Laptop for college?

[BeauJangles]

Do you guys really think a laptop would be better then a desktop for college, when you vote, could you please tell me why? I would be paying for it with my own money, so before I do, I would like to know if people think I would find the expense justifying the convience.

Thanks!


[Question Edited a bit for clarity]

 

[Danman]

I'd say yes because the college I am going to is wireless so I can surf AT when I am in class.
But seriously, I would really use it to take notes in class because I hate writing by hand. I could keep track of myself better too with a laptop.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: cashman
I'd say yes because the college I am going to is wireless so I can surf AT when I am in class.
But seriously, I would really use it to take notes in class because I hate writing by hand. I could keep track of myself better too with a laptop.

Do not use a lap top for notes! It's easier to write by hand. Are you going to create charts in Word, while the prof. writes? I thought about it and it seems next to impossible. Besides, it's much easier to go through notebook. Just get a desktop PC for homewirk and that's all you need. in class, use a college ruled notebook. Yopu should ask what materials you should take to class. I say 2" 3 ring binder for each class. I used a mix of 1" and 2". 2" for engineering courses, 1" for all the other crap.

 

[PsychoAndy]

I would really use it to take notes in class because I hate writing by hand. I could keep track of myself better too with a laptop.

You do realize that the clicking noises just drive people nuts, right? I've wanted to throw a notebook and a pencil at your types for a while now.

-PAB

 

[RossMAN]

No.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

At least he's not taking notes on a Palm like one of the guys in last year's CS class.

And no, a laptop is not necessary. Necessary items include such things as tasteless posters to offend Catholics on your floor, an ample supply of alcohol in various forms, and plenty of smooth Barry White and jazz music for frosh week. "Let's get it on ... " ... ohh yeah.

- M4H

 

[BeauJangles]

I don't mean 'necessary' in the sense of, if I don't have one and have a desktop instead, I won't be able to survive. I mean, will I be happier in college with a laptop over a desktop?

 

[0roo0roo]

quiet laptop required for college if u want to turn it on for class

that being said, laptop break, u dead.

laptop should be a luxury item. a 2ndary comp. unless ur rich then who gives a f*ck

 

[cressida]

what kherman said:

note book for class notes, then desktop for homework. No, you probably won't be much happier with a laptop since you'll probably want to usually go home after class.

 

[0roo0roo]

You do realize that the clicking noises just drive people nuts, right? I've wanted to throw a notebook and a pencil at your types for a while now.

-PAB

totally. clackity clack, hd spin up click click click, spin down, boot up beeps, windows error windows or other windows noises. its all very annoying, especially if its not really necessary in that class. realistically most classes won't benifit from a laptop the ones that need computers have computers.

seriously.. take notes in math class with a laptop? hehe right

 

[wyvrn]

I have a laptop for school, mainly because I commute and wanna take my work with me. Also, half of my curriculum and quizzes are online. And we have a wireless network at my college, so it's cool to eat lunch, watch a DVD, do homework and check email in the TV room. I don't have time to mess with upgrading and tinkering with a desktop now, so I'm selling my last one. I don't worry about getting it stolen since its always by my side, and I have a backpack made for laptops that I can also put my books in. Since I shopped for my laptop, I got it over $400 off and nearly the price of a comparable desktop. Laptops don't have to be expensive

 

[MrBond]

Nothing says "steal me" like a laptop in college.

They're inpractical for note taking (just try to take notes in an engineering class with one, or harder still, in a chemistry class) and its one extra thing to carry around. At my campus, we were never far from a computer lab or the dorms, so it kind of negated the need for a laptop.

Save your money and build a desktop computer.

 

[0roo0roo]

answer this question. can u justify paying 1-3k for a glorified wordprocessor you'll lug around all day?

oh wait, you can watch dvds.. educational dvds.... yea right


as always, if you got moolah, why worry

 

[wyvrn]

I don't take notes in class, too hard to do graphics on the fly on a computer. Spiral notebooks work for me. As for being stolen, anyone that gets their laptop/pda/cellphone/wallet stolen likely deserves it. With basic precautions, nobody is going to steal your laptop/pda/cellphone/wallet.

 

[Parrotheader]

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
You do realize that the clicking noises just drive people nuts, right? I've wanted to throw a notebook and a pencil at your types for a while now.

-PAB

I agree. I graduated in '99 so laptops were only beginning to become somewhat affordable options for students at that time. But the few people that brought them into class drove me nuts since they always seemed to sit right behind me. My cousin said they're becoming all too common now though in a lot of her classes. I guess I'm just old school, but I still prefer taking my notes by hand (even though my penmanship has been ruined by typing) and then going back and retyping my notes in outline format on a computer. That way I'm exposed to the notes several times and learn/memorize things in the process.

If nothing else, one of the main reasons I wouldn't want a laptop in college is due to the fact that stuff like that is stolen all the time. Edit: As apparently most people above have stated. You'd be amazed at the stuff that's stolen in college. Thieves love college campuses for all the goodies you can get from relatively naive college students.

