POLL: desktop or laptop for college?

[kami333]

Originally posted by: Deslocke

Originally posted by: HiTek21
aren't most of those lock down systems just a piece of double stick tape that sticks to the desk with a cable going to the notebook that locks in place to a small plastic hole?

err.. I can't imagine anyone investing in double stick tape to secure their laptop.

It's more like super glue. But the whole point of the system is to keep someone from just walking away with it. They could easily just take out a pair of wire cutters or something but people tend to notice stuff like that a little more. But usually if you can find a something with a hole in it just lock it to that.

I vote laptop, all the people I know who got desktops for college have later regretted it.

 

[jpeyton]

Laptop, hands down. I had a desktop for three years at college, and got a laptop for my fourth year. You'll find yourself in a lot of situations where you wish you had your laptop handy (studying/working at the library, coffee shops, downtime between classes, at home during breaks, etc.)

 

[slydecix]

Here's my experience with a laptop during freshman year...

Class note-taking
- Rarely did I ever bring my laptop to class for notes. Often, the notes for my classes involve diagrams and other figures that I can't quickly produce on a word processor. (Wish I had a tablet pc) Sometimes, the lecture hall seats are pretty small and cramped, so there's not that much elbow room.

In-between classes
- I usually schedule my classes right after one another, so I go to class, then come back to my room. During freshman year, I almost never brought my laptop with me for this purpose. Any time I did have a break, there was always a computer lab nearby for me to surf and check my mail. However, our campus didn't have wi-fi set up at that time, so it's probably a much different experience today.

Studying
- Too lazy to leave my room

Group projects
- This was the only applicable use for my laptop. But then again, there's usually at least one other person who has a laptop if you have to write some kind of group proposal together.


Long story short, my laptop stayed in my dorm room 99% of the time and in the summer, I went the FS/FT route and exchanged it for a desktop.

EDIT: One more detail- my parents' house is 40 minutes away from my school, so taking the desktop with me when I go home for break isn't a problem.

Hope that helps.

 

[kalster]

i would get a centrino

better battery and stuff, if you are gonna take it with you to the library or somethign a lot

runs cooler also

 

[nmcglennon]

I used to be a big fan of the desktops, because they offered more power, storage, and capabilites. But now, they gap between desktops and laptops is becoming narrower. You can get great prices on latptops these days, and their performance isn't bad.

After 3 1/2 years of having a desktop in college, I would definitely say get a laptop. Between trips back home, going to class, studying at coffee shops, going to work, freelance webdesign with clients, etc; a desktop doesn't offer the mobility and usability I am looking for. I remember projects and papers for school that would have been much easier if I had my computer in the library with me *while* I study. Not to mention the constant trips back to my house/apartment/dorm was a pain just to use the desktop.

For my last year and a half, I am switching to a fully decked out Dell Latitude D600 centrino laptop beacuse I can use it in more of a social environment, and is easier to transport home, etc. :beer:

 

[LS20]

laptops are a useless... theyre only for freshmen geek to bring to class and play solitaire on. i still havent havent seen an instance of proper use of a laptop at school

 

[zimu]

i definitely say laptop.

you can travel with it to the library, take it to class if you wanna show off, take it to friends places etc etc. so many uses.

 

[thirtythree]

thanks for the replies. also, how long do batteries usually last on the inspiron 1100?

 

[DaWhim]

lol, get both! I have a desktop,
athelon 2000+
512mb

a pretty good desktop to do anything

today, I got my laptop
ibm X-30
p3 1.2ghz mobile
512mb
3.7lbs
and 5 hours battery life

the laptop cost me $650 for it, I built the desktop a long time ago for about $500.
I am set for the rest of my college life.

get a cheap ibm x-series, they are great for portability. t-series is your choice to. you can get a t20 for about $500

 

[kalster]

Originally posted by: DaWhim
lol, get both! I have a desktop, athelon 2000+ 512mb a pretty good desktop to do anything today, I got my laptop ibm X-30 p3 1.2ghz mobile 512mb 3.7lbs and 5 hours battery life the laptop cost me $650 for it, I built the desktop a long time ago for about $500. I am set for the rest of my college life. get a cheap ibm x-series, they are great for portability. t-series is your choice to. you can get a t20 for about $500

we use the x31 at work

damn good laptops

company bought it for 3000 2 years back i think

 

[DWW]

I'm buying a laptop for myself when I go to university in the fall.

