<p>My S will starting this Fall as an ISAT major. Departmental recommendations for a computer are for a desktop (Dell Optiplex). He really wants a laptop (Dell Latitude). Obviously we can't get the same performance criteria from the laptop that we could from the desktop. Do you think he will be at a disadvantage with the laptop. The big differences seem to be in processor speed and HD size. I think that the desktop also has DVD-R capabilities. Any ISAT majors out there? What do you think?</p>
<p>won't make a huge difference.....both will be obsolete within 3 years, so dont think of it as a long term purchase.</p>
<p>I started out with a laptop, and replaced it with a desktop last year......I found that I really didnt need the portability of the laptop</p>
<p>JMU2005, thanks for the info. What kind of desktop did you get to replace your laptop?</p>
<p>I replaced it with a Dell.......actually, both were Dell computers.</p>
<p>I like the desktop much more.......its faster, more upgradeable, easier to maintain, etc.....oh yeah, it cost about 1/2 as much as a comparable laptop</p>
<p>My D is an ISAT major. She started with the recommended desktop (Dell) freshman year and then purchased a laptop mid-sophmore year and continues to use both. She take the laptop for group project work - lots of it and also takes it to work in the ISAT building (studying, projects, etc). She like to use the desktop when in her room.</p>
<p>My S will be going to college next year and he will only take a laptop.</p>
<p>I don't see that a freshman ISAT major would be at any disadvantage with only a laptop. Just get a beefy one so it is not obsolete for any potential software that is needed 3+ years from now.</p>
<p>Oh and get insurance just in case he drops it getting off the bus :)</p>
<p>I was an ISAT major my freshman year and I had a laptop. There never was a time when I was like, "oh, man I wish I had a desktop instead." </p>
<p>Personally, I don't think it really matters... but that's just me =)</p>
<p>Explicit, your post says " I was an ISAT major.." Did you switch from ISAT to something else? If so, can you tell me why? Just curious.</p>