Basketball games aren't the toughest match-ups in "Coach Carter," the necessity of quality education and the importance of athletics take center stage as they go head-to-head in this recent film starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Since the semester is beginning and you might be able to squeeze a few bucks out of Dad for a new computer, let's take a look at buying a notebook computer. In a marketing-driven environment, it can be difficult to isolate valuable features from fluff.

The scene is all too familiar. A parent opens the door to a messy room with clothes strewn about and yells at the sulking teen, "Clean up your room ... and fold up those clothes!" Understandably, the teen is not very motivated by such a mundane task.