<p>D and I are struggling with choosing a computer for U of D. I am looking for feedback on the pluses and minuses of desktops in dorms vs. laptops. What is most common?</p>
<p>After looking at laptops, we thought a desktop might be better. She's had a laptop for 4 years, and it has really taken a beating. Fortunately, her high school had a great program and any time it broke, it was covered, you were given a loaner, and it was fixed. </p>
<p>D's requirements seem to drive up the price of a laptop - I am also concerned about how easily laptops can 'walk' or be damaged easily. She's pretty small and schlepping a laptop around could get tiresome. But desktops seem bulky in small dorms.</p>
<p>Something we were considering was a pretty hefty desktop and a netbook. I know some of the dorms are not fully wireless (is that right?)...but we figure she could get a wireless router and connect the netbook to the internet that way if she feels like just hanging out on her bed and surfing or writing something. The netbook would be easy to take to class or the library, and if it was stolen or dropped it would be easily replaced (some are <$300)</p>
<p>So, any insight from experienced parents or students would be appreciated.</p>
<p>I don’t recall seeing any desktop units during the past two years, though there MUST be some. Desktop space is at a premium. Everyone I’ve seen has a laptop. DD has an Apple … no problems except getting it to “talk” to the network the first couple of days freshman year.</p>
<p>At Delaworld the IT guy who spoke said they estimate 70-80 percent of the students use laptops. Some of the students mentioned that their programs highly recommended a specific OS, i.e. Apple over Microsoft. You may want to contact her specific department to ask if they have recommendations.</p>
<p>All of the dorms are wireless but they will not guarantee connectivity in all of the rooms. Ethernet connections are provided in all of the rooms. I believe you have to bring your own cables.
Disclaimer: I am not experienced with this. I am just passing on what was said at Delaworld.</p>
<p>I think laptops make the most sense. My daughter is a junior (not at UDel, my son will be a fresh in the fall though), and she brings her computer home whenever she comes home. There may also be opportunities where having a computer in the classroom is useful, or to be able to sit somewhere other than your desk to work, especially when wireless is available.</p>
<p>As far as PC vs Mac, we are a PC home, and in the computer business BUT, we are cautious to purchase any computer with MS Vista and the new version of windows probably will not be out until the fall at the earliest.</p>
<p>My son is in the math dept. and at the decision day presentation, the 2 math professors that spoke used different systems. I noticed that and asked what do they recommend. Their answer was either. I don’t know about other departments. My daughter, on the other hand, is an art major elsewhere and Mac is the way to go for that.</p>
<p>Needless to say, we haven’t made a decision yet as to Dell or Mac for my son. We’ll compare both options and decide towards the end of the summer.</p>
<p>A monitor, keyboard, mouse and tower will take up pretty much all of your daughter’s desk space and cannot be easily moved.</p>
<p>A laptop comes in handy when working on a group project and its nice to be able to leave your room with it if your roommate is getting on your nerves or you just need to fine another place to study. </p>
<p>I have yet to encounter anyone at UD with a desktop.</p>
<p>In terms of mac vs PC, I have seen a good number of people with both. As a business student though, I took a business computing course last semester that worked largely with MS office and we were told that the mac and pc versions are too different so all assignments would have to be completed on a PC. So students with a mac needed to use a computer lab. </p>
<p>Also in terms of wireless, the dorms only have wireless access in the lounges, not in the rooms. As you said, you can hook up your own wireless router to your room’s ethernet jack.</p>
<p>My d and I just got back from DelaWorld yesterday. Although I only have PC’s, we decided to go with a MacBook Pro. We talked to the kids at the Mac booth and the people at the IT booth and that helped make our decision. They said that about 80% have PC’s and 20% have Macs. This is my d’s first laptop. I would highly recommend a laptop because of the portability. My d is also small and weight is a factor. Also, the white MacBook for $999 is made of plastic. The Pro is metal. If just feel metal is better, less likely to break if dropped. There are ethernet connections in the dorms, so connecting is not a problem. The rooms are really small, so space is at a premium. I don’t know your d’s major, but the girl at the Mac booth was a Chemistry major, like my d, and she said most all of the Chem. majors and staff have Macs. Another plus, if you buy at the Christiana Mall Apple Store, there is no sales tax. They also gave $100 off the computer, $66 off the 2yr. service (Apple Care), and we got a free Ipod Touch ($229 value) and an HP printer ($99 value). We went with the MacBook Pro 13" screen which retails for $1199. You can order through UDel, but you have to wait. The Apple store matched UDel’s price of $1099. Everything wound up costing $1600, because you have to pay for the Ipod and printer up front. You have to go online and sign up for the rebate on the Ipod and printer and they will refund you the $328 back, which made everything cost a little under $1300. I thought this was a good deal, because by the time you buy a PC, printer, and service, the cost would be about the same. Not to mention, I’m getting the free Ipod! Another thing too is Apple is coming out with a new OS in Sept., and they told me that my d will be able to upgrade for free or maybe around $10 when it comes out. You can also get Microsoft Office for Mac through UDel for $89.95 instead of somewhere around $130, which Apple charges. I hope this helped, since we just did this whole process on Tues. If you have any more questions, free free to ask.</p>
