<p>I'm an international student from China. I will be a UC Berkeley EECS student this fall.
I planned to buy a laptop when i arrive at berkeley, but i saw on the berkeley web that in terms of study(especially CS courses), students don't need computers at all! they can use labs on campus. I'm wondering if that's true? Will it be inconvenient if I don't have a laptop of my own(submitting homework assignment, chat with parents back in China using Skype, corresponding with professors etc.)?
btw: I heard that laptops are most closely watched things by thieves on Cal campus.</p>
<p>Having your own computer will be immensely beneficial. It’s not NECESSARY, but most professors will assume you have one (i.e. yes, it would be fairly inconvenient).</p>
<p>RE: Theft, laptops are pretty much the only reliable thing for a thief to go after on a college campus; nobody carries much cash, cards are easily cancelled, etc… Just leave it in your room, honestly; you could just get a desktop, if you want. The inconvenience is from not having your own computer; portability is a very, very secondary concern (for practical purposes, at least).</p>
<p>Thank u,jonnosferatu.
i know what to do now.</p>