<p>I will be an incoming freshman this fall and I was just wondering which laptop would be best for UT. I'm looking at the new Song Vaio and was wondering if that would be a good choice. Any input would be awesome. What kind of laptop do you current students have?</p>
<p>A better choice would be a cheap netbook and a powerful PC in your dorm.</p>
<p>I currently have one of those cheap Acer extensa notebooks that you get for 399.99 when on sale. I don’t see any need for a specific laptop.</p>
<p>If you wanna look cool and fit in, get a Macbook Pro :P</p>
<p>For functionality, get a good HP or Compaq with tons of RAM</p>
<p>It’s also helpful to have a Desktop comp as well</p>
<p>Netbook and a desktop back in your room also gets my vote. You can use the netbook to take notes in class, check email, work on documents, etc., but it’s super small and lightweight and will get batter performance than a regular laptop. I keep everything on my home computer and just access it via the internet on my netbook either through the UT storage site or a remote desktop connection. It’s fast and convenient.</p>
<p>You’ll see any and every flavor of laptop/notebook/netbook on campus. Just be sure to get one with a keyboard and mouse that you’re comfortable with. (The VAIO desktops used to come with nonstandard keyboards. I don’t know if they still do, but it was a headache for me going back and forth to other machines.)</p>
<p>O thanks for all of the responses!
They are super helpful!</p>
<p>Question though;
Why is it good good to have a desktop too?</p>
<p>My personal opinion on why:</p>
<ul>
<li>Backup/primary storage for the data that you keep on your laptop, which could crash, be stolen, etc.</li>
<li>Unless you get a big laptop, writing papers and doing research is pretty straining on a small screen and keyboard. It’s nice to have a full size keyboard and monitor to work on for big projects. You could opt for a laptop that has a docking station (expensive) that you just pop in when in your room to have the look and feel of a full size desktop, but that usually means you are limited to certain makes and models of laptops that offer that feature which again be expensive - even compared to buying a separate desktop and small laptop/notebook.</li>
</ul>
<p>I’m sure I could think of other reasons, but those are the 2 big reasons why I have one of each.</p>
<p>If you haven’t bought your laptop yet, do not buy anything with a “Core 2 Duo” or a “Dual-Core” or a “Centrino Duo” processor. That is old technology and is quickly being phased out. When purchasing, look for a laptop with a “Core i3, i5, or i7” processor.</p>
<p>RAM is not important when making a laptop decision, because all laptops can be upgraded rather easily if you want more RAM.</p>
<p>The most important things you would want on your laptop are things that cannot be replaced. Like processor and video card. Also take into account battery life, heat, and weight.</p>
<p>Make sure your laptop has a rated battery life of at least 6 hours (usually gets you 4). Believe me, this is important, especially if you plan on using your laptop out of plug for a long time. UT’s got a shortage of plugs in popular areas and it always helps to have good battery life. If you plan on lugging it around, try to keep it under 5 pounds. Your back and shoulder will thank you. </p>
<p>If you can get an older model at a bargain price, there is no need to splurge for the newest core-i processors. </p>
<p>Netbook’s a great option as well. They are light, cheap, and most get superb battery life (8hrs+). Great if all you do is web-browsing/light document editing. Horrible if you are editing videos or performing any other CPU intensive task.</p>
<p>Aw thanks so much! This information is great.
I take into account everything everyone says.</p>
<p>You have to follow the trend: Get a MacBook Pro and IPhone. Otherwise, good luck finding friends at UT.</p>
<p>I disagree with those talking about getting an “MBP and iPhone” to fit in. I suggest getting a netbook- A LOT of students nowadays have them around campus and their pretty handle and portable. If your a Liberal Arts major whose used to typing papers and stuff, a laptop (Acer) is probably needed. If your in Engineering, most netbooks that can run MatLab and can just look up stuff is sufficient.</p>
<p>pff I guess we know who’s kewl and who ain’t</p>
<p>core 2 duo is good enough technology for right now… can last you for years.
I have Pentium dual core processor… even worse than core 2 duo.
I believe the netbook screens are too small.</p>
<p>Apple has just announced the iPad. You must get this new Apple gadget!</p>
<p>Can’t even begin to tell you how many Macbooks I’ve seen at UT. I guess I am an old grad student geezer with my Windows laptop.</p>
<p>Just get what you need, and if you have the money, what you want. Get something that let’s you get your assignments done, with a little extra if you need it for personal stuff.</p>