Desktop, Laptop....I need major help!

[Barb Gordon]

Hey all! I would really love the input from those of you here I either currently in college, or already out of it. I'm going to college in about a month and am going to use all the college money I got to purchase a computer. I've had all sorts of people telling me I should get a desktop, or a laptop, and I've gone from almost getting one or the other like five times! Both have advantages and disadvantages, but I'm now at my wit's end trying to decide which one I should get. Which is why I would really appreciate the opinions of those who like I said are in or just out of college, and whether you used a desktop or laptop, the reason, whether you recommend it at all, etc. And, some people have said it makes a difference so I'll say it now, I'm not living in a dorm, I'm commuting to school. Thanks loads!

~Barb

[Joe Tully]

I got a desktop for college. It's cheaper and you really don't need to be carrying around a laptop anywhere. If I ever got a laptop, I'd always be afraid of leaving it somewhere. Plus, I dislike the mice for most laptops.

If you ever need to use files from your desktop at school for some reason, you can always either put them on a disk or upload them somewhere. My school let us upload files to our own accounts on the server, though I don't think that this is something that many people are aware of. So on rare occasions when I needed to do something at the computer lab, like use Photoshop (since I don't have it), I could just upload and download the file as necessary.

[Joe Wagner]

I too commute to school and would have to tell you that from personal experience the desktop is a much better value. Not only are they more stable but for the price you are going to get a lot better processor and memory from a desktop than a laptop. In my job I have had the experience of working with both and I would have to say that the desktop overall is a much, much better package for your money.

Also most colleges will have computers set up for student use so if you need to make a last minute change on a paper it's just as easy to make one in the computer lab - carrying a copy of the paper that you did at home with you.

-Joe!

[Psycho Fox]

Well it depends what you really want. If you going to use public transit laptops can allow you to work while there. You can work outside on nice days or at a lunch table and you don't have to worry about finding a free computer at the computer lab. Plus for me atleast I was able to get work done while waiting for the class to start. On the down side IBM compats make crappy laptops they suck battaries which means your either stuck with a Mac laptop (Not bad but if you really want or need windows it could be a bit of a problem) or carry spare battary packs with you. On the downside some colleges don't really like people pluging their laptop into the network making printing a bit of a hassle of course I pluged my laptop into the network anyway when noone was looking.

Thus if you want to do your work outside the computer lab on the go then of course get a labtop but if you rather do it latter in a lab or at home then go for a desktop or tower.

[czyznyck99]

If you are a disciplined student, I would spring for the desktop. Most schools have their own computers, both PC and Mac, so you can still check all of the essentials.

However, depending on what your major is, you might want to get a laptop in addition to a desktop. My roommates are computer science majors, and they often run their projects on their laptops and work on their desktops. It's also convenient for you if you are commuting, because if you find a study group that wants to meet late you don't have to travel back and forth, you can work on a laptop.

I just have a few questions for you though. How far do you live from your school? What school are you going to? What's your major (I hope it's not underwater basket weaving!)? Why not the dorm (everyone would be telling you to get a desktop, and they would be right)? Everyone at your school will be asking you these the minute you walk in, so now you can practice some creative responses :p .

Later.

[Twilight]

I say a desktop too. As an undergrad I doubt you'll need to carry a PC around with you. In some way I'm a commuter, but I don't need to bring a PC with me. There are computer labs at school if you need them, and if you're doing papers and homework, those should have been done at home before coming to school. As others say too, you can save files on disk and work on them at school too. I lived in dorms for two years and will be commuting for 3 years. Never needed to carry a PC with me, desktop is just fine. I really see laptops useful for mobility, that is it. Other than that a desktop I find so much better to use. My sisters have laptops and I've used them on occasion when I'm away from my own computer. I find desktops a lot easier to work with, convenient, and more versatile. Dell and Gateway sell some nice packages for good prices. I have a Gateway and am real happy with it. :)

[Stardust]

I agree with most of the posts here. I, too, have a desktop. They hold more space than laptops (meaning they can hold more games and music and all the other good stuff i download :p ). I've seen kids who have laptops take them to class to type their notes in...as well as getting distracted and start to play games, too.

My roommate always seems to be having problems with her laptop, but I don't know if it's because of her lack of knowledge of computers or the laptop brand or all the music files she downlaods...or what. I mean, i have trouble with my desktop but not as often as the laptop troubles. if you have friends with laptops, ask them what they think of it.

czyznyck99's advice is by far the best i've read so far. nothing i can do to add to it except to agree.

