<p>Okay, so I realize space and portability is an issue. I'm going to get a laptop for my son. He says he's going to take it to classes with him. He's going to NYU so he is looking at alot of walking. Is he fooling himself? Are people really dragging their laptops to lectures and around campuses (esp NYC).</p>
<p>And also, I'm worried about theft. Even if it never leaves the door room, shouldn't I insist he use a laptop lock and maybe even lojack for laptops? I if am going to pay $800 for a laptop, I want him to own it for all 4 years. I don't think I'm being unreasonable??</p>
<p>No he's not fooling himself. I've seen quite a couple of people in my classes with laptops. Yes get the lojack for when he's not using it. Otherwise I don't see the big issue here.</p>
<p>I carry my laptop to class as well. I'm going to probably not do that though next semester because it's rather big, but most people do. I don't think it's unresonable to require a lock, these things are expensive, and I wouldn't want mine to get stolen anytime soon.</p>
<p>A lock is never a bad idea, after-all, what could it hurt? It's just extra security and peace of mind. If he is opposed to the idea, just remind him of what is at stake should something happen to his laptop (loss of class material, unfinished essays and unquestionable resources that are extremely pertinent to him passing).</p>
<p>I don't carry my laptop around, and neither does anyone else I know. For most people, desktops are fine. Almost no one in my classes has a laptop during lectures. And those that do typically use them to surf the internet, not to take notes. (I'm a science major, so my perspective may be different. I've heard that science majors use laptops less because it's much harder to take math notes).</p>
<p>laptops are kinda pointless for lectures if you actualy want to learn. veryone I see with a laptop always is surfing the internet and whatnot. </p>
<p>I'd definitely reccomend taking a laptop over a desktop though, for instance if your son like to study in the library or a dorm study louge instead of his room its really convenient to take a laptop.</p>
<p>It depends on the kind of class, if you're going to take a laptop to it or not. It doesn't make sense to take it to a math class or most of the time a science class either. Other classes, like history and such, where there's alot of notes, it may be easier to have the laptop because you can type faster than write. I usually prefer to handwrite the notes though, it helps me learn them better. But like the brown bomber said, it's really convenient to take the laptop to the library to study because alot of times, library computers are full. And you don't have to sit at a desk to use it, I love sitting in my bed and using my laptop instead of having to sit in a chair at a desk.</p>
<p>Most people I see carrying a laptop to class are talking on AIM, surfing the internet, or playing solitary. Nothing actually dealing with class.</p>
<p>I used my desktop until just this year when I got a laptop and I love it - definitely worth it. But I only use my laptop for class - my desktop is still my main computer because I need the storage space and processing power. </p>
<p>I'm also a philosophy major, so my classes involve a lot of writen notes (I can type faster than I can write) and no equations or anything that would be difficult on a computer. </p>
<p>As for theft, it is a huge problem on college campuses. I work for the University Police Department where I go to school and there are ridiculous numbers of stolen laptops and backpack reports every week. Usually its because people are stupid and leave their stuff unsecured on a desk in the library while they go to the bathroom or something. As long as he uses common sense, it should be fine.</p>
<p>I got a laptop my second year of college and took it to some classes. Whether or not I took it depended on the class. Some profs posted outlines online that were helpful to have when taking notes, sometimes it seemed awkward to bring it because it was a discussion class, sometimes it wasn't helpful. It just depended. </p>
<p>As far as security, I never used an alarm or lock, although I wasn't living in a dorm when I had it so didn't really have that concern. If I took it to class or somewhere to study and had to get up to go get something, I would pack it up and take it with me. It was a bit of a pain, but losing it would have been an even bigger pain. </p>
<p>Also, check and see whether his belongings in his dorm room would be covered under your homeowner's insurance policy or if it would make sense to take out renters insurance or something to cover it. Even if he's super careful, bad things can happen, like a fire or flood and the university may or may not be responsible for the damage.</p>
<p>I've had people tell me that a laptop is actually an impediment to learning in class and that it's more of a temptation/distraction than anything. Imagine in a seminar course or discussion section- you can't even really look the prof/TA in the eye. I personally find laptops distracting in class. Maybe he'll need it to go to the library or to someone else's to work, but right now I am also choosing a laptop and based on the advice given, I won't get something HUGE but I also won't sacrifice the comfort of a bigger screen for portability. Try looking for something thin, which should be a bit lighter.</p>
<p>In most cases, I would definitely recommend the laptop for class. While there are certain cases in which it is not useful (i.e., math, science, music, and skill/practicum-based courses), in many more writing/note-taking-intensive courses a laptop is a must-have.