I went to college already (college and uni are different in canada) and didn't have one then. I wish I did for notetaking alone. Reason being is that I type -way- faster and neater (obviously) than I can write. The other thing is that for CS and programming I can try little snippets of code in class, between breaks and whatnot. I'd watch other kids in my class do that.

I'd also like one because the commute between where I was living and the school was about an hour and 15 minutes away during peak times on the transit so I'd like something closer to me if the labs were in use (they were often during the mid afternoon).

I'll be the first to admit people misuse them though. Tons of students would play games or mp3s with headphones or just junk while in class.

I'd consider getting a 12" Apple Powerbook when I go to school. I'd not game on the laptop so thats not a problem, but not being able to use Microsoft development tools = big problem. Depending on the university I get in to that could be pretty language neutral and I could use the OS X platform perfectly fine (c, c++, java, perl, lisp, python...list goes on). Otherwise I'll consider getting a Dell 300M (3 pounds) or 600M (5 pounds) just for its size to performance.

Don't get anything more than 5 pounds And get extended life batteries its worth it.

Oh and remember that laptops have a better resale value and don't depreciate as fast as desktops so that is a bonus. For me I'll definitely have a desktop in my place of residence though for sure. Don't count out games because..as most college kids will tell you, they come in handy when you have a paper due and want to blow of steam during breaks

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: DWW
I'm buying a laptop for myself when I go to university in the fall.

I went to college already (college and uni are different in canada) and didn't have one then. I wish I did for notetaking alone. Reason being is that I type -way- faster and neater (obviously) than I can write. The other thing is that for CS and programming I can try little snippets of code in class, between breaks and whatnot. I'd watch other kids in my class do that.

I'd also like one because the commute between where I was living and the school was about an hour and 15 minutes away during peak times on the transit so I'd like something closer to me if the labs were in use (they were often during the mid afternoon).

I'll be the first to admit people misuse them though. Tons of students would play games or mp3s with headphones or just junk while in class.

I'd consider getting a 12" Apple Powerbook when I go to school. I'd not game on the laptop so thats not a problem, but not being able to use Microsoft development tools = big problem. Depending on the university I get in to that could be pretty language neutral and I could use the OS X platform perfectly fine (c, c++, java, perl, lisp, python...list goes on). Otherwise I'll consider getting a Dell 300M (3 pounds) or 600M (5 pounds) just for its size to performance.

Don't get anything more than 5 pounds And get extended life batteries its worth it.

Oh and remember that laptops have a better resale value and don't depreciate as fast as desktops so that is a bonus. For me I'll definitely have a desktop in my place of residence though for sure. Don't count out games because..as most college kids will tell you, they come in handy when you have a paper due and want to blow of steam during breaks

I felt that way too when I wanted to get my PowerBook. I ended up choosing the 17 Inch PowerBook because for the size of the screen, it is the lightest, and has the longest battery life. But once I got into the OS X experience, and heard about Xcode, I was happy. Xcode is the new name for the Apple development suite. Although some could say it's not as refined as Visual Studio, I think that in terms of performance, and the time to do a task, they are equals. I have no problems going between Xcode and Visual Studio .NET 2003. THe best part about Xcode is that it's free and comes on your Panther disk.

 

[matt426malm]

I went for a desktop 2500@2.2 , 9700np (for games), and a big hardrive for music and movies. I wouldn't use a computer for notes in class. I only bring it home during summer break. If you need to take it around with you go with a laptop

 

[rsd]

I think that laptops are way overrated for college. I was a CS major and frankly, I had to go to the lab to do most of my work anyways. In fact I for 2 of the years I had a POS desktop (talking 200-400mhz computer) with no real internet access at my apartment, and this was just 4 years ago. When you are on campus it is not difficult to go to the library or a lab and do what you need to do. But decide what you need to really do..or even better wait a month into it and then see what you need.

 

[thirtythree]

Originally posted by: rsd
But decide what you need to really do..or even better wait a month into it and then see what you need.

not a bad idea. I'm gonna wait a while anyway to see if laptop prices go down...