[CookieS]

Barb, I'm in college. Go DESKTOP. Have you ever tried to type a term paper on a laptop? It sucks. This is what I would do if I were you....spring for the desk top.

THEN spring for a PDA with one of those full sized snap in keyboards. This way you'll be able to type on the go as well as in your dorm. :)

[Barb Gordon]

Thanks so much for all the input! It's been very helpful. About the only reason I would go for a laptop as opposed the the desktop, would be to be able to write notes with it in class, and able to whip it out and use it during breaks. But besides that, it didn't seem worth it considering I could get so much more with a desktop. I live about 30 minutes from my college. I'm attending Chapman University in Orange, California. My major is History, with a bit of English Literature...so a lot of writing and reading. And why not the dorm? Well, I live far away that I could have lived in a dorm, course the college is expensive enough, but close enough so that I could commute is I chose to. I opted for staying at home because of 1) my parents already provide everything here 2)wouldn't have to worry about sharing the bathroom or anything 3) my kitty!. And my sis just moved out so I moved into her bedroom, even though hers and mine were the same,lol. And that was enough moving for me, I like being with my family though without my big sis it's a bit roomier and more private. I've got $1190 of college money for friends and family to get a laptop or desktop with. And I was so amazed when for that amount I could get a desktop with everything little thing I could desire included, but would only cover half of the laptop price if I was trying to get the same things.

~Barb

[czyznyck99]

Thanks, Barb.

Well, that seals my vote, get the desktop, it's the much better deal for you.

You are going to Chapman? Cool :cool: ! I go to UC Irvine, it's about 20 minutes from there.

It IS a small world after all (curse you Disneyland) :p !
Good luck!

Later.

[gtracer72]

I have a laptop. I love it because it is so small. I commute to my college (George Mason University). It is about a 30 minute drive, but I save a ton of money that way :D . Anyway, I would recommend a laptop.

[Chris Sanders MSX]

Why don't you do what I'm doing ? Take your current PC with you ? I'm the only one who really usues this thing or knows how to run every thing, besides all my MP3's and junk are on here. :p

[Barb Gordon]

Cause my current PC is lame,lol. Besides, my sis or her brother can get me a 10% discount off the computer I choose through Dell, which means, if I get the desktop at the price I want, it's getting the printer I want for nothing. Thanks again for all the advice, and I think I will get a desktop....though maybe in a year or so of saving I could spring for a laptop as well! And it is a small world czyznyck99, because one of my friends is going to UCI! And actually, her sis has already been going there for 2 years....no a girl by the last name of Seifert perchance?

~Barb

[czyznyck99]

Hmmm, guess the world is not that small.

Sorry Barb, I don't know them. I had a math professor by the last name of Seifert, I hope your friends are nicer than he was on our class :p . Oh man, that was drama.

Can't be too many people here with the last name of Seifert, right? I know no one else has Czyznyck for a name :D . ZOT!

And Chris, do you actually take your entire desktop with you? The visualization in my head is just too funny.

Later.

[Chris Sanders MSX]

I'm not in college yet, I'm going into my Senior year and my plan is to take it with me. Depending on what I decide to do about my car when I leave will be a big part of this. I mean If I take a plane to my college i have no idea how I'm going to pull this off unless I have my parents mail it to me.

But if I decide to take my car with me to college meaning me driving where ever I go, I'm definetly going for it. Of course this has to doa lot with where i go too. If I get into WMU(Western Michigan University) or the school in Tennesse I'm definetly driving. If it's a bit farther I may have to do like barb and buy something new.

[moldorm]

Personally, I have a laptop with a docking station connected to a full-size keyboard, pointing device (I perfer touchpads to mice), and a (currently broken) 17-inch monitor. The laptop has built-in 802.11b wireless networking, which my school uses, so I can use the Internet from most of my classes. I also have an older desktop that is connected to the same keyboard and monitor through a switch, and also has wireless networking, which I use to share the dial-up Internet connection, its 110 GB of disk space (the laptop only has 20 GB), and the printer, which I can use in any room in my home.

[Mad Scientist]

A desktop goes on top of your desk. A laptop goes on top of your lap.

Okay, so it's not a perfect description, but it's true, believe it or not.

