College Computing

opinionated

So I hope to be going to college this september...the thing is, should I get a new high spec computer or shovel out money on a laptop? If it helps, I hope to do Software Engineering...

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Get a nice slow computer, it might force you to code better;)

Donald-Duck

You wont need a laptop or high spec computer. A laptop might be convenient but thats about it.

patrickolee

Buy a cheap second hand laptop, you'll spend most of your time using word anyway. 350 Euro should do it, www.adverts.ie

opinionated

Righto, think I can pick up a cheap and nasty laptop round the place. Thanks

Holsten

Use the computers in the college?

Black Swan

Depends upon your lifestyle. If you plan doing your programming on the hoof in javahouses, the beach, libraries or wherever (and being social, occasionally shifting your eyes from screen to eye candy that might walk by) then a laptop with some juice. Or if you plan to geek it out in a uni computing lab or stockaded in your room (and being fed through a slot in your door), then a desktop rig (that's also watercooled and overclocked for when you want to play virtual hooky).

opinionated

Holsten wrote:

Use the computers in the college?

Heard on this forum about fools, usin them for bebo...

4Xcut

the people who use college computers for bebo when there is clearly a queue should be dragged into the front square(trinity) and hung from the bell tower till death - bastards.

Endurance Man

My college has the most air tight bloody block on anything slightly entertaining ><.

leeroybrown

Depending on what college you are planning to go to you may find that 1) they have a wireless network for students and 2) there are queues for computer suites at peak times. If this is the case for your target college then a laptop may make life a lot easier.

H2G2

opinionated wrote:

I hope to do Software Engineering...

Get a laptop. Don't rely on college computers. All Universities have WiFi and almost all college-based student accommodation has internet access.
I teach software engineering in a University and I would guess more than 80% of students by final year have there own laptop. Its a must for working on projects at home / weekend, etc. Also you can configure your own machine with what you like, rather than having to use the standard software and standard security restrictions. ie. You can install whatever compilers, IDE, debuggers, servers, etc that you want.

You would be mad to start a computing degree without a personal PC and a laptop is the best investment in thie respect.

Go buy one now. It doesn't have to be a high end machine. Memory over processor speed any day… you will most likely end up writing Java for the 1st year anyway and all the processor intensive stuff will be years 3 and 4.

AlmightyCushion

opinionated wrote:

Heard on this forum about fools, usin them for bebo...

Bebo's blocked in most colleges now I think. You can still get around that with proxies and the like but not many do. So you should be ok but I have found that when I need a computer in the college the most is the one time I can't get one.

BizzyC

Some colleges will have seperate computer labs for computing students only.

There's a whole building full in DCU, all with every programming app you could want installed.

It's the general purpose ones in the library etc that get full of beboers.

BizzyC

Also, I wouldnt go for a laptop in 1st year.

As was mentioned, you wont get into the difficult programming till 3rd or 4th. Buy one then, you'll get a much better one in 2 years for the same price, when you really need one.

SeanW

One thing I reccommend avoiding is going into college without a reasonably up to date machine or the means to acquire one. You might get away with it in year 1 or 2, but most likely not after. Make sure you have the money to get a decent machine now, or perhaps save the money for later.

Laptops tend to be less powerful than desktop tower PCs and not be such good value for money, but the laptop will have self-evident mobility advantages, as well as Wi-Fi capability which for obvious reasons tends to be less common on PCs.

As to what kind of computer you should get, it depends on where you are, what facilities are on offer in your college and where you'll be based throughout the year.

1: If you're going to commute from home, and will just be in college to attend lectures, get a good standard home PC. Consider self building or getting a custom, so that you can replace components as needed. Also a USB key will be handy to store documents and projects and carry them between home and college.
2: If you're going to be living in student accomodation, and be based primarily out of it, get a phyically small form, but powerful PC - space in a student digs or whatever will be at a premium. Again consider self-building, something like a Shuttle system.
3: If you're going to be all over the place, or if you have exceptionally good access to Wi-Fi networks, get a laptop.
4: If your college has excellent IT facilities with dedicated labs and online storage for IT students, and you will be spending most of your time on the college campus, you may not need a personal computer at all.

In summary, I'd say this: Consider your circumstances as a tradeoff between the need for cost-effective computing power versus mobility. Start the course and find out how good the IT facilities are versus your need for a computer initially. Finally, keep a big wad of cash on standby - even if you don't need a computer straight away, you may suddenly find yourself with a big project that requires lots of off-campus computer homework, and that will become more likely as the years pass and the focus shifts more onto practicals, projects and homework.

dulpit

Just after finishing 3rd year of software development, I've a fairly alright PC at home and it works perfect. The computing facilities in college are adequate, we have 5 labs exclusively for computing students, and another 1 for projects (3rd & 4th years). Can be occasionally difficult to get a computer during day, what with classes and the like, but there'll be plenty in the evenings and stuff....

