Would a laptop be useful for Maths at uni?

I am going to be studying Maths at Uni (starting in September/October) but I am not sure whether I should invest in a laptop. I've got an iPad but I don't know if a laptop is needed or is useful for Maths. There are obviously other uses to it as well but I just want to know if it would be useful for the course I am going to studying.

Thanks!

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Reply 1

john2054

Original post by onur_m

Yes get a laptop, with microsoft office and a dvd drive (not a glorified notebook, they are masquerading as laptops)!!

Reply 2

onur_m

Original post by john2054

Yes get a laptop, with microsoft office and a dvd drive (not a glorified notebook, they are masquerading as laptops)!!

Thanks, I won't get a notebook haha. What about a MacBook?

Reply 3

john2054

Original post by onur_m

Thanks, I won't get a notebook haha. What about a MacBook?

I've never had a mac, because they cost something like ten times the price of a normal pc. I like acers myself. Spend about £350 and get a good one from pc world?

Reply 4

onur_m

Original post by john2054

I've never had a mac, because they cost something like ten times the price of a normal pc. I like acers myself. Spend about £350 and get a good one from pc world?

Yh I would have to look at it but I have been interested in a MacBook. What are the specific uses of it for maths?

Reply 5

john2054

Original post by onur_m

Yh I would have to look at it but I have been interested in a MacBook. What are the specific uses of it for maths?

as i said i have absolutely no idea, because i have never had one.

Reply 6

Euclidean

Original post by onur_m

Yh I would have to look at it but I have been interested in a MacBook. What are the specific uses of it for maths?

May want to check your course specifics

Some courses have a MATLAB/LaTeX module which involves programming on a computer to output results and solve problems

Edit: If this is in reference to a MacBook (current user), other than the machine coming with a free graph sketching software called grapher I can't find a discernible advantage. There is less compatibility compared with windows.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 7

999tigger

look at what software you are using, laptops are for productivity. Talk to people on your course to see what packages they use.

Reply 8

onur_m

Original post by john2054

as i said i have absolutely no idea, because i have never had one.

I meant the use of a laptop for maths?

Reply 9

john2054

Original post by onur_m

I meant the use of a laptop for maths?

yes get one, as i already said.

Reply 10

username1560589

A laptop or desktop would be very useful. Not strictly necessary but it's much easier to have one available than having to go into uni to use a computer.

Reply 11

Kevin De Bruyne

Original post by onur_m

A laptop or tablet or something for uni itself is a must. (Everyone I know has at least a laptop :tongue:

, but I'm sure you can get by with just library computers if needs be).

For lectures.. a tablet might be useful but a laptop, not really unless you don't have a tablet but want to access notes/powerpoints online.

For most of my modules I have printed notes and scribble/annotate like that. Ones that involve powerpoints, I don't use anything - just make notes on paper and look over the powerpoints at home/in the library.

Reply 12

onur_m

Original post by Euclidean

So you do think it's good to just get a laptop for normal use at uni?

Reply 13

onur_m

Original post by SeanFM

A laptop or tablet or something for uni itself is a must. (Everyone I know has at least a laptop :tongue:

I have a desktop but I'm thinking to leave it for my brother and get a laptop

Reply 14

Kevin De Bruyne

Original post by onur_m

I have a desktop but I'm thinking to leave it for my brother and get a laptop

Yegads.. desktop and uni... not sure about that.

I'd suggest getting a laptop :h:

Reply 15

?Hannah

Original post by onur_m

my brother does maths @ Warwick and uses a laptop to sometimes write the notes down on. he does that to change the order of the notes if needed, to make them clearer

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Reply 16

bigboateng_

You will have no problems having a MacBook for your maths degree, there's no software you'll require that won't be available on mac. Matlab, Maple, etc.

Posted from my phone, excuse my typo's

Reply 17

jess151

I'm a couple of months from finishing my maths degree and I'd say you'd need a decent laptop for any degree! I have a mac although I don't think it's brought me any extra benefits but I've had no problems with it either. Microsoft office is a must! And any other maths software I just tend to use on uni computers because it works better and you can use it easier on their larger screens but I see no reason why you couldn't use them on your own laptop/mac.

Also good luck and have fun! My maths degree has been the best three years of my life even if I am spending every day of third year in the library haha

Reply 18

onur_m

Original post by jess151

Haha thanks! When picking your own modules in 2nd and 3rd year does it make a big difference if you pick a mix of modules such as a few from finance then some computing modules and then core modules as well?

Reply 19

jess151

I didn't get any choice for modules in second year and the options in third year weren't great either. We don't do finance or really computing but we do have business ones. I think it just depends on what you want to do and personal preference, you'll know more about what you enjoy and what sounds appealing closer to the time.