<p>This would be a big decision point for me since if the answer is no, I could get a heavy, but powerful laptop. If the answer is yes, I'll have to go with a lighter model or a cheap laptop desktop combo.</p>
<p>It’s usually up to the preference of the particular student if they want to take their laptop to lectures. Some labs may require that you bring and use your laptop.</p>
<p>Well I hate to say this but this will be uncharted territory this year – Engineers live in this large computer library called Stacks, but ITC is removing all of the computers this summer. So even if it was not necessary in past years, it will probably be necessary this year, especially for Computer Science.</p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with a MacBook Pro. Light, powerful, fantastic screen - it’s perfect. </p>
<p>PS - like the name :)</p>
<p>My D brought her laptop to classes on occasion but it wasn’t all the time (just finished 1st year). Go with what you are most comfortable with - if you have the right bag sure it may be a bit heavier and such but you’ll want to focus more on what you want to have for the majority of the time. She had the 14" Dell we purchased through Cav computers and she says it’s been a great machine.</p>
<p>I have brought my laptop maybe 6 times to class, and I just finished 3 years in seas.</p>
<p>Everything is changing at SEAS. But it all depends on your field of study as to how much remote work you will be doing. I know that SEAS spec’ed computers that have long battery life as they are saying you will need it. That is why they don’t offer the big daddy 15-inchers.
They also said NO Apple computers.
Any questions, please call Professor Rosen at
Telephone: (434) 924-1414
E-mail: <a href=“mailto:rosen@virginia.edu”>rosen@virginia.edu</a></p>
<p>
How so? Sorry, that’s just a pretty open ended statement to put on a forum.</p>
<p>ya, it is, and it was meant to be.
what this years class does is not the same that a class from 2 years ago did. Labs are gone or going away… or completely changing…</p>
<p>Mr. Strong: your comment above may lead people to believe that the School of Engineering is telling students they can’t use Apple computers? That doesn’t seem to be the case from this memo.</p>
<p><a href=“http://infotech.seas.virginia.edu/firstyear/UVA-SEAS-1stYr-FAQ-Mac.pdf[/url]”>http://infotech.seas.virginia.edu/firstyear/UVA-SEAS-1stYr-FAQ-Mac.pdf</a></p>
<p>I don’t have any first hand knowledge on the subject, but that memo seems to be encouraging the use of Windows products, but telling people if they really want to use a Mac, there are ways to be compatible with SEAS requirements. Am I reading that correctly?</p>
<p>–
As far as the weight of carrying around a laptop, I gave my son my padded leather laptop case. However, I think the case weighs much more than the laptop. I saw some very lightweight laptop cases in the store - I am starting to wonder about what is best. </p>
<p>I guess the size of the screen has a big effect on battery hours for a laptop.</p>
<p>Yes you are reading that correctly, and I was going to link to that page when I saw your post via email.</p>
<p>But read the words carefully.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Microsoft will NOT support windows on a mac, and Apple will not support Windows on a MAC. So when you have problems, you have no support.
simple.</p>
<p>Now… just a quick history lesson… I use and abuse MACs. I own a MB Pro 15 that I use for my business, along with a new MB Air, and a few other apples at my home. I use a high end Dell Precision for all my CAD and flow dynamics work for my business. I have used it on a Virtual windows install on my MB 15 with 8GB ram with limited success, and with Bootcamp partition with good success with the exception of the crappy Apple video card. My precision has a proper workstation video card, so there are no choppy issues there.
I work as a web master for Cavalier Computers / UVA Bookstores during the day, and own/run a 60,000 member car club, build and race endurance racecars and design, manufacture and sell high performance race car parts and bits.</p>
<p>The folks at Engineering that make the recommendations for SEAS students, recommend using the Windows machines for a reason. But, ultimately it is your own decision. I can tell you of many many many 1st year SEAS students that made the mac choice and then were in Cavalier Computers before the end of the first semester buying another computer, a Windows PC/Notebook. Some students have no issues. But others do. And ultimately you will want to put all your focus on your studies, and not on trying to make the required software work with your computer. Engineering is such a competitive field, and that one semester that you did not do so well in because you chose the wrong tools can make the difference between getting the killer Ferrari engineering job, or having to settle for that job at the local coke bottling plant designing roller gear…</p>
<p>This is the info for SEAS first-year students for computers, updated for 2011:</p>
<p>[UVA</a> School of Engineering and Applied Science, 1st Yr PC Recommendations](<a href=“http://infotech.seas.virginia.edu/firstyear/]UVA”>http://infotech.seas.virginia.edu/firstyear/)</p>
<p>This is what SEAS has to say about MAC for 2011 (attachment at the bottom):</p>
<p><a href=“http://infotech.seas.virginia.edu/firstyear/UVA-SEAS-1stYr-FAQ-Mac.pdf[/url]”>http://infotech.seas.virginia.edu/firstyear/UVA-SEAS-1stYr-FAQ-Mac.pdf</a></p>
<p>note: crossed posts. Glad you found the original document @charlieschm so you could read it for yourself and make an informed decision on your own.</p>
<p>Also, Mr. Strong, you would do well to understand that the cc members here are potential clients and you might not want to talk down to them.</p>
<p>Bottom line. It is your choice. It is not recommended by the School that teaches the subjects as there is no support for using a mac.
But, it is still your decision.</p>
<p>I like how the thread goes like this
I say, Thornton is going away and that for CS you will need your laptop to be portable
Ignored
WD says labs are going away (both referencing Thornton and CS I assume)
Ignored
You guys should listen when we say, we know, you will need to port around your laptop and it is different than in past years…
Mac is not as viable of an option because all of the Thornton software will now only be available through the Hive which, while it runs on Mac, is Windows-based when it is emulated ([The</a> Hive: Using the Hive with Leopard/Snow Leopard](<a href=“ITSWeb Home - UVA ITS”>http://itc.virginia.edu/hive/mac.html)).
If you really really really want a Mac, you should consider supplementing with a $250 Windows netbook in case you need it for some software…</p>
<p>Kind of like the Lenovo T420s Cav Computers has. What does it mean by NVIDIA n12p graphics? Is it comparable to a 425m or something?</p>
<p>If you really want a Mac and you know what you’re doing you can always dual boot Windows. I feel like that sort of defeats the purpose though.</p>
<p>The computer that you buy depends a lot on the user. If you’re not going to be gaming or doing video processing then you don’t need a video card. On the other side, if you’re a huge PC gamer you may be better off investing in a nice desktop and then buying a cheap netbook to complement it.</p>