Hi i know next to nothing about computer programming or software, but hey, i’m seriously considering a computer science major at emory university before i go on to do the engineering dual degree program with georgia tech.
I’m registered for an introductory course of computer science this fall as an incoming freshman, so we’ll see how that goes!
I do love the idea of making websites and programming apps and cool software and to know more about how a computer works in general, so if this introductory course goes well, i very well may stick to the comp sci track. Also, the promising pay of a high starting salary in this field doesn’t hurt either XD
Since i very well may be mentally invested in comp sci, what are y’alls laptop recommendations???
I never got a job…so its all my parents money.
They have a limited budget of around the $200 to $400 range, approximately…
So what are some affordable laptops that have good operating systems, good battery life, and are suitable for lots of programming that comp sci and engineering students may have to undertake?
—I currently do not have a personal laptop and need to buy one before heading out----
(((i’ve been reading articles and the 2 in 1 surface pro seems to have captivated my attention, but it’s out of the price range…unless you think its really worth the price and then we can possibly consider it)))
(((p.s. I will NOT consider refurbished laptops, since i’ve extremely bad experiences with them…cough, cough lenovo refurbished laptops…i’d prefer the full prices vs the refurbished ones anyday))))
Thanks a lot and i really do appreciate any insights!!
There is basically nothing in your price range. You should use the school’s computer and maybe work to buy a computer that you will be happy with. Look at Costco, best buy etc. Sometimes on Craigslist you can actually get lucky and find an older decent computer. Keep in mind that with most schools you are logging into their mainframe and using their software so no software needs to go on your computer. In your price range you can get only 4g memory and that is to low in my opinion. Don’t think you want a chrome book type of computer but maybe that would get you through.
Check out the dells/levono with 8g… Processors are slow and why I would try to buy something better. Go on Facebook for your school and see if chrome book or the like can be used
Wait and save money to buy something better. Use what’s available in the computer labs for the introductory class, and ask the instructor or TA for helping finding an appropriate laptop.
You really don’t have a lot of choices with your price range. They are OK. I would rather not buy a i-3 processor. My least amount specs would be a i-5 processor , with 8g ram. Everything else is immaterial. Windows 10 alone takes a lot of processor power. For myself I don’t buy anything under 16 g ram (memory). But you need to get into a different price range for that.
At my son’s school you can do a payroll deduction and of course financial aid might help since it’s for a computer. Also there are suggestions for computers with specs but I think you can do better to buy elsewhere. If strapped look at school Facebook since students might be selling a Computer to upgrade. Years ago a friend of mine bought a $1300 computer for like $400.00 since the student needed like gas money to get to California for his job that was supplying him with a new computer…
Microsoft Windows 10 may consume a lot of computing resources, but you may want to install Linux on the computer anyway, since it may be more suitable for doing programming assignments and consume fewer computing resources (Linux runs on lower end computers more easily than Microsoft Windows).
I don’t know what all this hand-wringing is about. You can do programming using your favorite Linux distribution on a $35 Raspberry Pi. You can absolutely find a $200 to $400 laptop that has enough horsepower to compile C++ and Java and remote desktop into a more powerful workstation for anything else.
I am not saying I would recommend a Raspberry Pi, obviously. My point is that if a $35 credit-card-sized computer can perform most programming tasks, why does @“pro@procrastinator” require an expensive machine to do it? He/she could buy a netbook and be just fine here.
My message doesn’t read the way I intended. I think the raspberry pi is brilliant. Especially if on a budget. He didn’t want a chrome book and is very limited due to finances. There is always cutting grass etc till school starts. Costco had a nice configured Dell for $469.00 with 12 g ram, windows 10 and a 1tb storage. I just don’t like i-3’s.
At both son’s schools, the engineers use all kinds of software that hit the CPU pretty hard. My guys are Math/CS majors so 3 year old Latitudes running Linux work well. (We use Lattitudes at work and I like the build quality).
You should start saving now for an Engineering notebook. You will probably need something in the $800-1000 range.
And as @boneh3ad said, most schools have a way to remote into more powerful computers. BTW, we do that at work for employees who are on the road and for IT staff from home.
You don’t need much, an i3 (i5 is better) and 8 g of ram. You will be able to remote into the Emory MathCS lab and work on those computers (using Emory’s VPN). Buy want you can afford, if you decide to stick with CS, you can always upgrade your laptop in a year or two.
The advantages of a more expensive laptop, such as portability, battery life, graphics, touchscreens, etc…, are nice by not critical.
My son has a high powered desktop, and he still remotes into the workstations at school.
I buy this stuff for a living and $200-400 is just not enough to buy a laptop of any worth, especially as a chrome book is off the table (as it should be). You should be looking in the $700 range at the lowest with 16gb of ram. You may be able to find a comparable open box buy for a bit less. The suite of Autodesk products will choke on a low end system. I bet the college you are attending will have loaner units available and you should take advantage of that in the meanwhile.
My previous company declared bankruptcy, so they took away all our fancy Dell XPS laptops and replaced them with used 3 year old i5 Dell Latitudes for around $200. We got to keep them after the company assets were sold off. Mine was 8Gb memory, 320Gb hard drive. Most of my work was done connecting to the cloud and other servers, plus basic Visual Studio and Eclipse/Sublime development work, so it was perfectly fine. You should be able to go on EBay and find a used one similar to mine for $150-300.
@MAandMEmom, most real CAD products will choke on a $700 system. Fortunately, the OP isn’t going to be facing that. They are looking at CS. For those that do though, the school labs with much more powerful desktops and large displays are the ticket.
@“pro@procrastinator”, My son is a comp sci student. He’s been using a $400 laptop and getting along just fine.
Does your college have a lab? I work in the comp sci dept of a private college and their lab is open 24/7 because they know not every student can afford an expensive laptop. If your college’s lab isn’t open all the time email the chair of the comp sci dept. to ask what they advise.
