<p>"aren’t interested in all the geeky minutia and detail that the IT community obsesses over. "
-Not even all in IT community. I personally do not care about PCs at all and do not know them well, simply not interested. I have been IT pofessional for over 30 years, love to write and modify software, PC is just a machine that connects me to internet, various drives / servers and main frame / mid range computer. I do not see any need for expansive laptop, why? I know that Graphic Designers are in need of very expansive laptop, some Med. School require only certain laptop and they are expansive. But for CS, get the cheapest one unless a certain one is specifically required by your program.</p>
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<p>When I followed this very advice from STEM oriented relatives who made dismissive assumptions about my course of study or parents of college classmates did the same…what we all ended up with were laptops which crapped out at the worst times because the QC/build quality/workmanship wasn’t up to par. </p>
<p>As I posted before in the college computers forum…I wouldn’t buy a notebook solely on the basis of what’s cheapest without checking its build quality, QC, and reputation of its warranty service/overall reliability from third-party reviewers/experienced friends. That is…unless you don’t value your own time, money, and productivity and epitomize the “Penny wise and pound foolish” mentality. </p>
<p>In short, I prefer to buy on the basis on what has the BEST VALUE(quality/cost ratio)…not on the uncritical basis of what’s the cheapest. </p>
<p>Especially considering the overall quality of PCs has been going down…especially on the budget/consumer-line models because OEMs have been trying to cut as many corners to preserve their profit margins and the fact their main bread/butter are corporate/institutional IT departments…which tend to prefer mid-high end corporate line models.</p>
<p><strong><em>expensive</em></strong></p>
<p>Whatever, we use the economical ones at work. I fell few times carrying as I am required to have it with me at home, nothing happened to it, I was happy with that. I used to have a really ancient PC, and it was still fine. We work globally serving people in Europe, South America. I did not have problem with my ancient PC until way after warranty expired and fan just fried. So they changed it. The new one is much faster, but I hate window 7. But other than that, I imagine it will serve until I am done working (a.k.a until they “retire” me). We did not buy that expansive PC for D. who was pre-med. Her Med. School required only certain laptops, none cheap, so we had no choice.<br>
But if one wants to fight with parents for few hundred $$, go ahead. I personally would not bother. If cheaper computer fries, then they would buy it again anyway. So, what is an issue? I do not see any.</p>
<p>If there are any students still reading, I would also strongly recommend learning how to back up work. Most schools will let you do that online, if not get a big enough external storage and USE IT. So on that awful night when your computer goes down, you can grab your external drive, thumbnail, whatever and run over to the library and finish paper/work.</p>
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<p>On average…older computers build in the '90s or early '00s tended to be built much more solidly and with better QC/reliability than their later counterparts. My second corporate-line Toshiba notebook from '97 is still running fine to this day and is continuing its service with a financially constrained friend of a friend in need a basic office machine for resumes/job search. </p>
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<p>Wasted time, aggravation, money if out of warranty, etc. </p>
<p>Time used to find substitute computing solutions that may not be optimal, researching new computers, and awaiting shipment/going to store is time taken from other areas of one’s life…including professional/academic areas. </p>
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<p>Agree on importance of having a backup of all your data. </p>
<p>However, keep in mind that many school computer labs often have limited hours…especially in an era of budget cuts at many colleges. </p>
<p>Moreover, the ones that are open very late/24 hours tend to be much more limited and as a consequence…can get so crowded one may not always be guaranteed a spot to finish that paper/project at that very moment. </p>
<p>That or some machines may be down due to previous student mishaps, systemwide issues with viruses/malware, physical abuse in some cases*, etc. </p>
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<li>Saw one tower with a foot-sized dent at a university computer lab after it was damaged because an apparent severely infuriated user decided to use it as a kicking post. Security did take him away and he’s presumably going to be disciplined and fined for the damage he caused.</li>
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<p>"Quote:
If cheaper computer fries, then they would buy it again anyway. So, what is an issue? I do not see any. </p>
<p>Wasted time, aggravation, money if out of warranty, etc. </p>
<p>-All equl “support economy”. Arguing with parents is real "Wasted time, aggravation, ", but if one enjoys it, why not? OP is not here anymore, most kids enjoy fighting with parents though, so I am for it, why not? Pursue whatever you enjoy doing, it is worthwhile at any cost even at the cost of loosing support…Some of you would say to yourself though: “if they pay, let them pay for whatever, including replacement”. I am not sure which group would be ahead at the end, but from parents’ prospective, definitely the one which is too lazy to argue.</p>
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As the parent of a comp sci kid I couldn’t disagree more. My laptop doesn’t need to do much, but for my son, it’s his primary work and play tool. He’s running Linux and windows. He’s playing games as part of his social life. He’s using it for most of his classes. He may not need the top of the line, but the cheapest possible is likely to prove enormously frustrating. You wouldn’t tell an Olympic class skier to use beginner level skis. It’s the same thing. There’s is nothing worse than fighting with your tools and some tools can prevent you from doing good work. When I teach watercolor classes I buy my kids the paper and paint because I want to make sure they have good enough quality that they can actually produce a good painting. Cheap paper doesn’t cut it. </p>
<p>And I absolutely listen to what my kid in the IT community has to say about what it good quality or not. He’s the expert and knows where to look for good advice better than any salesman.</p>
<p>We cater to our D. also.</p>
<p>HEY MALIK!!! OVER HERE! YO!</p>
<p>Hundreds of views, almost ninety replies. And Malik has moved on to his merry way. I wonder if this is how grateful he makes his dad feels?</p>
<p>Don’t feel bad. This appears to be is M.O.</p>
<p>T26E4,
You are exactly right! But it is beside the point. The point is, the whole issue is non-issue at all, not worth mentionning…it simply does not exsit for many reasons. The most important of them, it is none of anybody’s business why some parents decide one way or another, they decided simply “because”. I am suprised that college student did not learn this simple fact by “tender” college age, it is about time…</p>
<p>Just “because” is a lazy answer.</p>
<p>MiamiDAP has gotten very Zen!</p>
<p>Even more Zen: we’re all making sense here. One man’s piece o’ crap machine is another man’s (or woman’s) fabulous workhorse.</p>
<p>I find it funny how the computer advice threads always rile folks up. Don’t overbuy, if you can avoid it. Don’t fall for marketing tricks. Get lots of opinions, mostly from the pro reviewers. Or, just take your chances. And, pray you make a good choice.</p>
<p>Kayf did make a great point: back up your work; then back up your back-up.</p>
<p>I think T26E4 has hit the nail on the head…why would the OP’s father feel compelled to spend maximum bucks on anything for a child who feels so entitled? Remember the old adage about getting more of what you want with honey instead of vinegar?</p>
<p>I have a feeling the OP never sat down with his dad to review computer choices with his father, to together go through any information on his school’s site as to computer requirements/recommendations for his program etc., but instead presented his dad with a demand for the gussied up computer he wants, accompanied with tantrums of " I want it!" and " I earned it" …with no consideration of what dad can afford to pay or what he really needs. </p>
<p>And I wonder if the OP considered that, without whatever financial aid and merit money he received, if his family could afford to send him to the school he has chosen? The family, even with his scholarship money, might still be in a tight spot financially where such a huge amount for a computer just is not a wise family choice.</p>