<p>This may have been covered in other threads, but our D is starting as a prep at Exeter this fall and her old iMac is beyond rescue, so we're looking at getting her a new computer over the summer. Is having a laptop a good idea? Bummer if it got dropped or whatever, but is portability an issue--like taking it to the library or someone else's room or something? All tips appreciated... thanks guys!</p>
<p>It's already been discussed in this thread <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=338603&highlight=computer%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=338603&highlight=computer</a>
Personally I think that a laptop has been very helpful. It's very useful to take your laptop to a friend's room or the library when you're studying. I also take mine downtown to study. It's also a lot easier to take home over breaks and the summer if you live any distance away. Almost everyone uses laptops at my school. They are portable and don't take up a lot of space on your desk. It won't be any sort of hardship if you buy your D a desktop, but I've found that having a laptop is very convienant.</p>
<p>Yes, I think Choate said that 98 percent - or something like that - of the students have laptops. I'm bringing a Dell Inspiron (number) next year. As Kim said, it's useful to carry around and take notes in class... you definitely won't want a desktop, because so many people use computers nowadays in BS and college so she could also use it for college, if it would last that long.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the feedback. I think a laptop is the way to go, but her Dad is nervous about it being too fragile to be lugged around, etc. You guys are a great help!</p>
<p>Laptop - space on the dorm desk is not large!
Students do not lug them around to most classes. The backpacks are heavy enough without adding a laptop to the normal daily load. But the laptops are more convenient, easy to transport when necessary.</p>
<p>I am getting a new laptop next week, and I am thinking of getting a macbook pro. Choate supports both pc and mac. What do you guys recommend me getting? Macs are really stylish but I have never used it before.</p>
<p>Macs are more reliable and easier to use but they cost a hell of a lot more. It depends on how much you're willing to spend.</p>
<p>Are you allowed to bring your laptop to all classes to take notes ? I mean, it is so much easier to do so.</p>
<p>You may find the following thread -- from the Parents' Cafe -- to be useful in terms of shopping. The final post in the thread (#13) may give you some idea of what to look for in a laptop. I shared my thoughts earlier on in the following thread about how to shop for one. Good luck.</p>
<p>Get a laptop, get an Apple, get a MacBook Pro, if at all possible. MACS RULE! :cool:</p>
<p>I think we're allowed to bring it to classes. Any current students: help please?</p>
<p>Ew, J, PCs rock, not Macs!!!</p>
<p>HELP! it would be much more convenient if we could take notes in class using our laptops.</p>
<p>I'm telling you...St. George's is as plugged in (and wirelessed, if that's a word) as any school out there. Everyone's got a tablet PC and teachers don't have handouts...they press a button and stick the syllabus or whatever directly onto their students' hard drives. They are sooooo beyond merely taking notes in class it's not funny. In fact, the kids who do their semester-at-sea program in the Caribbean do their schoolwork via materials relayed back-and-forth via satellite.</p>
<p>GOSH. That's insane. It's like Class of 2100, not 2011!</p>
<p>Most students would probably find that it's not the greatest thing to take notes with your laptop during class. I've heard that a lot just take notes in their textbooks, and participate in the discussions rather than staring at their computer screens as is bound to happen if you're taking notes with your laptop. Computers in class, especially at Exeter, would not be the best way to go.</p>
<p>Do not bring a laptop for taking notes if the classes are discussion-based! Taking notes distracts from what's really important--following the discussion and participating-- and the laptop would block eye contact with the rest of the table.</p>
<p>But i think taking notes on laptop for lectures would be nice... personally I type faster than I write. I don't see why they wouldn't let you bring laptops. But it might be too heavy to bring.. with all of your textbooks.</p>
<p>Any students from Choate can comment? (Dan, Sam)? Or even bearcats, sugerkim, or suze?</p>
<p>No one I know brings a laptop to class. In English you add to the notes you took in the margins the night before. It's more highlighting important quotes during class and discussing then anything. For history you usually take your notes the night before and just add to them or clarify something in the margins. For languages, math, and science it would be too difficult to take notes on a computer. Since the emphasis is on discussion, I don't have pages of notes because I do that for homework. I just add more facts, details, or viewpoints to the notes I already have. As tuesdayair said, it's more important to follow along with the discussion and just write reminders to yourself. I'm sure teachers would allow you to bring your laptop, but I don't think it would be beneficial.</p>