<p>My parents are annoyingly cheap. I'm not allowed a laptop for the first semester because in the event that I don't like CS, giving me a laptop would be a complete waste of money. Since I plan to double major, I can't leave all of my CS classes to the other semesters, and I know that I want to do it. So I am just wondering, if it is possible for me to survive without a computer? I'm planning on taking either CS 61a or 70 first semester.</p>
<p>It’s hypothetically possible, but you’d be trekking to Soda all the time, if you take 61A. Also, are you planning to do all of your research and write all your papers during the inconvenient hours that various computer labs are open?</p>
<p>That’s why I think I’ll take CS70 first, and then the 61 series, since I’ve heard that CS70 is practically a math class and I learned quite a bit of discrete math in high school.</p>
<p>its certainly possible but would be extremely annoying Why don’t you just spend $200-300 for a netbook, not that much compared to the books you will be buying…</p>
<p>It’s not just necessary for CS, it’s necessary for school…</p>
<p>The title of your post made me giggle. Most of my sons friends going into CS have a number of computers. But I agree with liquidus- you need it for college in general. You are not likely to be able to do compiling and programming on a netbook though. Many colleges have a laptop rental program, have you looked into that possibility?</p>
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<p>^This…</p>
<p>If your parents are really that cheap, try to make a case for a netbook…</p>
<p>Agree 100% with Liquidus. I could not survive college without my computer. If you don’t have a computer, then be prepared to be the only person around without one.</p>
<p>If you really want to get some studying going, you can certainly live without one. However, a lot of announcements are made through bspace and e-mails at all times so you need access to public computers at least 4~5 times a day.</p>
<p>Yeah…you need a computer for college. Even if you’re not a CS major…are you going to handwrite your 15-page essays?</p>
<p>I suppose you could survive in the libraries and labs…that will get annoying, and fast.</p>
<p>I really doubt it, although its potentially possible. I’d imagine it’d have a negative effect on your grade, since you can’t code on your own time and staying late in soda often seems terrible. Also large projects would be a huge pain to do without a laptop or computer. Why not take out loans and buy a laptop using your own money? But even if you don’t major in CS, it seems a laptop is necessary to get through college</p>
<p>Have your parents been anywhere near education in the last 5-10 years? If they had, they’d know that Liquidus is right. It’s pretty hard to do research for anything when you spend half your time running to a library/comp lab.
Not to derail, but Liquidus, by any chance are you an MGS fan?</p>
<p>I’ve played MGS 3 and 4 but I’m not really a “fan.” I picked Liquidus as the nickname I use online before I was even familiar with the series. Just saw it somewhere and thought it sounded cool.</p>
<p>Generations of students (including possibly your parents) got by without their own computers, using computer labs when necessary to do programming and word processing. So having your own computer is not strictly necessary.</p>
<p>However, having your own computer would be a huge convenience in that you can do work on your own computer, possibly off-line as well (having a computer running a Unix-like OS may be helpful for commonality with instructional computer environments). Unless you live right next to Soda Hall (i.e. Foothill dorm or one of the northside BSC co-op houses), having to go to the computer lab to do your CS assignments could be a hassle compared to what even a cheap netbook type of computer, or even an old desktop computer in your room, can give you in convenience.</p>
<p>Perhaps you know someone who is always upgrading to the newest and latest computer for gaming or something. Said person may be willing to cheaply sell (or even give) to you the old computers that will be more than enough for your school needs.</p>
<p>CS 70 is basically a math course. Preview it here:</p>
<p>[CS70</a> Home Page](<a href=“http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs70/archives.html]CS70”>CS70 Home Page)</p>
<p>Preview CS 61A here (note: CS 61A books are free on the web):</p>
<p>[CS61A</a> Home Page](<a href=“http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs61a/archives.html]CS61A”>CS61A Home Page)</p>
<p>Why not buy a laptop and return it after every 30 days (or whatever the return policy is)? That may be inconvenient, but not nearly as inconvenient as trekking to Soda every day.</p>