<p>PC Desktop + midlevel laptop OR high-end laptop? I wouldn't mind if the laptop is PC or Mac (although Microsoft would give me a free 360 with the PC).</p>
<p>I already have a desktop I built myself for about $800, that I mostly got for gaming.</p>
<p>I will probably major in MechE and minor in CS.</p>
<p>I’d say get a high end 13 inch laptop and a flat screen tv or monitor.</p>
<p>Is this for dorm ? It really depends on the purpose.</p>
<p>(if not, can we stop having people asking PC advice if they are not related to Engineering / CS study?)</p>
<p>CS programming courses are unlikely to require a high powered computer. However, running an OS that is the same as or similar to what is used on the instructional computers can be helpful in letting you do work on your own computer if you are off the network, or the instructional computers are overloaded or down.</p>
<p>I would mostly use the laptop when i’m not in my dorm, for engineering/cs study. Im not planning on doing all of my work cramped in a tiny room.</p>
<p>If you already a desktop, I would keep the laptop light. You are going to carry it quite often (yeah people will tell you that it’s okay, all you need is a good backpack). But after a period of time you will feel tired.</p>
<p>I think anything from $400, $500 would be enough. My friend programs a lot on his old computer and he’s very good at CS and he does research. If you have the budget, then save the extra for other things, maybe get a console game, just for the fun. </p>
<p>But try to fight off the procrastination.</p>
<p>I would get a big screen. It’s much more comfortable to program where you have lots of space. For example, with my large screen, I can fit my virtual machine running Fedora in half my screen, and run graphing software in Windows on the other half.</p>
<p>At least a 20" large screen. I think 23" is large enough(remember you have to bring that back home…)</p>
<p>Do you mean a large monitor or a laptop with a large screen? My current monitor is around 20".</p>
<p>My parents were planning on getting a 13" MacBook Pro, but that seems a bit excessive if I bring a desktop.</p>
<p>And I just built the desktop in December, so I don’t know if I want to leave it home for so long.</p>
<p>No. Large monitor for desktop. you can hook up the screen to the laptop anyway.</p>
<p>Like I said, if you want to bring a laptop and desktop just get larger monitor.</p>
<p>If you are going to bring laptop, 15" is better. 13" is too small.
Don’t spend too much on these computers. I think Mac is solid, and if you want it buy it :]</p>
<p>No way 13" is too small. If you’re going to be carrying it around all the time I think 13" is the best way to go. I’d go to 11" before I went to 15". Just get an external monitor for your desk, good to go.</p>