Will I need a laptop for my degree at UNI?

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ushare

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#140571 13-Feb-2014 10:19

Hey guys

So I am going to Victoria this year and have decided to do a conjoint degree. A BCom Majoring in Accounting and Finance and a BSc majoring in computer science. My main question for those who have taken a similar degree is will I need a laptop for uni?

Cheers guys

much appreciated

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#986645 13-Feb-2014 10:55

If you didn't have a laptop on campus you would be one of the rear few these days. Been a few years since my degree but there was an expectation that students would have their own computers when I did Comp Science. Course content wise, I'm unsure about Vic but at Cant it wasn't a specific requirement.

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Kingy

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#986651 13-Feb-2014 11:02

It really depends. I don't think you'll need it for lectures (unless you're one of those that likes to slack off) but you may find that it makes your life easier having one with you to do extra research etc.

Are you planning on doing all your work at home on (I'm assuming) another desktop computer. If you do need to do work at uni are you happy to try your luck in getting a computer in one of the libraries/suites (sorry I didn't go to Vic so I'm not sure how it works there).

I'd sort of suggest you do get one because it'll give you the flexibility of being able to work basically when and where you want. Got a little study group happening? Bring a laptop. Nice sunny day where you wanna work outside/at a cafe? Bring a laptop etc etc

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reven

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#986653 13-Feb-2014 11:02

i finished uni in 2005 doing BSc in compsci, most students didnt use laptops then, we mostly used the computer labs.

you could probably get away without one, but i found it useful, often used it in the library for papers in other subjects, on the train etc.

i personally found it a distraction in lectures though, to tempting to muck around.

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#986654 13-Feb-2014 11:03

As mentioned above, rare to see uni student without one, but maybe contact the uni and ask them if ones required ?

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wasabi2k

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#986658 13-Feb-2014 11:09

Yes.

Unless you are happy fighting for time/space and living at uni get a laptop or have a PC at home.

You don't need a flash one, but accounting/finance definitely needs it for assignments etc. Comp Sci no idea but I assume so.

ushare

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#986671 13-Feb-2014 11:27

yeah the thing is i have a descent rig at home and so before i fork out a couple of grand for a laptop i want to be sure. The uni recommends them but say its not an essential.

Now that i think of it, i have several hour gaps between lectures on some days and having a laptop will probably help.

Also during lectures, would i need one for taking notes? I am a quicker at typing than writer and taking notes for programming code would probably be on a computer?

Geektastic

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#986676 13-Feb-2014 11:34

ushare: Hey guys

So I am going to Victoria this year and have decided to do a conjoint degree. A BCom Majoring in Accounting and Finance and a BSc majoring in computer science. My main question for those who have taken a similar degree is will I need a laptop for uni?

Cheers guys

much appreciated

I'm not sure they had laptops when I was up at College in 87-90!

We managed with A4 pads and pens as I recall....

I'd certainly consider a digital recorder (Olympus are good) to capture lectures though. Assuming they still have lectures...!

kingjj

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#986681 13-Feb-2014 11:51

ushare: yeah the thing is i have a descent rig at home and so before i fork out a couple of grand for a laptop i want to be sure. The uni recommends them but say its not an essential.

Now that i think of it, i have several hour gaps between lectures on some days and having a laptop will probably help.

Also during lectures, would i need one for taking notes? I am a quicker at typing than writer and taking notes for programming code would probably be on a computer?

I took a laptop to all my lectures but ended up doing the vast majority of my notes freehand. I have a system for note taking that has served me well since High School which for me didn't translate well onto computers. I usually set the laptop up though for googling things I wasn't sure on and playing Solitaire when I had lost all hope for the day. I always had a chuckle when I saw first years writing down every word that a lecturer said, they'd be so busy concentrating on their writing that they didn't have a chance to process and understand the content. Having a laptop does help fill in time between lectures, especially during the busier times (such as near exams) when the computer labs overflow with hopeless crammers. 2C.

