I need a computer for college; laptop or desktop?

[Iron Thrower]

Ok everybody, I am going off to college at the end of august and I need a new computer for school. Money is not a factor because I got quite a bit of scholarships and students loans.

For all of you guys in college or have been and used a computer, what have you found to have been the most effective, a laptop or a desktop. The only thing I don't like about the idea of a laptop is that it won't be as fast as the top of the line desktop, but I may be wrong because I am not a real computer guru or anything. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks guys. Tyler

 

[Warik]

Unless you're using a computer for really really demanding gaming and/or 3d graphics stuff, speed is not as significant as you might think.

My laptop gets me through the day at college when I have a 4 hour gap between classes. I just go to the library and plug in to a free port and go online. Laptop is a much better buy in my opinion unless you truly need the speed of a desktop.

-Warik

 

[Cleaner]

Lap top ---

You could get a docking port to if money isn't a biggie.

 

[danielson]

desktop- cheaper, cheaper maintainance (ive never had a computer fault), better graphic capability (for games-if u ca get a lan sorted out at your college), but big and non trnasportable

laptop- trnsportable, no games, easier to thieve

 

[HappyScrappy]

get a cray - it will probably fill your room, but man will it be good at parrallel processing.

laptops are nice b/c as a college studen tyou move around a lot - from your room to the library (in theory at least) to class, and then each year you could be in a different dorm/apt. the laptop is much easier for moving - esp if you are going to school far away and aren't driving there but flying instead.

I still prefer a desktop - but most laptops now let you put a mouse, keyboard, and monitor into them, or some have docking stations, so it is really just like a desktop in that sense.

either way, make sure you get the biggest hard drive possible. if there are two things I learned in college:
1) there is A LOT of porn out there that you will want to save - perhaps even burn to cd.
2) there are A LOT of mp3s out there that you will want to save - perhaps even burn to cd

 

[danielson]

lol @ happy scrappy, i guess i gotta hang around military bases' trashcans till they stopo using their krays

 

[Natymike]

DESKTOP----Its a lot faster, and alot cheaper. If money isn't an option, get a $2,500-$3,000 with EVERYTHING on it-- P4, 1700 megahurtz, CD burner, DVD, 20inch monitor, surround sound speakers, more memory, huge hard drive.

Or you can spend the same amount on a laptop with half of the accessories.

You don't need a laptop for college anyways. Its not like your going to be taking it anywhere. You don't want to carry around a $3,000 computer unless you are some corporate big shot.

Go desktop

 

[r00+]

Laptop

GO with a laptop, my laptop is faster than most people's desktop. 1.3Ghz processor, 512Mg RAM, CD-RW....

You can bring it to class if you need to, and you can easily bring it home on break.

Going with a desktop is a bad idea for a college student.

Drop me a line I can hook you up with a nice laptop for an insane price.....

 

[tomcat]

laptop

With only a few +'s and -'s of both platforms, the laptop's portability will be the winning feature for a student as stated in the above posts.
Sure, desktops typically are more sturdy and cheaper/easier to upgrade, but the newer laptops have most of the same speed/HDD and features available.
Get a dock for the KB, Mouse and monitor definitely.

 

[Natymike]

YOUR NOT GOING TO TAKE YOUR LAPTOP TO CLASS, in 3 years of college I have never seen anyone with a laptop in class, why do you need a laptop for class?? so you can play solitare??

The ONLY advantage is that you will be able to take it home during the Christmas Break. Of course, if you have a computer, with internet access at your house, then you won't need to take it home. If you have some important file, just save it to a disk and open it somewhere else.

I know 2 students that HAD laptops. One left it in his car for a week, and it was gone by the time he remembered about it. One dropped his and it hasn't worked right since.

 

[r00+]

Hah

As a comp sci major I took a laptop to nearly every class. Now for queer fine arts boys like yourself, a laptop might not be a good fit.

 

[Warik]

YOUR NOT GOING TO TAKE YOUR LAPTOP TO CLASS, in 3 years of college I have never seen anyone with a laptop in class, why do you need a laptop for class?? so you can play solitare??

Uh, I use my laptop to take/read notes and I haven't had my professor complain yet.

I know 2 students that HAD laptops. One left it in his car for a week, and it was gone by the time he remembered about it. One dropped his and it hasn't worked right since.

One is an idiot. The other should have bought a case.

-Warik

 

[laptops4college]

It depends upon on the course you will take in college. If you are planning to enroll engineering or IT courses, then you should choose a laptop since you can bring it to school for academic purposes. Not just an ordinary laptop, but you should buy a laptop which has an excellent processor just like the i3, i5, i7 processor of Intel, 4Gb or 8Gb RAM and NVIDIA graphics.
Desktop computer is only useful at home, you cannot bring it at school.

___________________
top laptops for college