Laptop -vs- Desktop PC

Parents Forum
1

<p>Parents, Students,</p>

<p>I am curious what the latest preferred computer for students at college (laptop -vs- desktop)?. </p>

<p>I, personally, work in IT, and use a computer all day long, and I have my personal preferences. Laptops sure are convenient, you can carry them around, and hookup to the network almost anywhere (and with current wirelss technology - you don't even have to have a hard-wired connection). However, it can be a pain to use the keyboard on a laptop (as compared to a desktop computer with an external keyboard). Even worse is the mouse on a laptop, as compared to a desktop with an external mouse. Lastly, what about theft? I am curious if schools publish statistics on how many laptops are stolen (out of dorms, libraries, etc.).</p>

<p>I have spoken with friends, who have kids in college. The answers are mixed. </p>

<p>Some parents comment that a DESKTOP is best.
-Far less theft.
-Kids don't want to lug around a heavy laptop from class to class.
-Libraries have many available desktops so there is not the need for personal laptops to use a computer in a library.
-Desktops are normally more powerful (in general). For the same money, you will get a faster processor, larger hard drive, better graphics card, etc. </p>

<p>Other friends (parents of students) say that their kid loves his/her LAPTOP.
-It is very convenient to have in class.
-It is not heavy to lug around.
-can take to a friend's dorm room, and do work while visiting.
-can take to coffee shop, etc. and do work, or just surf the net.</p>

<p>I DO realize that there are Laptop lovers - who will chime in and defend the keyboards (that they are very usable), defend the mouse (that once you get used to it, it is even easier than an external mouse) defend the monitor (newer laptops do have larger screens and better resolution), and defend the weight (some of the newer ones are lighter, but with a larger screen comes more weight). </p>

<p>I do NOT wish to start a chain on what is preferrable in life outside of college. (laptops -vs- desktop).</p>

<p>I AM interested in what seems to work best at school. What is preferred by the students (and by the parents).</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>some schools require their students to have laptops.Most schools also have good computer labs. My d has been without a computer for almost 2 weeks now and will be for probably another week. As much as she misses having her own in her room she has been able to get all her work done. Her dorm has a computer lab so she doesn't even have to leave the building. One benefit she has found is that she has had the lab to herself each time and it is a great place to study. She also did not have her printer the first quarter and did not have a problem using the schools system.</p>

3

<p>Most colleges that have computer programs (ie required or recommended) use laptops. In my son's case virtually the entire campus is wired with only a few dead areas that are being addressed.</p>

<p>I don't know about your children, but mine take notes faster on a computer than they do by hand (D's high school has a laptop program) and they prefer the flexibility that a laptop offers. They can bring it with them on breaks and have access to all files (no need for jump drives etc) and on campus they can work virtually anywhere including outdoors.</p>

<p>We purchased the optional docking kit and external flat panel monitor for use in his room and he couldn't be happier. If the schools under consideration have computer programs they are a great deal. Full IT support, loaner laptops, 4 year warranty and better pricing than you could ever do on your own for fully loaded laptops.</p>

4

<p>Most important whatever you end up with get the accidental damage insurance!</p>

5

<p>I can't imagine what it would be like to be confined to my room anytime I needed to do homework...</p>

6

<p>My daughter has the desktop but wishes she had a laptop. She is required to write many papers and would prefer to work outside in nice weather. Also, since she changes rooms every quarter, a desktop is a lot to lug around and too much trouble to bring home, even when she drives.</p>

7

<p>We started my daughter off with a desk top, and now she wishes she had a laptop. Partly for working outside in nice weather and mostly for watching movies on the bus to visit boyfriend. And Husband is starting to regret the desk top after moving it to and from school a couple of times.</p>

<p>The reason we got her a desk top is easy -- it's much harder to lose a desktop. And seeing that she is the queen of losing things, I figured this was safer. Maybe if she has to use her own money for a laptop, she'll keep a closer eye on it!</p>

8

<p>I have only used laptops my self for about 10 years- my younger D has had a laptop since 6th gd, my older D since 11th gd.
While I did meet someone who purchased a monitor for every place that he works and hauls around the hard drive, most people I know use laptops.
You can always get a bluetooth keyboard and an external monitor if your work style requires it.</p>

<p>I love my laptop BTW- I just took it on a trip to Portland- even the Travelodge has wireless & I could surf the net, send emails and watch a movie when there wasn't anything on TV :)</p>

<p>The ease that students can take their work with them on break, shouldn't be underestimated-often they have things they need to do but you can't really ship your desktop back and forth for winter & spring breaks</p>

9

<p>I have a desktop and have no problems with having one at college. I actually prefer it to a laptop, and if for some reason my computer dies before I graduate I will not be replacing it with a laptop. Almost no one at my school carries laptops to class, and I'll occassionally see them in the campus center or the library, but I also have friends who never take their laptops out of their room. I don't take my computer home for breaks (except summer), and use the family computer while at home. </p>

<p>Though if you do get a desktop for college, I'd recommend a flatscreen monitor as they save a lot of desk space. </p>

