<p>I will be attending UCLA from OOS, and I will not be going home on weekends. Should I bring my desktop PC for my dorm room, or purchase a laptop? I am concerned about theft of the laptop from my dorm room, as I've heard doors are often left open. Also, a laptop might be quite heavy to tote around to classes and I've read its a good uphill walk from the dorms to the main part of campus.</p>
<p>Are there a lot of available public computers (as kiosks) to use on campus, or is it better to have your own?</p>
<p>With the right security devices, your laptop would be safe. Besides, YOU and YOUR ROOMMATE are in charge of your dorm room. So it is both your responsibilities to keep the doors closed when out.</p>
<p>There are public computers (computer labs) on campus, you can check out laptops for 3 hours, but always better to have your own.</p>
<p>You won't need your laptop for classes most of the time, unless you're going to play games :)</p>
<p>You don't need a laptop, but it's definitely easier to bring from out-of-state. People who actually bring laptops to class are usually aesthetes who try to appear more righteous than the rest of the class. Purchase a good cable lock and a solid roommate agreement to secure it. Also, yes, there are computer labs all over the residential hill, as well as on campus. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I am bringing my desktop because of the graphic card, but I'm thinking that if I really can't do without a laptop, then I'll get the cheapest one during black Friday or sth, and make my desktop the main computer. </p>
<p>I didn't know we could check out laptops as well. Maybe I don't need to buy one at all then. Thanks.</p>
<p>If you just have a laptop and no TV, you'd probably want a good size one because you'll be on it a lot. But if it's a good size it's probably heavy and you won't want to lug it to class. Though laptops are helpful in review secessions for catching every last detail before a midterm/final.</p>
<p>My laptop broke twice last year, right during the first week (and Best Buy took it for almost 3 weeks), and then during 10th week of spring quarter (well it started dying in January but survived until the very end). But that meant I stop taking my laptop anywhere because I was afraid of screwing it up even more.</p>
<p>Still, if you don't live in SoCal, laptops are nice for going home.</p>
<p>Also, don't worry about theft so much. You usually become friends with the people who walk by your room anyways, and as long as you don't leave your room open and fully unattended there really isn't that much to fear (and since I lived with 5 other girls, believe me when I say there was even times when we'd leave a door open and all leave and everything was still fine). Honestly who is going to risk walking in to a bolted dorm room not knowing who could be in there? (Not that there isn't still a risk but not a reasonable amount).</p>
<p>Now leaving your laptop around Luvalle while you go to get coffee is probably a whole different story. :)</p>
<p>what is your major? if its something sciencey then you wont really need a laptop for class and stuff.</p>
<p>if its more social sciences and humanities then it could be useful so you can type up notes in class instead of frantically scribbling illegible text.</p>
<p>ive only brought my laptop to class for psych10, and that was because she went really fast on the overheads and i can type faster than i write.</p>
<p>if you are already set on bringing your desktop anyways, then a laptop is not needed unless you plan to use it to take notes in class. and if its just for taking notes, you can get one of those cheap and small "netbooks" like the EEE PC, MSI Wind, etc etc.</p>
<p>BUT if you were debating on bringing a desktop OR a laptop, a laptop would be much easier to bring to school and back. especially from out of state since i would assume you would need to fly or drive really long distance.</p>
<p>I'm a Bio major from Norcal, and the classes I have so far are Psych 115, Chem 153A, and MCD Bio class. It might change, but the majority of my classes will remain science classes. </p>
<p>I am definitely bringing my desktop, and I like your suggestion for the netbooks. I will see if I can survive without one for a couple months, then go for the netbooks.
Thanks a lot.</p>