Laptop for college?

[deerslayer]

I'm taking my desktop system to school with me. I considered getting a laptop but I couldn't justify paying that much for a new laptop when I have a good computer already. I bought a LCD monitor over the summer which should help save space at college.

 

[udonoogen]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber

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'm a poli sci major. i have a desktop.

in poli sci classes you're writing papers a LOT. staring at a 15 inch laptop LCD screen is not the same as a 17-21" desktop monitor. given the fact that you're going to be home during most of your computer's usage, i'd suggest getting a desktop computer ... not only for the ease of writing papers, but because theyre a lot more powerful and a lot cheaper. if you want your class notes digitized for easy study, just retype them at home. that's what i do. it helps in organizing your thoughts for papers as well.

all my poli sci classes are lecture based so you have to write as fast as you can. some people type but their notes are a lot more disorganized than mine. you don't have time to do the outline format and stuff during lecture on a notebook computer. you miss a lot trying to configure the Word document to be just how you like it ... and if you don't organize your Word document, then your notes are a jumble of crap. with old school spiral notebooks, all you gotta do is put a dashmark and write a line. simple, easy, and cheap.

if you think youre going to the library everyday in college (and thats why you need a laptop), let me tell you the likelihood of that happening is probably not going to happen.

dorm space is a bigger issue than most people claim. i had a desktop in the dorms. most people did. it's not that big of a deal. and you'll eventually move out and you can buy yourself a huge desk for whatever rig you set up.

my advice is to get a notebook as a toy that you "might" use ... not as your primary computer.

 

[Atrail]

I don't use mine that much to tell the truth.
Comes in handy for parties and some school projects...

 

[Freejack2]

Laptops chew through batteries pretty quick. You'd probably need 2 or 3 to get through a day of notetaking. There are a number of palms that will last through a day of notetaking.
I think the best answer is a desktop and a palm or win-ce pda with a keyboard. Use the palm with keyboard to take notes in class (and paper for diagrams) then sync it on your desktop pc.
This way you're not carrying around a 5 - 8lb notebook, just a few ounces for a palm and a keyboard.

A notebook that can do everything will cost you $1600 - $2400. Say $1900 average.

A pda with a keyboard can be had for $150 - $550. Say $350 average.
A P4 or XP desktop, with upper end 3d, big hard drive, 19" monitor, and lots of memory will run you $1000 - $1600 say $1300.

So with the desktop/pda route you save $250 which you can use for future pc upgrades, you have more powerful desktop, and you have a pda that fits in your pocket instead of a heavy notebook.

 

[Jzero]

If you ain't gonna carry it around, then don't get a laptop.

I once had a girl's parents call my lab and ask if we could come to her room to install her ethernet card. We gave them our usual speech about insurance not covering us if we weren't working in our lab, please bring it down.
They said "But it's a laptop..."
Me: "Great! That means it's portable...just grab the AC adaptor and bring it down (same building, she was 2 floors up!)."
They said: "We just spent 3 hours putting locks on it so that no one can steal it. We don't want to have to unlock it until she comes home for break."
Me: Please hold, thanks."
SHES A FVCKING IDIOT! BLARGH ARGH!!!!!! *head explodes.*
Me: Thanks for holding, I just spoke to my director and she said that it is not possible for us to service your daughter's PC unless you bring it to our lab. If you have any other questions, please contact extension 555, otherwise, I'll see you and your daughter's laptop before 5PM today. Thanks.

 

[rh71]

Yes, definitely laptop. There's NO reason for a desktop unless you need to play hardcore 3d games (which I did).

 

[xuanman]

sticking with your desktop is probably the better idea...you can always wait and see what school is like, and if you find that you need a laptop, get one then.

 

[stev0]

get a lappy.

1) you can bring it to class if you like
2) dosen't take up much room
3) quiet
4) if your campus has wireless you can take it with you to class... or go somewhere and study with it and not have to worrie about cables all over the place

want a good intel based lappy? www.sagernotebooks.com

edit: i can't remember what series it is of sagers, but it happens to be the exact same computer as what alienware is selling, and many other small companies out there as well... sager happens to be the origional company. I've been using their biggest laptop (2.6p4 1gig ddr ram, ect.) and haven'thad any complaints at all. infact i love it, the 10 key numberpad is definatly a plus as well as the 15.7" lcd... yes it is big, but if you don't have to carry it around with you, definatly the way to go.

 

[bizmark]

the main benefit for me was the relative size of a laptop compared to a desktop. I didn't have a bigass monitor sitting on my desk, or a big box sitting under my desk. I could have an entirely empty desk top when I needed it to do homework. You can't exactly toss your 17" monitor on the bed when you need to do homework. And, unless you're REALLY lucky, space *will* be an issue. I never really used my laptop to take notes or go to the library to write papers. It only left my room when I went home for breaks.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

If I were you I'd try to see in which of these categories I fit in:
- Very budget limitated: CRT + cheap desktop
- Somewhat budget limited: LCD + FlexATX desktop
- Budget over $1500: Laptop

Many universities (incl. the one I attend) offer WiFi for certain parts of the campus (most of the eng. buildings and library here).
Keep in mind that though a laptop might be nice, it certainly isn't necessary. If I were you, I'd take a good look at Shuttle's FlexATX cases + LCD and compare the prices with laptops.

 

[DorkBoy]

900

 

[amdskip]

Desktop, just the more practical item unless you are on a wireless campus.

 

[hans007]

well i'm in college and i've had both. i had alaptop for a while, so i could stop myself from upgrading my motherboard all the time (i dont do that anymore, and am back to desktop, i must be cured or mature or both).



a laptop is only good, if you dont want the fastest, and dont relaly care about your computer that much.


since i care about the speed of my computer, and play some games, i have a desktop. it you can get both then well, thats a different story.

 

[Aquaman]

If you already have a palm PDA then get a SmartPad2. This allows you to make sketches frfom class & you can download then to your computer for later use. Just a thought......... Sounds like a better plan than a laptop:

1. it's lighter
2. it's cheaper
3. you can make actual charts or drawings frrom the class notes

only con I can see is, that you still have to take notes by hand

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: Aquaman
If you already have a palm PDA then get a SmartPad2. This allows you to make sketches frfom class & you can download then to your computer for later use. Just a thought......... Sounds like a better plan than a laptop:

1. it's lighter
2. it's cheaper
3. you can make actual charts or drawings frrom the class notes

only con I can see is, that you still have to take notes by hand

Cheers,
Aquaman

Oh yeah.......... they also have a pocket pc version :

Smart Pad for the Pocket PC

Cheers,
Aquaman