<p>Well, here comes the best part of the college experience: getting to spend a lot of your parents money!</p>
<p>Anyone know about what computer work well on campus? Desktop/laptop? What kind of furniture is no less than required in dorm rooms? How easy is it to find things that you may forget? Any comments from current students, or people who at least know the lay of the land a little better than some others of us would be well appreciated.</p>
<p>I know that I'm buying a laptop and printer for Chicago. I think it would be foolish (or at the very least, counterproductive) to not bring your own.</p>
<p>From a parent; Yeah our son got to spend some of our $$. We reasoned this: Length of time he would be in school, including grad school. Amount and type of work, research. Would we be willing to replace it if it became out dated, what uses could he possibly need it for, repair availability at his campus, other siblings with college expenses and needing a computer.</p>
<p>We went with a pc and monitor(not flat screen) , high end Dell, got an employee discount with dads company. Its worked out well, he has no regrets and he is at a school where the entire campus is wired for wireless, you can go outside and use your laptop anywhere pretty much. His roommate brought a new laptop and it has also worked out for him. But we chose the pc because its harder to steal, durability.</p>
<p>A laptop - it gives u mobility and really useful while you're roaming around. But it depends wat u intend to do, what major?</p>
<p>I'd advise you, if you got money, buy an Alienware Area-51 7700, i dont think you'll get a better notebook 4 several years...</p>
<p>noooooo</p>
<p>alienware makes overpriced poo</p>
<p>they are shoddily made, terrible laptops and will still get obsolete as fast as any other computer.</p>
<p>Personally, I would suggest a desktop if you arent sure. You arent sure so you obviously dont have your heart set on a laptop and desktops provide more power for less cost. Just put the tower on the floor and get an LCD and the desk space issue becomes not an issue at all (even with a laptop you should dock it and use external periferals for ergonomic reasons).</p>
<p>If you are going to get a laptop, you really should go for the best and get an IBM or an Apple (and not a shoddy alienware or dell or something)</p>
<p>From the college life forum (and really...just go read the laptop threads there because they all basically say what I would end up telling you if this thread went on):</p>
<p>"me and my brother made a cumulative $6000 from our high school graduation party in 2001. We spent nearly all of our share on laptop computers and accessories. If I could do it over again I would have bought a much cheaper desktop and saved the rest for books and miscellaneous expenses.""</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but getting a desktop is just a stupid idea.</p>
<p>Unless it has to do with financial reasons, do not get a desktop. It is a waste.</p>
<p>desktops are great. They are cheap, repairable and fast. If you want to play games or have much of an interest in computers, they are almost a must.</p>
<p>Except for the fact that they're a pain in the ass on campus and in a 10x12 room.</p>
<p>I dont see how they take up so much space...they arent lumbering beasts. The tower goes on the floor and you get an LCD monitor. The mouse and keyboard can go on a specific tray or just about anywhere you want them. that already takes up about the same amount of space as a laptop and then you consider the fact that if you are going to do a lot of work on a laptop, you should at the very least have an external keyboard so that you can put the screen at the right height. If you go with a full docking station, the amount of space used is pretty similar to the desktop.</p>
<p>you know? it really depends on what you think is more important. desktop is very multi-purpose-ful while lacks mobility. there's also a lot more room for options and upgrades. BUT it's pain in the bottom to carry it around.</p>
<p>labtop is very mobile (I am talking about a real labtop here, not desktop replacement ones). you can carry it from classes to classes, to cafe, to library, and so on. It might not as big (memory-wise) as desktop and less room for upgrades and stuff, but it is very mobile and that's what labtop's for.</p>
<p>I am a big computer gamer. so I must admit that desktop is a lot better than labtop for gaming. and I will miss that a lot when I am in college. but I value the mobility more than anything. so I went and got a labtop(just 4 pounds...yay!!).</p>
<p>Gang, get real. Desktop versus notebook is like Lexus/Hyundai/Audi arguments. </p>
<p>Lets look at the issues:</p>
<ul>
<li> for comparable performance, desktops are cheaper</li>
<li> notebooks take up less space, which can be important in a crowded dorm room</li>
<li> notebooks are portable, which can be great in bringing your work to the library or home for break, not so great if someone else (a thief) is doing the carrying.</li>
</ul>
<p>So, decide for your self which format.</p>
<p>But, whatever you choose, pick one from the vendor recommended by the U. Chicago uses mostly Dells. The advantage is on campus service and support. When you have problems, you can have it fixed locally. For instance, the U. Computer operation is a factory Dell repair site, so you can get mail in warranty repairs done without mail in.</p>
<p>Finally, check their website for some OK package deals, although if you follow the discounts, you might do better on your own. And resist the temptation to over buy.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, wait until you meet your roommate, or maybe even until you are on campus before you spring for a printer. You really only need one per room or suite, and maybe not even that. My D has used one of the network printers, with a page charge, instead of the printer we had bought for her. We never even sent it.</p>
<p>kdc1707: since you wrote "labtop" repeatedly, I assume that you didn't just make a typo. Just a heads up: it's "laptop," with a "p."</p>