Laptop for college kid 518
Weightwise most definitely. Size didn't really matter, although, I think the smaller footprint the better.
Add an internal wireless adapter if it doesn't already come with it. The dorm rooms should already be wired, but sometimes student centers or libraries will have wireless routers to access the school system. Or, if she's rooming with others in an apartment off campus, they'll have to get a router to share a connection. Going wireless will make it easier to share.
Also, upgrade the drive to a burner. A dvd burner is nice to have, but I don't think it's necessary; cd burner is good enough. I did upgrade to dvd burners. My kids first told me, no need, but now they ask me to send them blanks for it. Dvd blanks are really cheap these days, but cd blanks are practically free.
Just curious, what laptops were her friends recommending, instead of Dells?
Some of that is self-selecting, if everyone has Dells then that's all the problem laptops she'll hear about. I'd put Dell right about in the middle of...