Notebook or PDA for college?

[NYHoustonman]

I was initially set on getting a notebook PC, but I continually hear people say that I'm not going to use it nearly as much as I think. I've actually heard more recommendations for a PDA than for a laptop. So, which would serve me better/be a better value?

 

[Shivatron]

I have both! You might not need to take a notebook in some situations, so a PDA does serve its purpose.

 

[welst10]

if you dont have any other computer, then no doubt you need a notebook. pda is not a replacement.

 

[NYHoustonman]

I have what is now considered, I would think, a 'mid-range' gaming PC, so I'm fine on that front, and even if I do go with a notebook I'll end up going for the cheapest Pentium M I can find, at least most likely.

 

[AnyMal]

If you have a desktop already I recommend a PPC2003 PDA, Dell Axim offers the best bang for the buck right now. I would get a foldable keyboard for taking quick notes since it has MS Word and Excel built-in and it won't weigh nearlely as much as a laptop. Just my $.02

 

[Mr N8]

Dell Axim x30 w/Wifi & Bluetooth. Most campuses are starting to go, or have already gone wireless. You might as well take advantage of that, and get a handheld that offers WiFi. Although, if you prefer the Palm OS, the Tungsten C is pretty nice.

 

[Modeps]

I liked using paper and a pen.

 

[imported_theEman]

Notebook. Writing papers on that PDAs gonna be hard .

 

[HardcoreRobot]

notebook

as in a bunch of paper bound with some wire. most classes will already have notes on the web or in a course packet. typing notes is not even convenient for lots of courses (like math or anything else with symbols). a laptop is only really useful for surfing the net while not paying attention to your profs.

well, actually it is useful if you need to do comp work and cant concentrate in your dorm. then again, there are computer labs for this also. ive never used a pda so i cant comment on their usefulness. i was never so busy that i needed its power to keep track of appointments and stuff. and ive never had that many friends or contacts to keep track of.

 

[chuckywang]

Ask yourself what you want to use your notebook for? If you bring your desktop to college, and you just want email checking capabilities over WIFI, then a PDA would suffice. If you want to take notes in lectures, then a notebook would probably be better. An expensive compromise would be a Tablet PC.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Laptop. Since I got my laptop, I haven't even touched my PDA.

 

[badmouse]

best of both worlds I'm not in school, but I use this all the time, for writing etc. Check it out.

 

[ugopk]

When i was in school (graduated 2 months ago), I didn't use any of those. I had a laptop and a pda that I never used. All 4 years, i didn't use any of those electronic stuff except my laptop for random websurfing, which i can live without. So don't waste your money right now. just buy it as you need it

edit: CS major, btw

 

[acemcmac]

a pda with 802.11b is worth its weight in gold.. nothing like checking your email, chillin on aim and reading the morning news discreetly in a morning lecture.... (laptops are not commonly used in classes at my university and would be frowned upon as rude to the prof...) enter toshiba e740 :beer:

 

[MetalMat]

If you don't have a desktop, save some money and get that instead of a laptop. You don't "need" a PDA or laptop. If you use a laptop to take notes while in class people will look at you funny, we aren't far enough into the future yet. Just use pencil and paper

If you are in engineering get a good calculator. Im in EECE and use a TI 83+, but wish I had an 89 or 92......

 

[Kipper]

Laptop...

 

[Doggiedog]

I've got an older version of PPC. Have they worked out the bugs in Pocket IE yet? Is it still slow as heck?

 

[Mr N8]

If you already have a PC, you may just want to pick up this:Logitech IO Pen

You can take notes as usual, and tranfer them to your PC if you need them to be printed, or typed out more neatly.

 

[Infernodash]

sweet idea.