Not dorming, need laptop? Yes or No

<p>If I'm gonna be living at home for the next 4 years (UGH!!!) Should I get a laptop or another desktop? I already have a desktop which is fine and I've always wanted a laptop but should I just save up that money on something more useful?</p>

<p>What would you define as 'useful'?</p>

<p>Saving up money to pay off student loans might help ;)</p>

<p>Most likely you won't use it in class, and the campus has computer labs. So, if you plan on staying at home and not having to move in and out of the dorms, then a new desktop may be the way to go.</p>

<p>Campus labs should be fine if you need a computer on campus.</p>

<p>If after you go to school for a while you decide that you need one...then would be the time to buy</p>

<p>thanks, i just thought it'd be cool to have one i guess. Maybe I'll just buy a crappy laptop since i dont plan on gaming with it.</p>

<p>Laptop prices are dropping. If you don't mind waiting for a while, it might be worth it to stick with whatever you have now and buy a decent laptop later.</p>

<p>I'll speak from experience: don't spend your money on a 'crappy laptop' just to have one. It's completely not worth it.</p>

<p>My s does alot of his work in the library, he writes tons of papers, having a laptop is great for him.</p>

<p>As a communter, you will want access to a computer on campus so that you can make good use of the time between classes and activities. If the school you have chosen has computer labs all over campus with no lines, comfortable chairs and table space then you probably won't miss having one. Not every campus has wonderful facilites. Some have one facility in the library and a time limit on use. That mike not work for you. Since you live nearby, go check it out. Ask questions and go with the facts.</p>

<p>Good advoce, but also find out what the future plans are. I know some colleges are removing computer labs because so many students have their own.</p>

<p>Very true SRMom, space being limited on campuses, some are talking about reductions in computer labs. The ones less frequently used, ie no lines, might be the first to go. Kind of like pay phones. Now that so many have cells, pay phones are hard to find. Some of the schools we visited are talking about eliminating phones in the dorms and going to a voice mail system that you can hook into with your cell phone because so many students are using them and not using the hard wired phones.</p>