Latop or Desktop for college?

[kwajo.com]

i think it is time for me to speak up as a student with a 17" powerbook. Now to be honest, there are times when I wish I had a tiny little 12", but i think more often than not, I am amazed by the 17" and its abilities. to be fair, I had a desktop as a freshman, and decided to go laptop this year because I thought it would make travel to and from university and home much easier, and it does. but it being my first portable since an old 286 that weighed over 15 lbs, I think it is tiny. I will agree the 15" seems like a great compromise, and you've got to make special accommodation for a bag that can hold a 17" and not look suspicious or ridiculous. I found one that is nice at a local store, and I don't mind carrying the system around all day, at least in terms of size and weight annoyances. What I do mind is the super protective feeling I have when it is with me. I would take down a bear to protect the thing from scratches or dust, and I walk a bit more tenderly with it on my shoulder.

as for in lecture, it depends on the hall/classroom. if you have desks or tables, it is no trouble. ditto for lecture theaters with those little desks that fold to the side. the only trouble is with rooms that have chairs with fixed side desks, that don't move (and a lot of them are slanted) there is no way to use my powerbook with those things, but I would guess you can't use any of the other sizes either.


on the whole, I wonder sometimes if I should have gotten a G5 and an old ibook, but 90% of the time I could not be happier. good luck with your decision!

 

[McCord9]

good idea

I thought rjstanford had a great idea, buy a loaded ibook now ( i just ordered one) and save,(invest), the rest of the money now and wait a couple years to get a nicer powerbook. I have an old iMac thats nearing 4 years old and have just ordered a new iBook maxed out, i figure by the time that becomes too slow (my imac still kicks butt g3 400mhz) ill have a job, and can get a sweet pb.

 

[ethernet76]

Re: good idea

What's the point? Is he really going to use all that power? It's utterly wasteful to buy something to "hold you over."

Plan like a college student. As great as computers are you won't spend that much time on it unless it's for school or you're chatting online. [sarcasm]Both highly intensive uses [/end sarc].

Save the money, get something with a G4. Get an xBox, get Madden 2005 or whatever.

Fact, I play more xBox than I'm on the computer. Fact, college living even if on campus is really expensive, save the money and get drunk or go out with friends(Yes this is a blatent support for underage drinking).

My freshman year – two years ago – I spent 800 of my own money on living even though I was living on campus. If you still want to a)buy stuff like CDs and DVDs b)eat off campus at least once a week c)have money for food, snacks and pop inside your dorm, then don't spend everything on a computer.

Sure you may have the coolest computer in the entire dorm, but It'll be so fun when you can''t go out because you've got that job to pay for all the other stuff that isn't covered in the bill the Univ. sends you.

 

[iChan]

if you are in college, just get a laptop because you will likely be going home and stuff during the year a lot... you'll have something to use while travelling...