Is a Laptop Necessary for College?

[Kelemvor]

Hate to put in my 2 cents but I also don't think a laptop is necessary. Just asking for trouble if someone leaves a door unlocked and it get stolen. Not really realistic to take notes with it since most notes aren't in normal paragraph mode anyway. I always used my desktop and never needed a laptop.

Also, where's the POLL?

 

[Mik3y]

i got a laptop for college, and they are the biggest wastes of money ever. cuz i got one, all my friends have them now. all the do on it is leave it at home and game on them. they say they are too lazy to bring the laptop around cuz the ac adapter is set behing the heavy desk.

 

[cheapgoose]

yes u do. but not to take notes. i rarely take notes with my laptop. but believe, when ur paper's due and ur looking for a lab at school to use the pc, you'd appreciate ur laptop. it makes everything much easier.

 

[Chelsey]

There's your poll

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

You don't need one (laptop), I'm a CS major and have not needed one thus far. One may prove useful in future classes (this semester even) with group work, but I'm not even sure about that.

Desktop + USB flashdrive is a LOT cheaper than a laptop if that can suffice for you.

I know people on my hall have laptops that rarely or never leave their rooms (the laptops that is, heh).

Desktops are also much more upgradeable. Laptops are easily stolen, blah blah.

 

[MikeMike]

the only good laptop is a tablet, you can d/l the ppt's and then write all over them.

MIKE

 

[johnjbruin]

You don't NEED a laptop at college. It is a mere convenience.

 

[StageLeft]

No, it honestly is not. I can't give you a compelling argument. You NEED a computer, but you don't NEED it to be a laptop.

 

[Kishan]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
the only good laptop is a tablet, you can d/l the ppt's and then write all over them.

MIKE

wrong MIKE! Do you know how cumbersome the tablet is? For a student, spending $2k, you get a lot more stuff. I will say this. My brother went to NYU and would come home on most weekends, or go to work in the city. It was very useful since he was travelling quite a bit. However, if you think you're going to take notes on this, you're wrong. But a laptop does come in handy in the above scenario.

 

[Dubb]

+1 for wait and see. I probably couldn't survive without my t41p, but for what I do (cad/cam, 3d modeling and graphics), being able to work anywhere, anytime is more of a plus than it would be for most people. The building my program is in is also really short on computers than are worth a damn. it's tough to get one from about 10am-11pm. I ran my old Inspiron into the ground in alittle over a year here. If you're looking at that type of useage, consider getting something of quality (IBM, Apple, Fujitsu). it'll pay off in the long run.

 

[Chelsey]

I have decided that instead of buying a laptop I'll put that money + more into upgrading my computer.

 

[Siddhartha]

You need a computer for college.

Despict a laptop's inherent compromises it would be a nice to have for school.

 

[pkananen]

no, they are almost NEVER useful in class. get a deskie or use the lab if it always avail.

 

[jlee]

no, they are almost NEVER useful in class.

Bingo.

I wouldn't mind having a laptop for school, but I wouldn't use it in class..and there are computer labs everywhere (not sure about your school, but they're all over campus here). My desktop has been just fine so far, and I'm in my fourth semester.

 

[Chaotic42]

No.

Then again, if you must have one, grab a cheap $200 Pentium II laptop. It will take all the notes you can throw at it.

 

[faenix]

It's just a luxury.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: KPSHAH316

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
the only good laptop is a tablet, you can d/l the ppt's and then write all over them.

MIKE

wrong MIKE! Do you know how cumbersome the tablet is? For a student, spending $2k, you get a lot more stuff. I will say this. My brother went to NYU and would come home on most weekends, or go to work in the city. It was very useful since he was travelling quite a bit. However, if you think you're going to take notes on this, you're wrong. But a laptop does come in handy in the above scenario.

wtf are you talking about? im 6.5 hours away from home, obviously cant travel home, and one of my professors would give nots on ppt's and then explain some of the ppt's more indepth, which would make the tablet about a million times more usefull than a notebook as you can write all over the ppt that was put online via the professor.

but its not NECESSARY.

MIKE

 

[ucdnam]

1. No one takes notes in lectures. It's very annoying to hear someone type, especially in a smaller class.
2. No one cares how much paper you use. Otherwise, we'd stop washing our asses and use bidets.
3. cross out your mistakes. No one erases, because your professors will often talk faster than you can write in the first place. You will, if you're a good student, either compare notes with classmates or buy notes for the class.

The only reason I'd buy a laptop for school is if the entire campus was wireless, I didn't live on campus, and the computer labs are always full.

- I take notes in great detail, and I can type faster than I write
-I'd use less paper
-When I screw up taking notes and have to erase, I miss important stuff
-I'm a perfectionist, so every letter has to be perfect and my handwriting has to be neat
-I'd like to have a computer with me when I visit my boyfriend at Rolla
-I would rather not have to type papers at the same place all the time
-convenience

 

[LtPage1]

i dont really think i need one, but my parents are convinced i do, so what the hell. i wont be taking my desktop to college, although i may build a SFF later on.

 

[0roo0roo]

never ever wrote a term paper on the bus or whatever.

just another thing to break.

whenever u need a computer.. it'll be there. ur pc in dorm/apartment.. or lab/library..whatever. laptops are just things asking to break... if ur wealthy well..go f*ckin buy one..no matter. in most classes writing notes is easier on paper. no tapity tap noise, no fan noise to annoy everyone.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Laptops suck for the most part. They're much more fragile than desktops and certainly have more design flaws. Luckily, I get mine replaced for free every 2-3 years through work... My current laptop has had 2 cracked screens, 2 motherboard failures, and currently, the DVD/CD door is sticking and won't open unless I pry on it with a paperclip.

Cliffs Notes:
I want to have sex with Jennifer Anniston.

 

[EyeMWing]

I'll be using my laptop - but since I'm spending my first two years on a commuter school, I won't have a desktop configured to my liking within 30 miles.

Furthermore, my laptop is theft-proof. It's so thorughly thrashed that nobody would WANT TO steal it (the heavily damaged exterior is a farce, the interior is in PERFECT working order after I replaced a few components (a busted cap that was preventing the battery from charging, the external power jack, basic things like that)

 

[MySoS]

I take my Notebook to class every day, but again I commute 1 hour to school each way everyday and I stay at school for the entire day. But I never actually take my notebook out in class. My laptop has been very helpful I highly recomend you get one.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea, basically all proprietary. one part busts.. u screwed..unless ur like eyemwing and bust out a soldering iron lol course i guess u can get extended warrantee..not sure how much abuse they can cover.

 

[Riddleman]

Instead of a notebook I would recommend a palm pilot, it's more portable and a lot less expensive.