College computer choice - desktop vs. laptop?

[abasket]

I'm relatively new here - but have found some great advice!

While this decision doesn't have to be made pronto, I'm curious what people's thoughts are re: the desktop vs. laptop decision for college. My daughter will be a freshman next year and I'm leaning towards thinking a laptop would be nice - portable when she wants/needs it to be. Any specific pros/cons you can see to having one over the other???

Her hopeful college of choice is not all wireless, but has several wireless areas and buildings. She will also likely come home fairly often - home will be less than 1 1/2 hour away...

[SpringfieldMom]

DH and I have been back and forth with this for a while... I think it will boil down to where DD ends up...if it's fully wireless and NOT in the city (i.e. lots of crime, i.e. theft), we'll spring for the laptop. If it's not fully wireless and there is a potential theft problem, then we'll go with the desktop. Also, we'll have to look at what the students seem to prefer. At our flagship State U., where DD is leaning, we're told only about 60% of the freshmen have their own computer, since there are computer labs galore (in every dorm and library, several classroom buildings as well as the Student Union).

[idad]

The computer has become a major part of college life. It is used by faculty and TA's to provide course information and other assistance, including on-line language labs; it is used for reference, many times assignments are next to impossible without it; and, perhaps just as important, there is the social aspect, from emails to Facebook. A notebook/laptop is invaluable. It goes to the library, to class, to study groups, and to the coffee shop. Yes, a desktop can work, but it lacks the flexibility the typical college student needs. Further, notebooks are very powerful these days, one sacrifices nothing. As for theft, it is a concern, a little renters insurance (about $100) helps with that a little (some household policies cover it as well, mine does).

[sjmom2329]

I can't imagine many college students preferring a desktop to a laptop. When you think about how they use Ipods, cell phones etc, a laptop just becomes part of their daily life. Even if a campus is not currently wireless, I would expect that it would be so in the near future. When DS comes home, he is attached to his laptop like it's another appendage.

[originaloog]

our son has both but then he has a bit of computer geek in his genes. Seriously, a good laptop provides the best choice most college students today. I know that our son submits almost all of his compsci projects and essays/research papers in other classes electronically. With the laptop they can do this from anywhere.

At the end of our son's third semester, I was bringing him home from semester break and he was typing feverishly in the car. He was completing his final philosophy paper which was due before the end of finals in a couple of days. He had his reading notes on the dashboard and the battery fully charged. Tough to do with a desk top, no?

[sax]

Laptop locks are cheap and easy to use. Son brought laptop home over break. Very convient. Has an additional large monitor at school, along with wireless keyboard and mouse. Very happy with the set up.

[curmudgeon]

Mine chose a big 17" enhanced screen "desktop replacement" laptop. For her, being not too geeky, it works fine and she does take it to the coffee house and to the library but seldom to class. She was told by the salesman that at that size she'd only move it rarely. Well, she's done more than that but has become quiet adept at the little usb drives. She has a couple of different sizes and then makes use of the common computers around campus. Especially helpful at the writing center.

I asked her about the tradeoff and she's "happy" with her choice, especially prefers it to a smaller laptop when she is using the computer for entertainment playback like watching downloaded Grey's Anatomy (she's not a gamer).

She takes copious handwritten notes and transcribes them every night (while adding material from the text that corresponds). This is just a higher tech way of how I used to do it.

Not a perfect compromise but a livable one.

[OpiefromMayberry]

Mine both have desktops. Desktops provide a bit more power and can hold more. Laptops are nice, but durability is an issue in comparsion. I would suggest letting your child make the choice and do the research themselves. After all, they are the end user.

My D started out laptop but made her final decision a desktop and it works for her.

[abasket]

Great points people - thanks - keep your opinions coming.

The lock is a good idea. I'm not very laptop savvy myself so will have to do some research on what to look for when purchasing one if that's the route we take.

[simba]

Mine insisted that he take his turbocharged desktop. Last summer we had to get him a laptop. But since he was still insisting that his desktop stays and should be improved, we bought him a low end laptop.

He is ready to ship his desktop back home.

[parent2noles]

Laptop - without question.

Here's a thread with more information: Computer Requirements - Rules of Thumb (drive)

[ophiolite]

It all depends on the kid and the school. I started out with a laptop in undergrad and switched to a desktop after a year (partly because it was a crappy laptop, partly because I needed a better video card for gaming).

I preferred a desktop during my undergraduate years and then switched to laptops for grad school. Personally, I didn't find the laptop worth it as an undergrad because I never took notes on a computer during class (less efficient for me) and wireless was just becoming into existence. However, with cheaper computer prices these days, I don't see how you could go wrong with a desktop replacement-style laptop.

[abasket]

Guess I'm out of the loop on this one - what a "desktop replacement-style laptop"????

[calmom]

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.

[Susantm]

My boys both have laptops, because of the portability. They can bring them home easily when they come, and they take up much less space than a desktop. Neither of them really takes his laptop to class or other places, but they do like to be able to bring them home, so they have all their information, music, movies, etc. with them over breaks. (And my very first laptop is on its way to me right now!)