<p>How much do you move it around? Do you bring it to class? How big it is? How fast is it? What do you wish you would have gotten? How much stress do you put on your laptop?
I just got a HP 17" i7 8gb ram laptop. $800.
This thing it pretty big and heavy.
I had talked to another engineering student at my school and he said that he only uses his laptop in his dorm room and takes all of his notes by hand. I thought that that might be what I do to but just don't know. This thing is pretty heavy and I can't see myself bringing it everywhere I go. I have an ipod touch that i usually have on me, if that means anything.</p>
<p>I just am a little nervous that this thing is a little overkill. Can some preferably engineering students give me some advice. Am I locking myself down to much with getting such a big laptop. Don't get me wrong I like this thing I just feel like its more of a stay at home laptop instead of a college laptop. I would think that most of my classes (math and science) are going to be more of a by hand notes type of class. I cant see taking math notes on a computer.
I guess I just want to know how much students run around with their laptops? If everyone takes their laptops with them everywhere will I be at a disadvantage? Will I look stupid if I bring a 17" laptop to class?
One last thing (sorry for rambling or asking tons of random questions) what kind of inclass works pace do you have at college. I know I know it depends on your college, but would it even be hard to fit a 17" laptop and a notebook on a desk or table? I'm trying to remember what most of the classrooms look like at my college but I cant.</p>
<p>Thank you soooo much for any responses or advice!</p>
<p>In my CS classes, I’ve (frequently) seen people bring their gaming 17" laptops to class. Personally, I found it stupid, since they’re glued to a wall socket. Not to mention in one of my classes, there was literally a row of Alienware laptops sitting in the front room, so when the prof dimmed the lights, all I could see were those glowing green/blue/red side trim lights.</p>
<p>With a laptop that size, you’re probably not going to be that mobile with it. My personal setup is quite different from yours: desktop in my room, 13" MBA on the go. I take my laptop to class fairly frequently, but usually that involves me getting bored and going on the internet in class.</p>
<p>Whenever I’ve taken math related courses (physics, game theory, econometrics) I’ve always used pencil and paper. I’ve always used my laptop on anything theory or text based (most CS courses, micro/macroeconomics).</p>
<p>I bought a lighter laptop because I thought it would be easier to carry (and it is) but i regret it because i sacrificed performance. Dunno I don’t really see the need to carry a laptop around and I rarely carry my laptop. There are so many computers everywhere. I don’t carry a smart phone or tablet either. There really is not that much of a need.
I agree about the notes. I like hand written notes. A lot of ppl with laptops in class you can see are just spending their time on fb anyways or doing something stupid online.
In fact I still have not enabled and allowed the internet on our engineering campus for my laptop (just too lazy). Its been 3 years and everything beens str8</p>
<p>You can leave the 17’’ at home or dorm (wherever you live) and pick up a cheap 15’’ sub $300 laptop. A decent Acer or Compaq for that price and call it a day.</p>
<p>I use my tablet PCs to take notes in my engineering classes. It works quite well and I always have a backup of my notes for myself or for other people.</p>
<p>Sometimes I don’t have to redraw an entire circuit since I can copy and paste the initial circuit diagram I made and just change the values of the components.</p>
<p>For taking notes, I would recommend more compact versions and I myself use a 14" laptop for my engineering lectures and notes. But not all 14" laptops suffice what an engineering laptop should have. I mean, the processor speed, memory to store all your CAD designs and LOADzzz of other things.</p>
<p>And they even recommend one or two 17" laptop for engineering students and engineers. You wouldn’t want your laptop requiring more memory just 2 months after purchasing it right? So, live on!</p>
<p>I’m entering my third year as an engineering student and the only class that I ever regularly brought my laptop to was a matlab programming class. You will find out really quickly that it is pretty damn hard to take notes on a laptop when professors are writing equations on the board. Its a lot easier to write notes by hand in my opinion. Most students who bring laptops end up screwing around on facebook and reddit throughout lecture. I’m actually ditching my laptop this year and getting a desktop for my apartment and an android tablet for when I am in class. Sometimes it is nice to have something like a tablet to follow along in lecture with, look of stuff on the internet, etc.</p>