Computer for Uni. Maths

So I'm definitely off to uni to do Maths this Autumn (WOOH!) and I've started to think about what I might need to bring with me.

I was wondering what kind of computer do most Maths undergraduates have? A laptop or a desktop? Do you really need a laptop for lectures? Would you recommend having something like an ipad or netbook alongside a desktop? Or do you only really need a desktop computer in your room?

(I currently have an apple desktop that I'm planning to take with me)

Thanks =)

Oh and any other useful things that Maths freshies should bring to uni would be great.

Reply 1

ttoby

I have a laptop, but in lectures it's best to use pen/paper because that's far quicker for writing up equations compared to the various methods available on a computer.

A laptop (or other portable device) would be useful if you need to use a computer when away from your room. Although computers would be provided in the library, they may all be in use during busy periods so it's useful to bring a laptop in that case if you want to study there. But it's down to personal preference as to where you would prefer to study.

With regards to software, most materials online would be in pdf format so you should be fine there. You may at some point need to type up an essay - in that case you would need to install Latex. It's free but a bit of a pain to install and you would probably end up dealing with that when you need it. If any other specialist software is required then this would probably be available on university computers.

I can't think of much more you would need for maths, apart from a pen and paper and perhaps a calculator (much of the course wouldn't require it but it's useful).

Get a Dell Inspiron

Well since you've chosen to pay £27k for your education rather than get it for free, get an ipad and a macbook since you clearly have money to burn.

Reply 4

laughylolly

Original post by ttoby

Yeah, I thought the old pen and paper might be easier and quicker to use. I thought of maybe getting a netbook instead of a laptop just because they're cheaper and I don't think I'll need a laptop AND a desktop. My desktop is working fine so there's no point in getting another computer really.

Thanks for your reply =)

Reply 5

ttoby

Original post by laughylolly

You'd be using them mostly for stuff other than studying, so it comes down to personal preference really. Myself, I have just a laptop so I do pretty much everything on it.

Reply 6

Zenzic

A fairly basic laptop will suffice. The laptop will primarily be used for films and porn.

A tablet will be useful as most lecture notes will be given as a pdf, so make sure you can annotate them.

Reply 7

Jake22

Original post by laughylolly

Do you really need a laptop for lectures?

I would guess that 0.0005% of people who bring laptops to lectures actually use them in a manner which serves the purpose of the lecture.

The remaining 99.9995% use them for facebook.

Reply 8

117r

Original post by Jake22

I would guess that 0.0005% of people who bring laptops to lectures actually use them in a manner which serves the purpose of the lecture.

The remaining 99.9995% use them for facebook.

That would mean that in the whole of the roughly 600,000 people in the country in higher education, 3 of them use laptops productively in lectures...

Sounds about right tbh

Reply 9

Jake22

Original post by 117r

That would mean that in the whole of the roughly 600,000 people in the country in higher education, 3 of them use laptops productively in lectures...

Sounds about right tbh

I plucked the figure from thin air but it sounds as if I was on the money.