVIDIA GeForce 310M GPU (512MB VRAM).

Have a favorite back to school netbook, notebook or laptop we missed? Let us know in the comments. For the best deals check out our guide to getting student discounts.

Back To School Notebook and Netbook Picks from Notebooks.com is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

This week in notebooks and gadgets we saw several reviews, some new ASUS business notebooks and a collection of Android devices hit the market including the Droid 2 and the Dell Streak. Android also received Voice Actions and Chrome to Phone to up the competition between Google and Apple handsets.

We also added the Laptop Finder tool which will help you find a laptop that suites your needs from a wide collection of manufacturers and retailers. You can access the Laptop Finder in the header above or by clicking Laptop Finder.

Highlights from Notebooks.com:

• College Students Want Better Laptop Audio, Willing to Pay – On average students willing to pay over $100 for better audio.
• HP ProBook 4520s Review: Good Business Class Notebook for Daily Use – Review of this business class notebook from Kevin Purcell.
• Otterbox iPad Commuter Series Case Review - Josh Reviews an iPad case designed to offer more protection than most.
• Which Notebooks are the Most and Least Reliable According to IT Pros - The people you ask for computer help rate the reliability of notebook manufacturers.
• Canon X MARK I MOUSE: The Mouse With a Calculator - It’s a mouse — and a calculator — Genius!

Highlights from GottaBeMobile.com:

• Mirasol threatens to give color e-ink a run for its money – New tech could give color eink displays a run for their ink.
• Support: Another Reason Why Retail Stores Differentiate Apple from the Competition – With control of retail Apple has a leg up on competition by being able to fix problems fast.
• iPad Alternative Lists Prove That Lists are Just Lists – There are a lot of tablets on the market but Warner reminds us that many of these promised tablets may never arrive and offers a warning on choosing an Android tablet.
• Geek Lifestyle is Painful, But I’m Turning it Around – Xavier chronicles his plan for turning around a back problem brought on by being a Geek.
• Microsoft RearType Puts Keys on Back of Slates – Redmond thinks a slate with a hard keyboard on the back may be what the tablet market needs to succeed.

Highlights from our Friends in Tech:

• Android Getting Better – Podcast – JkOnTheRun
• Clear iSpot Review – SlashGear
• Back To School eReaders – Engadget
• Palm patent reveals a handheld computer with removable phone – Liliputing
• Official Shots of the MSI WindPad 100 In - NetBookNews.com

Notebooks.com Week in Review August 13th is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.