 

[Tetsuo]

Shuttle with an LCD?

 

[RGN]

Keep the desktop or get an iBook or PowerBook

 

[Gagabiji]

Go with the laptop.

 

[Koing]

I went with a laptop but I already had a pc.

My laptop was a slim and thin one. Weighs only 1.67kg 12'1 screen. PIII 850 and 384mbs anf flies with that. 20Gb HD so is plenty.

I brought my pc to Uni also. Laptop was used to take notes in class and I had pen and paper for diagrams. But most of the stuff was on the net and I wanted to note extra stuff as I touch type. Helpful in the respect that I can look at the lecturer and type and not have to look at the screen or keyboard.

My laptop was safe at halls. Security cameras and I'd 'always' lock my room if I was not in the room. Guards patrol around also every now and then. It was also insured. It is great for group projects and we don't have to go to a computer room. Any room will do. I like my own setup compared to Uni setup pc's.

The battery lasts 3.5hrs if nothing intensive is on.

My pc was also good so I'd use that for the screen real estate, when I was coding.

Koing

 

[Joker81]

the one thing that is dumb on the newer macs and come of the sony's is that you need an adapter to plug into a monitor/video projector. I work in a lab and students/teachers that have macs can't do presentations on them unless you remember the adapter.
I had a laptop when I first started college and it was a desktop replacement about 10 pounds. I never used it in class or anything stayed in my dorm room. I never moved it either. Finally gave it back to my dad since I wasn't using it that much and he used it and I went with a desktop replacement. I was into to overclocking back then.

Now I have a job at the university in a computer lab and I live off campus.(I got my dads laptop back but was a 400mhz) I just bought a laptop on the compaq 2100 deal awhile back. Its awesome bigger drive and integrated wireless is better then a card since you don't have to worry about it breaking off or anything. I also like having my own laptop at work because then Im not fighting over a desktop computer that my coworkers share. Additionally I like the ability to be able to write my papers on my laptop and bring them on my laptop into work to print and to work on them whenever I have free time. And its also nice to be able to go online in some of those classes that you are taking just to graduate.

Centrinos are good computers but are a little more expensive then the one I got.
You probably don't need a widescreen laptop.

 

[Beller0ph1]

What's your major? I'm a ChE and I originally got a laptop for school. For the first year and a half, it didn't leave my desk. Then over winter break of my sophomore year, I built a custom rig. It rocks. Sure, I still have my laptop, but I really don't use it much anymore. Oh, and if you're wondering, don't buy a Compaq. My laptop decided to stop playing sound through the headphone jack pretty much they day after the warantee expired.

 

[thirtythree]

Originally posted by: Beller0ph1
What's your major?

psychology, like a said above

 

[SSibalNom]

take both, ur gonna wanna game, college has a lot of dead time

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: Joker81
the one thing that is dumb on the newer macs and come of the sony's is that you need an adapter to plug into a monitor/video projector. I work in a lab and students/teachers that have macs can't do presentations on them unless you remember the adapter.
I had a laptop when I first started college and it was a desktop replacement about 10 pounds. I never used it in class or anything stayed in my dorm room. I never moved it either. Finally gave it back to my dad since I wasn't using it that much and he used it and I went with a desktop replacement. I was into to overclocking back then.

Now I have a job at the university in a computer lab and I live off campus.(I got my dads laptop back but was a 400mhz) I just bought a laptop on the compaq 2100 deal awhile back. Its awesome bigger drive and integrated wireless is better then a card since you don't have to worry about it breaking off or anything. I also like having my own laptop at work because then Im not fighting over a desktop computer that my coworkers share. Additionally I like the ability to be able to write my papers on my laptop and bring them on my laptop into work to print and to work on them whenever I have free time. And its also nice to be able to go online in some of those classes that you are taking just to graduate.

Centrinos are good computers but are a little more expensive then the one I got.
You probably don't need a widescreen laptop.

You're talking out of your ass about the macs. The aluminum PowerBook has a DVI connector on it, and any decent digital projector should also have one for optimal image clarity.

 

[thirtythree]

Originally posted by: SSibalNom
take both, ur gonna wanna game, college has a lot of dead time

if that's true, I'd rather sleep.