A laptop is an absolute necessity. But as Eisner points out, you don't have to spend the $1000 to $1600 (depending on the configuration) to buy the gorgeous, ultra-light Macbook Air. Yes, the older Air is cheaper, but it comes with an obsolete Intel processor that really hurts performance on some tasks.

First of all, before you buy anything, check with the college admissions or academic office and find out if the school insists on a Mac or Windows PC. If they're on the Mac bandwagon, the MacBook Pro is a terrific machine for students. (Just ask my daughter.)

If Windows is OK, here are two recommendations for machines that are powerful, yet relatively light, and significantly cheaper than the Air. (The Air weighs in at 2.38 pounds to 2.96 pounds depending on the size screen.)

Lenovo X220i: With an Intel i3 Processor, 320GB hard drive, Windows 7 Home Premium. It has great battery life; screen is 12.5 inches, weighs 3.3 pounds and has gotten excellent reviews. (Money where mouth is: I just bought one.) Depending on what you add to it and how much sales tax you need to pay, you'll probably spend less than $900. It doesn't have a DVD drive so you'll need to buy an external one. But don't buy it from Lenovo. You can get them on online for much less.