College students: desktop or laptop?

[kranky]

I have a friend who is starting college next month and money is very, very tight. She needs a computer. How essential is it to have a laptop? What are the advantages?

 

[imported_KirbsAw]

Advantages? You can use it on the toilet

 

[minendo]

Desktop.

 

[Hubris]

If she's looking to save money, I would go with a desktop. If something happens, you can upgrade piecemeal, which is harder and more expensive with laptops. And there are usually computer labs all over the place if you absolutely NEED to use your computer outside your room.

Also harder to steal.

Make sure she gets an LCD.

 

[Vortex22]

You don't need a laptop... no one really uses them to do anything productive while in class.

 

[jyates]

You can get a whole lot more computer for your money with
a desktop.

Laptops are great if you move around alot but there's nothing
like looking at a full sized screen and typing on a full sized keyboard.

 

[Sketcher]

Well, you siad money's very, very tight.

A desktop is a better value for the money.;

Unless a critical need for portability enters the picture you've got your answer.

 

At my college you don't need a laptop. Computers with Internet access are literally all over the place. She'll be fine with a desktop.

 

[TipsyMcStagger]

well in my opinoin w/ a laptop.... Theyre more expensive, plus she'll spend half the time on campus worrying about keeping track of her laptop so it doesn't get stolen

 

[OMG1Penguin]

Palm Pilots are digital notepads.... laptops are digital legal pads~

I bought a laptop to go to a class in Mississippi with, and I was delighted with the fact I could take it anywhere. However, with that, the risk for damage, theft, etc, increases exponentially. I was also disappointed that its performance was nowhere near the performance I could get if I spent $1000 building my own computer.

On the up side, I sold it on ebay when I got back from Mississippi for what I bought it for.

 

[Emrys]

If you have to fly to and from school get a laptop, if you are going to drive (live close to school) get a desktop.

 

[sniperruff]

money tight? buy a dell or build an athlon with a nforce2 with integrated everything... buy HD, optical drive and RAM on sale and it should cost less than $300...

a sale dell is a better value since it has software and OS. however maybe the school provide free software on some conditions...

i had free windows and office full versions from school... you just have to look HARD...

oh yeah if she commutes, go for the laptop. a cheap one goes for $600 or so. a desktop is good for dormers, and costs half of that

good luck to her

 

[JoPh]

desktop.

 

[tfinch2]

both ;]

 

[MAME]

trust me, a desktop is better in every way (except for space, which is actually generally a moot point as the case takes up space you'd never use anyway). Cheaper, much easier to fix, more powerful, very hard to steal, easier to upgrade (doubt that would come up, but who knows), etc.

it's college, you don't need a laptop ever. Hell, even all my CS classmates rarely have a laptop with them

desktop >>>>>>>>>>> laptop

 

[iamme]

if money is very, very tight a desktop is the way to go.

 

[kranky]

I'm really surprised at the number of replies for desktops. Performance isn't an issue (she's not gaming) - it will be used for the standard college stuff - papers, research, etc. My personal feeling was that a desktop would be a better choice, but I wanted the wisdom of those who are in college now.

 

[vi edit]

I had both in college - CS majors were given laptops as part of the deal. Even with a school funded laptop I STILL used my desktop so much more. Rarely did I find that a laptop was as convenient as I would have believed it would have been. The cost difference just seals the deal for somebody buying on a budget.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: kranky
I'm really surprised at the number of replies for desktops. Performance isn't an issue (she's not gaming) - it will be used for the standard college stuff - papers, research, etc. My personal feeling was that a desktop would be a better choice, but I wanted the wisdom of those who are in college now.

you never told us if she commutes or not.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: kranky
I'm really surprised at the number of replies for desktops. Performance isn't an issue (she's not gaming) - it will be used for the standard college stuff - papers, research, etc. My personal feeling was that a desktop would be a better choice, but I wanted the wisdom of those who are in college now.

you never told us if she commutes or not.

Even then a $30 jump drive is more economical and easier to use than a laptop. Just type it up at home, dump it on the jump, bring the jump to school and plug it into a lab PC and print.

Done.

 

[dionx]

desktop + LCD

 

[kranky]

She will be living on campus.

 

[homestarmy]

desktop plus pocket pc

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: homestarmy
desktop plus pocket pc

Hell, I still think PPC's are unnecessary unless you are in an educational program that has specialized software designed to work on PPC's. Many medical professions have stacks worth of books condensed down to e-dictionaries that are stored and retreived on PDA's. Other than a few degree's I can't think how a PDA is any more useful in an educational sense than a good old notebook and piece of paper.

 

[preslove]

Personally, I like typing on laptops better, especially when on the couch. For me it is just more comfortable. But you did say money is tight... how much is she looking to spend? If it's ~$1200 I would go with a laptop.