<p>The only time I wish I had a laptop is while wanting to both watch tv and play The Sims at the same time, as my room isn't set up in a way that lets me do both easily. :)</p>

10

<p>This input is excellent. Please, as others read, and have any thoughts, please input them, as short or long as they may be. I am truly struggling with what to do for my son, and your input is very helpful. </p>

<p>I am sure that either way, he will be fine. I would like to put as much thought into it ahead of time, and feel that our decision was based on some sound reasoning. </p>

<p>Again, any students or parents, with thoughts, please chime in. Thanks.</p>

11

<p>DS had a desktop for the first two years. It was a used machine we had around the house. The deal was he would use that and figure out what he really needed. Well....he's a music major and what he needed was an Apple Power Book. We got the one with a 15 inch monitor, and I must say the keyboard is terrific. Now...DD is going to school far away from home and will be flying to get there. She will probably get a laptop from the start, but probably a PC type. We'll wait to see what her college suggests. It's a lot easier to carry your laptop on the plane, than your desktop :)</p>

12

<p>We got 15" apple, and 2nd year, added a monitor to keep in his room. If I had to do it again, would have 14", as S carries laptop everywhere, especially to study groups. S also uses laptop for dvds</p>

13

<p>S has a 17" Apple G4 laptop and carries it everywhere and uses it nonstop. (It's not unusual to see him typing as he walks downstairs for breakfast in the morning.) Junior at MIT (EE/CS major).</p>

<p>D has a 12" Apple laptop and carries it to the library when she studies there but leaves it in her room when she goes to classes. Junior at Reed. Theater/Lit major.</p>

<p>Neither has any interest at all in a desk-based machine. D has her own printer (color), S doesn't bother, claiming that the school-based facilities are cheaper and faster. </p>

<p>Both use a "real" mouse but are fine with the laptop keyboard.</p>

14

<p>Does anyone know how CC (collegeconfidential) maintains threads? What i mean is when/why do they delete postings to a thread? I started this thread back on Jan 18th, and received about 50-60 excellent postings (some very very good replies, including some very good reasons for laptops and desktops). And now, they are all gone, with the exception of just a token 10 replies. Whoever (administrator) deleted them, removed some very very excellent answers. If postings on this board only are kept for less than a week, then it makes no sense. There must be something else going on - with older postings- that I am not aware of. </p>

<p>thanks, to anyone who has additional info.</p>

15

<p>The only problem with a laptop is that they're easy to steal, as my son found out the hard way. Other than that, the advantages are too many to ignore. It's important to use the locking cable any time it's not in transit - it will probably end up spending the vast majority of its time on the dorm room desk anyway. And yeah - you can attach a regular mouse if you prefer one, esecially for the majority of work that takes place in the regular desk.</p>

16

<p>I think it depends on the school- how common it is- in my daughters dorm at Reed, where they didn't usually lock their doors the only problem I heard about, was when one student was in the bathroom and someone went into his room- & peed on the keyboard.
eeww
but mostly I htink it is common sense- if you have a $3,000 laptop in your backpack- you don't leave it to hold your seat in the cafeteria while you get in line.</p>

17

<p>LovetoCamp, somewhere in one of the threads it mentions that three days of postings were lost due to some kind of computer problem--I think it was the 18th, 19th, and 20th--but normally they keep all threads indefinitely and you can search the archives.</p>

18

<p>I would emphasize one thing: data security. This means security against theft/breakage, virus/worms, and identity theft. Whether you have a laptop or a desktop, you need to take all reasonable steps to assure security. I think the one strategy that's most often ignored, is back-up. True backup involves storing your "data" files on another disk drive, medium (CDE/DVD), or network server. I would venture a guess that fewer than 10% of the people who have posted on this thread have an organized and regular and fail-safe practice of backing up their data files.</p>

<p>But of course "safe computing" also involves taking care in where and how you use wi-fi connections to transmit sensitive data (passwords, credit cards), as well as making sure that you are always automatically implementing updates and critical patches issued by Microsoft, Apple, and other hardware and software designers.</p>

19

<p>lovetocamp:</p>

<p>CC had a big database failure and had to renew the entire forum with data from three days ago. In other words, they lost all posts for Jan 19 - 21.</p>

<p>I struggled with this for my son too. I think what ultimately made us go with a laptop was the idea that for many kids there are just too many distractions in their dorm rooms to get any work done. So, they can take their computer to their favorite study spot.</p>

<p>It is also nice for him to be able to bring it home on breaks and do work. (Not that I see a lot of that going on though...)</p>

<p>Laptops are fragile though. My son's has broken twice since September. Once was probably a fault of Dell's, but the second time "something" must have happened to it on the airplane. We have the all-inclusive insurance, andthe first time Dell mailed him a part to school and the computer center installed it for him, and the second time Dell came out to our house to fix it (with one day's notice!!!). </p>

<p>We have told him - ONE computer. If it gets lost or stolen he's on his own. He has a good cable lock, but he doesn't use it.</p>

20

<p>I have idisk ;)
that reminds me- did you read the columnist who when writing about the new machines @ Apple had to stop himself from typing * iNtel* ?
lol</p>