<p>How important would it be to have a laptop as opposed to a desktop computer at Davis? Is a laptop required or even suggested? What brand and what capabilities would be most helpful at Davis (is there expert advise or repair services for Dell, or compaq…on campus?)</p>
<p>i think there is a webpage on computer recommended in UCD</p>
<p>Here is the link with the specifications for the laptops as recommended for the university.
<a href="http://computerownership.ucdavis.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://computerownership.ucdavis.edu/</a></p>
<p>and for infon on the internet connection on campus...
<a href="http://resnet.ucdavis.edu/connect.htm%5B/url%5D">http://resnet.ucdavis.edu/connect.htm</a></p>
<p>Don't forget that certain majors/programs (most likely engineering, sciences, and math/stats) may use some programs that need more than the "minimum computer configurations." For instance, I'm a civil engineering major (for another 5 days, heh!) and we occassionally use AutoCAD for some assignments and/or projects (there's even a CAD & surveying class, ECI 10). I'm pretty sure ME's use CAD as well. These programs are available in the computer labs, but if you were able to get them it would be a lot easier to work from home/dorm than at the lab. So it might be worth it to contact your department's office to see what (if any) programs you may use in your major and then check with the manufacturer's website to get their suggested system requirements.</p>
<p>costco has a hp dv 4000 series laptop for $1300</p>
<p>pentium m processor 1.6 ghz (processor is extremely quiet and energy conserving)
1 gig ram
128 mb integrated graphics
80 gb hard drive
6 in 1 media card reader, 4 usbs,
15.4 in high definition bright wide screen (really great color and sharpness)
8x dvd +/- rw
12 cell extended battery (i can chat and surf for about 5-6 hrs, more if i turn off the internet)
comes w/ a nice dvd remote and ac adapter, </p>
<p>great laptop that im using now, similar notebooks by dell or toshiba would run you 1500, and thats only after you do the rebates. </p>
<p>perfect for burning dvds downloading music, and running some powerful math programs (maple 9.5)</p>
<p>That's the model I want to get the Dv4000... it's so damn expensive though. </p>
<p>You can get it with minimum stuff at the HP Store online for 700 but if you want better then minimum, the price inflates to about 1,100</p>
<p>I ended up getting that HP DV4000 factory direct with the specs I wanted. There is one after thought that keeps bugging me. I got XP Home Edition. Will that hamper me in an MAJOR way since I didn't get XP Professional?</p>
<p>woah howd u get the 'question mark' and 'light bulb' to appear?</p>
<p>I couldn't imagine life without my laptop. Not only does it make taking notes so much easier, but it also makes working on papers and other assignments in my freetime at school a lot easier. There are several computer labs on campus, but there are quite often long waits attached to them. The bulk of the undergrad students don't have laptops (quite the opposite with grad students), but the number who do is growing rapidly. </p>
<p>UCD only has repair facilities for Apple computers on campus. Apple, it seems, made quite a generous donation to UCD and there is a certain... loyalty. However, you can find through the campus newspaper and online students willing to fix computers fairly inexpensively.</p>
<p>I bought my 12" Powerbook from the UCD Bookstore in May (I live in Davis), I'm a Poli Sci major so I probably won't be needing to run AutoCAD or anything like that. 1500 total after tax and student discount (-100). It's good overall, but does get a little warm though. Battery life is about 4 hours if you turn off internet, bluetooth, mute, and and medium brightness, otherwise 2-3 hrs if watching DVD at full volume, & brightness.</p>
<p>I believe that the campus first started selling Apple computers more than a decade ago.</p>
<p>To answer your question... a laptop is by no means necessary. I had a desktop when I was in the dorms.. and even when I moved into my apartment. I got a laptop for christmas, and have only brought it on campus twice. Once was to work on a presentation with a group, and the other time was to waste time online (using the wireless internet in some buildings). My laptop has a large screen so it's big, so I don't like lugging it around, it gets heavy. Still have my ol' desktop as my main computer.</p>