College computer choice - desktop vs. laptop?

[ucsd_ucla_dad]

Definitely a laptop -

1. Portability -
1a. Home - It becomes their base of operations for schoolwork, music downloads, communication with friends, etc. so they'll likely want to bring it home with them.
1b. Class - They can bring it to class if they want for notetaking, etc. although many students never actually use it in class as some might think. This could change with the culture of the college. My CS major kids at very well-connected Universities don't bring theirs to class with them and most people that do seem to be playing games or chatting with others during lecture.
1c. Dorm/Campus - They can sit on their bed with it, bring it to the lounge, the restaurants, etc.

2. Cost - Laptops cost more than equivalent desktops but it's worth it.

3. Power for gaming - Desktops can be more powerful for game playing but laptops can be powerful enough as well. If this is a concern, get one with an adequate video adapter and memory.

4. Weight - A laptop with a 15.4" screen is a good compromise between size/weight and ergonomics. Some will prefer to trade-off to a 17" and others the other direction to a 12".

5. Security - Laptops are more transportable so they can be more easily stolen. Much of this can be mitigated by the use of a laptop cable lock and taking care with access to the room. OTOH, desktops are easy to steal as well and may even be easier due to a false sense of security.

6. Display - Some people prefer to add an external standalone large (19-21") display for use with their laptops but this is personal choice and most people probably wouldn't need it unless they're using the laptop as a TV, watch lots of DVDs on it, or are really into gaming. These people may also prefer to add an external kB and mouse. None of this has been an issue for my kids.

Questioning whether to get a Mac versus PC and then which brand of PC will spark much in the way of additional opinions. Regardless of what you get, consider paying for the additional manufacturer warranty coverage as well as damage coverage given dorm environments. I purchased a Dell laptop for my D and have it covered for 4 years. If someone spills a drink (water of course) on the keyboard the coverage will fix it the next day.

Make sure you check into whatever you decide on through the college's bookstore. They frequently offer excellent discounts and have experience with particular brands that can prove useful.

[Booklady]

Make sure you check into whatever you decide on through the college's bookstore.

Absolutely. Some colleges have arrangements with certain manufacturers to sell computers through the school at a discount. There is often on-campus tech support if you buy a computer this way, which can be a lifesaver if something goes wrong.

I purchased a Dell laptop for my D and have it covered for 4 years.

Ditto.

[anxiousmom]

I once drove to Houston to visit my daughter, and met up with her in a coffee shop half a mile from campus. "Hi, Mom!", she said, "Why don't you get yourself a coffee, while I finish up my final exam." LOL. With lap top and wi-fi, anything is possible!

[coronax2]

^ Amazing anxiousmom ^

I don't know any of my son's friends who opted for a desktop. Some went Mac others PC, but all went for laptops. I third or fourth buying through the school. We have the four year coverage as well.

Also, my son really relies on his flash drive. He said some of his friends never back up their work, but he does every night.

We got him a college logo flash drive on line. It probably costs a bit more than what you can get at the store, but we thought it was a pretty nifty graduation gift.

In case you're interested, here's the link to the one we bought:
http://www.memorysuppliers.com/collegedrives.html

[karp4170]

My S chose a laptop. He is an athlete and frequently travels. The computer has gone all over with him and has come in handy. When travelling, he can use it on the bus and is able to access and complete assignments in his hotel room. While some hotels have wireless areas, almost all have internet in the rooms. We purchased a computer lock for when he takes it on trips, to the library or computer lab. We also have Lojack installed on it. Additionally, it is also covered for replacement if it is stolen and not recovered with an add-on to our homeowner's policy. About $25 or so a year.

[curmudgeon]

"Absolutely. Some colleges have arrangements with certain manufacturers to sell computers through the school at a discount. There is often on-campus tech support if you buy a computer this way, which can be a lifesaver if something goes wrong."

Also, some colleges may not have any "deals" but do recommend certain makers and (more readily) support those makers through tech support on campus (for nothing). Schools also require certain requirements and configurations that you need to check on PRIOR to purchases.

It is best to wait until the deposit is sent before buying the machine.


(I literally called up and talked to the IT guy at Rhodes and said "Tell me exactly what to buy as far as maker and configuration and software to work on Rhodes system". And I am so glad I did because I would have gotten it wrong. )

[Momwaitingfornew]

Curmudgeon is right. My daughter at Smith could chose between Dell and Mac -- and the IT services would help her for free with any connection problems, hardware issues, etc. Those who bought their machines elsewhere either had to figure out things themselves or pay for the help. Both computers came in a bundle that included ethernet cables, laptop bags, Microsoft Office, a flash drive, and a few other things. The price for the computers themselves seemed to come out to the ordinary educational discount a student could get directly from these companies, but the convenience of it all added value.

