Cambridge Computer Science (CompSci) Students and Applicants

Hm, I only found the 2008/09 material on the website (saying an update would occur over summer) - could you send me the link to the provisional stuff for next year?

I took a look at the new Paper 1 they offered my college kids this year and they're changed the format quite a bit now. They didn't used to split Discrete Maths into 1 and 2 - we had ours delivered in one horrendous block .

I got 6/20 for that question :P.

Ha, yes, we were told many, many horror stories about Discrete Maths. I think they must think they have finally got it into a format that people can just about cope with!

This year's discrete maths I questions were pretty awful, though.

It runs smoothly with Windows and Ubuntu (the latter being used for all terms except the Part IA Michaelmas in the CompSci course).

Hmm why not that term?

plan on using linux for the majority of my course.

laptop-users are made fun of

Reckon a netbook would be suitable?

That's fine. I do; I used Windows last year only for said practicals.

Probably. If you're taking notes using pen and paper, and using your desktop as your main computer, what are you going to use the netbook for? (I presume for doing stuff on-the-go, but I found I didn't need my own computer for that at all last year due to there being computer rooms all over the place anyway.)

Hmm. Are there any textbooks that we definitely should buy?

So I'm taking Computer science w/ physics + maths in October 2009. I am notoriously unorganized and had to revise A levels from just textbooks as I had lost all my notes. I know continuing in this manner won't work well in Cambridge as I'll actually need to use my notes for later on. I've decided that I'll be taking all my notes electronically using a laptop.

I need to know whether it is worth getting a tablet PC (i.e. a swivel screen + touchpad) or will I be perfectly fine with a portable clamshell + USB mouse. I had given up using a clamshell in school as I found diagrams and such to be quite a chore and by the time I had finished drawing them I was behind on notes. I.e. are there lots of diagrams to draw when in lectures, or is it mostly text?

Are there any tablets/laptops you recommend?
I was thinking about buying the Lenovo x200, with a small USB laser mouse, it seems like a pretty decent computer.

Thanks for your help.
EDIT: price isn't an issue atm.

Hmm. Are there any textbooks that we definitely should buy?

Personally I use paper in lectures and then feed things into a flashcard program called Ankie. This means that from a few days after lectures I never use my notes. Notes are just a go between. I find trying to organise your notes and work out how to revise from them isn't worth the effort.

This is just something that works for me, the important thing is you work out a system that works for you. Most lectures have fairly good handouts.

Ok, due to the overwhelming majority (everyone) saying I don't need a laptop, I've decided against buying one :P
I guess I'll just make notes on paper and either scan them into my desktop, or manually write them up (the latter probably being more beneficial).
Cheers again lads.

Personally I use paper in lectures and then feed things into a flashcard program called Ankie. This means that from a few days after lectures I never use my notes. Notes are just a go between. I find trying to organise your notes and work out how to revise from them isn't worth the effort.

This is just something that works for me, the important thing is you work out a system that works for you. Most lectures have fairly good handouts.

To be fair though, I pretty much abandoned my note-writing this year and revised by haphazardly answering past paper questions - it's a wonder I survived the exams :P.