Off to Uni

[Schroedinger]

Here's my two cents:

I actually just graduated from Michigan Law on Saturday, and I've been using a desktop/laptop combo system and it worked really well for me.

I recognize law is different b/c most of us use laptops, but I wouldn't let other people hating you keep you from using whatever techniques work best for you. Three years after starting taking notes on a computer, I type way faster than I can write by hand at this point.

I'm a US student, so forgive me if my assumptions are wrong, but I assume that even if you're studying econ, the vast majority of your classes will be some kind of core general curriculum and then a bunch of electives. For everything not graphs/equations based, a laptop will make you fifty times more efficient. I'm surprised more undergrads don't use them. Being able to access all your notes, and edit and compile and outline quickly is great. We go through a massive amount of material in law school and I can't imagine organizing it if I just had paper.

I've got a big fancy mac with a giant screen at home that I use for all my movies, music, photos and for work when I'm in my apartment. I actually used, and I recommend this, an ultraportable pc laptop for class notes, working in the library, etc. I never asked it to do anything beyond that so it worked well. I know it's against the rules to recommend a PC to a mac user, but if you're carrying it to class, having a sub 3 lb notebook really makes a difference. The day apple comes out with an ultraportable, I'll be all over it, but for now I love my thinkpad x40. (and thinkpads are very linux friendly if you really can't stand windows)

And regarding the classes with graphs and equations, I studied a lot of tax law in school, and that's big on the numbers and problems. I just used paper to do that work, while taking reading notes on the laptop and keeping statutes on there. It's great to be able to open a word document, hit Find, and type in what you're looking for.

and if most of my assumptions are wrong, ignore everything i've said.

 

[vintagetobes]

Thanks very much guys, your advice as been great. I've decided to buy a 12" Powerbook to go with the iMac, at least to try it out like that. They hold their value so well that i could sell it on without too much loss, in a few months time. Cheers for the help again!
Toby

 

[koobcamuk]

I disagree. As a freshman and even as a sophomore, you're more likely to live in a double and have a roomate which can be a mixed blessing. It was nearly impossible to get work done in my room freshman year and instead I usu. packed my things and parked myself in the library.

In the UK, most dorms are single. We don't have room-mates (at least I don't know anyone in the whole of the UK that had one).

 

[koobcamuk]

... stay sober...

I was agreeing with you until then.

I just finished my Physics masters. I started out with an iBook, 14". Sold it and got an iMac G5 (which I sold last night). The 20" screen is very useful for essays and general pleasure (DVDs, entertaining women etc) but I found, with my degree, that not one person took a laptop to uni. My course is very maths and graph based - so it's a lot quicker to do by hand. When UMIST merged with Manchester, I did see a guy with a Dvorak keyboard layout on his powerbook - he managed to write all the notes at lightning speed and even draw crystal lattices in omnigraffle just as quickly as I can by hand. He was an exception though.

I recommend the iMac. At one point I had the iMac and the MacBook, but the MacBook is fast enough and portable enough that I got rid of the iMac. Let's hope for an ultraportable MBP!

If I can be bothered, I will get a large Dell screen for my office.

 

[student_trap]

if you have about £500, i'd get the low end macbook with a HE student discount...the amount of money that the discont takes off of the prices is amazing! I have a mbp and powerbook, and am at uni in the uk...here are my experiences...

1. Virtually nobody takes laptops to lectures

2. You almost certainly will get your own room...some people end up sharing but they represent a tiny fraction of the student populous

3. Laptops are very handy...after working in your room all day, its nice to go work in the library/coffee shop/college grounds etc for a change of scenery. However be warned, the powerbook screen is far to dim to be used outside when it is sunny...i usually just turn the backlight off and read the sceen without it!!!!

4. don't dismiss a two computer set-up, a friend of mine has a 20" C2D imac and a 12" ibook, which gives her a lot of freedom. I use my mpb as a desktop machine thats easier to lug back home at the end of term (as far as i am concerned it is far to fragile to be used in the same way as the old 12" laptops and current macbooks can be!) and use my 12" powerbook for portability, for me, this set-up works wonders, and as the only files on my powerbook are documents, its really easy to keep a copy of my work on both computeres via bluetooth

5. May i recommend an external hard drive for backing up, i had a close call recently when i thought that a 3000 word essay had gone missing...backing up is essential!

6. As for what people would think about you if you were to bring a massive computer...it depends on what uni you are actually going to, and also whether you show the beast off (and with macs, sometimes this is difficult to resist!!!! )

hope that helps

 

[zioxide]

Thanks very much guys, your advice as been great. I've decided to buy a 12" Powerbook to go with the iMac, at least to try it out like that. They hold their value so well that i could sell it on without too much loss, in a few months time. Cheers for the help again!
Toby

That's a good choice. I have a 12'' iBook and it's the perfect size for taking to class just to take notes and write papers. As long as you're keeping your iMac for stuff that's more power demanding, you'll be in good shape.


Personally, I have the iBook which I use as a portable and a dell 15'' that just sits on my desk pretty much as a desktop. I think I'm going to be getting a Macbook Pro this summer, but I'm still going to keep the iBook for the same use that I use it for now.

 

[mylo]

Just buy a laptop lock. They're like 20 bucks.

There's a major difference between buying and actually using a laptop lock. I have one but I haven't used it once. Just too much of a hassle.

 

[jng]

In the UK, most dorms are single. We don't have room-mates (at least I don't know anyone in the whole of the UK that had one).

Well I'm jealous then! In the Northeast especially in the Boston area, it's uncommon for freshman to have singles. We don't have space, which is ironic, consdering how large the U.S. is compared to the UK...

 

[tekmate]

There's a major difference between buying and actually using a laptop lock. I have one but I haven't used it once. Just too much of a hassle.

Please buy and use a lock because replacing your book is way more of a hassle.

 

[vintagetobes]

On the subject, i've found my experience with kensington locks very pleasing. Quick to attach and remove, very little hassle. Had to bring in a tonne of kit for a school theatre production, so we were provided with 15 of them. 5 were returned. ;-)

 

[YanMasaryk]

I'm at uni and I use an imac 24 which is great for films, which you watch a lot of socially as a first year, and wonderful for writing essays on as you can put work and research side by side - though a little distracting (I'm writing one now due in for tommorow, only 1500 words to go!). People won't think your an arse for having an imac considering that college students are usually from fairly affluent backgrounds anyway. Do get insurance, it's cheap and will mean you rest a little easier

Agreeing with whats already been said - that laptops don't often leave dorms - the imac is unique in that it its much easier to transport than a modular set up. If you think you're going to need it outside of the room anything more than an ibook is overkill. I use a cheapo old one as I have mild dispraxia and crap handwriting. You'll need to get a new battery, so factor that in. They are quite cheap, reliable, and not so nickable anymore, which is really important if you're going to be lugging it around.