As both parents and kids gear up for the final days of summer and the lead-up to a new school year, several parents are being tasked with fitting a usually pricier supply into their budgets for their kids-a new computer.

Whether the student is still embracing high school assignments or is heading off to college for the first time, finding the right computer is an important part of the back-to-school supply process. And though some parents may be more tempted by lower price tags, according to Time Magazine, there are certain things parents should consider more about a computer before glancing at the price tag-as being tempted by a lower price without looking into just how useful the computer actually is.

According to the magazine article, there are two specific things shoppers should pay most attention to when shopping to ensure they get the best value for their money-whether they're drawn to a more budget-friendly machine or a high-end product from Apple.

The first piece of advice the magazine gives is to know whether there is a preference more towards PCs or Macs before purchasing. In addition, it is recommended to stick with the same format type throughout entire amount of computer usage, to prevent potential extra costs that could incur from switching format types.

In addition, the specs should also come into play when considering a computer. By looking at the specific things that matter most-things like the computer's overall weight, screen size, memory and hard drive capacity-must be factored in. If a larger amount of memory is important, getting a model within budget that has more RAM than a second model would be the better investment.

So where can parents possibly get some of the best deals on great computers that are worth their investment?

Those willing to sign up for coupon codes at Best Buy can be enrolled in their special college student deals--including a featured one for $100 off any MacBook or iMac purchase.

For those hoping to stick to PCs, Costco members can score a great deal on a Dell Inspiron 17 5000 series Touchscreen Laptop. The model, with a 1080p resolution on a 17.3" screen, also features an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory, a 1TB hard drive, backlit keyboard and wireless AC for $799.99 after a $200 discount.

Other great deals can also be found at Office Max/Office Depot and Staples on various different models.