Acer Aspire 5315 - A Good Choice for Teens

First, ask yourself what kind of teen computer user do you have?

Is your child is a high-end user? Does he or she spends a lot of time on the computer designing things (drawings, programs, etc.), work with lots of graphics, work with lots video (not just watching YouTube, but creating and editing), or play graphic-intensive games? You probably have a high-end user. Your best bet is to ask what she or he wants since they will probably know and negotiate from there.

Most teens, however, fall into the category of casual users. They check email, chat, browse the Web, download music, write papers, and make simple graphics like flyers and presentations for class. They may even need the computer for school to communicate with teachers or work on group projects or doing computer-specific homework like working on spreadsheets. For a teen user like this, a mid-range computer is more than enough because it will be able to do all the things your students needs at a price that will not break your budget. And an appropriate choice is the Acer Aspire 5315.

This laptop features an Intel Celeron mobile processor, 2.13 GHz and 1 or 2 GB of RAM , which is robust enough for basic computing tasks as well as entertainment features like playing games or DVD movies. In fact, the graphics capability is quite nice with Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 with integrated 3D graphics and the high-brightness CrystalBrite LCD display. Programs, games and movies show up brilliantly on the screen with clear detail and colors that pop.

This laptop also comes with built-in CD burner, built-in wireless capability, 3 USB ports for their devices, Intel High Definition Audio, 80 or 160 GB hard disk, and Windows Vista Home (Basic or Premium).

If you are looking to spend under $500 for your teen's first laptop, they will be happy and productive with an Acer Aspire 5315.