One of the great things about being a student, or the parent of a student, is the special “academic pricing” available on many computer and software products.  With discounts of as much as 80 percent on some items, the savings are a reason to smile even if your sizable college tuition bill is not.

To qualify, students typically need to be attending an accredited educational institution and be able to show proof of enrollment—often by submitting an e-mail address with an “.edu” ending (a type of e-mail address only granted by schools), faxing copies of current student ID cards or submitting other enrollment documents.  Some companies allow parents to make purchases on behalf of their kids, but others have stricter rules.