[CXDK]

So I was wondering is it worth buying a laptop to have in my student accommodation? I wont be going till September 2013 but I'm curious, is it possible just to take a desktop pc with me?

I have a gaming computer with 23" 1920x1080 screen and this is the set up I'm used to and used to the speed, so is it really worth forking out £500 for a laptop not nearly as powerful?

[sliceofcake]

No one says you HAVE to have a laptop. A computer (laptop or desktop) is incredibly useful at university but it's not really necessary considering how a lot of them have libraries open at all hours. So I guess no, don't waste money, keep your desktop.

[johndoranglasgow]

Its entirely up to you but a laptop would certainly give you a great deal of convenience and flexibility that your desktop wont.

Mind me asking what course your going to study?

[CXDK]

(Original post by johndoranglasgow)
Its entirely up to you but a laptop would certainly give you a great deal of convenience and flexibility that your desktop wont.

Mind me asking what course your going to study?

Computer Games Technology - http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/computer-games-technology . The HD screen is more for the Photoshop/vector art I do though

[johndoranglasgow]

(Original post by CXDK)
Computer Games Technology - http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/computer-games-technology . The HD screen is more for the Photoshop/vector art I do though

Probably best to take the desktop anyway, depending on your finances and what the set-up is like when you get there, a laptop might still be a decent idea.

[ttoby]

Laptops are useful although if you already have your powerful computer then you might want to get one that's a bit cheaper than £500.

[CXDK]

Well I think I will stick with my desktop. If I need any quick internet access there is always my phone . Thanks guys and girl.

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by CXDK)
So I was wondering is it worth buying a laptop to have in my student accommodation? I wont be going till September 2013 but I'm curious, is it possible just to take a desktop pc with me?

I have a gaming computer with 23" 1920x1080 screen and this is the set up I'm used to and used to the speed, so is it really worth forking out £500 for a laptop not nearly as powerful?

You can take a desktop with you, but it's considerable effort to take it there and back, especially when your home, you got to take it back if you need it for the weekend at home.

Laptop's can be considerable help in lectures, though very distracting, sometimes some of us just play golf (the game lool) or fifa

[blueflower114]

(Original post by CXDK)
So I was wondering is it worth buying a laptop to have in my student accommodation? I wont be going till September 2013 but I'm curious, is it possible just to take a desktop pc with me?

I have a gaming computer with 23" 1920x1080 screen and this is the set up I'm used to and used to the speed, so is it really worth forking out £500 for a laptop not nearly as powerful?

Obviously you can take your desktop with you, but it is easier to have a laptop simply because it's more practical and takes up less space too! Most of the time laptops are cheaper and more efficient to buy over desktops. Just have to do some shopping online and compare them!

[cambo211]

Everyone i've ever seen actually using a laptop in lectures looks like a berk.

About 5 people out of 100+ use a laptop and everyone else is on pen and paper, you certainly don't need it in the lecture itself.

[James82]

(Original post by blueflower114)
Obviously you can take your desktop with you, but it is easier to have a laptop simply because it's more practical and takes up less space too! Most of the time laptops are cheaper and more efficient to buy over desktops. Just have to do some shopping online and compare them!

Laptops cheaper than desktops? certainly not in the real world.

[CXDK]

(Original post by blueflower114)
Obviously you can take your desktop with you, but it is easier to have a laptop simply because it's more practical and takes up less space too! Most of the time laptops are cheaper and more efficient to buy over desktops. Just have to do some shopping online and compare them!

Sorry but I know this is wrong:

Laptops may be cheaper but that is because they are far under spec'd. If you want power for money then a desktop is the way to go. Also I built my own computer, so I'm not paying for the computer brand as a whole. Laptops are subject to so much more branding than a custom PC. Laptops also have common tricks of the trade e.g: "It has a 1TB hard drive" Which turns out the be a green hard drive with the worst performance and slowest boot times. You mentioned that laptops are more efficient. Again you are basing this on power consumption. yes they take less power but that is because of there a lot less powerful than a desktop. If you looked at Power/W ratio a desktop is better. Some of the new desktop PSU's are very efficient some over 90%.

