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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 5/1/2008
Posts: 41
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Hey, sorry if this topic has been discussed before but I haven't seen it in the first 3 pages so I will bring it up again. So my question is, should I get a desktop or a laptop? I was all prepped to get a laptop, with the whole bring it to class, take notes on it, work outside, basically the mobility issue was great for me. But then I realized that I hate working on my family's laptop, the keyboard sucks and the whole usb ports being on the side and back really brings out my neurotic angry side  Plus I like the desktop's big screen and speakers and etc. I'm just worried that I will need a laptop in uni. Do I? Also, wireless internet at mac, does it exist? Does it come with your res? All my friends are getting laptops and they like laptops better so my judgment may be off... Anyways, if you have answers, please post, thanks 
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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/7/2008
Posts: 552
Location: toronto
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You get used to laptops fast.
People who use em never or occasionally hate em, but if that's all you have, they grow on you. FOr example, gaming. People will be like, omg how do you play on that, but if I try to play on a desktop, its a disaster. Its all about familiarity.
I'm getting a laptop for sure, for mobility, but also because if I get a 15.3 inch xps, I have specs that are as good as or better than almost every desktop there is, it takes up little room on my desk, its quite light, I can take it everywhere, and its almost up to par with a desktop while its on your desk anyway with a nice 15.4 inch screen and a great graphics card.
If you're willing to throw the extra 600+ bucks out there, this is the best solution I can see.
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/13/2008
Posts: 199
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A laptop all the way for me to go to university. It is so portable. You will get use to it very quickly and you won't know why you hesitated.
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 130
Location: Canada
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desktop-cheaper and you probably won't get robbed...lol
Wordsworth
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 6/1/2008
Posts: 4
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in your case? i'll probably have the laptop... desktops are definitely ok but you cant bring it with you... so laptop!!!
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 164
Location: Toronto
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Unless you're gaming or doing 3D/video work most laptops will do everything you need to do and more. I know I would have a hard time switching back to a desktop. I like the fact that I can go anywhere and still be able to do what I want.
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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 5/20/2008
Posts: 558
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I love both my laptop and my desktop (when I say on the computer A LOT I really mean it...from the moment I get home to the time I hit sleeptime), and I find that my desktop is a workhorse but laptop is so convenient and versatile. I used to hate having to depend on my laptop if I travel, but it started to really grow on me... Now I use it about the same amount as I use my desktop.
As for your concern about speakers and etc, here are some things that I bought as a leave-at-home:
Platform+fan+USB hub
Mouse + Keyboard (though I take the mouse with me when I go out anyways)
What I do with speakers is leave everything set up at home as well, but plug it into the laptop when I settle in.
I'm actually getting a subnotebook for mobility, and so (mostly) leaving my laptop in my room. That might be another solution for you; get a cheaper (relative to laptop) desktop and get a subnotebook or a otherwise tiny+cheap laptop for on the go.
UWO 2012
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 4/12/2008
Posts: 8
Location: kincardine
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So lets say laptops.. what are people recommending for architectural programs? I am not sure what to buy lol]\
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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 545
Location: Toronto, ON
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duck101 wrote:So lets say laptops.. what are people recommending for architectural programs? I am not sure what to buy lol]\
Go ask on www.notebookreview.com forums .. they will give you a much better unbiased answer unlike most here
-University of Toronto Electrical Engineering 1T0!
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 6/5/2008
Posts: 11
Location: Toronto
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you can always get a cheap lcd and a keyboard and or mouse hooked up to ur laptop and just have it as a desktop back in ur room... and it's rediculously awesome to use both the laptop and desktop screens together, lots of real estate and great for writing essays to keep info on one screen and word processor in the other...
UWO 12 - BMSC
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Rank: Student Body Vice-President
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 994
Location: Ottawa
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You could set yourself up with a mouse/keyboard combo for $30 or so. A monitor would be something like $200+ While you definitely will want a mouse I find going back and forth between a laptop and a desktop keyboard kinda awkward. I got very used to the laptop keyboard and desktop keyboards felt weird, now it's the opposite since I'm using a desktop more often. Likewise I never noticed how tiny my laptop screen was until I started using a 20" monitor regularly ;)
 
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Rank: Student Body Vice-President
Groups: Member
Joined: 6/5/2008
Posts: 927
Location: Edmonton, AB
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What are you taking in school? I just finished my first year of engineering, and I found in my classes there were too many diagrams and equations to warrant typing up my notes. But a laptop was sure nice to have when you're bored or if you need to do homework on campus.
University of Alberta - Mechanical Engineering '11
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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 5/20/2008
Posts: 558
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karla wrote:What are you taking in school? I just finished my first year of engineering, and I found in my classes there were too many diagrams and equations to warrant typing up my notes. But a laptop was sure nice to have when you're bored or if you need to do homework on campus. Same thing has been advised to me by people in Business and Math.
UWO 2012
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 5/25/2008
Posts: 38
Location: Greater Vancouver, BC, Canada
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How about Tablet PC? Have you considered about that?
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 6/5/2008
Posts: 11
Location: Toronto
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has anyone switched from a windows system to a mac for uni? how is it?
UWO 12 - BMSC
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 255
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Spherical wrote:How about Tablet PC? Have you considered about that? more expensive and only really useful for architexture and design programs...it may be helpful but its not worht the extra $$$
UWO Biomed/Ivey '12
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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 607
Location: Mississauga, ON
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Uhm.. quick ques. Apple is having a sale right now for university students where you get a free 8gb ipod touch/8gb nano if you buy a macbook/macbook pro.. and a free printer too I guess. Is this worth getting? Will they update the macbooks right after the sale ends or something? (Sept 15th) I know apple upgrades their products periodically.. and they have an expo/macworld thing coming up in June I think. Chances of new macbook coming out? http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/canadastore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&node=campaigns/back_to_school&sf=wYTKD9KU7DD7KYK7A&mco=NzU5ODk0
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 5/9/2008
Posts: 41
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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Yup, rumours have it that Apple is indeed adding good incentives (compared to the previous incentives) in order to clear stock for the new models to come in. But, how much difference does it make on a Macbook anyway?
UWO BMSc 2012
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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/7/2008
Posts: 552
Location: toronto
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Shismo wrote:Unless you're gaming or doing 3D/video work most laptops will do everything you need to do and more. I know I would have a hard time switching back to a desktop. I like the fact that I can go anywhere and still be able to do what I want. Haha I shouldn't have trouble gaming on this... 4 gb ram 2X2.5 proc. 256 mb nividia card 15.4 inch high res. screen...
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 5/1/2008
Posts: 41
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Guys, is it a good idea to get a monitor and keyboard that the laptop can hook up to, thus I would have the best of both worlds
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