The university where I teach also offers a choice between Dell and Mac.

[karp4170]

After we found out the minimum requirements for a computer and the systems the university recommended, we went to the manufacturer's website and priced out systems which included (mostly exceeded) the minimum requirements. We then added all the 'extras' that S thought he would need over the next four years and a few of the upgrades he wanted. We saved hundreds of dollars compared to purchasing through the university website. Also, we found that prices for the EXACT same machine, with the exact same configuration changed week to week and sometimes day to day. I would suggest starting a little early, price out your system and have an idea of the cost, then look for the 'save XX% on all xxxxxxxx systems' or 'save $XXX on all xxxxxxxxx systems' sales. (I am not sure all manufacturers have these sales). Look for the free upgrades which can either save you money or get you a better machine at the same price. Also, check out the available discount codes that you can find on the internet. Some, but not all, can be combined with other offers. We also took advantage of some rebates which gave us an upgraded configuration for less than the base one. (And yes, we did receive all our rebate $$$) We literally saved almost half off full retail by doing this.

[mattmom]

i too would come down firmly in the laptop camp; I've even made the transition myself, and love being able to take my computer on rare trips out of town. My son went to college in the days when desktops were stiill the norm and laptops uniformly expensive, but now he too uses a laptop. My younger child got a laptop when she left for college. It is of course important to find out from the school what the requirements are and if there are purchasing arrangements that can be made through school. Even if there aren't, there will almsot certainly be tech support at school to help with initial setup (or at least that was the case with both my children's schools).

In some fields of study there may be specialized applications that are only available in a department's computer lab, so the portability of alaptop might not come into play in that case. Butb for general work in the library or outside on a nice day, provides wonderful convenience (though so does a flash drive used with a library computer).

I have had unreliable desktops, so the lack of reliability of laptops doesn't come as a surprise. In our family we have both Dell and Apple laptops and the Dells are a good deal in terms of initial price but don't seem to have long life expectancies; phone support, as people generally say, is pretty bad but there are exceptions--once or twice we have solved a problem over the phone with the help of a Dell tech person. The iBooks some family members use also have their quirks, and the extended warrnty offered by Apple (three years) has not turned out to be quite all one might have hoped. All the same I would probably get an Apple laptop again, and phone support is excellent. If prices come down enough, it almost seems worth skipping an extneded warranty, getting an external hard drive so everything is backed up, and just replacing a computer when it dies (more feasible with bottom of the line Dells, since the new Apple laptops are still less affordable than PCs).

Desktops take up a tremendous amount of room, which might be a factor in a small dorm room full of books and general stuff. Getting rid of home desktops certainly made a big difference in the amount of usable desk surface.

[mkm56]

Both of my kids have laptops. Son insisted on taking his desktop also when he went as a freshman--it came home on his first visit as he said it just took up too much room. Both kids use their laptops everywhere--love the portability. My D. is somewhat prone to "accidents"--like spilling Starbucks in computer, so we have suggested that she always back up to a separate hard drive to prevent loss of data (it has happened to her more than once).

[ebeeeee]

Laptop, I would highly recommend looking into the inexpensive college student property insurance. It is like $100. per year and covers loss or theft of laptop...

[abasket]

Wow, thanks for the advice everyone - hope others are benefitting from this info too!

Sounds like laptops are the computer of choice for most. I will remember to check w/my D school before purchasing, get a lock for it and buy it during the summer so she can get used to it before her first semester starts!!!

[Irishmomof2]

D bought her laptop after she worked a summer stint as a camp counselor last year. She may also take our older desktop with her (with a newer, flat screen, smallish monitor), depending on where she goes.

[WashDad]

When purchasing any modern computer (Windows or Apple) the cheapest performance upgrade you can get is more RAM. I strongly encourage installing the maximum your operating system can use -- right now the "sweet spot" for Windows XP seems to be 2GB. Most notebooks only "come with" 512MB or 1GB, but pay for the upgrade. My wife and I have computers with similar CPUs, but her's has a very high end mobile graphics card and 2GB of RAM. It's noticeably faster than mine in every way, and runs the kids' favorite games, too (which is a bad thing to me, but we bought the high-end graphics card for digital movie editing and now the boys fight over mom's computer).

[toneranger]

Go with a laptop. My son rarely brings his to class but ALWAYS brings it home on breaks. If you want bigger displays, regular keyboard, you can get a docking station.
The biggest issue with laptops is potential theft. Locks are a good idea but we found another product to help deter theft. It's a permanent label (pretty scary looking) and it registers your computer, a bit expensive but worth it IMO. Some universities require all students to use these labels. Check them out here: http://www.stoptheft.com/site/produc...rity_plate.php