POLL: notebook or desktop for college?

I'm going to the University of Michigan next year (I'll be a freshman). They've got 802.11b in the Business and Law Schools but you can't use it unless you are a student @ one of those schools.

I'm wondering whether to get a lappie or a desktop for next year. I'm really worried about theft with a laptop, but I'm worried about inconvenience with a desktop - it would be neat, I think to be able to do my work in the library or in a commons area outside. Let me know what you think.

If I get a laptop it'll be a Dell Inspiron (close to top of the line). If I get a desktop, it'll probably be a Dell Dimension 8200 (or whatever their top of the line system is this summer).

Cost isn't really an option - my parents are gonna pay for it. The only drawbacks to getting a laptop, that I can see, are theft risk, and limited gaming/entertainment possibilities.

Mike

 

[UglyCasanova]

Build a desktop. It's much better that way. I have a desktop I am going to keep at the house, but when I go off to college this fall my parents are going to by me a laptop. Inspiron 8200?

 

[MajesticMoose]

I had a desktop at college last fall, and i decided i did like it. I now have a laptop that i like much more. I'd say get a laptop or go home built on a desktop.

m00se

 

[Geekbabe]

Why not get a low profile system, a book pc ?

 

[Wallydraigle]

"Dude, you're gettin a Dell!"

Sorry I'd probably get the laptop, but that's just me. I don't game much, so a laptop with a DVD drive would pretty much suit me fine.

 

[geekender]

Laptops are a)too expensive b)harder to get parts for c)more prone to break d)easier to be stolen.

 

[poopaskoopa]

The laptops are easy to get stolen. I think it'll suit your needs more though.

 

[BigSmooth]

If you're extremely studious, you might want the laptop.

If you're like me P), you will probably spend way more time taking advantage of your fast connection to download stuff and play online games, in which case you would want the extra power/storage of a desktop.

 

[olouie]

Build your own desktop, or buy from dell. Both are good options, but do not spend too much just get one for what you are "really" going to use it for. Then in like a year or two save up a bit and buy a cheap laptop. This is what I did.

I bougth a Micron Millennia Max 450 (yes i know its old ), spent a bit to make it still run well: 12x cdrw, 768 ram, cooling fans, 40 gb HD etc. Then I saved up and bought myself a nice new ibook (wanted to try something different)

Whatever you choose I think you will be served well. Laptops are great for when working in your room is hard

BTW: always buy a lock for your laptop, you never know when people will want to take it

hope this helps

 

[Shalmanese]

Both! for the price of a Inspiron 8100, you can get a reasonably grunty desktop + a mid to low range laptop. You get the advantages of the portability of a lappie when doing work with the 3d ower and storage of a desktop for entertainment.

 

[jcuadrado]

both...you can build yourself a nice desktop system for low $$$ now...check the fs/ft forum...lotsa nice deals there..

jc

 

[dchilder]

I've done both... If you are going to a university that has decent network connections at libraries and such, I'd go for the laptop. Nothing like being able to take your work anywhere you want to go. Since mom and pop are paying, you might as well go for a docking station and a monitor for home too! That way you get the best of both worlds.

As for the gaming... I've got a Dell Inspiron 8000 with an SXGA 15" screen and a 32 MB ATI Mobility M4. I don't think they offer these anymore, but your option now is the (better) Geforce2go. Gaming may not be as good as with the best new desktop graphics cards, but if you have a PIII 1.2 Ghz processer, decent RAM, and their best graphics card, I don't think you'll miss a whole lot unless you are a really hard-core gamer.

One more thing... just keep a close eye on the laptop, and I wouldn't worry too much about theft. HOWEVER, get the longest warranty available in case something goes wrong (Dell will cover shipping in case this happens), and you MUST get the laptop insured. If you get Renter's insurance (which you probably should) this should be cheap. I have a personal articles policy on my laptop through State Farm, whom I recommend. They totally replaced my first laptop when it got damaged (by the way, be sure to have a really good carrying case, well cushioned, for the laptop!....), which was a major upgrade, but covered.

Good luck.

