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Is a Laptop Necessary for College?

C

Chelsey

Senior member
I'm getting ready to go to college next year and have started looking for laptops. I propose this to my mom and she freaks out and proceeds to tell me why I don't need one. So, do I? Why or why not? By the way, I AM taking my computer with me to college, so I'll have my normal tower with fancy stuff in it, and a laptop of some sort with a network for them. Here are my reasons for getting one:

- 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


And a bunch more reasons that I can't think of at the moment. If you don't think I need one, please state why, because I can't really think of any reasons why I wouldn't need one.
 
You do NOT need a laptop in college. It'll never leave your dorm. Trust me. I'm still using the desktop I got for college, and I'm just NOW thinking of buying a laptop because I might be spending the summer in DC.
 
No. You will not carry your laptop to class. I was a Computer Science major, and in all my classes total, I've seen about 5 people who consistantly carries their laptops to class. On the occasion that you might carry around your laptop, then you have to worry about it getting stolen or damaged.
 
Nope, waste of money in my opinion. I thought the same thing, sunk a chunk of change into an Inspiron, and ended up selling it so I could buy me a desktop. If you didn't already have a desktop I would say go for it, but since you have one save your money for something else. The laptop will sit on your desk 99.99% of the time, I promise. I know you think you will be taking notes with it and all kinds of other cool stuff, but no one ever does. Ever. Pencil and paper > all anyways.
 
You'll probably get tired of lugging it around. Plus, lugging it around increases the likelihood of it getting stolen. Plus plus, stolen laptops are quite common unless you're at some ivy league.
 
I wouldn't invest the money in the laptop at this point in time. I'm sure some colleges recommend them because the dorm rooms are so tiny. If it really comes down to a required purchase, you can always check with the college to see if they are able to get a great bargain on one. Usually, colleges might have better purchasing options because they are buying so many at once. Then again, our "hot deals" forum here has never failed me. 🙂

 
I guarantee you will NEVER take it to class. Maybe the first week, but after that NEVER.

Originally posted by: Chelsey
And a bunch more reasons that I can't think of at the moment. If you don't think I need one, please state why, because I can't really think of any reasons why I wouldn't need one.
Click to expand...

I can think of one - you don't need one.
 
If you end up doing a lot of work in the lab, just get a USB jump drive. I picked up a 512MB model today for $39 - after rebates.

 
Not at all. A pda with keyboard is nice though, that's what I use. Try something like an Axim X50 with keyboard. My X3i can last through 4-6 hours of note taking on one battery.
 
I have both, a PC and laptop

i must admit, i never take it out of my dorm much, BUT!!!!

it helps so much when i have to take it somewhere - such as: back at home, to slideshows, to class.

One thing is - i rarley see people use laptops in class
 
taking notes with a laptop sucks, especially when the professor and entire class get annoyed by the sound of a clicking keyboard. if you're that anal retentive, get a digital recorder and transcribe the lecture after class.

I had a laptop in college and never used it as anything other than a backup computer if my desktop broke (and occasionally I'd take it to club meetings so I'd have something to do if the meeting got boring). I never took it around campus because: it was just as easy to do work without a computer (easier, in fact, since it meant less distractions), wasn't worth the extra weight in my backpack in addition to school books, and laptop theft was pretty common.
 
What are you going to do when you need to draw a graph?

You'll spend time fixing typing errors and will then miss something else the professor has said.

If you're worried about note-taking, you can get a micro-cassette recorder.

If you don't want to type papers in the same place all the time, go to the library.
 
Point 1) Totally useless... a laptop is not useful in most classes especially if you're math minded. You'll also find that if you want to take organized notes.. using a laptop is very time costing.. especially if you have a professor that isn't very linear. If you're taking a politics or history class than it MIGHT be useful but I've found that I've written my notes more by hand than anything else in my politics and history classes.

Point 2) When was the last time you looked at the price of paper? who cares..

Point 3) See point 1

Point 4) You'll find when you're in a lecture.. even your computer typing isn't perfect. you'll use abbreviatations.. it'll be disorganized.. thats what rewriting your notes is for after class.

Point 5) Is this really important?

Point 6) Live with it princess... people did it for years before laptops were around.

Point 7) If you look at the rest of your points.. thats all it's about.. convenience..

Basically you want to make your life EASIER.. that should be your only point.. conveniencce is your thesis.. and you need to make a compelling argument for it.. and quite honestly you haven't.

I've foudn that my computer has spent most of it's time on my desk.. when I take it off I like it.. but I could easily live without it.
 
I did know this one guy who carried his laptop with him everywhere. took notes for classes on it, used it for doing work in the library/cafeteria, etc...

we all made fun of him pretty mercilessly.
 
I have a desktop that I'm planning on taking. I was concerned about not being able to take notes fast enough. I have enough problems in the college classes I am taking in high school, much less veterinary medicine!

Toastedlightly, I am indeed a girl...hello to you too 😛

 
not necessary but I seen those kids waiting on line for a pc to use because they didn't buy one. Last minute term paper and you can't start because you dont have a PC. You dont need it for note taking but you need it to type up a paper..
 
What do you plan on studying? In many classes, taking notes is much easier to do by hand than on a laptop. For instance, in math/science/engineering, you are going to need to be able to quickly and easily write down equations, pictures, diagrams, etc. I've seen people use Tablet PCs fairly effectively, but they end up essentially with hand written notes.

Laptops are very nice to have, but I would make sure I had a good, reliable desktop first. You'll be surprised how little use you will have for both a laptop and a desktop. You'll end up doing all your work on one, and none on the other. They are tough to keep syncronized with all the work you will do.

Ryan
 
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