College students. Is a laptop worth it?

[TheBoyBlunder]

Ask yourself these questions:
1) Is your current computer up to snuff for doing your school tasks?
2) Can you see yourself hauling a laptop to school and taking notes on it?
3) Do you think you could hang onto it and not loose it?
4) Would it survive being hauled around (do you drop things easily, would it get destroyed easily?)
5) Can you afford it?
6) Would you still need a laptop in the future (6 months+)?
7) Do you think a laptop you purchase now would be powerful enough to do whatever you need in 6 months? A year? Two years?
8) Would it replace your current computer?
9) Is buying a laptop ultimately cheaper than renting one from your school?

I think they should help you decide.

 

[aphex]

Personally, i neded a combo of both a desktop and a laptop towards the end of my college career for many reasons...

However, having a laptop & a cell phone w/ a camera really helps pass the time in Global Business Economics..... As noted the the following PICTURE (Taken last thursday in class)

 

[jsbush]

Originally posted by: TheBoyBlunder
Ask yourself these questions:
1) Is your current computer up to snuff for doing your school tasks?
2) Can you see yourself hauling a laptop to school and taking notes on it?
3) Do you think you could hang onto it and not loose it?
4) Would it survive being hauled around (do you drop things easily, would it get destroyed easily?)
5) Can you afford it?
6) Would you still need a laptop in the future (6 months+)?
7) Do you think a laptop you purchase now would be powerful enough to do whatever you need in 6 months? A year? Two years?
8) Would it replace your current computer?
9) Is buying a laptop ultimately cheaper than renting one from your school?

I think they should help you decide.

1) Doing word processing yes. Running windows xp, and Vitural Machine like I'll be using at school, nope.
2) Yes
3) Of course
4) Same as 3.
5) No, but I also can't afford a new desktop, options are a laptop or new desktop.
6) Yes
7) I was looking at the Toshiba's with the new Centrino cpu's, so for two to three years, yes.
8) Yes
9) No, of course not.

 

[AkumaX]

it was pretty fun for a while (wifi all around campus) but then didn't really need one

 

[edro]

Yes, get one..... but buy a used one.

 

[CClyph]

Get a Sager. It's an affordable portable desktop.

www.pctorque.com
www.sagerforums.com

 

[Beller0ph1]

Get a desktop...games are easier to play on it. You might want to look into the small form factor stuff and spend a little extra on a LCD screen since space is limited in a dorm room. I should have got a LCD instead of my 19" CRT.

 

[jsbush]

I'm not moving into a dorm, I've got an apartment. And I already have a 19" LG Studioworks E900B, so no need to get a monitor if I get a desktop.

 

[MrYogi]

If your options are a new desktop or a laptop, then go for a laptop.

 

[TJN23]

NOT WORTH IT...colleges will let u rent out lappies for use in the library...get a desktop, game a lot, slack off, drink, college is about slacking off b/c u still can...

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: TJN23
NOT WORTH IT...colleges will let u rent out lappies for use in the library...get a desktop, game a lot, slack off, drink, college is about slacking off b/c u still can...

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Couldn't afford one.

 

[Staples]

I have one I bought for $2200 and it feels like it was a huge waste of money. I hardly use it at all. I am usually at home when I use a computer and of course I'd choose the desktop of a laptop.

 

[ElFenix]

i'm required to have one, else i probably wouldn't.

 

[FuZoR]

I'm thinking about getting a 12" powerbook... or >5lbs centrino laptop
the school has wifi.. and im gonna be stuck in school.

oh and borrowing laptops from the libary = LONG ASS LINES! and computer lab is annoying lame people walk around to make sure you arent chatting or playing java/flash games and crap.

 

[CClyph]

The Sager notebooks are just as powerful as desktops and are awesome for gaming. Desktop processors, Radeon 9600 Mobility Pro, and awesome LCDs that have no ghosting.

 

[Spac3d]

I wouldn't get a laptop.

 

[NeoMadHatter]

i love my laptop it's great. if i could get an IBM T40 i would, but i don't have that kind of money. laptops are awesome if your school has wifi. it also depends on what you plan on doing with it. desktop is better if you're not responsible as laptops are easily stolen. and there's usually no heat issues with desktops.

 

[NogginBoink]

As others have said, it's not as useful for note-taking as you might think at first.

It's *really* nice to have in the library, especially if they have a wireless network.

In some discussion classes, it can be nice to look up information on the 'net while you're discussing it in class.

 

[Siddhartha]

Keep your desktop and get an used laptop off ebay or some other venue. For most, non game, computer uses you can get by with a laptop that has a 700 - 900 mHz cpu, 256 to 512 meg RAM , and a 20 to 30 gig hard drive.

 

[alpineranger]

Having a desktop and a laptop gives you a lot of flexibility, especially when something happens to one of the computers right before some big deadline (for me, it's usually the desktops that give the most trouble). Even if you aren't required to have/use a laptop for any particular class, and even though most people use their laptops in one place (eg. confined to the dorm room or apartment), having a complete computer system that is compact, light, can be packed neatly away and only involves a few wires is something you will appreciate when you 1)go home, 2)move, 3)organize your room.

Especially if you have a desktop as well, be careful not to waste your money getting more laptop than you need. Don't skimp on the screen as it can't be upgraded and will give you such a headache if it isn't any good that you won't want to use the computer after 5 minutes (I speak from personal experience). Don't worry about processor speed unless you wind up with a 350 Mhz P2 (or something of that ilk). Memory can be upgraded, same with the hard drive.

 

[0roo0roo]

unless the class pretty much requires or is known to rely on laptops... not much point. laptops are noisy and annoying to others around you. its an expensive, sometimes heavy, annoying to keep charged, easy to break etc. its a major pain all around for very little benifit except in specialized cases. need storage to tote around all your documents? buy a usb keychain flashmem drive for a few bux.

 

[psianime]

I have a laptop but I never brought it to class. The only time I use it is when I go to the library or I do projects and I need some computer files at my friend's house.

 

[jinduy]

only thing laptops are good for in a lecture room is viewing slides...

i typically see students play games with it more often or do some other crap...seems like it's just a distraction.

 

[Patz98]

I didnt really need the portability. I'd say go with the desktop because you get a more powerful machine for your money.

 

[placebo139]

unless you can't study well in the dorms (or wherever you live), and need it for notes and library... you don't really need one. i've never really had the need to use a computer outside my dorm room.