| I've been around this board for years now... and the answer over time has pretty much shifted into the laptop camp, except for very rare exceptions. The desktop is appropriate for the computer geek or someone with such specialized needs (example: studying graphic design) that they wouldn't need to ask on an internet board. Laptops are now so high-powered that for most people the difference between laptop/desktop is unlikely to be noticed; the price on laptops has dropped to the point where you can get a good one new for under $1000 if you shop around; you can now get a laptop with a widescreen monitor with screen resolution that is amazing - yet it's smaller & lighter than the older models with the lower-res monitors; and laptops are so endemic that they have somewhat lost their appeal as targets of theft. (Yes, it's still a really dumb idea to leave one lying around in the library unattended -- but it's no longer worth the risk for burglars to go breaking into people's dorm rooms to find them).
The laptop now pretty much doubles as an entertainment center -- great for watching DVD's -- and for any kid with roommates it is nice to be able to move to the library or common area with the computer if there are issues in the room such as noise/activity/ or a roommie who wants to sleep the night that the kid with the laptop is trying to finish up a paper due the next morning.
Re urban: my kid is in New York a stone's throw from Harlem, can't get more "city" than that - but I doubt that she will run into problems with the laptop. Urban college dorms have good security .... and most kids with laptops hold on pretty tightly to them if they are carrying them while out & about with public transportation. Yes its a risk -- but not a particularly large one. |