Is a laptop neccesary in college?

[neutralizer]

It's not necessary but it's nice to take notes with them.

 

[Baked]

It's for porn on the go. It's horribly uncomfortable if you wanna type long papers on the freakishly small keyboard. I use the 24 lab in the school library.

 

[slpaulson]

I've never really felt the need to have a laptop.

 

[neutralizer]

Originally posted by: Baked
It's for porn on the go. It's horribly uncomfortable if you wanna type long papers on the freakishly small keyboard. I use the 24 lab in the school library.

Reminds me of the Chappelle Show skit.

 

[ElFenix]

unless you're really disciplined you're going to end up using it to play poker in class like everyone else does. i'd suggest not having one. they're easier to steal from dorm rooms, they are not helpful for note taking, and they still cost more than the equivalent desktop.

 

[ArchCenturion]

I agree with most of the people here.
My major is Mech Eng. and I reallly have not needed a computer at all. Its hard to take notes on a computer when most of the symbols are Greek or you are drawing pictures all the time.

Maybe if you are a different major, like writing or something then it maybe more useful.

Most of the kids I know that bring their computer to class, just end up plugging in their headphones and talking on aim, or worse, distracting the kids around them.

Only recently have i actually needed a computer for programs such as solidworks, pro-engineer, matlab, mathematica, etc. and technically I should not even have these programs on my computer. Your school will provide you with all the computers that you need.

 

[daveshel]

I always found I got more out of the classroom when I concentraded on listening rather than trying to be a stenographer.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

To agree with the above: A laptop is in no way needed. It can be extremely useful at times depending on your college, major, and study habits. I ocassionally find myself needing to get out of my apartment for a while, so I take my laptop to Starbucks/the bookstore and chill there.

 

[Ika]

Any thoughts on having a very cheap (possibly old... I'm talking $300 or so here) small laptop for on-the-go note taking, and having a gaming desktop or something?

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

If you're going to be visiting family every summer/winter and you live on the 4th floor without an elevator and it's fvsking hot out by chance everytime you go to move and your desktop weighs about 50 pounds you'll wish you had a labtop... I know from experience.

 

[NatePo717]

Originally posted by: axelfox
No.

 

[Queasy]

Some sort of PC is a requirement. I wish I had had a laptop in my college days only because it was a PITA lugging around a desktop computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc when it came time to move in and out of the dorms. Not to mention the deskspace the thing took up.

I don't think I would have ever taken one into a class though. Trying to take notes during a lecture on a laptop seems inconvienent and distracting.

 

[NatePo717]

Originally posted by: ArchCenturion
I agree with most of the people here.
My major is Mech Eng. and I reallly have not needed a computer at all. Its hard to take notes on a computer when most of the symbols are Greek or you are drawing pictures all the time.

Maybe if you are a different major, like writing or something then it maybe more useful.

Most of the kids I know that bring their computer to class, just end up plugging in their headphones and talking on aim, or worse, distracting the kids around them.

Only recently have i actually needed a computer for programs such as solidworks, pro-engineer, matlab, mathematica, etc. and technically I should not even have these programs on my computer. Your school will provide you with all the computers that you need.

I hope your using a legally purchased license of SolidWorks or I will have to report you.

 

[2Dead]

Originally posted by: mugs
It is absolutely not necessary. At least it wasn't when I graduated 3 years ago.

I had a laptop and it almost never left my desk.

*note: I was a computer science major and most of my work including group projects was done in my room. I almost never went to the library or elsewhere to do school work.

same here. Things could have changed though.

 

[Tobolo]

no way

 

[razor2025]

Not essential, but quite useful. Prices these days makes laptop decision not so hard anymore. If you're buying it solely for non-gaming purposes, you'll be fine with sub-$500 category. Just make sure it has Wifi and 512mb of RAM (minimum).

Laptops are great especially during finals, when all the lab computers in campus are taken up. No need to line up for hours to get one. Now, if you could wirelessly print from a laptop to a lab printer... man that would save so much headache.

On a personal note, I got a Thinkpad T42 for $1k with 3 yr warranty early this year. It did see some decent action when final project time rolled around. The keyboard was wonderful to type in, save for the screwed up Fn and CTRL key location.

 

[razor2025]

Originally posted by: TrandM

Originally posted by: mugs
It is absolutely not necessary. At least it wasn't when I graduated 3 years ago.

I had a laptop and it almost never left my desk.

*note: I was a computer science major and most of my work including group projects was done in my room. I almost never went to the library or elsewhere to do school work.

same here. Things could have changed though.

That's certainly true for my school. Alot of the classes have shifted into more group-orientated settings. Having laptops is still not a requirement, but it helps a good bit.

 

[McGyver]

not at all

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: TrandM

Originally posted by: mugs
It is absolutely not necessary. At least it wasn't when I graduated 3 years ago.

I had a laptop and it almost never left my desk.

*note: I was a computer science major and most of my work including group projects was done in my room. I almost never went to the library or elsewhere to do school work.

same here. Things could have changed though.

Some schools/programs are requiring students to have laptops now.

 

[Powermoloch]

Not really necessary...it's only useful when you have really LONG breaks in between classes. Otherwise...no.