<p>I'm trying to decide what kind of bag to get to take to class. </p>
<p>I like advice from current students on how big a bag really needs to be. Do most people carry textbooks to class, is it needed? Or do you really just need a bag to carry things like pens, pencils, notebooks and a laptop. I'm open to any suggestion from a backpack to a tote bag, but it has to be able to hold a 15" MacBook safely.</p>
<p>I don't go to UVa, but at my school, most people usually just carry a book and notebook to class. Unlike most people, I always bring my laptop with me and if I get bored in class, I'll just start surfing the net or playing Scrabulous. I recommend the Wenger laptop backpacks. They're a bit large and clunky, but they do a good job of protecting your laptop.</p>
<p>Amazon.com:</a> MAXXUM from SwissGear by Wenger Computer Backpack Red: Electronics</p>
<p>I carry mine around in my plain, Jansport black backpack. Risky? Maybe. But I baby that computer, so I'm not overly worried. I do have a squishy shell around it, for I guess extra measures. This way, I really only have one backpack and don't have to worry about switching around notebooks/supplies from bag to bag.
If you really want one, I suggest getting a backpack. Look on amazon.com for styles you like and look at reviews. Targus, I think, makes the best stuff.</p>
<p>I'm thinking I'll probably just get a neoprene sleeve and carry it in this plain backpack (MEC</a> Adventurer Daypack - Mountain Equipment Co-op%5DMEC">http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441771827&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302699687&bmUID=1217991552765)). With a shell, that's probably similar protection compared to a typical laptop backpack, and any old backpack doesn't scream "steal me, I'm a laptop".</p>
<p>For those hyper enough to worry about what kind of backpack to buy, what about this?</p>
<p>Bulletproof</a> Lined Backpack for Safety and Protection from gun violence</p>
<p>Best bag ever (my mom got this for me this past semester) : eBags</a> Savvy Laptop Tote > Ladies' Business > Business - eBags It's not overly huge but it can hold a laptop and a textbook if needed, plus notebooks/folders/etc, water bottle...</p>
<p>Timbuk2</a> Bags - Laptop Messenger - Ballistic Fabric </p>
<p>When I brought my laptop to class - which I have since stopped doing - I would carry it plus a notebook if necessary to draw illustrations or other things quicker in writing, and maybe a texbook (basically only math/stats classes). </p>
<p>now I just carry the notebook for the class plus a pen or two. except of course seminars or courses with reading material used in class.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions. By the way, we live in a sad world when there are bulletproof backpacks.</p>
<p>Canuck, I haven't forgotten about you and my email. Assume you're set for STS101 books though, and I'll attempt to actually sit down one of these busy nights and take care of personal stuff. This is my last week on the job and it's hectic.</p>
<p>Is it ok if I don't bring my laptop to my classes?? I can't type as fast as I can write...</p>
<p>Most people don't. The only reason I take mine is because I have a tablet, so I can use mine in engineering and note-taking classes.</p>
<p>Thanks shoebox, no hurry.</p>
<p>I plan on bringing a laptop to class just because I type just as quickly as I write, and notes are much nicer typed. That said, if a lot of drawings need to be done, the computer is being scrapped for a notepad.</p>
<p>hehehe, shoebox has a tablet. I wonder why :p.</p>
<p>A good friend of mine was waitlisted at UVa and signed up to go to tech so he bought a tablet... then he got pulled off the UVa waitlist and now he has to go to UVa with that lame computer.</p>
<p>Because VT thought it would ease our ass-kicking freshman year.</p>
<p>And it's not lame. Nice ratty, crinkly paper notebooks you got there though, classy. I hope you drop it in a puddle.</p>
<p>hahaha, you know I was just kidding. I actually think its a pretty cool little gadget. I definitely prefer writing on pen and paper though.</p>
<p>I've had two teachers use tablets for their lessons so far and having them do that and then post the lessons online was a huge help.</p>
<p>The idea of a tablet sounded good but I didn't want to commit to something I didn't know about so I went with a Dell.</p>
<p>I splurged on the pulse smartpen by livescribe. Livescribe</a> :: Never Miss A Word</p>
<p>If it works it should give me the best of both worlds. Having my pen and paper system as well as the ability to upload and share my notes.</p>
<p>Haha I know, I know. I just thought I'd curse your little notebooks though. But I un-curse them. I hope you drop them onto a perfectly dry piece of clean ground.</p>
<p>It takes some time getting used to a tablet, but I really picked up mine during my digital logic class. I used some typing, some writing, and it worked great. I have a serious organization issue (I'm always 90% of the way there, so it's just a giant mess), so having every single note in one place is nice.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I have a serious organization issue.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Me too. Any methods you have found useful?</p>
<p>Pray, really hard, it ends up organized?</p>
<p>Using the tablet was very, very, very good for me. Every single one of my history, digital logic, mse, and electronics notes were in one place, totally organized. I organized them by week, rather than topic, because too many subjects correlated and I would've had a bazillion documents. ECE200 banned us from using laptops, which I thought was REALLY lame. It's like taking attendance in big lectures: if you learn the material, who cares if you go to class. If you don't learn it, your fault. If I want to surf during class, as long as I'm not bothering anyone, I should be allowed. Make me sit in the back.<br>
Anyways, back to organization: it varies semester to semester how much I can use my computer in classes. I think after this past successful semester, I'll use it in every class I can. If I don't in some class, what I'll probably do is just take hand notes in class then scan them in. I don't know how well scanning in will do, so I might just resort back to binders (5-star's flex binders/notebooks are the best. They're not bulky like 5-rings, but you can move stuff around, unlike notebooks) to organize things. My method seems to change each year.
The big thing on organization is to just make sure you have everything in a semi-neat order upon midterm/finals time. Class notes can be handy for a week's homework, but often you don't need to resort back to them in class ever. I know some people just use one notebook per class, and if they run out of room, they just start a new one. Often leads to forgotten and 1/4 used notebooks, but it seems to work. Others just have a notebook, write all their crap down, and at the end of the week they just put it all in separate binders that they keep in their rooms. There's no one good way, everyone is different. It also depends on the types of classes you have.
Also, find some sort of calender, whether its digital or paper. I've been trying to use Outlook more since my iPhone can connect to it, and Google I know is good too. Or, buy a planner. And, USE IT! Things can sneak up on you quickly. Collab I think has a calender system that coordinates with all of your classes, but the professor has to use it for anything to show up, and most probably won't.</p>
<p>I second the binders or a duotang over a notebook. Take notes on loose leaf, then stick them into a binder. That way, all hand written notes, typed notes, hand-outs, photocopies, etc can all be placed together, in a neat and chronological order. </p>
<p>With spiral notebooks, anything but your hand written notes comes out in a mess and nothing is ever together. </p>
<p>Vistany, how's that smart pen working for you?</p>