How useful will a laptop be in college?

[jjeangi]

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So I start in the fall, and I've been thinking about selling my laptop (I also have a desktop), and using the money to buy a new cellphone (old one is literally melted 😡) and maybe some supplies I may need.

I want to sell but I'm nervous that this could be a bad tradeoff.

On a side note: Is it true that it's better to write than type notes?

 

[yankee4life]

very

 

[sliceofbread136]

Well atleast for me, there were two big disadvantages to bringing my laptop.

1. I'm an engineer, and alot of my notes are math. I could not type the math fast enough and ended up having to write it down, leading to unorganized notes

2. Atleast for me, the internet is a huge distraction. I never listened in lecture when I had my laptop

Neither of these may apply to you. Imo the best way to take notes is to use a 6 subject notebook for all your classes.

 

[serendipity007]

So I start in the fall, and I've been thinking about selling my laptop (I also have a desktop), and using the money to buy a new cellphone (old one is literally melted 😡) and maybe some supplies I may need.

I want to sell but I'm nervous that this could be a bad tradeoff.

On a side note: Is it true that it's better to write than type notes?

I prefer writing notes but a laptop is hugely helpful in other ways. Not just taking notes. e.g. when you have to write a paper or study for a test. You will definitely need a laptop. Can you live without one? Sure.

I can sympathize with you. Do you really need a phone? If yes, then do it. Depending on your college, you can go to your library and get work done on a computer over there. You never know, you might be more productive that way. No fb, twitter etc. since you will be pressed for time. It will be hard, but if you have to do it, then I guess you have to.

Alternatively, look to see if your college technology office has a program where you can get a cheaper laptop and an interest free installment plan. That would be amazing in your case! Good luck!

 

[iforget2]

I would not have survived without my laptop. I never even used it for taking notes during lectures but there are many times I had to work with my lab partners in the library where I had to bring a laptop to work or maybe bring a laptop for reference when you're studying with group members. Also, desktops take up space, so laptop is a much better option.

 

[Hemorrage]

So I start in the fall, and I've been thinking about selling my laptop (I also have a desktop), and using the money to buy a new cellphone (old one is literally melted 😡) and maybe some supplies I may need.

I want to sell but I'm nervous that this could be a bad tradeoff.

On a side note: Is it true that it's better to write than type notes?

I would suggest you get a job and save money instead. Dont sell the laptop.. if anything just dump the desktop. I have a 12.5 inch laptop i use in class along with my iPad and in my opinion having digital notes makes everything easier.

 

[lobo.solo]

Op, a laptop is very useful while in college. If you have to write a paper, do research, look up info on a topic that you don't understand, get on SDN, etc. I would suggest getting a summer job, so that you can make the money for the cellphone you need. Good luck in transitioning to college.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Op, a laptop is very useful while in college. If you have to write a paper, do research, look up info on a topic that you don't understand, get on SDN, etc. I would suggest getting a summer job, so that you can make the money for the cellphone you need. Good luck in transitioning to college.

He has a desktop though. I think as long as he studies at home he could get by. Imo, not having a portable phone would be worse than not having a portable computer.

 

[Verum]

Should i get a macbook pro or an Imac?

 

[sliceofbread136]

Should i get a macbook pro or an Imac?

Neither, spend half the money on something without an apple on it.

 

[Gnomo]

So I start in the fall, and I've been thinking about selling my laptop (I also have a desktop), and using the money to buy a new cellphone (old one is literally melted 😡) and maybe some supplies I may need.

I want to sell but I'm nervous that this could be a bad tradeoff.

On a side note: Is it true that it's better to write than type notes?

I've lived both ways. I had a laptop for a few years before it finally kicked the can last summer. It was nice to have around the house, and I was able to take it to the library or music lab when needed.

The past year I have not had a personal computer and I survived. Whenever I head to campus for class, I plan on staying an hour or two in the library or computer lab afterward. I'll cycle to campus at night if needed and stay there to do homework, Hulu, etc. When I was preparing for the MCAT, I would pack a dinner and stay on campus for eight to 10 hours at a time. It's doable. As a bonus, you don't have to pay for Internet in your apartment.

 

[jjeangi]

I've lived both ways. I had a laptop for a few years before it finally kicked the can last summer. It was nice to have around the house, and I was able to take it to the library or music lab when needed.

The past year I have not had a personal computer and I survived. Whenever I head to campus for class, I plan on staying an hour or two in the library or computer lab afterward. I'll cycle to campus at night if needed and stay there to do homework, Hulu, etc. When I was preparing for the MCAT, I would pack a dinner and stay on campus for eight to 10 hours at a time. It's doable. As a bonus, you don't have to pay for Internet in your apartment.

I'll have a desktop and internet at my home. I will be commuting to school for every class.

I just wanted to know if having a laptop would really make a difference in class as I have everything when I come home.

I'm really leaning towards selling it and then buying a smartphone. With this, I'd have net on the go, be able to access files, schedule my college life, and restore my social life.