 

[BlackOmen]

Last year was my freshman year of college. I know two people who went with laptops and ended up dropping them before the end of that year. Repair estimates were about 1000 bucks for a new screen on the one. Let's just say they are happily using desktops now.

One of my friends also had his laptop stolen at the beginning of last semester. It's still under investigation to this day, and most likely isn't going anywhere.

The point is, these people got laptops for the same reason you state (convenience/portability) yet it never left their rooms, and they ended up breaking or having them stolen in not even a year.

So I'd go for the desktop. I'd personally go homebuilt (upgradabilty is key; never know when you'll get the mid semester upgrade itch ), but if the Dell is your cup of tea, then go for it.

 

[need4spd]

Get a lappy.

The fact that it is mobile .. opens a lot of possibilities. Allowing you to do your work anywhere. Take it home for holidays etc... Newer Dell Laptops have plenty of CPU power. Make sure you get a Top-Line video card for gaming, etc

Also, you can get a monitor, keyboard and mouse and use it in your dorm!

 

[Ionizer86]

I say get a decent desktop, then get one of those Palm handhelds with a stowaway keyboard (those full-size ones that can be folded). That way, you will have a desktop, and mobile word-processing (along with the other things a handheld can do )

 

[m2kewl]

You can build yourself a good desktop for a decent price, and get a mid-low range laptop for campus travels. I've through expensive laptops only to be broken in school.

 

[Anubis]

save yourself some money and build your own comp. and make it a desk top. but if you really want a lab top get a Sony Vaio cause you can get a AMD in them and IMHO there the best

 

[djheater]

Build yourself a nice desktop and then buy yourself an older laptop for notes and schtuff...

You gotta ealize that most people here are gonna say build your own

If you really hate comp's and have no interest in building one a laptop is the way to go... you'll never realize what you're missing anyway....

 

[RONType1]

Being a college student I think I can definitely agree with the post above:

1) Buy a pretty decent desktop, but not the best. There will always be some kid who has a faster computer than you and probably paid less. Plus that kid will probably laugh at you because you got a Dell and didn't put it together yourself! (Not that I was one of them).

2) Get a used laptop that "Used to be high-end". Spend like $300-$400. The Pentium 233 or PII or celeron laptops are great for the purpose you're using it for: SCHOOL. They come out great if you need portability to type up your papers, lab projects, etc. In addition my school is testing Wireless access for our entire campus, so that should be fun.

If you can only afford one, get the desktop.

 

[jeremy806]

Dude, get a desktop.

You are a college student not a travelling business person.

jermey806

 

[Mangos]

I got a slimtop LCD (SONY Vaio PCVL-640) to cut back on the inconvenience of a desktop.

 

[pamchenko]

get a laptop w/ an external CDR and big harddrive... this way, u get music, but no games whcih will flunk u out of college and other opportunities after that

 

[dethman]

desktop all the way. it won't be completely obsolete before you get out of college (because you can actually upgrade it), and you can be gaming all the way through the dorms (SUCKS to game with a laptop). i know people with laptops that have never taken them out of their rooms. you never really HAVE to work on your paper in the library...


anyway if you must be portable, you can get a good desktop AND laptop for the price you pay for a top of the line laptop. NEVER buy top of the line, you're just throwing your money away. you get to be 'cool' for about 2 months and then you're just that "guy who paid $2500 for his laptop????"

 

[andrey]

Want to have the best of both worlds? I'd recommend laptop with a docking station. It will enable you to connect regular 19" or 21" monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, etc.. so it will feel pretty much as it is a desktop. While in the school just disconnect your laptop and take it with you. It is very convinient to have all your school assignments from all of your classes with you and ability to add or modify them right on the spot. Definititely get a laptop over a desktop. As far as gaming, most of the students at the University I go to (University of Arizona) simply don't have enougth time for gaming. I personally have both, desktop and laptop and I find myself using laptop 80% of the time. It is just so more convinient!

 

[Zenmervolt]

I'm going to say laptop. I have not given up any convenience by having a ThinkPad instead of a desktop. The largest benefit was unanticipated, when I go home for short breaks, I can bring my ThinkPad with me. It's very nice to have all my own settings instead of having to use the home computer.

ZV