Laptop or desktop?

newbie · #1 07-19-2002, 03:26 PM

Hey!

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a laptop or a desktop to bring to college. Which is better, in your opinion?

DRau · #2 07-19-2002, 03:32 PM

Undoubtably a laptop.

You are going to be moving so many times in the next four years that it makes your life a hell of a lot easier - especially if you are in a sorority. You'll move rooms more times then you think. Also if you tend to go home a lot and like to have a computer with you, a laptop is the only way to go.

I had a desktop when I started school and after I switched, I couldn't believe I had it any other way. The new laptops they have out today are just as functional as the desktops, even if they are a few more bucks (but totally worth it I think)

CIAO!

AOIIBrandi · #3 07-19-2002, 03:38 PM

I would say PC, even though there are pros and cons to each.

Laptop
_________

Pros: Light, can go anywhere

Cons: Battery life isn't very long and the battery can build memory much like old cell phone batteries. Unless you leave it at home all the time you cannot take advantage of the higher speed internet connections. Upgrading and repairing is much more time consuming and expensive, also it is harder to find a shop that will do it. Mouse is sometimes tricky to use. Screen glare can be a big problem

PC
________

Pros: Relatively inexpensive to upgrade and repair. A lot of times you can do it yourself, making the average life span longer that of a laptop. You can take advantage of the higher speed internet connections. PC is always set up and ready to use, no reattaching printer cables and such.

Cons: Larger, heavier, and less mobile than a laptop. Can't really think of more at the moment.

I guess you can see that I lean towards the PC side. I also have owned a laptop so I speak from experience. The fact that it allows you to take it anywhere generally does not outway the extra work involved with them.

JMUduke · #4 07-19-2002, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AOIIBrandi
I would say PC, even though there are pros and cons to each.

I agree!!! I have a laptop, and although it takes me a minute to close it up and pack it away for the end of the year, it drives me nuts sometimes because it did not like me at all when I first got it!! I spent a lot of money on this baby fixing it when it was still brand new!! My suggestion: get a laptop, but get one with a 3 year warranty!! I only had a one year, and after one year and 3 months, it broke AGAIN!!!
Still, we have been through a lot, and have learned to respect one another, now we get along fine!! I adore it!

aephi alum · #5 07-19-2002, 04:16 PM

Another pro to a desktop is that you can get a more powerful model (faster chip, more RAM, more disk space, etc) for less money. If that's important to you, go for the desktop. If the portability is more important, get a laptop. You may want to buy a separate mouse so you don't have to deal with those annoying trackpads. Also, most laptops these days come with backup batteries, or you can buy one. As with so many things, it's a tradeoff.

AOX81 · #6 07-19-2002, 04:19 PM

I would say go for the laptop.

amycat412 · #7 07-19-2002, 04:28 PM

laptop, absolutely.

if your roommate is loud or something--you can take it and head to Leavey Library to work.

Kevin · #8 07-19-2002, 04:31 PM

I'd say you can have the best of both worlds.

You can get a laptop and they'll usually hook to an external keyboard and monitor.

I hate laptop keyboards. Radioshack sells this new keyboard that you could even carry with you. It's made of silicone and you can just roll it up when you're done with it.

So get the laptop and shell out an extra 3-4 hundred to get the extra large monitor, keyboard, mouse, whatever.

LeslieAGD · #9 07-19-2002, 04:37 PM

Laptop, all the way.

DeeGeePee · #10 07-19-2002, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
I'd say you can have the best of both worlds.

You can get a laptop and they'll usually hook to an external keyboard and monitor.

I hate laptop keyboards. Radioshack sells this new keyboard that you could even carry with you. It's made of silicone and you can just roll it up when you're done with it.

Roll it up??? How in the world? But I say get a desktop. Laptops cost more, don't they? Plus I hate the lil square u use for the "mouse" or heaven forbid the lil button thing. I mean when you move, you gonna have a lotta stuff regardless, so go for the big one. You can get one that has all the goodies in the monitor casing, plus w/ the speakers attached so all you have is a monitor and keyboard.

ShaedyKD · #11 07-19-2002, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Roll it up??? How in the world?

My roomate this past year had one of these, it's kind of made of bendable rubber/plastic, like a calculator keypad. It is the coolest thing ever, it is SILENT, which is so nice while sharing a dorm room! I would seriously recommend making them mandatory in all dorms, keyboard clicking is the most annoying sound at 3 AM!
Anyways, I would also recommend a laptop. Unless you are some kind of computer wiz who wants to do all these fancy programs and keep a ton of info in your memory (ha, this shows you how much I use computers!)...why do you need a desktop? I use my computer strictly for typing papers, chatting on AIM, checking my email, and downloading music. My laptop is super, although I've been really unhappy with Hewlett Packard tech support. So I wouldn't recommend an HP, but definitely a laptop.
P.S. I have a regular mouse to use because I hate the touch pad one, but thats the only downside to a laptop.

Kevlar281 · #12 07-19-2002, 06:49 PM

Has anyone seen the new prototype projection keyboards? It’s basically a little inferred light that projects the display of a keyboard on to a desk surface. I can’t wait for it to be perfected.

josh8o · #13 07-20-2002, 12:07 AM

my sister went away 2 years before me and got a pc. i saw he lug it around everytime she moved, and i saw all the space it took up on her desk...so i got a laptop.

you can get almost anything you want built into a laptop, and it will all fit into a cool black bag you caus use to cary around when you need to get the hell out of the dorms to write a paper!

TaraHopeful · #14 07-20-2002, 12:28 AM

LAPTOP!!!! I love mine! The battery lasts a long time, it's fast, easy to use and portable yeah! oh ya, i have a dell inspiron 2600 i'd recommend dell

juniorgrrl · #15 07-20-2002, 12:43 AM

It all really depends on what you want.

Personally, I've got both. I got a laptop for graduation and to use in law school. But I'll still be taking my desktop to school with me. Why? While the laptop is more powerful, its more comfortable for me to do photo editing, programming, gaming, etc on the desktop. Plus, the CD burner is in the desktop.

However, the laptop will come in handy for class, going home on the weekends, getting away to work, etc. For years I've always said I wanted a laptop, it would have made my life so much easier when I had massive programming assignments to do, and the user manuals that each project had to go along with it.

If you need a simple machine for writing papers and surfing the internet, go with a laptop. Just make sure to get a LOT of RAM and the fastest processor you can afford to put off the machine's impending obsalescence.