<p>Check my reply. I would call the Apple Store before you buy just to make sure the deal hasn
't changed on July 1. I bought on June 30. I think the free Ipod and printer deal were until supplies run out. I would check that also. By the way, my d absolutely loves her Apple. She’s always used a PC, but wanted the Apple, because they don’t get viruses. Everyone at Udel pretty much confirmed this fact. Her friend that went to UDel this past year had a PC laptop and it was so slow. I think this is one of her deciding factors. Have you been to Delaword yet?</p>
<p>I am going to get my son a Thinkpad (probably T500) from Lenovo. I can get employee pricing (PM me if you want a link) and I am going to buy a extended warranty w/breakage coverage which will get him through all 4 years of college. I did this for my daughter and it worked out well. Oh yeah, my mother-in-law is paying for the PC, so I don’t feel that bad about spending $1k.</p>
<p>I am a computer geek of sorts, and I wouldn’t feel like I could support the Mac if we got one. If my son really wanted one I’d consider it but he doesn’t care.</p>
<p>The only reason I would consider a desktop machine is if your kid is careless and you think they might lose the laptop. In the past, it was also an issue of car space, having to lug a big CRT monitor along with the PC. It would still be bad, even with the smaller LCD’s. But not being able to take their PC to the library, etc., would be a real hindrance.</p>
<p>I really think your D will want a laptop. Desktops are going the way of dodos, and if you haven’t seen the dorms yet, you should - the rooms are as others note, small.</p>
<p>Definitely buy insurance and the service plan. I’m a long time PC guy, but both Ds (one at UDel, one at NYU), both business majors, have MacBooks, and I can’t troubleshoot the Macs the same way I can on a PC. Which is also a bit of a blessing - all they do is call Apple when they have a problem. One thing they really like is that they don’t have to constantly update the OS for yet another security patch - so much so that if I could, I’d get our company to transition…</p>
<p>Regarding specialized software, both have occasionally used the lab PCs on campus, but neither ever mentioned it as an issue (and they are not shy about mentioning issues…).</p>
<p>So, go with what makes the most sense for your D.</p>
<p>Yes, Netbooks are cool. My daughter is thinking of getting one to take to law school with her in the fall, rather than schlepping her Thinkpad.</p>
<p>BTW I think the problem with having a desktop is that at some poiint, you and/or she will regret having it. Whether it’s having to fit it in the car for move-in/out, or not being able to have her entire “real” machine available when she goes around campus or even in a study lounge in her dorm. The only question is when.</p>
<p>My question is regarding the purchase of a computer (Dell) through Udel website. If you go to the technology solutions and click on Dell, one of the “recommended by your university” is the XPS Studio 13. When you “customize” one of the options is add total total care package. But there is no extra price associated with it. I’m confused - is the total care package (for 4 yrs) included in the base price of $1087.00 for this computer? I really want to move ahead with this and this sounds like a good deal if it includes this, but I want to be sure I am not misinterpreting.</p>
<p>Yes, $1087 includes the 4 year warranty package.</p>
<p>I am not sure how spectacular a deal it is. You might want to try customizing the same machine without the UDel discount and see what it comes out to, and look for coupons on some deal sites. I just bought my daughter a Netbook on the Dell outlet site this week for $200, with a 15% off coupon.</p>
<p>We’ve now come back from 3 different colleges for all 3 kids and when this question is raised to students and IT people on campus it is pretty unanimous that laptops are the way to go. You can and should consider keyboard, mouse combos for the students comfort. Some majors specifically tell their students that their software will not support Macs 100% so be forewarned. </p>
<p>Your kids need to be forewarned about viruses. They are lax about updating their software, and file sharing. Udel is one of many campuses where the kids have gotten busted and the school has forwarded letters to the student from the Recording Industry lawyer creeps that their ip address has been identified as sharing copyrighted music files. A recent verdict against a student (non Udel), was for well over $1M. Some colleges have successfully refused to give names of students identified by their assigned IP addresses. As of this date udel is not one of those.</p>
<p>You combined two topics there, viruses and file sharing software.</p>
<p>For viruses, they or you need to make sure that appropriate antivirus/antispyware software is installed and has a current license. UDel provides McAfee which isn’t the best but it’s better than nothing.</p>
<p>File sharing is another issue entirely. UDel will not permit students to run programs that allow them to publicly share music, movies, etc. There is some “safe sharing” web page that they have with info on permitted ways of sharing with your friends.</p>
<p>Yes MrBill I did combine 2 very germane topics that relate to the use of computers in Udel. It’s important that students and their parents know full well what their responsibilities are and what the consequences are of their actions. We know first hand, let’s leave it at that!</p>