<p>Our D is looking at a MAC. There's the 13.3" or 15.4" version. 13.3" sounds too small. But is it common to use an external monitor with them back at the dorm? Besides the price advantage of the 13.3", I like the lighter weight. D is slight build, and I'd rather not have her lugging around the 15.4" 5.6lbs MAC. But then again, the 13.3" unit is 4.5lbs. What experience it out there on these choices?</p>
<p>I think the 13 is more commonly used by college students. My D has one; I have the 15. There really isn’t that much difference when viewing, but the 15 is a lot heavier–or that’s how it feels to me, anyway.</p>
<p>I have both 13" & 15" MacBook pros.
But, lately I have been using my iPad more than anything.</p>
<p>Unless she needs it right away, I would hold off buying it. ( also you can get education discounts)
[Mac</a> Buyer’s Guide: Know When to Buy Your Mac, iPod or iPhone](<a href=“http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/]Mac”>http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/)</p>
<p>If I was in the mode for a laptop, I would buy an air instead of a MacBook pro.</p>
<p>My kids both had the 15" macs and rarely ever carried them to class. These days, most kids, if they carry anything to class at all are using notebooks and ipad-sized. The difference in weight is definitely relevant. I’d probably encourage the 13", knowing what I know now.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments. Looks like 13.4" isn’t “too small”. Anyone using an external monitor back at the dorm? Or is the 13.4" OK for all purposes - around campus, and dorm?</p>
<p>We’re figuring on equipping our D with the 13" Mac plus external monitor at the dorm.</p>
<p>Yeah, I would go for the 13", and another monitor for dorm room. Son used the large monitor for movies, too. I inherited his Mac 15". Now I just love my iPad, which comes with me to my office.</p>
<p>Son has the 15" and would not want less. Also uses external monitor in the dorm and at work. It goes everywhere with him.</p>
<p>I have the 13" and would not want more. I’m small and it’s plenty big for my needs. I do usually use an external monitor at home however.</p>
<p>I have a 13", and two 20" externals in the office. Works for me, and I like the light weight. The conversation here is making me think the 13" and external would be a good way to go. </p>
<p>Funny that the school says desktop is an OK choice as well. Parallel question. How about an iPad for classroom notes, and cheap desktop for dorm? Does iPad have a keyboard of sorts? To much mixing technologies?</p>
<p>Whether a laptop would even work well for notes depends somewhat on the classes. If the classes are engineering/science/math, a laptop doesn’t work so well since one needs to put a lot of diagrams/equations, etc. on the notes and a regular paper notebook works best. If you talk to a few college students they’ll likely tell you that a lot of the people who bring their laptops to class are using them to Facebook, play games, IM, etc. - not necessarily taking notes. They can be a distraction if not used right.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine trying to take notes on an iPad although I haven’t tried one with an external keyboard but by then it’s approaching the form factor of a laptop anyway.</p>
<p>I recommend a laptop rather than a desktop even if they don’t take it to class for notes. With a laptop they’re not chained to their desk - they can use it sitting on their bed, over in someone else’s room, down the hall in a study/day room, in the library, etc. They can also easily bring it home on breaks.</p>
<p>For screen size - around 13" ± 2" is ideal IMO. Anything more than 15.4" is noticeably heavy. Anything smaller than 11" is noticeably small for the screen. An 11"-14" is a nice compromise between size and weight. I doubt that there’ll be any need for an external monitor - the laptop display should be fine.</p>
<p>My college S has an iPad and a desktop, and no laptop. It works fine for him, but he says that virtually everyone else has a laptop.</p>
<p>An iPad doesn’t have a regular keyboard, but we got S an external keyboard, which is with an iPad case/stand, so together it is vary laptop-like.</p>
<p>You can buy a reasonable laptop for less than the price of an iPad and a cheap desktop.</p>
<p>Civil Engineering, with concentration on structures (for master’s). So, those darn equations/illustrations may mean laptop not ideal?</p>
<p>Don’t know if this will help, but S is doing a rigorous physics program on a 15" Mac and no external monitor with no problems.</p>
<p>You’ll probably want a stylus if you are an engineering student.
[Reader</a> Review: iPad Apps for University Students | iPhonewzealand](<a href=“http://www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/2011/all/reader-review-ipad-apps-for-university-students/]Reader”>http://www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/2011/all/reader-review-ipad-apps-for-university-students/)</p>
<p>[iPad</a> Apps | PCS - COE Personal Computer Support | UNC Charlotte](<a href=“http://coe.uncc.edu/pcs/your-mobile-device/apple-ios/ipad-apps.html]iPad”>http://coe.uncc.edu/pcs/your-mobile-device/apple-ios/ipad-apps.html)</p>
<p>[25</a> iPad Apps Every Engineer Needs : Scientia Blogger](<a href=“http://www.mastersinengineering.org/25-ipad-apps-every-engineer-needs.html]25”>http://www.mastersinengineering.org/25-ipad-apps-every-engineer-needs.html)</p>
<p>
The laptop’s fine - it’s just that a paper notebook will probably be more useful for taking class notes. The laptop can be used for everything else though.</p>
<p>This is a YMMV, but I really don’t feel there’s much of a weight difference between a 15" macbook pro and a 13" macbook. </p>
<p>Then again, I attended college in the mid-late '90s when the notebook computers I used for school averaged around 9-11 pounds with adapter…and screen sizes ranged from 10" - 12.1". Nowadays, I still sometimes carry around a 14.1" notebook weighing 9.5 pounds including adapter because it’s a notebook I can afford to damage/lose when traveling. </p>
<p>Considering all that, a 5.6 pound 15" macbook pro is optimal for me from a screen size/weight ratio. </p>
<p>Then again, I am nearly 6’ tall and used to routinely hauling 15-20 pounds worth of notebook and other school stuff during my college years.</p>
<p>13 inchers also fit better on the tiny desks in lecture halls.</p>
<p>I would suggest waiting to buy an external monitor until you are sure that your D actually studies in her dorm room. I would hate to be tied to my desk while working.</p>
<p>I have a 13.3" Mac. It’s not too small. I use an external monitor with mine (19"; about to upgrade to 24", but I am a graduate student. I enjoy working at my desk but my monitor doesn’t “tie” me there - when I want to go to the library I just disconnect, get up and go). I love the light weight of my Mac and I carry it with me everywhere.</p>
<p>I don’t think the 1 lb difference would be significant, but personally, I prefer the smaller form factor and lighter weight of the 13.3" precisely because when I am at home, I use the large monitor.</p>
<p>13.3 inches is the prime size for a student. But I want to know what is with the Mac bias? Linux is the way to go.</p>