<p>Finances are pretty tight in my family, and even though my parents say we can afford to buy a new laptop, I know it will be hard on them with the college tuition and other expenses. I have an already built desktop from back in my gaming days (however I no longer game). Is it practical to bring that instead of a laptop and sacrificing portability? My Engineering dean told us that there are computer labs ready for use 24/7, so is portability really an issue? My case is pretty big, but I can simply change the case for 100 dollars with one of these smaller ones (<a href="http://cdn.overclock.net/9/99/500x1000px-LL-99b4de23_DSC_2205.jpeg">http://cdn.overclock.net/9/99/500x1000px-LL-99b4de23_DSC_2205.jpeg</a>). What are your thoughts, any experiences with this? </p>
<p>PS. Yes I have read other threads, just would like other opinions.</p>
<p>PS. I am a Mechanical Engineering/Aero major so I will be using things like Matlab + Autocad.</p>
<p>I only had a desktop throughout my time as an undergraduate mechanical engineer and I turned out okay.</p>
<p>How about socially, did your roommates look down on you at all?</p>
<p>I bought my son a laptop for college. Then I bought him a LCD monitor as he wanted the larger viewing area. Then I bought him a USB keyboard and mouse as he didn’t like the slightly undersized keyboard on the laptop. The only time the laptop left his room was when he came home as the school had all the computer labs anyone would ever need. So his laptop just became an over priced desktop. Then he decided to take his old gaming desktop machine (that he assembled from components, and that one was about the third one he built. He liked the ability to add/change it as necessary) to school as he needed the hard drive space (and more) that all those drives he had installed provided. Why I ever bought him the laptop I’ll never know!!!</p>
<p>Next, my daughter went off to college and I bought her a desktop based on my son’s experience. Her school also had all the computer labs anyone would ever need. She finally convinced me to buy her a laptop at the start of her sophomore year. She wouldn’t take it to school very often, but it would go over to all her friend’s apartments so they could study together (and they bring theirs over to her apartment). Go figure!!! The only function her desktop was used for after that was as her DVR (I installed a TV tuner card in it before she took it to school).</p>
<p>So , I guess it all comes down to what you are used to and how you want to use it. If money is an issue, I’d stick with the desktop you have now until (or if) you ever decide you need something different. I wouldn’t even bother to change the case. You may want the extra space that a large case provides. No one will make fun or look down at you for your PC selection.</p>
<p>self built desktop with a like a netbook or chromebook (both of which are about the price of decent GPU’s) that you can use to remote access your desktop to run heavy programs but still have something portable to view files and go on the internet anywhere on campus is probably your best bet. </p>
<p>Get the desktop. It’s somewhat a non-issue if you look up. You have a functioning computer at your hands and the use of computer labs 24/7 that have updated software at your disposal. </p>
<p>
This should not be your concern. Anyways, no your roommates, if they’re decent people to start with, will not look down on you. I know some of the hard computer guys at my school would probably applaud you. That’s how crazy they are about desktops. </p>
<p>If it’s a gaming desktop it’s probably more powerful than a laptop, plus you wouldn’t worry about overheating.
You can always buy a laptop later if you change your mind.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice guys, really saved me a bunch of money. I also consulted with someone who goes to my university, and he/she told me that the Laptop was actually a distraction at times during class! Really appreciate all the responses. I was nervous at first since I felt that a laptop was almost a requirement.</p>
