Is your computer ready to go to college?

The typical college-bound young person either owns a computer or is shopping for one right now.

It will be needed for homework, for keeping up with campus events, and even for fun - playing games, listening to music, and watching videos.

But what kind of machine does a student need? What kind of software? And how to protect the vital data stored within?

It depends. Each school has its own policies, usually published on the college’s website. But wherever you’re headed, there are some basic issues for you, and, if they’re helping, for your parents to ponder.

Is your current computer good enough? Probably, if it’s no more than a couple of years old. Colleges generally support machines running Microsoft Corp.’s Windows XP and Vista operating systems, or Apple Inc.’s Mac OS X.

Of course, you can bring any kind of computer you want, even one that supports the alternative Linux operating system, but don’t count on the school’s tech support staff to help with such nonstandard gear.

Even some versions of Windows may be unwelcome. My daughter’s starting at the University of Pennsylvania. Good thing her laptop isn’t loaded with Vista Home Basic, a cut-rate version that lacks key networking features. Penn won’t support that version. Students must be armed with the Vista Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, or Ultimate editions. But that’s just one college; check yours before making a move.

If you’re in the market for a new machine, just about any name-brand computer will do. Nothing wrong with a nice desktop box, but students will probably prefer a laptop for taking class notes or working in the library. I’d stay away from those cheap little “netbook’’ computers; their low-powered processors and limited memory are fine for casual Web surfing, but won’t do for kids with intensive courses in engineering or graphic arts.

Most colleges welcome Macintosh computers, and you can find Mac versions of vital software programs. A good Windows computer will usually cost hundreds less than the cheapest Mac. On the other hand, Macs are far less susceptible to worms, viruses, and other computer malware. Macs also offer Boot Camp, a program that lets the Mac run Windows, but Boot Camp users must buy a copy of Windows for the Mac, and any Windows software they want to run. It’s not worth it unless you must have access to both operating systems.

Lots of schools offer student discounts on computer hardware and software; so do major computer makers like Dell Inc. Shop around for the best deals. Apple’s discounts won’t save you much; a student can buy a 13-inch MacBook for $1,100, down a measly $100 from its usual price. They’ll also throw in a free iPod Touch music and video player; hardly an academic necessity. By contrast, a run-of-the-mill Dell Inspiron 15-incher has a starting price of $660, and carries a back-to-school price of $500.

Some academic specialties require special software. Math and science students might need the number-crunching program Mathematica, while art students will want Photoshop for editing images. Find out what your coursework will require, and be sure the computer has enough processing power, memory, and hard drive space to run those programs.

Perhaps you can save a few bucks by not purchasing Microsoft Office, which costs $150 for the student edition. It’s the safe way to go, and some colleges may require it. But for mundane tasks like writing term papers or solving accounting problems, a free program like OpenOffice will provide everything you need. Just download it at www.openoffice.org. You could also rely on Google’s online office software, Google Docs, at www.docs.google.com.

Colleges take network security seriously. At many schools, when you try to log onto the network for the first time, you must run a program that scans your computer’s hard drive for all sorts of malware. The scan also checks for the presence of antivirus software. If you don’t have any, you’ll be blocked from the network.

Many schools will provide free antivirus software to incoming students. If necessary, buy your own, or try AVG Free, a good antivirus program that you can download at no charge from www.free.avg.com.

It’s vital to back up the data on your computer, in case of a hard drive meltdown. You can rely on an external hard drive or USB thumb drive, or you can subscribe for about $55 a year to an Internet-based backup service like Carbonite or MozyHome. But some colleges, like the University of Pennsylvania, offer network-based backup services to students. Pick one of these backup methods - or else.

Sorry for lengthening your to-do list, as you prepare for the biggest challenge of your young life. But just remember that you had the brains to get into college. Getting your computer ready should be child’s play.

Hiawatha Bray can be reached at bray@globe.com.