That's because of the free Web access. Apple computers, being cutting-edge, are much less useful without internet access, so its dozen-odd floor models are eternally connected to the Web. That's where the kids come in.

A decade ago, when fewer people had their own computers, if you wanted to get online when you weren't home, you had to go to an internet cafe. But today, moneyed people tote Blackberries and wifi-enabled laptops, so the American internet cafe is all but dead. Except that many high school kids are too young to have jobs and usually don't have their own laptops. So they can't get online at Starbucks or Panera Bread, like the rest of us. They go to the Apple Store, where they can borrow the computer without charge or time limit.

That's attraction enough for those too young to have private Web access (and for those with prying parents back home). But then there's the fact that most Apple computers now come with built-in cameras. Lots of kids are hitting the Apple Store just to take shots of themselves with the webcam. Facebook will take and post a shot of you directly from your profile page. In fact, one Michigan teen just started a new Facebook group called "I Only Go 2 The Apple Store To Take Photos and Put Them On Facebook." There are already 68 members.

Chances are, unless your budding intellectual is heading off this fall to become a graphic designer or a mechanical engineer, you don't need to take out a second mortgage just to get them a new computer.

The Dollar Stretcher provides plenty of reasons why every student should have a computer at their disposal when they enter the hallowed halls of Academe, despite the already high price tag that comes with college. Today there are more choices than ever before when it comes to finding a computer that fits your student's needs.

And as The Dollar Stretcher also points out, forgoing a Mac and picking up discounted student software at the college bookstore will save you lots right upfront.

The article points out a cool new model of laptops called subnotebooks that are small, low-powered, low-cost laptops which are suitable for handling typical student activities such as paper writing and web surfing. If you are looking for a more traditional notebook this fall there are still plenty of deals to be had on laptops and desktops which pack a little more punch. Purchasing a refurbished laptop or PC is a great way to save and still get a decently spec'ed out machine.

Here are a few deals out there right now on good back to school machines.

Wynn Brower, age 10, figured that his family was wasting $1 every night that they kept all four computers on. At just 25 cents per computer per night that adds up to $365 for his family each year. He won an award at the science fair, then went on to save his own Monroe County, Indiana, $25,000 a year by getting them to turn off its 550 computers overnight.

I had scoffed when a computer savvy friend scolded me for leaving my computer on all the time. You must really love Con Ed, she said. I didn't think I was using much electricity at all. In the large scheme I'm not. But if everyone does it every night, then we all are. Brower's project is a great reminder that even though our computer may sleep and the monitor may go dark, we are still wasting a lot of energy.

Obviously, the amount of power and money you waste depends on how energy efficient your computer is and how much you're paying for power. Arizona Public Service Company estimated how much it costs to run various office equipment.They calculated that a computer costs $39 to run 24 hours a day for a full year. A 15-inch monitor was $54. A laser printer was $44. Their calculations for what it saves by turning it off overnight were smaller than Bower's -- turning off all three would save $9, $12 and $14 a year. That's only 2.4 cents for just the computer overnight, but nearly 10 cents for all three.

When you live in a big city, you learn pretty quickly if there are certain neighborhoods that are infamous for its crime. If you don't want your car stolen, if you don't want to be mugged, if you don't want to unnecessarily risk your life, you avoid going there.

Same thing goes for going into unfamiliar neighborhoods on the Internet, and happily, McAfee Inc., the antivirus software, has released a report that alerts the public where the safe web sites are, and where the not-so safe web sites are. These not-so safe web sites are the ones that are loaded with malware, where suddenly after a visit you have pop-up ads all over the place, or the site will steal your email address in order to use it to send spam.

MSN Money has rounded up 5 things you should never rent, especially under a rent to own program! Many people recognize that rent to own stores don't offer the best prices for pretty much anything, but don't realize that some items the cost of renting to own is high enough to purchase the item three times over. The high cost of these rent to own items comes from the risk that the stores take on over the period of the rental, but most consumers can avoid these fees by going without for a few months and saving up or lowering their expectations!

Big screen televisions and computers top the list of items you shouldn't rent, these items can be purchased outright and even through a payment plan with a store such as Best Buy or Dell for a much reduced price. Every other week I get email offers for Dell computers priced below $500, for which a rent to own customer would spend at least $2,000 over the rental period. Another prominent item to avoid renting are rims to pimp out your 1995 ford escort; stick with the stock because no one likes a car that is all show and no go.

The article does recognize that there are some items where renting makes the most sense such as a tuxedo so long as you don't attend black tie affairs every weekend. I can also understand renting a big screen TV for a big sporting event but in this day in age it seems like at least one person in a group of friends has a big screen already, even if it is from Smitty's Rent-a-Center. Do yourself a favor and avoid renting to own. You can save buckets of money by exercising patience.

I'm not a guy prone to violent thoughts. Really. But, you know, for the last few hours, I haven't been able to get my email to work.

Fortunately, just as I was about to take a hammer to my computer, I realized that it wasn't really a problem with my PC, but a problem with the email server software program thing-a-ma-jig that I use (OK, I'm not a computer expert either). Once I realized that, I went to a back up email server program thing-a-ma-jig that I have, and now I have email, and all is well.

But in between all of this, I fantasized about throwing my computer into the trunk of my car, and in an ode to The Sopranos, I figured I'd shoot the monitor and dump my hard drive into a lake.

If you're in the market for a computer, Dell's probably your best bet: You can mess around with trying to buy one at Wal-Mart, as I did, or some other discounter but for customer service and quality, Dell's the way to go.

Apparently it can be pretty cheap too: For $379, you can get a Vostro 200 Minitower for $379 -- regularly $629. And unlike most computers you find under the $500 mark, it includes a 19 inch flat panel monitor and all the software you need to get started: no Microsoft Word but you can probably make due with Microsoft Works, which is included.

It also comes with Dell's usual strong warranty/service deal and a keyboard and mouse. You'll need to buy speakers on your own but that's not a big deal: You can get those for $10.99.

Last week, CompUSA announced that it would be selling or closing all remaining stores in the United States. Consumers have been panicking, especially those who bought service plans for their computers. They were afraid they'd be left high and dry.

I am one of those consumers with a computer from CompUSA and I also purchased the TAP (Technology Assurance Plan.)

Rumors were flying about whether or not those plans would still be valid, and they are still valid and will be honored.

The plans are administered through Assurant Group (what CompUSA employees sometimes refer to as "the underwriter"). It does business under different names in different states, but the parent company is Assurant Group.