Anyway, desktops are large computers (which is WHY they go on your desk) and laptops are small computers (which is WHY they go on your lap). That's also true.

See? I'm sure it's simple for you to understand now, huh? :)

Always remember this lesson: If you want to understand a word, say it backwards. The definitions will be right there, in front of your eyes.

[Weatherman]

I say desktop for the simple fact that yo ucan't repair or upgrade a laptop yourself. You have to sebd it in for service and loos it for awhile. :(


Desktops are also much more versitile for changing out parts and can take more stuff in cheaper. :)

It's not hard to take notes once you learn how to distill the info. :)
Great to see another history major here. :D

[TimTwoFace]

Hey Babs, I'm a little late on the response here, but...

I personally would go with a desktop computer. Yeah, they're clunky and bigger than those sleek little laptops, but really, I just like them more. I was never a fan of the mouses (mice?) for laptops, and those little trackball things weren't much better. Just my opinion.

Not only that, they're a heckuva lot cheaper - and us students need to save all the money we can!

:)

(Must...resist...eBay...)

-Tim

[James]

I'd have a hesitancy over Laptops after sufferng troubles with this one. The internet connection seems very haphazzard. A collegue said that can be the nature of the compact device. I'm not sure so i will call the helpline and see if they can advise (which I'm sure they can - but not anything I don't already know...)

For internet and lots of use, I'd recommend a desktop - especially with recent experience of laptops for net usage.....

[Sandro]

I would get whichever one is cheaper. If you can find a good notebook that serves your needs, go for it. Desktops are good too. If you get one of those, get a PDA.

[Nightwing]

Price doesn't have to be the deciding factor. You can generally get a very well to do lap top for not THAT much money, considering how prices used to be.

When I was in your shoes, Barbsy, I was torn too, but for reasons I later found out didn't matter. What you want with a desktop that you can't have with a lap top are ports for added hardware like WinTV or other add ons you can easily get with your desktop.

But for the simple purposes I needed at school I realized that a lap top is the better choice. And that's true even more so if you're dorming at school. Don't forget about lugging all those PC chunks to and from home on vacations or certain long weekends you have off where you'd want to go home but worry about your new computer. Don't forget that buying a lap top does not mean you'll HAVE TO be taking it everywhere with you. All these years I've been on these wonderfull boards talking to you wonderfull people my lap top was sitting on my desk, taking up very little space, just like a desktop, but not. :p

Lap tops are simpler, and although mine is three years old, I got my use out of it, and I still am. The one thing in making SURE you got the lap top that'll last is in your shopping.....which could need so much more info gathering that it could very well be the next topic of a CTZ thread for ya. ;)

[Bleu Unicorn]

Since you already made your decision, this is so not necessary, but I'm going to write it anyway because, well, I got out of the pool and it's actually not opressively hot in here, so that's why. (Like you really cared, right?)

Anyway, I've had both and I can tell you there really isn't ALL that much difference, imho. Laptops are great if (and this is a big if) you actually need and do bring them places. If you were living in the dorm and had a roommate I'd say go with the laptop, so you could store it away safetly. Most people buy 'em to take notes and they don't even bother to bring them to class... especially if NO ONE else in class has one... it's kind of weird.

Desktops, obviously, are cheaper. And to replace anything, fix anything, or do just about anything -- it's cheaper.

So there... that's my two-cents worth.

I didn't know you weren't living in the dorms! That's pretty cool... I dunno, I moved out when I was sixteen, so the option of living with my parents was sort of, well, not an option. I can say, though that dorm life has both it's advantages and disadvantages. Probably the biggest thing is that it's almost always cheaper to live off campus, if you live close to the school.

Ok... anyway, I think I said enough now.

[Sandro]

Price doesn't have to be the deciding factor.

Yes but you do have to admit that it is a big factor especially considering this is a college student. Who honestly has a couple grand to spend on a PC when you're in college?

You can generally get a very well to do lap top for not THAT much money, considering how prices used to be.

Excellent point. You obviously don't need to have a Pentium IV 2.0+ gHz chip if you're not going to do gaming. Whatever you decide to get, don't get excessive stuff; only get what you know you need. In your case maybe a Pentium would do well.

Besides, my sis or her brother can get me a 10% discount off the computer I choose through Dell, which means, if I get the desktop at the price I want, it's getting the printer I want for nothing.

A printer for nothing? Wow. Anywayz, I'm glad you're buying from Dell and staying far from Compaq.