I have an Ipad with one of those attachable keyboards, so I think I will just be taking notes with the Ipad since it is so much more easy to carry.
I was thinking of just buying a 17.3" laptop since I love the bigger screen. I also do have a 15" Toshiba laptop that I am currently using but it is 6 years old and running Windows Vista, it is also pretty heavy. I also have a smartphone.
So will my Ipad suffice in college for taking around classes? I was just going to leave my 17.3" laptop in my dorm and just use my Ipad for classes. I also never plan on going to the library because I can’t focus when there are people and would rather do stuff in my dorm.
I would say that an iPad is sufficient for taking notes in non-technical, non-math classes. If you don’t have to write down equations, there are several really good note-taking apps. I myself have an iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard and I used it to take notes for my graduate classes, which meant I didn’t have to schlep my laptop with me. Win-win.
So in that case, having a desktop replacement laptop might be ok - but wait, there’s more. These days, most of the media and entertainment you might consume might be on your laptop - watching movies, playing music, social media, etc. Although you might not use your laptop to study in the library, you might use it to entertain yourself in the student center or on the quad. Or you might want to take it on trips - road trips with friends, spring break, breaks home, whatever. Think realistically how much you use your computer for non-school purposes and whether you’d want to lug it to all of those places.
If you like the bigger screen, it’s very possible to buy a cheap monitor (you can even get a used one from like eBay or Amazon) and hook the monitor and an inexpensive keyboard and mouse to your laptop, turning it into a desktop in your dorm room.
Tablets are ideal for media consumption, not generation. I had a friend who used an iPad Mini exclusively for note taking last year and she just switched over to a laptop because of various compatibility issues she encountered when it came to organizing her notes.
I used a 17" laptop as a desktop replacement in my apartment because I did not want to carry around a desktop and monitor every time I wanted to come back home.
But I also used a smaller laptop for notes in class and not a tablet.
I would buy something that is carryable and have a monitor/keyboard/docking station for use in the dorm if you like a big monitor. Probably a 13-15" would be good.
17 seems way too big to me. Keep it to 13 to 15 inch. That said, you may find yourself not using your computer or a tablet in class anyways. I have gone through over a year of college as a CS major without regularly bringing my laptop to a single class.
I have a 17 inch laptop and I love it. Is it a bit bulky? Absolutely. But I can easily look at two applications when I’m writing papers, it’s great for media consumption, and it allows me to more effectively look at maps and spreadsheets, something vital for my major.
Look into the Microsoft Surface line, I think its one of the best things for students. Its light enough to not mind carrying around and its strong enough to replace any laptop.