 

[vegetation]

Definitely true with smaller items that you can keep on you at all times, but I'm not so sure about that with a laptop. Are you going to pack up your laptop when you're in the library just to go to the racks a few aisles down? That's all the time it takes for a trained thief to take your things and be out of there.

Originally posted by: wyvrn
I don't take notes in class, too hard to do graphics on the fly on a computer. Spiral notebooks work for me. As for being stolen, anyone that gets their laptop/pda/cellphone/wallet stolen likely deserves it. With basic precautions, nobody is going to steal your laptop/pda/cellphone/wallet.

 

[Pastore]

I bought a laptop for College, and I am starting in January. The desks that are in the dorm rooms are TINY, so I didn't have a choice. Unless I wanted to buy an LCD, but I just like being able to take my computer home on the weekends when I decide to go home. Deskspace size is definitely something to consider if you take a tour of the dorms or whatever.

 

[wyvrn]

If you leave your laptop/wallet/cellphone/pda unattended for ANY amount of time (unless guarded by friends), you are a fool. So if I need to do research, I carry my laptop in backpack with me. For some its an inconvenience, but for me it outweighs the trouble of waiting in crowded computer labs to work on sh!tty machines that have so many viruses they constantly reboot themselves, only to be told I used up all of my alloted time and to get the hell out of the chair for the next guy before I had a chance to do anything. Really, having your own is better

I agree that clicking laptops in class is annoying, but I see laptops in class so rarely I don't complain about it. Conversely, people use their laptops outside of class on our wireless network all the time, so its still a big convenience for those of us that can afford it.

Originally posted by: vegetation
Definitely true with smaller items that you can keep on you at all times, but I'm not so sure about that with a laptop. Are you going to pack up your laptop when you're in the library just to go to the racks a few aisles down? That's all the time it takes for a trained thief to take your things and be out of there.

Originally posted by: wyvrn
I don't take notes in class, too hard to do graphics on the fly on a computer. Spiral notebooks work for me. As for being stolen, anyone that gets their laptop/pda/cellphone/wallet stolen likely deserves it. With basic precautions, nobody is going to steal your laptop/pda/cellphone/wallet.

 

My roommate has a laptop and it hasn't left his desk since he got it. I have a desktop with a flat panel monitor and it's absolutely perfect. At least at U of M there are plenty of computers anywhere you need to go (Angell Hall has a computing site with like 500 Dell Optiplexes and like 300 PowerMAC G4s with flat panel monitors).

Sure, a laptop is nice b/c it's so small but there are tradeoffs (upgradability, multimedia, games, etc.) If I were you I'd get a desktop machine, and with the $$ you save, get a Palm device to scrawl quick notes on.

 

[Keego]

What's your major?
Where are you staying?
Do you play games?

 

[Zenmervolt]

I've got a ThinkPad that I got in 2000 when I was a Freshman. (Model 2629HWU) In truth, it spends most of its time on my desk, but on more than one occasion it has come in very handy to have something that's portable. It has become even more handy now that I'm in the Business school. Personally, I think that it's worth all the shortcomings of a laptop just for the occasions on which the portability has been convenient.

ZV

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: kherman

Originally posted by: cashman
I'd say yes because the college I am going to is wireless so I can surf AT when I am in class.
But seriously, I would really use it to take notes in class because I hate writing by hand. I could keep track of myself better too with a laptop.

Do not use a lap top for notes! It's easier to write by hand. Are you going to create charts in Word, while the prof. writes? I thought about it and it seems next to impossible. Besides, it's much easier to go through notebook. Just get a desktop PC for homewirk and that's all you need. in class, use a college ruled notebook. Yopu should ask what materials you should take to class. I say 2" 3 ring binder for each class. I used a mix of 1" and 2". 2" for engineering courses, 1" for all the other crap.

I take notes on my PocketPC...

 

[MajesticMoose]

I started college with a desktop, but got a laptop after the first semester for space reasons. I needed somewhere to work on non computer stuff, and the big monitor didn't allow that. If you have a nice computer now, i would say just go with an lcd and keep the rest of the PC.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Kyguy
What's your major?
Where are you staying?
Do you play games?

Hey guys, thanks for the responses. To answer some questions. I want to study political science in college, I have no idea what schools i will get into (so I dont know about dorm space), and I play SOME games, but lately all I've been playing is Madden 2003. I can't see my gaming desire going anywhere but down from here, so I would say that in college I will be apt to play the latest CS-type game, but nothing like the Doom 3s of the time.

I think I'm going to stick with my desktop machine I have right now (or jump on another Dell hot deal) and buy an LCD or ThinCRT. I have a chance of getting hold of a 700 mhz laptop for damn cheap from my girlfriend, so that could give me mobility.

 

[Nessal]

I had the same problem as you before. I couldn't decide if I should get a laptop for college or not. It does seem really handy and all but its totally not needed. I haven't ever thought of a time that I needed my computer out of class. Plus you will be in a dorm so there is no need whatsoever.