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#986685 13-Feb-2014 11:53

Geektastic: I'm not sure they had laptops when I was up at College in 87-90!
We managed with A4 pads and pens as I recall....
I'd certainly consider a digital recorder (Olympus are good) to capture lectures though. Assuming they still have lectures...!

Very Olde Worlde :)
Problems with recording lectures:
1. It may not be legal (check)
2. It is hard to get good sound quality
3. When will you get the time to listen to the recordings?

Get a lappy!

Disclosure: I went to Uni in the 1970s and recorded lectures - but soon gave up recording for all the above reasons.

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kingjj

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#986688 13-Feb-2014 12:16

Sideface:
Geektastic: I'm not sure they had laptops when I was up at College in 87-90!
We managed with A4 pads and pens as I recall....
I'd certainly consider a digital recorder (Olympus are good) to capture lectures though. Assuming they still have lectures...!

Very Olde Worlde :)
Problems with recording lectures:
1. It may not be legal (check)
2. It is hard to get good sound quality
3. When will you get the time to listen to the recordings?

Get a lappy!

Disclosure: I went to Uni in the 1970s and recorded lectures - but soon gave up recording for all the above reasons.

I know when I went to Cant they had a big push to video all lectures which were than put on the education portal for all enrolled students in that class to watch. Most of my lectures were recorded except for smaller classes in senior years. Can't say I ever watched a single recording though, even when I missed a lecture or 2

tripp

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#986690 13-Feb-2014 12:21

ushare: yeah the thing is i have a descent rig at home and so before i fork out a couple of grand for a laptop i want to be sure. The uni recommends them but say its not an essential.

Now that i think of it, i have several hour gaps between lectures on some days and having a laptop will probably help.

Also during lectures, would i need one for taking notes? I am a quicker at typing than writer and taking notes for programming code would probably be on a computer?

Get a cheap laptop i.e. asus t100 (around $700) or even a surface RT install onenote and save it to skydrive, install onenote on home machine as well.
That way it will sync between the 2 machines so it does not matter if you take notes in class or write them down and type them up at home it will sync on both devices :)

This is what I do for work, I take notes on things on my work machine and then if i need to fix things via VPN at home I just open my onenote and its all there :)
Also handy if someone sends you something, you can just put it right into onenote :)

gjm

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#986705 13-Feb-2014 13:00

+ one for onenote, probably my favourite Microsoft product

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reven

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#986706 13-Feb-2014 13:02

ushare: yeah the thing is i have a descent rig at home and so before i fork out a couple of grand for a laptop i want to be sure. The uni recommends them but say its not an essential.

Now that i think of it, i have several hour gaps between lectures on some days and having a laptop will probably help.

Also during lectures, would i need one for taking notes? I am a quicker at typing than writer and taking notes for programming code would probably be on a computer?

whoa, no need to spend so much, im a developer and often develop on my $500 i3 laptop i bought from pbtech. laptops are so cheap these days, you can get a very good one for not a lot of money.

stevenz

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#986710 13-Feb-2014 13:06

If it's going to be a glorified word processor\web browser, then just pick up a cheap machine, that way if\when it gets lost\stolen\broken it's less of a burden. Silly to spend >$2k on something that's obsolete in 2 years unless you really need the power\capacity.

OneNote does seem to work pretty well.

Unless you need to fit in with the cool kids in which case you'll need to fork out for a MacBook ;)

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Kingy

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#986712 13-Feb-2014 13:10

I agree with everyone saying don't spend too much. Back in 2007 my partner and I both got laptops. I spent $1600 on an Asus and she spent $899 on a Dell.

My motherboard died (and was repaired) inside of 2 years and it kicked the bucket again in 2011. My partner is still happily using hers to this day (although the Battery is shot).

Like you said you have a decent rig at home so if you need to play games/use resource intensive software then just use that. For uni all you're going to need it for is word processing and perhaps an IDE or 2 for computer science.

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