Bets set up for Uni

The pen thing you're talking about is the Z pen... very good concept but as i said the ink refills are expensive and a bitch to get hold of.

After recalling what my bro took to uni i think the existing pc won't be a problem after all. - i will have a look at the matx cases though, and thanks for your help on this, despite me being stupidly undesisive :P

Amp34- i think what you're saying is very true, especially about the libary. I'm hoping to do mechanical engineering, so i don't know whether there are any specialist programs which require a hefty pc, but that is the odd thing about netbooks- where can you take a netbook that you can't take a laptop.

- One thing im going to really look into is some sort of digitalisation of my notes. My organisation skills are terrible, and i really do need something to save all the notes i make, digitally. I'm going to have a look at some cheap tablets, and also touch screen laptops. - it sounds excessive, however it would save me a lot of space in lectures if i just have to wright on the screen, rather than having the laptop out with another periphial.


- What sort of spec a laptop would you suggest is powerful enough ?..
 
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http://www.onlinedigitaldeals.com/p...GB RAM 320GB HDD Multi Touch screen Display

this is the type of screen i'm looking at> (i know im not supposed to make links to other sites, but i couldnt find a non retail site...)

- As i was saying that swivel screen setup is ideal> it saves a lot of space, but has the sensitivity to be able to write on it. Unfortunately i guess i'd be paying a big premium on such a screen. I'd be fine spending say £100 ish premium, since that pretty much how much a tablet costs, but £200 premium is a bit excessive..
 
Amp34 said:
I suggest that for note taking a pen and pencil will be far better, it's just s much easier, however for coursework you will probably find yourself in a library more than you think (especially on a decent course in your second year, and you'll wonder what your room looks like in the third year!) and although uni computers are lightyears ahead of school computers a laptop will really help.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. Although pen and paper is fine for notes. A laptop is very usefull for coursework when you will be spending time in the library doing research. You know the software will work and you wont have to copy files here there and everywhere. As well as computers around busy uni periods are almost impossible to find.
 
I've thought of quite an odd solution, tell me what you think. - After havign a look, the excess for touchscreen swivel laptops seems rather large. If i aquire an old laptop screen, apply a touch screen panel ( assuming this panel will be sensitive enought for handwriting recognition), so havign 2 screens, but just primarily using the touchscreen one in lectures. Not ideal, but i'l have a think..

BTW- thanks for everyones help and input-

EDIT:
Found another company that does the pen tracker thing http://www.e-pens.com/
 
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I think your taking this far to seriously, first year all your going to be doing
is going out getting smashed and recoverying from hangovers, the work load
is nothing. Having a pc and a bottle of coke when your hanging is the best
thing in the world. Also most unis put all their lecture notes up on the internet
which is just plain sexy, means you dont even have to go. Managed to get
way above a pass (40%) in first year with only going in one day a week and
guessing the other stuff.

Also which uni you going to? If you driving / getting driven your pc wont die on
transit just strap it in keep the boxes for your monitor
 
ojrules said:
I've thought of quite an odd solution, tell me what you think. - After havign a look, the excess for touchscreen swivel laptops seems rather large. If i aquire an old laptop screen, apply a touch screen panel ( assuming this panel will be sensitive enought for handwriting recognition), so havign 2 screens, but just primarily using the touchscreen one in lectures. Not ideal, but i'l have a think..

BTW- thanks for everyones help and input-

EDIT:
Found another company that does the pen tracker thing http://www.e-pens.com/
Click to expand...

How would you use a touch screen in lectures work, as it would need to be plugged into something?
Note taking wont be your problem. It'll be doing office work or other software for your coursework. In the library or round other peoples house for group work. You would be much better of with a notebook/laptop. Depending what sotware you ll need for your course.
 
ojrules said:
Amp34- i think what you're saying is very true, especially about the libary. I'm hoping to do mechanical engineering, so i don't know whether there are any specialist programs which require a hefty pc, but that is the odd thing about netbooks- where can you take a netbook that you can't take a laptop.

- One thing im going to really look into is some sort of digitalisation of my notes. My organisation skills are terrible, and i really do need something to save all the notes i make, digitally. I'm going to have a look at some cheap tablets, and also touch screen laptops. - it sounds excessive, however it would save me a lot of space in lectures if i just have to wright on the screen, rather than having the laptop out with another periphial.


- What sort of spec a laptop would you suggest is powerful enough ?..
Click to expand...

Exactly, the only advantage a netbook has is that it's ever so slightly smaller, and slightly lighter, but with nowhere near the power. A 13" laptop is also the perfect size for a normal rucksack too. The number of times i've seen friends trying to cram their ever.. so.. slightly.. too.. big.. 15" laptop into their bags while i've just slipped mine in easily (only the size of an A4 piece of paper) is quite large.:p

I really do think you should give up on digitising your notes. I think it's a dead end path. Best bet is if you are disorganised (much like me) is to write on paper and either not take it out of the pad or dump it in a pile with the rest, then periodically sort through it (or if anything like me, just before your exams..). Using a computer almost certainly won't work. One other possibility is getting an audio recorder (or even one of those video recorders) and record the lecture, typing it up when you get home (which again will probably happen just before your exams...).:). A third option I guess you could do is to scan in your pages at the end of the day into PDF files?