 

[Gnomo]

I'll have a desktop and internet at my home. I will be commuting to school for every class.

I just wanted to know if having a laptop would really make a difference in class as I have everything when I come home.

I'm really leaning towards selling it and then buying a smartphone. With this, I'd have net on the go, be able to access files, schedule my college life, and restore my social life.

Gotcha. In your situation, a laptop is a luxury. You will be fine without it. If you're in the library studying and need a computer ... it's the library. They have computers there. I haven't jumped on the smartphone bandwagon yet, but if that's what you want, go for it.

 

[UnclePhil]

If it meant keeping my laptop, I would give up my smartphone in a heartbeat.

I'm not sure how a smartphone restores ones social life. My social life has not changed since I got my iPhone and plenty of people still use normal phones and have great social lives.

 

[jjeangi]

If it meant keeping my laptop, I would give up my smartphone in a heartbeat.

I'm not sure how a smartphone restores ones social life. My social life has not changed since I got my iPhone and plenty of people still use normal phones and have great social lives.

Of course not having a cell phone can affect one's social life. After my old phone melted (looong story), it's been much more difficult to keep in touch with my friends, for instance. So yes, in that regard, it can.

 

[Praefectus]

You can always get a crappy brick phone. I'm sure one of your friends has an old flip phone around their house.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

How would you use Facebook in class without a laptop???

Kidding, kind of. I found my laptop invaluable in undergrad for research, writing papers, and for general screwing around. I tried taking notes on my laptop, but I don't retain information as well when I type something as I do when I write it with pen and paper. I was also easily distracted in class with my laptop for notes. Still, I couldn't have given my laptop up for anything. Research papers are 10x easier with your own computer, and I liked being able to take it around to different study spaces (my home, the library, coffee shops, etc.)

 

[jjesque]

So much of your work will need to be done on the computer, so inevitably you will be sitting in front of your computer for hours on end -- the bigger question is, can you do all your work at home on your desktop? I've always been the kind of person who does their best work at the library or cafe. Definitely was never able to concentrate at home in my bedroom. My laptop was an absolute necessity. It may not be for you.

 

[UnclePhil]

^Did you just respond to your own thread?

Of course not having a cell phone can affect one's social life. After my old phone melted (looong story), it's been much more difficult to keep in touch with my friends, for instance. So yes, in that regard, it can.

But you're talking about selling a laptop to get a smartphone, whereas you can just activate any regular old flip phone without doing such (unless you need the money from the laptop to pay a $30 activation fee). I went through 4 years of college with just a flip phone and functioned just fine. If I didn't have my lap top, I probably would've done way worse academically and been way more miserable in general.

 

[BigBlueBear]

Laptops are critical if you want to survive boring lectures. Facebook is a godsend.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Well atleast for me, there were two big disadvantages to bringing my laptop.

1. I'm an engineer, and alot of my notes are math. I could not type the math fast enough and ended up having to write it down, leading to unorganized notes

2. Atleast for me, the internet is a huge distraction. I never listened in lecture when I had my laptop

Neither of these may apply to you. Imo the best way to take notes is to use a 6 subject notebook for all your classes.

👍

If you're drawing alot of diagrams, doing alot of math, etc, stick with paper.

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

One time I was studying for O chem at a local coffee shop. I had my laptop out looking at lecture notes online. I looked up and saw a guy come in lugging a huge desktop computer, monitor, tower, keyboard, mouse, and all. Took about 5-10 min for him to set everything up. It seemed pretty inconvenient, and he looked like a fool.

Moral of the story: get a laptop 👍

 

[Gnomo]

One time I was studying for O chem at a local coffee shop. I had my laptop out looking at lecture notes online. I looked up and saw a guy come in lugging a huge desktop computer, monitor, tower, keyboard, mouse, and all. Took about 5-10 min for him to set everything up. It seemed pretty inconvenient, and he looked like a fool.

Moral of the story: get a laptop 👍

Or don't pretentiously pretend to study at a coffee shop 👍

 

[Ravizzle]

Or don't pretentiously pretend to study at a coffee shop 👍

+1 like wtf yo, i was at Starbucks one day catching up with some friends, n the dude at the next table was like "can u keep the noise down, I'm trying to study for a midterm" i was like wtf man u ever heard of a library?

Sent from my Galaxy S2 via tapatalk

 

[Koosalagoosagoo]

+1 like wtf yo, i was at Starbucks one day catching up with some friends, n the dude at the next table was like "can u keep the noise down, I'm trying to study for a midterm" i was like wtf man u ever heard of a library?

Sent from my Galaxy S2 via tapatalk

o god i lol'd just because I pictured some hipster studying

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

Don't get one. Every laptop user I saw in class was on facebook just as often, if not moreso, than they were taking notes in class. And when they were taking notes they were doing it terribly. As it turns out it's really hard to make a good figure of a cell, molecule, graph, or equation in OneNote in a timely manner.

I spent the first two years of college with a desktop. I spent the next two years with a laptop and when I couldn't take it anymore I got a desktop again in my last year.