<p>hmm. I have a flat screen LCD monitor with my desktop already. So deskpace won’t be that much of a problem.</p>
<p>If you get a Dell laptop, you can also get an advanced port replicator (replaces the docking station), a monitor stand, keyboard, and mouse that will essentially convert your laptop into a desktop. You have the mobility of the laptop (plus the battery power) and the feel of a desktop and still save space!</p>
<p>If google wins their copyright infringement lawsuit, they’re going to come out with a service that has every book in the University of Michigan library in their database so that you can pull up the full text of any book.</p>
<p>This alone would be worth the price of a laptop, as the cost of textbooks over 4 years is much more than a $1000 laptop.</p>
<p>ASBERTH - well I am ancient lol - and so is my laptop - but the benefit of my choice of laptop originally was that I wanted - and have - a full size keyboard on it - and am able to use a regular old fashioned mouse - just have to plug one in - if I chose to - which I don’t - I adjusted pretty quickly to a finger mouse and have not looked back.</p>
<p>Many of the new laptops have a smaller keyboard than is comfortable for me (my work one makes me crazy - very small keys!! uugghh) - so thus my reasons for a standard size - which HP has on many of their laptops. </p>
<p>I just find the convenience of a laptop far outwieghs a desk top - especially if you look ahead to where you may be in a couple of years - the portability makes all the difference. Having to ship a PC back and forth would make me crazy for my DD - but it is a personal choice - just think one needs to think ahead and consider future needs as well. DD transports her laptop back and forth with ease - needs a printer??? just hooks up to ours at home - well actually since we use wireless - as she also has at school - nothing to it at all - either way - plug in or wireless - easy to do. DD is away during the summer as well - so she takes it with her - pretty much where ever she goes - and is able to at least stay in touch - by dial-up or whatever - when ever she wants to as well.</p>
<p>We can also travel pretty well with laptop - and attach it to my cell phone when on the road - to use it if I want to get on-line in the middle of no-where. (this setup just uses cell phone minutes only - not a bad deal for me) - my DD now has the same setup - great for when she is driving home from school and needs info or maps etc… can’t do all that with a desktop.</p>
<p>We tried to think outside the box a bit when it came to choice of computers - and seeing as technology is heading in the direction it is - and the need to be portable in our lives - we - whole family - now have laptops.</p>
<p>Another thing for students to consider is - if considering doing a semester abroad - soooooooo much easier to manage with a laptop!! Would definitely NOT want to think about shipping a PC overseas - only other option is to use computer cafes or similar things when a computer is needed for email or whatever.</p>
<p>56FORCEOUT - those tablets are awesome!!! I have actually heard of a school that requires them these days - I would love one lol.</p>
<p>I remember having this discussion when my daughter got into college a few years ago. Now that she has a couple years of college under her belt I can see that the purchase of a desktop would have been a mistake for her. Portability is the key. She does not take class notes on her computer but she uses it a great deal in the library, when in study groups outside of class and in coffee bars near campus. She can also work outside during nice weather because of the wireless service on her campus.</p>
<p>JohnnyK makes some nice arguments in favor of purchasing a Mac. They are pricey but in my experience have fewer problems than PCs.</p>
<p>My son took his old laptop he used in high school which was in pretty good shape so he can be mobile if he needs to. In addition, he (we) bought a PC that just about dims the lights on campus when he turns it on, and a 22 inch CRT. If your son or daughter is a gamer, unless you spend enough to buy a small car the laptop’s not gonna make it. But if he or she thinks Halo is something angels have on their head, the laptop will be fine.</p>
<p>Laptops themselves aren’t necessary. Most kids that brought them to classes surfed the internet or played games while the teacher was talking. Quite distracting. I’d rather study off of notebook paper than stare at a screen for three hours. Most teachers have powerpoint slides on their websites you can print up and take to class. Write on those. There are labs around campus, but they fill up fast. So a computer is necessary, but not neccesarily a laptop.</p>
<p>LARRY100 - that is a very valid point - cuz not all students will a computer at all.</p>
<p>Like this one
<a href=“https://www.ittibitty.com.au/products/keyboards/noteboard/[/url]”>https://www.ittibitty.com.au/products/keyboards/noteboard/</a>
or this
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005BAUO/104-7544205-8546330?v=glance&n=172282&v=glance[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005BAUO/104-7544205-8546330?v=glance&n=172282&v=glance</a>
(unfortunately disontinued).</p>
<p>Now, I am going to be lol’ed, but I know sudents who use TI-84 or TI-89 with a small QWERTY keyboard
(<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007K7JE/104-7544205-8546330?v=glance&n=541966&n=507846&s=pc&v=glance[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007K7JE/104-7544205-8546330?v=glance&n=541966&n=507846&s=pc&v=glance</a>
- can be bought from TI on-line store, plus they give a free kick-stand for these models)
for taking notes in a class (Notefolio app.) and downloading them later into whatever - laptop or PC.</p>
