<p>so for the past few weeks i've been thinking of bringing my desktop into my dorm and bringing a cheap, light, basic netbook around with me mainly only to take notes in classes, surf the web and whatnot. with this, i would probably be leaving all the processor and memory intensive programs for classes (like autocad) for use on the desktop in the dorm...</p>
<p>but recently, i realized that some classes i might take (i'm looking at taking bme at pratt right now) might require students to run these processor intensive programs IN class on our laptops/netbooks. that being said, i'm torn between buying a very basic netbook or a heavier, more powerful laptop to carry around all the time... does anybody have any ideas/suggestions for me? also, does anybody know what the minimum system reqs would be for laptops/netbooks? thanks!</p>
<p>As a BME I’ll just say that it is rare that you’ll have to run any intensive programs in class or on the run. In instances where you do, you’ll most likely be in or near a computer lab with better computers available anyway. So I think you’ll be fine with a netbook and a desktop. </p>
<p>As for me personally, I went with a more expensive option because netbooks weren’t available when I bought my laptops. I have a larger (slightly more powerful) laptop in my dorm whose battery has died and needs to run from the outlet. I also have a slightly less powerful 12" thinkpad that I tote around with me. The thinkpad is more powerful than a netbook obviously, but I don’t do much on it that I can’t do with a netbook and only bought it because I needed something light and netbooks weren’t out yet back then.</p>