A common question I hear is actually a two-parter. 1) Do I need my own laptop? and 2) Which laptop should I get?
Well, I think if you’re asking number 2, you know the answer to number 1….but let me dive into it.
So, do you need your own computer? For some majors, you can probably avoid getting your own computer, however, if you need to be loading/using any type of specialty software for a major like digital media or computer science, then having your own computer is a huge benefit.
While every school now a days has computer labs, they typically only have common software, so if you need something special, like Photoshop, Visual Studio, etc, you’ll need to have your own. Some schools will say (especially for CS students) that you can use the lab, and log into a server to work on assignments – however, I don’t teach this way, almost every professional environment will expect you to know how to use a modern IDE such as Visual Studio, Eclipse, etc, and therefore you should get some experience working with those, especially if you plan to enter the workforce after graduation.
Mac or Windows
Then comes the big debate, Mac or Windows/PC. While I’m personally a Windows guy (as I have been since it came out) its mostly because that’s what I started with . In reality, most software is available for both systems and both work well.
I recommend using what your professor(s) use, that way if you have questions about it, you can always go to them. If you bring me a Mac, I have limited ability to assist you…although I’m learning as more and more students are buying them.
Desktop or Laptop
This is very much a personal preference. Do you really need to carry it around to class? Maybe – in which case, laptop is helpful. I like a full size keyboard and larger monitor, but I can have those in my office to connect to.
The biggest advantage to the laptop is being portable, which in school is nice. The biggest advantage to a desktop is price, which to a college student, is nice.
How Powerful a Machine
If you look at the price vs. performance curve, you’ll notice that bottom 2/3 of machines you can go up in performance without a huge jump in price. Then, at some point, a little bit of performance increase means a huge jump in price… I personally buy right before that point. It seems to make the most sense financially, and anything you need for classwork, won’t need that huge performance. If you want to play the latest and greatest games – that’s a different story.
But don’t get a…
However, I cannot recommend a Chromebook (or related style) computer. While they are cheap, and easy, CS students especially will need to have the ability to load software on the machine of their choosing. Too many students run into issues with Chromebook software support.
Student Questions: Do I need my own laptop? was originally found on Access 2 Learn