AcidHell2 said:
Totally agree. Although pen and paper is fine for notes. A laptop is very usefull for coursework when you will be spending time in the library doing research. You know the software will work and you wont have to copy files here there and everywhere. As well as computers around busy uni periods are almost impossible to find.
Click to expand...

Exactly.:) And the busy periods will always be just when you need to use them as well (such as exam time). It's also far easier to sit at a nice big desk next to your book section browsing throught your laptop for book numbers and at electronic papers, while fiddling with the software that you need.:)
 
Input- from what i've seen of my brother this seems very true. Yeah i'l be getting driven there/ picked up at the start and end of terms.

-ACID Hell- the touchscreen would be plugged into the laptop, as i said just a spare of the moment idea.

- Yeah from what i've seen i think i'l be dropping the idea of digitizing my notes.. though i think i will have a look at some cheap tablets.

--I do the pile of paper technique, just never come back to organising it.



--- OK so thats sorted thanks for all your help, now what i could do with knowing: What kind of spec of a laptop do i need?- bareing in mind that i'l have a fairly stonking pc back in my room....?.
 
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Although taking your full sized PC there and back in a car isn't too bad, it can still be a pain in the ****. A matx case is possibly still your better bet.

This is talking from experience (just finished my third year at uni), my case is a midi atx case, big and heavy, and not something you want to move round much. My sisters PC (that I built for her to go to uni with) is in a matx case, and is sooo much easier tomove back and forth. The only reason my case was not replaced with a matx one was that I couldn't afford to replace the internals, but there was numerous times I wished I had a matx case. :p
 
I was in a similar position to you in my first year of uni, and I opted for an expensive laptop. Big mistake, I found that after a few months of use the laptop became slow (even though it was meant to be a fast dual core etc.) and it frustrated me more and more that I didn't just update my gaming computer and take it with me. Also, in lectures it is A LOT better to take hand notes trust me! Everyone in the lecture theatre feels the same way about laptops in there, they are a distraction! I suggest if you really don't want to lug around your kit then go with what others have said. Get a little netbook to type up your notes. But for me personally, you will want that big screen (or 2) for reading any journals or other online material. Also you will want them for writing essays and a nice big comfortable keyboard and fast computer to write up your essays etc.

I take my pc to uni, usually take it back every holiday (so christmas, easter, summer etc.). It really isn't that bad if you have a car to put it in ( i assume u won't be going by train!). Monitors and case you can deal with. I am currently using the antec 300 case.
 
- Yeah after all the advice i think i've just decided to drop the idea, especially since, as someone said, the notes are put on the internet anyways.

- What kind of spec should i be looking for then?.. - Processor wise?..

This looks a fairly stonking deal http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=LT-002-FJ ... but should i be looking for even cheaper?

-- Also the 13" laptop idea- from what i've seen you pay more to have it smaller, like they start at £550...
 
ojrules said:
- Yeah after all the advice i think i've just decided to drop the idea, especially since, as someone said, the notes are put on the internet anyways.

- What kind of spec should i be looking for then?.. - Processor wise?..

This looks a fairly stonking deal http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=LT-002-FJ ... but should i be looking for even cheaper?

-- Also the 13" laptop idea- from what i've seen you pay more to have it smaller, like they start at £550...
Click to expand...

Just a word of warning. Don't always expect them to be up on the internet. I have two different maths lecturers, and one uploads his notes and the other doesn't. Don't get lured into a false sense of security. Nothing beats your own notes.
 
*cough*Coolermaster Storm Scout*cough*

An mATX or even mITX build would be perfect, and you get much better performance and... it's better in every way :p

Seriously, i've owned laptops for a lot of my Computing lifespan, and every single one of them has crashed or broken or down right melted after a maximum of four years. I'm convinced that there's cooling problems that need to be sorted before i consider buying one again. Also, you don't get to build it yourself... you can, but there aren't really many options :p
 
sorry? i'm a bit confused...... i need a laptop/netbook anyways for uni, but i'm now just wondering what kind of spec of a laptop would be sufficient.... and as i said earlier, the more money i can save the better...
 
I recon it depends if you wanna be carrying something around with you a lot or not.

I for one are going to do a games design course, which will be heavily computer orientated and most likely a lot of high res hand drawn stuff?

So im taking this as an opportunity to upgrade to the best at the end of the year.
SLI GT300, i9? :)
 
I was in the same situation as yourself in year one of uni. I bought a 15" laptop (acer) and it weighed 2.5KG. Travelling into london everyday on the tube + uni books was killing me so I sold it and bought a netbook.

Can't recommend enough the samsung nc10, there are even better options now the NC20 etc. Weighs nothing, battery lasts 6+ hours, usually 8 for me with wifi on.
 
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