University Help.

mikeyp123

mikeyp123

mikeyp123

Associate
Joined
15 Jul 2009
Posts
395
Location
London
I'm off to study CompSci in September and my current setup is..

The PCs

  • Main Rig (sig)
  • Studio 15 - 2.4 C2D, 4GB ram, 4750(?), can basically run most valvesque games with my cooler
  • Samsung N210

Monitors

24" Samsung (HD, my 360's screen)
20" Samsung (vga urgh)

I'm thinking laptop as my desktop and the 24" screen for coding, lord knows how I'll cope without some serious screen real estate, A-level was bad enough.

I'm attempting to maximise functionality and reduce the "oh my god its a spaceship" effect to my room :p

A - Laptop + netbook
B - Desktop + netbook (sell laptop)
 
Pffft! I have a weird attachment to the little thing and its handy to have, I guess it kinda depends on my accommodation, I don't fancy lugging my desktop through central london :(
 
I would leave the laptop at home for when you go back.

Take the desktop, screens and netbook. Assuming it will all fit where you're oing.
 
You would be fine with just a desktop, its so rare you use a laptop in uni, even doing computer science. Generally its more hassle than its worth but then you get the odd few :)

I wouldn't think you need very much computing power either really, my girlfriend does here computer science course with a netbook.
 
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egnshane said:
You would be fine with just a desktop, its so rare you use a laptop in uni, even doing computer science.
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Gov gave me a laptop and i barely use it, should have sold it when new to be honest.

Think is you don't want to lug a lappy over to uni, even a net book is too much.

They will have plenty of computers on campus.
 
A netbook weighs nothing alongside course books, combined with drop box its a beauty.
The networked computers are fab and all, but nothing beats your own settings/layout/general familiarity imo.
 
Hey, I am going to my second year of Computer Science in September.

It's really handy to have a netbook spare if you're in a lecture and like me can type faster than you can write...or your handwriting sucks so much you can barely read it yourself (My case :'<)

However if you just have a nice gaming rig it's just about all you need for a decent programming machine. Since high end gaming rigs usually have outstanding processing power its pretty much perfect for compiling code.

So, my answer: B!

Good luck with your course. If you like programming you will love Computer Science, if not.....Good luck anyway :S

P.S

Your 24" monitor is perfect for coding. Do not code for lengths of time on your netbooks you WILL strain your eyes!

/Johnathan
 
Ah that's the kinda reply I was looking for <3.
Yeah I was thinking for tutorials and a quick bit of last minute tweaking, having your own music/workspace on the go is a pretty nice thing to have.

Yeah I'm not expecting anything any of the tech cant handle just practicality of what would get used the most I guess. It looks like my laptop will be sat at home gathering dust! Selling it might be stupid mind as i'll be home probably a fair bit and I really hate moving desktops.

Yeah I do love programming, I just don't know how I would have managed without two screens last year! Increased my workload 3 fold.
:]
Ah it's all rather exciting in a nerdy way now.
 
I say B!

I always recommend to clients who have children studying at uni to have a desktop rig but to fit a tv tuner card. Saves space in the room and car when you move. Plus you get the bonus of a fully functional digital tv/dvd player and possible games machine depending on spec. As you have two screens you can still work and play ;)

My gf is nearly done at uni but took my advice and her friends are jealous of her setup. Her phone is basically a netbook as its a windows mobile so has word, excel etc etc. Gave her a bluetooth keyboard for typing in class and it can even record the audio for lectures!!

Hope my 2 cents helps
 
honosuseri said:
I say B!

I always recommend to clients who have children studying at uni to have a desktop rig but to fit a tv tuner card. Saves space in the room and car when you move. Plus you get the bonus of a fully functional digital tv/dvd player and possible games machine depending on spec. As you have two screens you can still work and play ;)
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Ha, I'm just about to go back for my second year and my plan is to take my monitor, rather than the TV that has a DVI input, with a TV card.

Just hoping HD tuner cards (?) come out before september.
 
I went the netbook route for my 1st year of uni. Big mistake, get that budget on a gaming rig and big speakers. :D. Netbook = fail.
 
orderoftheflame said:
For computer science, take the desktop, and get a second monitor if you can. Will make your programming a lot more productive. ;)
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I hear ya.

Stuck on this bit of code...Just use the other screen to google the problem.

There is no such thing as plagiarism in programming :P If the code has been written before and you can find it. It's yours :P (Only if you can't A: Do it yourself, B: Just can't be bothered! C: It's just so simple code that writing it out for the 983928 time would be a waste of time.)

/Johnathan
 
Desktop ***, Uni will have so many computing facilities that you will almost never need a laptop.

Also for working in your own time nothing will beat having nice big screens and a decent keyboard.
 
wilko49 said:
take desktop, no question! what uni u heading to?
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Off to KCL :)
I meant using my laptop as a desktop replacement tbh guys!

What I think i'm going to do is take my laptop for ease of transport and use it as my desktop hooked into my 24" for the first 3-4 weeks, see how I find it with programming, coding on the laptop screen and then referencing on the larger monitor with W7 snap to controls. Then see about bringing my desktop.
Thinking about it more, I don't fancy the idea of freshers and my HAF 922 with a massive intake fan on the top, it only takes one drink to destroy my pc :/ And if it happened to anyone it would be me!

Also, I've already got 2 monitors! Those trusty things got me through A-Level computing quite nicely :)
 
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