<p>I was wondering which would be a better option for college: a desktop or a laptop?I was advised by a friend in the U.S. to go with a laptop but the problem is I am an avid gamer so I was worried that choosing a laptop would really bring down the gaming experience,also playing with gaming consoles on a laptop won't be that much fun i guess.......I'm comig to the U.S. this fall and since till now I have lived abroad I dont know the machines that rule the market in the U.S.Any input would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>P.S. I would like to go in for an economical machine.</p>
<p>laptop - can take it to class or library, wireless internet almost everywhere. I like Dell laptops with CD RW, buy a good one that will last four years.</p>
<p>The Emory bookstore will have the 2006 discounted pricelist for Dell laptops and desktops available in the next 1-2 weeks. I called the other day and they still have the 2005 price lsit posted.</p>
<p>I think a laptop is more practical and the higher end Dells can work well with games. Of course desktops are less expensive.</p>
<p>good thought...you can probably get a good deal through your university bookstore on a Dell and be sure it's configured correctly for your campus wireless, the needs for your major (e.g. engineering, comp sci, etc) and so on.</p>
<p>Definitely go with the laptop. If you want a really good gaming interface you can buy separate keyboard/mouse/joystick/whatever interface you use. It will plug into the laptop for gaming, so you can have that good interface when you're in your dorm room, and then unplug the comp. to bring it to class/library/outdoors.</p>
<p>Unless $$ is a major concern, go with a nice laptop. Dell XPS is supposedly good for gaming, though I'm not a gamer so I wouldn't know.</p>
<p>Or both. Laptop for classes and mobile uses, and desktop for in-room study. I always felt that having a desktop before me would make everything more secure and home like.</p>
<p>When my S started college this last year, his school issued everyone laptops. He thought he would still like to have a desktop, so took his from home. After a month, he brought it back home as he found he used his laptop most of the time and the desktop just took up too much room in his small dorm space.</p>
<p>Laptop - no question for virtually all work except some heavy processor demand work where a desktop with greater power and capacity is warranted.</p>
<p>I also suggest Apple. To accomodate the Windows world, buy Microsoft Office for Mac 2004.</p>
<p>the Dell M1710 is awesome for a gaming laptop. Depends on your major too...since lots of people us laptops to take notes...if you have a major, like engineering, laptops aren't really good for notes b/c you'll have alot of graphs and stuff to write down that you cant really type into a computer. Id got with a good laptop and a mediocre desktop for your dorm</p>
<p>Laptop is obviously more practical but BEWARE...it is by far the most "stolen" items on college campuses especially in the last few weeks of classes...keep close tabs on it!</p>
<p>Laptops are not as fast as desktops and never will be. Take the top of the line laptop and the top of the line desktop and the desktop will be much better. </p>
<p>Are you a hardcore gamer? I'm going to assume so because your entire questions (or your decision, for that matter) seems to be centered around gaming.</p>
<p>I will tell you now that you will not get a good gaming experience on a run of the mill laptop. Either invest in an amazing laptop (around 3,000) or go with the desktop.</p>
<p>I would never get a desktop in college though. I recommend either the apple macbook pro's or the toshiba qosmios, or the dell XPS series. But if gaming is your top priority.....</p>
<p>Get a laptop... and if you need extra storage later on get one with a dvd writer or bring an external harddrive... for laptops I suggest you purchase an IBM (lenovo) Thinkpad or Fujitsu lifebook.</p>
<p>First:Thanx to everyone for their time and advise.
Second:I have decided on a laptop......hardcore gamer I may be but i do not have the $$ to buy an expensive laptop so I am looking at a notebook with the best performance I can get at the most reasonable price (I want to keep it below $1000, I hope that's not too less)</p>