DSA Laptop choice help please

Hi there im looking for some advise, i have dyslexia and i am currently studying landscape architecture.

I have been but down to get a basic laptop which is a Intel® Core™ i3 15.6" 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB HDD, Integrated Graphics,

Now My course leader has said that this laptop is not powerful enough for the programs i will be using throughout the course like - autocad for 3D rendering and i will also be using design studio and rhino. photshop indesign etc

My assessor will not change the laptop even though my course leader has emailed her and also my disability adviser, she states that them programs are core programs and not related to my disability and i have uni computers to use for them.

I am a mature student with two children so using the uni computers is not an option as most of my study time is spent at home once school has finished, about 80% of my modules are using core programs so for labeling in autocad or indeign i will need the software that helps me spell on the same computer, it seems completely illogical to have to spell check on one then transfer to another computer to then input it into my work.

I spoke to student finance wales and they said they can not upgrade the laptop to a high spec unless it is changed though my assessor.

can anyone give me some advise on what i should do, i have looked at the complaints process and it seems this is the only way.

sorry for the long post.

The laptops are chosen based on your disability. As dyslexia is not a physical condition that stops you from accessing the university machines then I'm afraid you'll be stuck with the basics. The only way you can upgrade the chosen machine is by paying extra for an upgrade.

But wouldn't you be in the same situation if you weren't disabled? Those people may have had to pay to upgrade.

Hey mate.

If you want a powerful enough computer without having to pay mad cash for a laptop, buy a desktop.

If you're short on cash check out the reddit community "buildapc" and post there, they're very helpful and will find you a PC suitable for what you need on a budget!


edit: just wanted to add that your course leader is right, a laptop will just not suffice for what you'll be needing it for. 3D Rendering takes a lot of processing and graphics power so realistically the ONLY affordable option for 80% of people is a desktop with a mid-range CPU and graphics card. The forum I mentioned is http://reddit.com/r/buildapc there are a lot of FAQ's in the sidebar.

PM me if you have any questions, I can help you personally too

Hey mate.

If you want a powerful enough computer without having to pay mad cash for a laptop, buy a desktop.

If you're short on cash check out the reddit community "buildapc" and post there, they're very helpful and will find you a PC suitable for what you need on a budget!


edit: just wanted to add that your course leader is right, a laptop will just not suffice for what you'll be needing it for. 3D Rendering takes a lot of processing and graphics power so realistically the ONLY affordable option for 80% of people is a desktop with a mid-range CPU and graphics card. The forum I mentioned is http://reddit.com/r/buildapc there are a lot of FAQ's in the sidebar.

PM me if you have any questions, I can help you personally too

Thanks for the reply and good info, i use to build gaming computers a few years back and sell them on eBay. So yes your right a desktop would be better and cheaper, but when it comes to presentations i will be in a pickle, this is where a laptop would be suitable.

Anyway today i phoned Disabled Students Allowances Quality Assurance Group and they said i have a good case to get it changed and i should go though the complaints process.

Clearly not as in some forums on here they bost about getting a free mac even though they have 2 other computers.

There seems to be a lot of harsh people on here.
If all the computers are full come exam time how do they do their work? You are assessed for what you need for your disability as well your course needs.


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It seems to me that the reason you want a more powerful computer is your kids not your disability. I don't think that kids count as a disability for DSA.

Really? That isn't how this reads to me, and I note that the DSA assessor posting on the thread agrees.

If you need a computer to do 3d rendering at home because of your dyslexia (not because it's inconvenient) you should make that clearer.

Wake up!! don't be so incompetent.

(Original post by 0murtagh0) "My point is not the fact i have kids and cant use uni computers, its the fact that i will be using core software, most of my written work will be done in indesgin and autocad which will require me to label, tree, flowers, scrubs, etc having a laptop that does not power these core software seems pointless to have to spell check in a inadequate laptop and upload on another machine to input into the core software"

Wake up!! don't be so incompetent.

(Original post by 0murtagh0) "My point is not the fact i have kids and cant use uni computers, its the fact that i will be using core software, most of my written work will be done in indesgin and autocad which will require me to label, tree, flowers, scrubs, etc having a laptop that does not power these core software seems pointless to have to spell check in a inadequate laptop and upload on another machine to input into the core software"