<p>Vail,</p>
<p>To be honest, I think that people still haven't "caught up" to DVD yet. The vast majority of households with DVD players probably don't have 1080i capable TVs, Dolby Digital/DTS capable sound systems, or even have the DVD players hooked up with component cables.</p>
<p>It's going to be years before DVD is even fully utilized, let alone one of the new standards. Either way though, us technojunkies win.</p>
<p>When I lived on campus I only had a desktop....space was tight though. I also had a printer and a separate scanner. 15 inch LCD.</p>
<p>The next year, to save space, I chucked the printer and scanner (which were garbage anyway) and got an all-in-one. Space was still tight though only because my room that year was smaller than my first room. I went abroad for a year after this and then moved off campus when I came back</p>
<p>I still live off campus in a dumpy studio...might as well be a dorm room...lol. I have two desktops and a 17inch LCD, and still have an all-in-one printer. </p>
<p>My desktops are a Mac Mini and a Dell tower (which I will get rid of eventually). I also have a laptop (MacBook Pro, 15inch) which is great for when I am traveling....my desktop is really a backup machine (example, my laptop had to have a part replaced and in the meantime I have been using my desktop).</p>
<p>So, in conclusion, don't worry too much about space...you will have room for a computer and printer for sure. Whether or not to get a laptop or desktop just depends on preference and how much you can afford.</p>
<p>I brought my de4ktop and printer. My desk has a solid back on it though and no holes in the structure so I actually had to put my desktop up on the desk next to the monitor rather than on the floor.</p>
<p>And the connection here is awesome, its a T3.</p>
<p>People love to brag about their laptops, but there's no way I'd rather stare at a laptop screen in my room and not be using my amazing 19" 1280X1024 capable LCD monitor.</p>
<p>1280x1024? :snicker:</p>
<p>My chinsy little 15" laptop LCD beats that. :p</p>
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People love to brag about their laptops, but there's no way I'd rather stare at a laptop screen in my room and not be using my amazing 19" 1280X1024 capable LCD monitor.
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<p>There is nothing amazing about a 19 incher that only does 1280x1024 </p>
<p>I don't mean to sound mean but LOL, my 15.4 LAPTOP SCREEN does 1680x1050 and my 19 inch CRT does over 1600x1200 easy (also has better color reproduction and is faster then most any LCD) - and they aren't the least bit unusual - you really have no right to critize any laptop screen with that low resolution LCD unless it's from the 1990's</p>
<p>IMO for a 19 inch LCD you should have gotten a higher resolution, unless you need huge text for grandma to read</p>
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It also doesn't confine me to doing homework at a desk. I've done homework outside, or on my bed
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<p>That's when you get wireless mouse/keyboard and turn your monitor around and sit and work on your bed anyway. (i have a desktop but still work on my bed alot)</p>
<p>I have 2 external harddrives where most of my stuff is, so I never had to worry about actually having computer with me... hm.</p>
<p>the only reason I would choose a desktop is...->
I want more for less money
I don't like the 'small' feel of laptops... feels confined.
I take notes with paper anyway
And i can update easier.</p>
<p>But it's mostly the money. Otherwise i would just get a laptop and connect keyboard mouse and monitor on it....</p>
<p>I thought about getting a cheap laptop though just so I can take it around. You can get a really nice desktop and then get 400 dollar laptop.</p>
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I have 2 external harddrives where most of my stuff is, so I never had to worry about actually having computer with me... hm.
