Help to convince my cousin to bring a laptop to college

[ivan2]

My cousin is going to college in California from New York. We want to give him a laptop as a presant. However from our conversation he seems to want to eventually settle on a homebuild desktop. My concern is the help he will be getting in CA. Right now, I and some of his friends are his technical support (software job, his friends, big HW troubleshooting, won't post etc, me), if he goes out to CA, I don't know who can help him to troubleshoot his computer. On top of that, there's no way he can take that desktop on the flight so basically I can't help him building it neither. But these reason doesn't seem to convince him otherwise.

can you help me?

p.s. sorry I don't have picture of my cousin, but to complete this thread I will provided the following google image of an asian teenager who roughly looks like my cousin.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/rbrb_1455/Photodisc

 

[Ns1]

You can't take a desktop to class to take notes (and browse the internet/chat on AIM)

/thread

 

[Epic Fail]

He can ship the desktop and there will be plenty of technical help in the dorm.

 

[mugs]

Maybe things have changed since I was in school, but back then a lot of people had laptops and they rarely left their desks. I had one for my last two years and it never left my apartment. Ever. Depends on the major though - as a computer science major, I never had to do work in the library for instance. A laptop could be useful for working in the library. If you never bring your laptop with you anywhere, you're basically paying a premium to get an inferior computer.

You're missing option 3 - buy a desktop instead of building one.

Also Epic Fail is right about technical help in the dorms.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: mugs
Maybe things have changed since I was in school, but back then a lot of people had laptops and they rarely left their desks.... you're basically paying a premium to get an inferior computer.

I was considering posting the same thing. Most laptops are useless for most college students because they treat them like desktops. But, that was really only a waste when laptops were $1000+ and desktops were $300. Now that laptops can be had for $300ish, the waste is mostly gone. Sure, the cousin will have a less powerful computer, but it might be worth the lack of hassle in moving the computer.

Ivan2 really should just tell his cousin to get a prebuilt desktop after the cousin is in CA. There isn't much advantage in building at the moment, and then he can focus on studies and fun instead of a broken computer in parts.

 

[Safeway]

Get him a 15" MacBook Pro with Windows?

When I started, I thought I wanted a desktop. So I built a bad ass desktop. Turns out I needed a laptop.

WANTED: Desktop.
NEEDED: Laptop.

 

[Insomniator]

Build a desktop and buy a 200 dollar netbook for notes in class. No point in getting an expensive laptop when that combo is available for the same or less.

 

[irishScott]

IMO he's actually on the right track. I'm posting from my dorm on my laptop that rarely leaves the room.

OP: Tell him if he's going to get a laptop he's going to want an ultra-portable tablet convertible or something. I tried to get an "all in one" laptop with good marks for gaming and portability. It ended up being a mediocre experience for both. Once I graduate I'm going for a small ultraportable I can take anywhere and a powerhouse desktop for the non-portable stuff.,

 

[DamnRena]

lol why would you get a netbook? i think those are a waste of money. 8"...can bairley see anything! pay $300 to get a 14" screen laptop, i mean i doubt you need anything dual core, 80% of the majority of people use dual cores just becuase they think the more faster the better but deep down a celeron is more than what you would need.

 

[Babbles]

I would think a notebook would be so much better. Also if he is living in the dorm, the smaller space taken up by notebook seems to be the better route. Maybe a 16" or 17" desktop replacement would be a good idea - full size keyboard/numberpad and larger screen with the optional portability if he needed to take it to some class or lab.

 

[Ns1]

omg I swear you guys are doing it wrong


I can't be the only one to have brought my laptop to class and whore ATOT

 

[MotF Bane]

Laptop and desktop.

 

[Babbles]

Originally posted by: DamnRena
lol why would you get a netbook? i think those are a waste of money. 8"...can bairley see anything! pay $300 to get a 14" screen laptop, i mean i doubt you need anything dual core, 80% of the majority of people use dual cores just becuase they think the more faster the better but deep down a celeron is more than what you would need.

I just bought an Asus eee 10" netbook I intend on using for business school. I have a 17" Dell, but it is way too big and heavy to carry around every day all day.

If you can find me a 14" notebook for $300, then point me off that way! Most of them seem to start at the mid $500 range. I paid $250 for my netbook and it is intended to be a supplement to my current laptop, not a replacement, so I would really not want to spend more than $300 for a supplemental tool.

 

[Rebasxer]

Desktop + Netbook for portability?

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: Safeway
Get him a 15" MacBook Pro with Windows?

ROFL, yeah, because I'm sure he has $2000 to spend on a laptop :roll:

I had laptops for part of the time I was in college. They were sometimes useful but not always. I found they were best because they reduced the amount of stuff I'd have to move. When you're in college you tend to move a lot... back and forth between school and home (even if only over long breaks), from one dorm to another at the start of a new school year, etc. And yes, they can be useful for taking notes in class and study groups and so on.

Actually, I'd recommend the desktop + netbook setup. If he really wants a desktop, fine, but netbooks are great and very cheap.

 

[Turin39789]

meh.

