Poll: College Computer

[Acier]

So, most student get new computers when they go to college, and for those who have heard me complain my computer know I am in desperate need of one. My main dilemma is not only what modelor setup to get, but what kind of computer I should get.

Laptops are a favorite since they are more portable than desktops (not a huge feat really), but in my experience they are still a pain to take places, and functionality is often sacrificed for the portability.


My second option is a desktop combined with a netbook. Netbooks are cheap and are actually easy to take places, and all I would really need on it is Office Student (I love OneNote) and a web browser. I would plan on using my desktop while in my dorm room and use it for data storage and gaming (I have a 360, but I don't want to bring it to college, its loud, uses TV and games take up space. I would probably use steam for my games to save space and free up tv for roommate) Desktops are also harder to steal, and if my netbook is stolen/lost, I would still be able to do computer based work and wouldn't be out a large chunk of money. I would plan on building it myself (my tech savvy friends insist its the way to go)
Also for gaming spec purposes, I plan mostly on Starcraft 2, L4D 2 and TF2 being the main games. Maybe a few older games as well, nothing super high end like Crysis.
however, this option could get pretty costly. And a desktop will eat up my dorm space, which is pretty limited

I'm pretty sure my sister will get me a netbook for my graduation gift unless I say otherwise. I would still like to know models to suggest to her.

So escapist, give your take on which option I should take, as well as posting builds of desktops from newegg, netbook and laptop models that you would find appropriate, or links to sites that provide reviews and comparisons that you find useful.

 

[BonsaiK]

Portable cheap dinky netbook for study, taking notes etc. Desktop for gaming.

Don't ask me about builds, someone else will give you that info. Only matteres for the desktop though. Netbook just has to be practical nothing more.

 

[7moreDead_v1legacy]

Option 2 - That way you have more things...Well I dislike laptops cause they break too easily but I still think my first reason is valid ^^

 

[JEBWrench]

Desktop and a netbook. Any of the Asus ones for the netbook will do you just fine.

The netbook will be a lot less cumbersome to lug around with you, and it will serve your college needs will. Plus, it will be less likely to be stolen in general, since they aren't worth nearly as much. I mean, really, who fences a netbook?

 

[DoctorWhat]

I really can't see how there's an issue... The desktop/netbook setup seems better in every respect. And that's not even MY opinion... That's what YOU have written down!

 

[Plurralbles]

Do you think you'll pay more htan the 300 fr the netbook than waht you would on beefifying a laptop?

That's how I'd decide.

 

[Acier]

I really can't see how there's an issue... The desktop/netbook setup seems better in every respect. And that's not even MY opinion... That's what YOU have written down!

Well I didn't expand on the laptop option because thats the most common thing people do, and I've heard that desktops are awful for dorm space, which is pretty important.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

Personally, I'd rather have a laptop than a desktop/netbook combo; less stuff to have stolen/break/send in for repairs in worst case scenarios. The laptop I'm using, while a monster, is actually decent. It's not ideally suited for games, but has a maximum seven hour battery life. You might want to look for newer models in this line, though, but here's the laptop I have [http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite/a500/a505-s6960].

If you want a desktop, by all means, go gaming. My friend recently purchased a pre-fab for a cool $1.1k. I can't find that listing anymore, but this one is similar [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883113122], both in brand and specs (I think). It has an obscene amount of RAM, so you should be able to basically anything quickly.

I can't help you on netbooks. Maybe try an Eee?

 

[crimson5pheonix]

Netbook and desktop.

 

[Destal]

http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-g73jha1-order-p-2731.html

That is what you want. That has the best mobile graphics card available right now and it's only $1600.

 

[Good morning blues]

I went for the "beefy laptop" option and I really recommend doing the desktop/netbook one instead. Your laptop will need to be beefy in size and weight in order to be beefy in specs as well; why not just use the computer that's really made for portability?

 

[crimson5pheonix]

http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-g73jha1-order-p-2731.html

That is what you want. That has the best mobile graphics card available right now and it's only $1600.

"Only" $1600? Apart from that, the OP is looking for something more portable, I don't think the 17" Goliath is a good idea for this. Besides, the RAM is really slow on that laptop.

 

[theComposer]

I can say from personal experience that a desktop/netbook combo is the way to go. I paid $1300 USD total for both machines, can max Crysis on my desktop, and can run Windows 7 Prof just fine on my netbook (an Acer Aspire One if you're wondering). And for just $20, I doubled my netbook's RAM from 1 GB to 2 GB, so it performs great for what I use it for, and still gets 5-6 hours of battery life. Try playing Crysis on max AND get 6 hours of usage out of a $1500 laptop!

Also, to make it easier to transfer data between the two computers, get Dropbox. It synchronizes files between your computers and its internet servers. So I can type up notes in class on my netbook (in OneNote, I love it too), go back to my dorm, turn on my desktop, and read those notes without having to bother with a USB drive or emailing myself.

 

[Destal]

1033 isn't what I would call slow, especially for a laptop. The fastest RAM you can get for a laptop is 1666, but I've never seen a computer come with that, only the 1333. If you want a good gaming computer anything smaller than a 17 is likely to have heat issues. There is only so much space for ventilation in a laptop.

On a side not, try finding a computer that is comparable for under $2,000.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

1033 isn't what I would call slow, especially for a laptop. The fastest RAM you can get for a laptop is 1666, but I've never seen a computer come with that, only the 1333. If you want a good gaming computer anything smaller than a 17 is likely to have heat issues. There is only so much space for ventilation in a laptop.

On a side not, try finding a computer that is comparable for under $2,000.

I call DDR3 1066 slow because it is. If you can reach that speed with DDR2, it has no business being used in DDR3 except as a stepping stone to better RAM. Kinda true yes, but keep in mind that the OP is looking for more portability than gaming since this is a college computer.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/print_summary_details_popup.aspx?~lt=print&c=us&cs=19&fb=1&l=en&oc=DKCWFW1&s=dhs&leadtime=3/25/2010&showleadtime=True

That should take you to the page, but it may be a cookie on my computer.

Yes, it's just a cookie on my computer. The computer I designed on there wouldn't have been as powerful, but it would have a vastly superior battery life. And portability. And would still be able to game more than effectively.

Also, you know that the processor on yours has a slow clock speed?

 

[VGCATZ]

It depends on the space available to you where you're living in college. I wouldn't have room for a desktop where I am so I went with option 1 but if you have the room for it, go option 2