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<p>Unless of course you don't have a computer to hook them up to. Then they're just wonderful contemporary paperweights.</p>
<p>You have a high probabilty of getting either stolen anyways, so bring both if you want to lose both.</p>
<p>almost every state university, if not every single one, has 2 desks in each dorm that will just be in your way if you do not put them to good use, so I would suggest bringing the comp although, personally, I hate desktops.</p>
<p>When I go to college, I wanna get a flat-screen monitor that I can hook up to my laptop when I'm in my dorm, as well as a separate keyboard and mouse. So it'll be like having a desktop, but the laptop is the actual computer part.</p>
<p>I have a separate keyboard and mouse (not a monitor, but that's fine with me.) I don't usually end up using the external keyboard (except for the time when my laptop's keyboard was dead), but I use the mouse all the time.</p>
<p>
you're at USC right...what building are you in? i'm in Marks Tower, and i haven't found places to put my 2 rear speakers. it kinda sucks because i'd love to have them for movies and such...</p>
<p>and as far as space for a desktop goes...i'd say LCDs aren't necessary, but they're extremely desireable. i don't think i would have enough space on my desk to do any work if i had a CRT. and LCDs these days are pretty comparable in quality to relatively good CRTs...little to no ghosting, good black levels, and they're easier on the eyes than CRTs for extended periods of time (which in college, you WILL being spending a lot of time in front of your monitor :D).</p>
<p>and the other plus about my desktop...i got a Media Center edition PC, so it doubles as my computer AND my TV...that means less to carry when i move, and far less space in the room. and as a plus, i have pretty banging speakers, so TV just sounds better haha.</p>
<p>random, but...do people really bring their laptops to class and take notes on them? that seems obnoxious, I would think that a recorder would be much more courteous</p>
<p>From what I hear most people /don't/, but not because it would be obnoxious. Most laptop keyboards really don't make much noise at all.</p>
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Unless of course you don't have a computer to hook them up to. Then they're just wonderful contemporary paperweights.
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<p>I think so, 100+ dollar paperweight in a room that has no breeze.</p>
<p>Or college libraries usually have around 100+ computers in their computer labs. Hm. Or I might be hallucinating.</p>
<p>Unless you really want to work outside or take notes in class with laptops I don't see the need to get one especially when you can jack your friends laptops and hook up your external hard drive to it. Laptops are, however, highly desirable. (i might be getting a really cheap one soon.) But are they necessary? No.</p>
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you're at USC right...what building are you in? i'm in Marks Tower, and i haven't found places to put my 2 rear speakers. it kinda sucks because i'd love to have them for movies and such...
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<p>I'm in Birnkrant and my speakers are kind of everywhere. I have a speaker on top of my monitor, on top of the microfridge, in front of the window, on the bookshelves, etc. I also had problems with the two rear ends so they aren't really in the right positions (which ruins the point of surround sound but) but they are just on the desk or the microfridge.</p>
<p>I also brought my TV though, and my CRT monitor's bigger than my TV. go figure. (i want a LCD really bad...)</p>
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andom, but...do people really bring their laptops to class and take notes on them? that seems obnoxious,
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<p>:confused: Por que?</p>
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Or the college libraries usually have like 100+ computers in their computer labs.. hm.
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<p>Yeah, I guess...labs sometimes have finicky computers with overwrought security when it comes to USB devices...</p>
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Por que?
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<p>the typing noise!</p>
<p>
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random, but...do people really bring their laptops to class and take notes on them? that seems obnoxious, I would think that a recorder would be much more courteous
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I've never heard anyone complain about the typing noise. Some professors will not allow you to take notes on the computer in class, because they think you'll play games or do something else unrelated to the class. However, most of my professors don't care. I really enjoy taking notes on my computer during lectures, as I type faster than I write (and it's a lot neater). Also, some professors put their powerpoints online before class, so you can follow along and make notes on the space under the slides. Anyway, in my large lectures of about 200 students, there are at least 20 laptops, and no one complains. I wouldn't use a laptop for a math or science course, though, as I prefer to handwrite equations and things. And I wouldn't use it for a discussion-based seminar type thing, because I don't like the screen blocking my face when we're talking.</p>
<p>So yeah, don't know if any of that was helpful, but those are my thoughts.</p>
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sous_lepontmirabeau
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<p>That's it? Man, you must be easily distracted. Many grad schools these days actually require laptop usage. You should see my quantitative methods class...</p>