Laptop: Yes or No?

[imported_Tren]

Ok guys, so here's my predicament:

As I get ready to go off to college, I do not know quite what to do.

- I have a great, custom built desktop that I love, but it takes up a good amount of space.
- I am considering getting a laptop, and probably will for college.

My question is: Do you guys think I should bring my desktop even if I have a laptop?

If I got a laptop, it wouldn't be anything too special. Fast enough for great web, word processing, however, it probably wouldn't be used for gaming.

That leads me into another question: Should I just skip out on bringing the laptop all together?
- I am trying to think on if I will really use it if I have my desktop in my dorm.....

What do you guys think?

I am just trying to make this decision now, and if I decide to go for a laptop, I will most likely come to you guys for some suggestions later on.

[solofowaffles]

I use my dad's laptop when im over there.Its great to have a laptop when you go out someplace with friends to study(starbucks etc,with wirless internet)

And its nice to sit on the couch and be on the forums at the same time.

[Chris_Redfield]

Considering the fact that you can indeed get such a laptop you described (word processing, simple pictorial tasks, internet browsing) for less than 500 dollars (even 400), preferably an IMB Thinkpad (older, naturally), you should do it. Try to buy a new battery for it from somewhere, as the expected lifetime for batteries for such laptops is 1 hour.

But if you have the dough, you can buy a brand new, battery efficient laptop for as little as 700 dollars. Its going to be weaksauce, but itll get your basics done and wont die on you after 2 hours.

I went from a desktop to a fully functional laptop. 2X the price, but in the end, it actually is all worth it.

[Kreepy Kitteh =^o.O^=]

to be honest.. save ur cash and take ur dsktop.. that way ull also be able to play games.. the idea of a laptop is always alot different to the reality of owning one.. u would probably never use it on the move or in class.. i find pen and paper work best in these situations :) and as chris has already said the battery life is all of about 1hour.. Ask ur self if u WILL need it for class and or on the move use if so then buy it.. if not then save urself a few hundred dollers..

[Eagle101]

i would prolly say get a mid range multi-tasker for around 700USD as suggested above, and if u want to game u can take yer desky.

[Flt. Sgt. Powderhound]

Wifi in starbucks eh... anyone for a Starbucks LAN party?

[peeth]

Asus eee ftw.
I'm waiting for the 8.9" one ot be released this summer much better hardware in it too and only £300 (prolly $500) or you could get either the 4GB or 2GB 7" models currently which are $400 and $300 respectively.

[signa]

Chris makes a good point. you could always get a decent used thinkpad on Craigslist. I got a Thinkpad X31 from Craigslist for a good price and use that for all my travel / mobility needs.

That being said, if your staying in a dorm, space in your room is going to be at a premium. Dorm rooms are usually pretty cramped and a laptop would probably work well.

[sava700]

Dell Latitude D630...optimize it however and make sure you get the Complete care 4year (cover anything ) warranty.

Your bound to drop the sucker..spill something on it, knock it off a table or something and this will cover it for the next 4 years and they are powerful and small laptops.

[CaptainKirk]

I got a Compaq from Best Buy on sale for $599. It is good enough for everything but gaming. As for college, you probably would use a laptop if you had it, but it probably isn't necessary. (I have been contemplating this as well)

This is what I have : http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1195598868093

[AllFoamNoBeer]

A laptop is probably the best choice, and for around 600- 700 dollars, you can get some really good, long battery life laptops that will suit you while in college.

Hell, I use a Mac in my school while doing work (because it is small as hell), and use a massive 19" widescreen laptop at home.

[chaos555]

As most people have stated, go with the laptop.
I'm sure most fair priced laptops can still run many games, css, tf2? They really don't take a big beefy machine.

[Eagle101]

I agree with drifter these laptops are good for small gaming old RTS's css may work also hell i ran css on my GeForce 4 lawlz, just get one with a able to multi task procs C2Ds are good.

The new Santa rosa's and the new nm chips (T7800, T8***), AMD is a bad choice for lappys me thinks :S as for gfx u cant rly change it just by screen size rly so for 14 and 13" laptops u can get an (intel procs based) Nvidia 8400 or a 9series entry level if they are out yet, or in some 14.4" there sometimes is the 86GS. But yeah i would recommend an Intel laptop 14 or 13 inch screen are good to match ur specifications. (some laptops come with standard intel gfx GMA. but since ur multi tasking the laptops above are good.

[Vash2051]

I survived my first year of college with just my desktop. There were times that I sorta had wished I had a laptop but not many.

[peeth]

Although i have already voted for an EEE, I would say take both your desktop (for gaming/work when in your room) and a cheap laptop for use out and about or whilst on the move in the room/building (if wireless is avaliable)