Laptop vs desktop for college

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>Regarding laptops, desktops and also tablets... Is the norm changing at all on this for college students? My feeling is that iPads are taking over some of the functionality of laptops, especially for students... With schools encouraging/requiring tablets in class in some cases. I also feel that a good desktop remains essential... The hub for both in depth project work and also storage (particularly for us Orwellian's who refuse to buy into "the cloud".)</p>

<p>My question, as a fairly non-tech oriented guy in relation to the average 2014 college student, is whether my assumptions above are accurate.. or at least workable for a student today? My son uses an iPad and has an aging laptop, which he has outgrown. My question is whether or not I'm right to purchase a new desktop for him... With an eye on finishing up HS and on to college... Or, is purchasing a more up to date laptop the better idea moving forward toward college?</p>

<p>S is not a gamer and also doesn't need to take laptop to class. Takes tablet to class and uses current laptop at home basically like a desktop. So my question is basically tablet+new laptop or tablet+new desktop. Many thanks.</p>

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<p>IPads are not a replacement for an actual computer… I would never recommend that someone depends entirely in an ipad, although I don’t think that’s what you are asking.</p>

<p>For a non-tech guy, a good laptop is plenty. Most students will have laptops and it gives him the flexibility to take it wherever he needs to go, if he wants to (like the library, a lounge, student center, etc). He doesn’t need the extra power or customizability of a desktop. Even if he doesn’t take his laptop anywhere, it still takes up less space in a possibly crowded dorm room and it’s much more portable.</p>

<p>That being said, ask him what he wants. He doesn’t need a desktop, but if he wants one, then that’s fine. If he wants a laptop, that’s fine too.</p>

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<p>Like @baxtrax said and from current experience an iPad would not suffice as an actual computer. You’re really limited to what you can do on an iPad versus an actual computer.</p>