Good laptop/notebook to buy for studying maths at uni?

Going to be studying at Durham if it makes any difference

Preferably less than £400

I imagine i'll mostly be using it for typing up notes, but I believe I also have to use programmes such as Matlab

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 1

AngryJellyfish

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Original post by BurdMan

Going to be studying at Durham if it makes any difference

Are there any programs or features you would need that are specific to this course? If not, I could move this thread over to our Laptops, netbooks and tablets forum for some general advice. :smile:

Also, what is your budget?

Reply 2

username612415

Original post by BurdMan

Going to be studying at Durham if it makes any difference

Budget? What will you be using it for?

Reply 3

BurdMan

Original post by AngryJellyfish

Are there any programs or features you would need that are specific to this course? If not, I could move this thread over to our Laptops, netbooks and tablets forum for some general advice. :smile:

Also, what is your budget?

I believe I'd need to use programs such as MatLab

Reply 4

BigYoSpeck

Original post by AngryJellyfish

Are there any programs or features you would need that are specific to this course? If not, I could move this thread over to our Laptops, netbooks and tablets forum for some general advice. :smile:

Also, what is your budget?

A computer is a computer, the only maths requirements I can imagine are dealing with hand written equations for which I find my touchscreen 2-in-1 device with a stylus pen very useful for.

Some idea of budget and what software you use along with a list of wants from the device are needed.

Reply 5

BurdMan

Original post by AngryJellyfish

Are there any programs or features you would need that are specific to this course? If not, I could move this thread over to our Laptops, netbooks and tablets forum for some general advice. :smile:

Also, what is your budget?

<£400 if possible

Reply 6

BigYoSpeck

Original post by BurdMan

<£400 if possible

And what software do you use?

Big screen or smaller screen?

Battery life?

Any specific requirements that are worth mentioning?

Reply 7

BurdMan

Original post by BigYoSpeck

And what software do you use?

Big screen or smaller screen?

Battery life?

Any specific requirements that are worth mentioning?

I've heard 4GB of RAM is the minimum, not too fussed about the screen size as long as its above 14".

Not sure how long the battery life should be? I'm not entirely clear on what I'm looking for tbh

Windows would be great

And yeah I really should have put all this stuff in my OP lol

Reply 8

username2769500

I have one here, all in one mac 24 inch should do the job. It's on eBay you can buy it through that. I have had MATLAB on it. It's only £150 + postage.

Reply 9

RoyalSheepy

Original post by BurdMan

This may be the laptop for you, from what you've said: http://bit.ly/2usj1OP :smile:

Reply 10

BigYoSpeck

Original post by BurdMan

I've heard 4GB of RAM is the minimum, not too fussed about the screen size as long as its above 14".

I tend to say if you don't know why you need more than 4gb you probably don't need more than 4gb. Above 14" or including and above 14"?

Not sure how long the battery life should be? I'm not entirely clear on what I'm looking for tbh

You can get cheaper devices that will do 3-4 hours of battery life, and you can find devices that are either slightly more expensive or that cut back on the component specification slightly to give you longer battery life. My device, for instance, does about 8-9 hours of use on a single charge which is really handy if I'm in class all day as it will last me right the way through. If you aren't the type to have their laptop on for the entire day in every lecture then you might feel comfortable with a 3-4 hours device.

Windows would be great

Cheap option: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361811681981?clk_rvr_id=1275544255369&rmvSB=true

Mid priced option: https://www.tesco.com/direct/medion-akoya-s3409-133-laptop-intel-core-i3-7100u-4gb-256gb-ssd-windows-10/484-3222.prd?

Slightly above budget option: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332162715066

Reply 11

MR1999

I haven't got any advice about buying a laptop but I would recommended that you download Microsoft Word's Maths add-on.

Reply 12

Blue_Cow

Original post by Desmos

I haven't got any advice about buying a laptop but I would recommended that you download Microsoft Word's Maths add-on.

or learn LaTeX.

Reply 13

MR1999

Original post by Blue_Cow

or learn LaTeX.

The use of the add-on lies in its ability to produce graphs and evaluate myriad mathematical functions.

Reply 14

BigYoSpeck

Original post by Desmos

I haven't got any advice about buying a laptop but I would recommended that you download Microsoft Word's Maths add-on.

Keep an eye out for Microsofts whiteboard app which is due out this Autumn. It will allow real time collaboration as well as equations and graphing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRA7HFk5a5w

Reply 15

adam.bloom

If its going from your room to campus regularly, you'll want something light, so I'd avoid going over 14inches and check the weight
Even at sub £400 you'll find plenty of laptops with 8gb, but if you can find one with an SSD, it will help keep your laptop fast for longer. I'd take an SSD hard drive over the extra ram unless you're doing anything with images video or gaming.