PSX5Central
Non Gaming Discussions => Off-Topic => Topic started by: square_marker on April 25, 2004, 07:40:26 PM
-
I am soon going to college, (august) and would like to know the members opinion on this subject. Which should I purchase for school, a laptop or desktop? I am looking to spend at max, about 3000.
I have been looking into laptops but I am not sure if they could support some of the first person shooters which I would like to have....? I am just not to educated in laptops. But if someone could list reasons why they would or wouldn\'t take a desktop or laptop, it would be greatly thanked. (I\'m attending Michigan State which have T1 lines in their dorm rooms, if that makes a difference)
-
The biggest advantage to a laptop is portability meaning you can take it to class or take it out on a hot day to do work outside or something, but other then that, there\'s not much of a reason for your practical purposes. A very nice digital voice recorder from Sony (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=hFoFuWKL8OQF1CIHCMAPsi2FaGfDmQjPpR4=?ProductSKU=ICDST25VTP) and spending about 2000 on building your own top of the line PC is about all you really need. I doubt you\'ll be doing a lot of traveling aside from going from your dorm\\apartment to your class and perhaps going out with friends or going home. If that\'s the case, the laptop is useless to you. If you really want to work on stuff when you return to your parents house and work on their computer, invest in a 512mb memory stick (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?j=1&id=1067388082877&type=product&ref=03&loc=01) as a temporary solution. Save your work on those and you\'ll be able to go between macs and PC\'s with your work to any of the many computers the campus is sure to have just in case your system were to ever go down.
-
Meh.... I\'ll be taking a desktop. Hopefully it won\'t break down on me.
-
Ryu nailed it, I\'ve had both and unless you NEED to bring it to class, go for the desktop.
-
Go Laptop!!!!!
My passed 4 years at college I wish I had a lappy so bad. There are lots of public places on campus that are study centers with Wi-Fi connectivity. I couldn\'t study cramped in my dorm, or at home. You\'ll be wanting one sooner or later.
As for gaming, one of the members in my mohaa clan uses a laptop and is one of the best in the game.
-
Yea, laptop for schooling / work can\'t be beat.. Desktop for gaming.
-
You get more technology for your money with a desktop, but I think a laptop would be better for college. I remember when I was attending university, I used to have to leave the house just so that I could find quiet places to study. If you could take a laptop with you wherever you wanted to work, that would be an advantage.
Besides, you should consider giving up gaming while you go to college. Things will go much better with fewer distractions. I gave up television for 6 years while I was getting a degree.
-
Laptops are easier to steal.
-
goto alienware.com I\'m not sure if they carry laptops cause IM IN A FREAKING HOTEL AND MY CONNECTION IS 14.4 right now but if they carry laptops i can assure you they will work for gaming and college!
-
Yes, Alienware laptops pack a great graphical punch. They are great for school and enjoying high-end gaming. The new Apple G4 laptops have awesome graphics too, with an ATI Radeon 9700 card (if you\'re into Apple).
-
I\'m in college now, and I would strongly recommend going with a laptop. The people I know here who have desktops and no laptops almost all wish they had laptops. You can get slightly more for your money with a desktop, but the convenience of a laptop here is so great. This campus, and many many others are becoming increasingly wireless, and it\'s just so nice having a laptop and being able to take it where ever.
As for them being easier to steal, that isn\'t really much of a concern here. It doesn\'t really happen.
-
With schooling in mind, I would also go with laptop. Get one of the tablet PCs. They are pretty freaking sweet.
-
...unless your wireless network sucks and is easy to hack.
Beware...
-
laptops are more expensive and can be stolen if you forget them somewhere. But portability is a big plus, especially laying down on the couch and computing. But if you\'re in a dorm room you may not have a couch anyway.
Don\'t go drop 2Gs on an alienware if it\'s for school. Go get a Dell. Heck you can get a dell desktop for under 1k.
-
In my case, UC is forcing me to buy a laptop. Not only that but they also specify which one I have to buy. It sucks, but at least I don\'t have to worry about making the choice.
-
If you have to buy a PC and not build one, go with Dell. Seriously, going with alienware is just a big waste of cash and because of its flashy design, it\'s just begging to be stolen or ripped off. At least with dell systems, they have a big metal hole on the back that you can place a lock on so no one can ever open your case. Just my 2 cents on that of course. I prefer not to trust total strangers with my hardware. I suppose that\'s why we have very big locks on our doors at night. ;)
-
Might I ask how a Laptop\'s internet connection works? At state we will be hooked up to T1 lines which are in out dorms. Say that I took my laptop outside in one of the parks/green areas to be outside doing my work. What would happen to my connection, is there sometime of wireless system I can put in and if so, how long does it extend?
-
Some campuses have wi-fi Internet access and they call them Internet hotspots. Generally, the range usually extends the entire campus and all you need is an 802.11B or G wireless network card installed in your laptop or plugged into the expansion slot and you\'ll have wireless Internet capabilities. Whether your school will have one or not depends. It can\'t hurt to call the school and ask to make sure.
-
Basically, it varies depending on the wireless setup at your college. Might wanna look into that.
-
Hmmm...Yes, I\'d get a laptop. Through college years and up until now I\'ve always had a desktop. But since I did (and still have to) travel alot by train I always missed having a laptop... those lost hours could have been spent way better. Also, I work behind a desktop alot as it is. Now with spring, going outside working in the sun would benefit (seriously ! ) my work, cuz sometimes I just can\'t seem to focus on a warm day inside, behind a desk.
Anyway, if I would go laptop now I would get a Dell with a Quadro FXGo 1000 workstation card, becuz of my 3D work.
Maya or Cinema4D crashing while you\'re underway ain\'t gonna be fun just becuz a slick gamer card couldn\'t handle.
-
I love taking my lappy on the roof of my apartment building with a cup of coffee in the morning and writing music on Reason. Can\'t beat it...