Additionally, as has been said, they are quite nice for doing homework outside your room -- and it's been said that very few people do their work in their rooms if they hope to get it done (although I don't necessarily think this is all that true...).
As far as security goes, I would definitely recommend using a lock for 2 reasons: 1) it helps prevent theft, and 2) if it still gets stolen, many insurance policies are kinder to you if you can prove it was locked up when it got stolen (i.e., by showing them the lock's cut cable).
In addition, I would suggest getting a good laptop case that is highly protective. I've found that most of the damage that occurs to laptops is due to getting knocked around as they are transported from place to place. When I got my new Macbook Pro, I decided to find the best inexpensive case I could get to keep my expensive production AND student/class machine in excellent shape. I ended up settling on the $50 Brain Cell by Tom Bihn (<a href="http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0300)%5B/url%5D">http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0300)</a>. It is a hard-side case that snuggly fits the laptop and actually has a suspension system that effectively cushions the computer in the case of a fall. It can be carried alone or fit into a larger bag... to me, it was definitely worth the money.</p>
<p>If you are concerned about theft inquire about personal insurance. I paid like $50 for $2000 coverage after my crappy $50 bike got stolen beginning of last year. Ironically my second bike which cost alot more hasnt been stolen yet lol. Anyway as for notebooks I found it really depending on the person's study habits. I generaly do my work in the dorm on my desktop. I rarely took my notebook to class. Some people I know take it 24/7. I traded my notebook for a convertible tablet and it was much more useful. Might consider a cheap tablet for your son. Go to like a B&M store to try one out first however. You either love it or hate it lol.</p>
<p>If your son is going to be lugging it around campus - smaller is better. I used to have a 15.4" widescreen, but it's overall dimensions were closer to a 17" widescreen. That laptop was huge & heavy, every time I lugged it around I hated it a little bit more. My laptop backpack was barely big enough to contain it.
Laptops are nice for working on group projects & presentation.. not so much for taking notes (at least not in my science courses with all the equations)</p>
<p>I now own a 12.1" tablet... love it. It's so much lighter & smaller than my old 15.4" thing. The handwriting recognition is awesome. Now I can actually write out all those equations without it being a pain. I keep it locked to my desk whenever I'm not carrying it around. I paid so much of my own money for it that I'll be very angry if it gets stolen.</p>
<p>The majority of people who were in my classes didn't use a laptop. A lot of the time, it was easier to just write, such as writing equations in math class. However, I did find a laptop to be a great benefit in classes such as history being that it was all notes. If your son can type fast, I think it can be of help. But, if your son is slow at typing, or a math major or what not, I wouldn't get him a laptop.</p>
<p>"And also, I'm worried about theft. Even if it never leaves the door room, shouldn't I insist he use a laptop lock and maybe even lojack for laptops? I if am going to pay $800 for a laptop, I want him to own it for all 4 years. I don't think I'm being unreasonable??"</p>
<p>You can't force him to do anything...laptop locks are very inconvenient and I've never used them. Lojack seems like overkill; if it's stolen, it's stolen.</p>
<p>Plus, keeping a laptop for 4 years is stretching the usefulness of it. I say replace it after at least 2 years.</p>