<p>I'm really leaning towards getting the Dell Studio 17, but it's 8 lbs and thus a bit lacking in portability. To make matters worse, I'll be living in Intl Village, so I'll have a relatively long walk to most of my classes. I was just wondering if students bring their laptops to all their classes. For what it's worth, I'll be taking Intro to Intl Affairs, Principles of Macroeconomics, Inquiries into Science and Technology, and Advanced Spanish I (as well as two 1 credit courses, one for being undeclared and the other for the honors program).</p>
<p>I was just wondering what current NEU students' experiences were with laptop usage in class. Thanks! :)</p>
<p>@jnd3344: that’s what I’m hearing… I just really want a number pad, lol. I guess I should look further into the Dell Studio 15 instead. Thanks for the input!!</p>
<p>Depends on your major. I have a 15" MBP and its great but I think I would have preferred the 13". My computer is great for analyzing literally thousands of lines in excel when I have it hooked up to my monitor but for non engineers, I would recommend even a 13. As far as bringing your computer to class, I only brought mine daily to an arts and sciences class about religion. I found it easier to take notes especially when the professor talks really fast. It makes organizing your notes a lot easier when finals come. That class, however, was the only class that I brought my laptop to ever. I would carry it around for use in between classes or after class if i was going to the library but again, I only used it in one class AS AN ENGINEERING MAJOR. If you have a major where you feel like you will be taking a lot of notes that don’t require drawings/graphs/diagrams/etc, then you will probably end up bringing your computer to class more often than you think. It is really up to you. In college, nobody is going to be like “wow look at that loser over there taking notes on his/her computer” if you’re the only one. Its completely your call. However you might stand out a little more than you want if you get a 17".</p>
<p>In short: 17": too big. 15": Most popular 13": what i wish I got.</p>
<p>I’m thinking I’ll get the Dell Studio 15 via the NEU Dell store thing online, but it says it may take almost two weeks to ship to me Does anyone have any experience with the site? It says it will take 9 days to build my laptop, but I didn’t do any special add-ons or anything, ughhhhhh.</p>
<p>I got a cheap Dell Studio 15 just at Staples, and it took barely any time.</p>
<p>I agree with what was already said, but I will also add that you’re more likely to use laptops in large classes, classes that pretty much are just note-taking, or really really boring classes. Advanced Spanish, for instance, might have a professor that doesn’t allow laptops, because they would prefer if you pay attention and speak in class a lot.</p>
<p>Depends on what classes, as a physics and engineer student, I only brought my notebook to my physics recitation to do the homework (its online). I hardly brought it to class since I can write faster and keep my notes more organized. Some people brought them to class, but many didn’t. You really can’t use a notebook to take notes in a calculus class. So some do, but I would not say more than 50%, then again I was in classes where a notebook wasn’t needed. I also found that bringing my notebook would just be a distraction since the internet is accessible.</p>
<p>I feel most professors either don’t care or would prefer one to not bring a notebook to class. While they can be powerful resources, they can also be powerful distractions which is why I never brought it to my classes. </p>
<p>As for portability, I have a 15 but would not mind a 17. 13 is too small for me, but I’m happy with my 15. It is a Dell XPS and so far its been good. I have had to reformat the HDD 2x but other than that nothing major. If I had the chance again I might go with a Mac, but thats only cause they have elegant look to them.</p>
<p>It really depends on the class. I know for one of the business classes (strategy in action) you have to bring a laptop because the simulation project (Glo-cap) is online and you spend almost 50% of your time in that class working on your product and strategy. Also if you are in business excel and powerpoint are used ALL the time.</p>
<p>I did get the Dell Studio 15, so I’m thinking that will be a good enough compromise (for decent portability and then a pretty good desktop replacement). Although I am expecting to do quite a bit of note-taking by hand anyways :)</p>
<p>OK so rather than start my own thread, I think I am going to leech onto this one. :)</p>
<p>Pretty much everyone says they have a notebook or laptop. Does anyone have or use a pen-tab notebook (especially in engineering). I have a cousin who goes to Virginia Tech who is in mechanical engineering, and he said that everyone there uses a pen-tab, and that it is the best thing ever. It keeps all his notes organized and allows him to take notes quickly for humanities classes, but also write out equations and formulas for his engineering classes. So I know they are expensive, but I think getting one would be a worthy investment for someone who is prone to disorganization like me. Any second thoughts on that?</p>
<p>My son has an old hand-me-down laptop, and it has been having some problems. It is has a nice large display, but not very portable.</p>
<p>What is the recommendation for Engineering student laptops? Any economical way to buy on campus (with service easily accessible)? Or other recommendations? We will be in Boston for Orientation in late July and could purchase in a store there if better.</p>
<p>Our chains in CO are Best Buy and Staples. Debating the merits of buying here vs there.</p>
<p>We do think we will break down an get a phone with internet service. If we do so, how important is laptop portability? (An external monitor could be an option, but trying to avoid that if we can since we are a long-distance family, already dealing with transport of at least one tenor saxophone.)</p>
<p>If he signs into myNEU there is a link there to the educational discount sites for both PC and MACs, you can look at the costs the discounts etc.</p>
<p>As far as engineering major goes, why not write to the department and ask if they have a reccomendaion?</p>
<p>“As far as engineering major goes, why not write to the department and ask if they have a reccomendaion?”</p>
<p>That’s a really good idea since I did not find clues on the Engineering website. And the myNEU links just have links to discount prices, but it’s hard to tell which models would be best for an engineering student.</p>
<p>I can only speak from experience, for classes that have graphs or equations I suggest a textbook, for classes that are just text (like International relations, Comparative Politics) then bring a laptop. I am a Political Science Major and I love being able to print up my notes when exams come.</p>
<p>My Roommates are engineers, the computer and mechanical engineers both have desktops, the chemical engineer has a macbook.</p>
<p>My daughter is a nursing major and wants the Mac Book Pro. Anyone have any thoughts or know what nursing program might require. I couldn’t find anything on the website. It looks like students get a $100 discount through my NEU.</p>
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Does anyone have any experience with the site? It says it will take 9 days to build my laptop, but I didn’t do any special add-ons or anything, ughhhhhh.</p>