| I can tell you now that UVA students have a network drive to store personal files that's accessible on any computer on the UVA network. E-mailing files can be a little hectic as I have seen these past two years.
Onto the dilemma. I checked the numbers and have found that it is cheaper to buy a laptop, docking station, and essentials than to buy a laptop, desktop, and essentials. There is also an issue of space. The desktop will be on your desk, but where will you put your laptop?
I have lived with people in both scenarios. My first year roommate had the laptop/desktop combo. He didn't have shelf or table space for the laptop so he left it on the floor with his piles of clothes and trash. He also awkwardly worked with both machines when doing bigger assignments like term papers. My current apartmentmate has the docking station. The station took up as much desk space as a desktop monitor and keyboard. He works pretty easily with it. He would do some work and take the laptop with him if he was in a hurry and not worry about saving the files on home directory or emailing them to himself.
I would go with the docking station. |