Saving with 6abc: Deals on back-to-school computers

Back-to-school shopping is the second biggest spending spree of the year, according to the National Retail Federation.

And these days, students need a lot more than pencils and paper. That's why Consumer Reports put together some suggestions for kids of all ages.

Consumer Reports says a good choice for first through fifth graders is a low-cost Chromebook.

"Chromebooks are lightweight laptops that run Google's Chrome operating system. For younger kids, parents can set up supervised user accounts that restrict content on the web," said Glenn Derene of Consumer Reports.

One Chromebook to look for - the Acer C720-2848. It costs just $200, and Consumer Reports says it lasts more than 10 hours on a charge.

Serious homework demands a serious computer. For high school and middle school students, Consumer Reports says the 600 dollar Lenovo IdeaPad U430 Touch is a good choice.

"It's a lot of laptop for the money. It's got a powerful processor, a decent-sized hard drive, and it was a very good performer in our lab tests," said Derene.

Another plus - at about four pounds, it won't weigh down a backpack.

For college-boudn students, the question is: For taking notes, is a laptop, or a tablet, a better choice?

Consumer Reports says Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 offers the best of both. It costs $1,000, plus $130 more for the keyboard accessory.

"It's technically a tablet, but it's got a full Windows operating system. It allows you to switch back and forth between a touchscreen-friendly mode, and one that's more like a conventional mouse and keyboard," said Derene.

For more information, visit ConsumerReports.org.