The laptop will get stolen.

Until then it will just be a distraction that keeps him from paying attention in class.

 

[Gibson486]

I'd rather convince you to let him do what he wants.....

 

[ivan2]

I originally looked at the $700 dollar range Lauren style laptop, we are not cool enough to afford an apple.

On top of the easier recovery process (nothing that he can screw up by opening up and swapping cards etc, I hope), it is also a well wishing from us that he can make good use of it immediately. Understand that as a 18 year kid 2000 miles away from home, any level of stress bring from a non functioning computer is not necessary. Also, I can upgrade the ram, secure it and install some software for him before he moves away. edit: and the moving thing AstroManLuca said is one of my main complain in college too, especially true for my cousin since he has to move from CA to NY...

You guys are right about buying the whole desktop vs homebuild, that's what I am going to if I had failed to convince him. My reservation to that route is that I have to spec up the desktop, which makes me feel like I am not getting my money's worth. I absolutely against having it ship to me, upgrade and then ship to him, I have no confidence in shipping a computer across the continent.

I also thought of the desktop + netbook route, it is what I have myself (not a student nemore but I travel with netbook), however to fit them in the same budget could mean that they will both be lacking.

Thanks for the comments guys, keep them coming!

 

[jdjbuffalo]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
Build a desktop and buy a 200 dollar netbook for notes in class. No point in getting an expensive laptop when that combo is available for the same or less.

This.

 

[dr150]

Laptop is great for the library/class/cafe. When doing group projects at someone's place, you can always bring the laptop.

I like the MacbookPro 15". Light and sleek. Durable! Great battery life. SILENT. Can run windows dual boot if need be (for gaming or Windows specific apps).

Windows gaming laptops with 17" screens are a burden. Too thick/heavy. Run HOT. Noisy (i.e. fans). CRAPPY battery life (big deal in college area). And aren't that great for gaming as you'd think they'd be or advertised to be. Trust me, carrying a heavy brick lappy with books is VERY different to carrying a sleek light lappy. Day in/day out, the burden will eat away at you.

BTW, most all windows lappies are just a POS. Even the really expensive ones I've owned. As far as lappies go, I'm sold on the Apple stuff.


In a perfect world, a Windows desktop maybe is desirable but a total BURDEN in college. Too huge in tight dorm spaces....people will ALWAYS ask to use it. Anyways, you won't be gaming that much if you're mildly serious about your studies. Plus, in a dorm, an XBOX360 is much better for social gaming with student friends.

 

[Hacp]

It depends if he has an Ipod Touch or a smartphone device. One big use of a laptop is researching things online when you're not at your dorm, which can be accomplished by those devices.

 

[OCGuy]

Anything but a fucking Mac, unless you want him to look like every other trendy hipster d-bag who doesnt realize he is actually being trendy.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I would advise against getting an antec 1200 case, but otherwise Desktop would be fine. Laptops mostly just tempt people to goof off online in classes. Maybe get both a desktop and a really really cheap laptop for notes/research in class.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: dr150
Laptop is great for the library/class. When doing group projects at someone's place, you can always bring the laptop.

I like the MacbookPro 15". Light and sleek. Great battery life. SILENT. Can run windows dual boot if need be (for gaming or Windows specific apps).

Windows lappies are just a POS. Even the really expensive ones I've owned. As far as lappies go, I'm sold on the Apple stuff.


Windows desktop is desirable but a total BURDEN in college. You won't be gaming that much if you're mildly serious about your studies. Plus, in a dorm, an XBOX360 is much better for social gaming.

apple laptops are also significantly more expensive for less real estate.

He should get an ultraportable laptop for class and a desktop for the dorm. Unless lecturing styles have changed significantly in the last 2 years, professors are still lecturing with teh assumption students are writting and drawing things out. Which means they might draw a ton of diagrams and pictures, making taking notes on a laptop really slow and inefficient. Who knows, maybe that's change.

He's allowed to carry on a computer case onto the plane if he wants. The reason i got a Shuttle for college was so I could traffic the computer back and forth without too much hassle

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: dr150
Laptop is great for the library/class. When doing group projects at someone's place, you can always bring the laptop.

I like the MacbookPro 15". Light and sleek. Great battery life. SILENT. Can run windows dual boot if need be (for gaming or Windows specific apps).

Windows lappies are just a POS. Even the really expensive ones I've owned. As far as lappies go, I'm sold on the Apple stuff.


Windows desktop is desirable but a total BURDEN in college. You won't be gaming that much if you're mildly serious about your studies. Plus, in a dorm, an XBOX360 is much better for social gaming.

apple laptops are also significantly more expensive for less real estate.

He should get an ultraportable laptop for class and a desktop for the dorm. Unless lecturing styles have changed significantly in the last 2 years, professors are still lecturing with teh assumption students are writting and drawing things out. Which means they might draw a ton of diagrams and pictures, making taking notes on a laptop really slow and inefficient. Who knows, maybe that's changed.

Macs also suck balls for using Office, which is pretty standard at most colleges (unless your cousin just wants to use the lab...)