Laptop for Comp Sci/Math Major

College Life
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<p>I don’t really know too much about computers, but I thought these looked pretty good. So could you guys give your opinions? I don’t know what’s required to dual boot Linux or whatever else I might need to do as a comp sci/math major, so I’m really just trusting your judgment. In fact, I would rather you assume I don’t know anything about computers just to be safe.</p>

<p>I don’t do much gaming, but is graphics important at all for a computer science/math double major? The reason I ask is because I think that is pretty much the only difference between these two laptops. Also, how long do you think <em>insert laptop choice here</em> will last because I would like the laptop to last until at least graduation. </p>

<p>[Toshiba</a> - Satellite Laptop / Intel® Core™ i5 Processor / 14" Display / 4GB Memory / 500GB Hard Drive - Slate](<a href=“http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+Satellite+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+14"+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Slate/1023071.p?id=1218209984438&skuId=1023071"]Toshiba”>http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+Satellite+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+14"+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Slate/1023071.p?id=1218209984438&skuId=1023071) </p>

<p>[Samsung</a> - Laptop / Intel® Core™ i5 Processor / 14" Display / 4GB Memory / 500GB Hard Drive - Black Aluminum](<a href=“http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+14"+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Black+Aluminum/9973019.p?id=1218202949239&skuId=9973019"]Samsung”>http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+14"+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Black+Aluminum/9973019.p?id=1218202949239&skuId=9973019) </p>

<p>Feel free to recommend another laptop if you think neither of these look good; but my parents would prefer if the laptop would be bought from a store rather than online and my budget is about $1000.</p>

<p>Thanks
EddieD</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-computers/956748-computers-engineering-majors.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-computers/956748-computers-engineering-majors.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I posted that a couple of days ago based on my experience as an EE. Graphics cards are only important if you do a lot of gaming/photo and video editing or if you want to learn how to write code that takes advantage of the abilities of a graphics card.</p>

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<p>Most graphics cards can execute code anyway too. I think some stuff is locked down to only the quadro series of graphics cards for nvidia…anti aliasing in CAD? but that’s more engineer. You should be fine with the samsung though, 310m definitely isn’t a power hungry beast. Consider an ssd if that’s an option financially.</p>

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<p>If the graphics card is only good for playing games, then shouldn’t I get the Toshiba? It says it has a battery life of 5 hours, while the Samsung says it will have up to 4. To me, battery life > playing graphic intensive games. The only reason I considered the Samsung was because I didn’t know if there were other merits to a better graphics card.</p>