<p>I'm not exactly sure which to get. I know the advantages of each. Laptops have portability while desktops have value and upgrade-ability. My planned major is physics. All opinions are appreciated.</p>
<p>Yea, I also want to find out about this. What do you current Cornell students use. I'm in CoE (are there different requirements/recommendations for different colleges?)</p>
<p>Definately get a laptop. I don't know anyone here who has a desktop. You'll want to be able to take your computer either to the study room in your hall or to the library.</p>
<p>Awesome, i'm gonna make my parents buy me a dell xps laptop as a getting into Cornell/birthday from 2006/birthday for 2007/christmas/graduation present.</p>
<p>it really doesn't matter that much. There are numerous computer labs all over campus, so you can always leave your room to go write a paper without a laptop. And unless you're going to be playing mad crazy games, which I highly doubt, that you might either want a really nice laptop or a desktop. And btw, most gamers that I know play WoW, warcraft 3, battlefield, CS:source, none of which really require a really nice graphics card.</p>
<p>So would a desktop and like a large thumb drive to carry around with files be enough for a physics major? I really am not a fan of laptops, but if it's one of those things where it'd be a big inconvenience not to have the portability, then I'll do what I must.</p>
<p>recommend buying a printer?</p>
<p>Yes, a printer is a necessity.</p>
<p>I had a desktop freshman year...did fine with just that. IMO, if you're going to get a laptop, you want one thats ultraportable--if you just leave your laptop in your room (like a lot of people do), then you might as well just get a desktop since theyre generally cheaper and more powerful. Right now, I have both desktop and ultraportable laptop...its really a nice setup :)</p>
<p>hm is anyone familiar with the US Customs Policy? If I buy a laptop in China and bring it to US, do I have to pay a lot of tax (like more than 10%)? Cause I know both Canada and China charges crazy taxes for new laptops..</p>
<p>get a laptop. i left mine in my room for almost all of freshmen and sophomore year, but this year I took Physical Chemistry, and there is no way you can do the problem sets without a laptop. Before this class, I used to think that it might have been better to get a desktop. But NO!! A laptop is absolutely necessary. And oh, get as much memory on there as you can.</p>