Don't forget cooling. At idle a desktop runs cooler as more space, fans and larger CPU / graphics card surface area. A cooling computer means the components will last longer, smoother and more stable.

I think I just made up my mind to keep my desktop. Besides I just bought this case: http://www.zalman.com/eng/product/Pr...ad.asp?idx=476 and I laptop wont come as close to looking as good .

-Jack

[blueflower114]

(Original post by James82)
Laptops cheaper than desktops? certainly not in the real world.

Well I don't know where you're looking, I always get good deals. Currently got a Vostro 1220 with over 600 GB of storage. There is always second hand and places like Dell Outlet to buy from. Steer clear of places like PC world instore as you could buy stuff you don't need from the sales person- although they are very helpful!

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by blueflower114)
Well I don't know where you're looking, I always get good deals. Currently got a Vostro 1220 with over 600 GB of storage. There is always second hand and places like Dell Outlet to buy from. Steer clear of places like PC world instore as you could buy stuff you don't need from the sales person- although they are very helpful!

Desktops have always been more powerful than laptops and far cheaper...........laptops have the added cost of trying to make thing portable at the cost of performance.

[blueflower114]

(Original post by Iqbal007)
Desktops have always been more powerful than laptops and far cheaper...........laptops have the added cost of trying to make thing portable at the cost of performance.

Agreed with your point, but there are still some pretty powerful laptops on the market. I was just saying for practicality reasons in my opinion taking a laptop to university is probably better than taking a desktop.

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by blueflower114)
Agreed with your point, but there are still some pretty powerful laptops on the market. I was just saying for practicality reasons in my opinion taking a laptop to university is probably better than taking a desktop.

I would say it depends on individuals circumstances, but ideally a tablet with a keyboard does as well, which the new Nexus 7 will come in handy at their price

[blueflower114]

(Original post by Iqbal007)
I would say it depends on individuals circumstances, but ideally a tablet with a keyboard does as well, which the new Nexus 7 will come in handy at their price

Agreed, it does look good but I wouldn't use it for university purposes too awkward! But as just a general browsing tool it does look cool, e.g. internet, listening to music and so on. I do think that the price is a bit steep though for what it offers- although much better than the Apple tablets (Ipad etc) that seem to come out every 5 minutes for a ridiculous price.

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by blueflower114)
Agreed, it does look good but I wouldn't use it for university purposes too awkward! But as just a general browsing tool it does look cool, e.g. internet, listening to music and so on. I do think that the price is a bit steep though for what it offers- although much better than the Apple tablets (Ipad etc) that seem to come out every 5 minutes for a ridiculous price.

£159 for a quad core, 1gb ram and 8gb of storage is pretty good value, if it included a expandable slot for memory, then it would be ideal. But in all honesty, lectures are for basic lecture note taking and looking at the presentation.

[blueflower114]

(Original post by Iqbal007)
£159 for a quad core, 1gb ram and 8gb of storage is pretty good value, if it included a expandable slot for memory, then it would be ideal. But in all honesty, lectures are for basic lecture note taking and looking at the presentation.

To be honest the simple fact that it doesn't have a microSD card slot I wouldn't buy it as I use it quite a lot e.g. taking photos from my camera and using my microSD slot in my laptop and side of my TV too! Also I wouldn't want to use Google Chrome either as the internet browser simply because I don't like using it- I doubt that Google have given an option where you can remove it from the tablet considering its uses their operating system.

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by blueflower114)
To be honest the simple fact that it doesn't have a microSD card slot I wouldn't buy it as I use it quite a lot e.g. taking photos from my camera and using my microSD slot in my laptop and side of my TV too! Also I wouldn't want to use Google Chrome either as the internet browser simply because I don't like using it- I doubt that Google have given an option where you can remove it from the tablet considering its uses their operating system.

No tablet company will actually put it on, for the fact that the bigger storage tablets will lose out on a slot.
You should be able to, otherwise it would be illegal as it's preventing customer choice.