Will I need a Laptop in Community College? [Computer Science]

<p>Hey guys, I have been thinking for a while. And I think I am going to goto Bergen Community college and transfer to either Rutgers or NJIT for computer science. But I have one question, if I major in Computer Science in a community college, Do I need a laptop? Or will a desktop do fine? What are the advantages of have a laptop in CC? </p>

<p>Thank you...</p>

<p>Very helpful but I don’t think necessary.</p>

<p>How much more helpful will it be? Like what will I be able to do?</p>

<p>Well for one mobility. You can do assignments wherever. Helps you try things out in class. On and on and on I can’t make a list of the advantages but you’ll see how difficult it is to do without. If your buying buy a laptop with less features than the desktop for the same price. If you already have the desktop try working without the laptop then make your decision.</p>

<p>Your programming courses will have desktops with pre-loaded software you will use to program. We used Crimson Editor and Cygwin. I don’t think it’s urgent to buy a laptop, because you can survive without one, but it will really help out. You can program on your laptop, it’s just easier. You can take it to school while working on code, etc. I recommend buying one, but don’t go out and buy a $1,500 laptop. Just buy something that gets you by, and make sure you buy from a reputable store - for example Best Buy, not Walmart.</p>

<p>By the way, my daughter has gotten along very well with a netbook. No disk drive to break and add weight, much more portable, and cheaper too. She was able to install a c++ compiler for home use on it, but found that she would have to transfer her work to the school computer system, get the assignment to run on that and submit the assignment via their system. But having the ability to do much of the work at home was nice. She would do the file transfer via email attachment or USB ‘drive’.</p>

<p>It is not necessary at all to own a laptop. It may at times be convenient, but it will not be necessary.</p>