<p>Also, laptops only get stolen if you’re stupid about it. If it’s in your room, lock your door. If you take it out of your room, keep it with you. It’s pretty obvious.</p>
<p>and get a laptop lock - maybe even get one with two connectors, one for the laptop one and for an lcd monitor if you decide to get one.</p>
<p>The advanced port replicator with the Dell laptop locks the laptop into it as well.</p>
<p>does the replicator itself lock down around the desk or bed? cuz if not, someone could just take the replicator with the laptop…</p>
<p>[i’ve never seen or used one personally, so i’m just wondering]</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>my suitemate has the dell replicator, it doesn’t lock itself onto the desk, but it does have a lock slot. (so no one can steal the laptop AND replicator).</p>
<p>The replicator just locks the laptop into it, so it would take some time for a thief to figure out how to get the laptop out without taking the replicator (and unplugging all the peripherals) with it. If one can make it harder for a person to walk away with a laptop, that could provide enough of a disincentive.</p>
<p>here’s another con about desktops:</p>
<p>unless you are VERY careful about shipping them, they can become damaged in the process. I’ve been working as a computing assistant at school this year, and I’ve seen at least one desktop where the heatsink (which is HEAVY!) became dislodged while being transported to school (in his car, though airline bags get jostled around enough that I imagine the danger there would be even greater). He was lucky - the heatsink didn’t come all the way off, so he just ended up with overheat problems - but if it had, it could have smashed all sorts of delicate parts of his computer’s innards. I suppose that having this happen is pretty unlikely, especially if you’re <em>very</em> careful about how you ship it, but laptops, on the other hand, are made to be jostled, picked up, and even (in the case of some of the current PowerBooks, I think) sometimes have sensors that will stop the hard drive to try to minimize damage if it senses that it is falling. I’d rather have a laptop & not take the risk of damage during shipping. I can bring it with me on the plane, keep an eye on it, and never have to worry that it’s being tossed around & smashed by other luggage.</p>
<p>On a related note, yes, my laptop usually sits on my desk all day (except when I take it to the library and when I’ve got it with me while removing viruses from other computers, but that’s sort of an extraneous tangent here…) but since I live across the country from my school, I would NOT want to have a desktop. It would be much too hard to transport back and forth at the beginning/end of the year, much less over breaks…</p>
<p>(… and please please please, people, if your school does not provide one, invest in a GOOD antivirus program and make sure that you pay for extended coverage. ie. Norton, which commonly comes bundled with new Dells, usually expires after 15 months, after which your computer becomes a sitting duck for virus infections if you don’t remember to pay for a new subscription. sorry, I know this doesn’t really belong in the laptop vs. desktops thread, but this has been a major problem on our campus in the past week or so <esp. w=“” the=“” most=“” recent=“” aim=“” virus=“”>, so it’s been on my mind…)</esp.></p>
<p>this laptop can be had for under $900 new in a nice configuration.
<a href=“http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cmod.to?seg=HHO&coid=-29484&sel=0&rcid=-26367&ccid=1291021[/url]”>http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cmod.to?seg=HHO&coid=-29484&sel=0&rcid=-26367&ccid=1291021</a>
its a toshiba satellite series. I have an older model which I got on ebay for about $1000 and its been great (although a little slow in new games :/). It weighs around 6 lbs and has a 15.4in widescreen, which is a very nice screen size. Has Wireless built in. I recommend upgrading the speakers, too. Otherwise, I’m happy with my purchase.</p>
<p>My daughter is a 1st year student at Williams and LOVES her laptop. Of course it is personal preference but one does not know until they get to school what the preference should be. I am an IT Purchsing Director and the Laptop is the waive of the future…Do not waste your money on a desk top…cut back other places and buy the laptop. It is portable and you can study away from your dorm room which you will love the flexability. Another must is a flash drive…they are the finest invention. Almost anything you find anywhere can be put on the flash drive and put on your system…from music to information in the library. Studing and flexability is key in college and one does not want to be cooped up in the dorm room to write papers…when you can be anywhere (wireless of course). Also2 things to remember is BEEF up the memory on the box to make it run faster and give yourself a big enough screen. The screens are big enough today one does NOT need a big fancy flat screen.</p>
<p>Having a laptop is just for the convenience factor, in no way is it necessary. Though I definitely recommend one if you can afford the extra cost over a desktop computer.</p>
<p>The reality is that your laptop will sit your desk most of the time, but for those days where you want to sit outside, go to the library, or go to a coffee shop, having a laptop is a nice thing.</p>
<p>Within days of starting college, my D called and said she really needed to replace her desktop with a laptop. I did some research but delayed purchasing. Now a month later it is obvious that she barely needs a computer at all. She has spent time emailing and IMing her friends. She has done some internet “research” and she used her printer once to print her schedule. I am sure it will be different when she is taking humanity courses, but she will have little use for any computer for the bulk of her math and physics courses.</p>