The one problem that we had is the computers have a very high level of security, some programs that could be quite helpful from net could not be downloaded, also some of the PCs are quite slow...

1 of the lads in our class lives away from home and until recently didn't have a laptop or pc in his house, so he had to use the college facilities... He found them ok to use, not ideal as he had to stay late and stuff but other than that it was grand. Since he got his laptop he has been able to work at home which helps...

Point i'm making is that it is not 100% essential to own a computer, you'll get through it using the college facilities... However, a computer of some sort is a huge help... I would not be inclined to go down the laptop route if you live nearby, for the same amount of money the desktop you'll be able to buy would be superior to any laptop... TBH as far as i can see the vast majority of people who buy laptops do so not because they need them, but because they want them as a fashion accessory...

I will say 1 thing though, if you're living in college accommodation it might make sense to get a laptop, for both the size (a desktop might take up way too much room in a small apartment) plus if there is free wi-fi internet, might as well make use of it...

Essentially, I think you need some computer, doesn't need to be a high-end model or anything, and for me, I would get a desktop if the situation allows, couldn't justify a laptop if you live close to college and just get bus on and out (or drive or whatever)

Sorry for rambling, hope this helps...

workaccount

opinionated wrote:

Righto, think I can pick up a cheap and nasty laptop round the place. Thanks

Watch out for second hand laptops though because the warranty may have run out. This is a risk you take when buying second hand. It's different to a buying a second hand desktop as the desktop machine parts are more or less standardized and cheap replacements can be found easily. Laptop parts are very expensive to replace. It's for this reason extended warrantys for laptops are a good idea as opposed to getting them for desktops.

If your MB goes for example on your laptop you are going to be faced with a big bill for a new board (a few hundred). You will have to pay even more for labour if you cannot install the board yourself. The same goes for all other parts...there propietary so there expensive.

You could pick up a new dell inspiron for less than e600 but there ugly and far from elegant.(though that's just my opinion) I personally don't like elegant/stylish (as in laptops that are generally accepted as elegant/stylish such as HP's) laptops anyway. HPs are of a weak build quality and are really squeaky (everyone buys them though cause they think they look good). Sonys are a rip-off. I have a two and a half year old inspiron 510m. (which I think is elegant & stylish. Inspirons are not particularily strong but they don't squeak) It looks good...is nice and compact and is still perfect for what I use it for. You don't need the latest processor or loads of RAM for everyday tasks. You don't need loads of RAM or processing power for the kind of programming jobs you'll be doing either.

I wouldn't swap my two and half year old 510m for a new inspiron simply because I hate the look of them. The dell latitude d620 is my fav current machine but is a little expensive for you id imagine. It's what i'd go for if I was going to upgrade now. Thinkpads are also great machines. (The nokia 5110 of laptops in my experience)

If I was in your position though I'd take the risk and go second hand. A Latitude D600 would be a sound, well built machine. Also watch out for battery life. New batteries are expensive. My one is friged but luckily I don't need it much anyway. Always use a surge protector aswell.

http://www.google.ie/search?q=how+to+maximize+laptop+battery+life&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a
Theres some battery saving strategies which are important for any laptop user to know.


EDIT: You could also try these guys...http://www.lapteck.com/
They have a D600 there for e539.


Here's something they won't teach you in college...
http://paulgraham.com/icad.html

NullZer0

This is just gonna sound like I am favouring Apple.

But if you were planning on shelling out the money anyway and you want something worthwhile. Try maybe an Apple Macbook?

Get the Base spec and Max it out with RAM and change the hard drive entually. They usually have offers for Macbooks & iPods bought together in the online Apple student store in August/September.

Why MAC?

My reasons:

The OS is based on UNIX.

You can use VMWARE (WHICH IS FREE!) for testing in Vista, XP, Linux, Solaris - You would be suprised how good these virtual machines work!

You have access to a "Terminal"

Networking is easy!
Spyware, Adware and Viruses for MAC OS is are not so common and I have never experienced any!

Its great for Photoshop! Runs like a dream!
Web design is great, if your in a hurry and need something simple use iWeb, if you need something more pro use DW, GoLive or Textedit.

Its great for sound recording, video recording, creating media. Syncing remote servers, email a/c's and mobile devices etc.

I would give it a 9 out of 10!

NullZer0

Sorry duplicate post

ec18

yeah i'd go for a mac as well as long as your not goin to be using j sharp or c sharp. or vb....only work on microsoft and i don't know if you can get the . net framework for mac

SeanW

iRock wrote:

This is just gonna sound like I am favouring Apple.

But if you were planning on shelling out the money anyway and you want something worthwhile. Try maybe an Apple Macbook?

Gotta be the worst advice in the history of boards :mad: You do realise he's probably going to be loaded down with Microsoft Office work, Visual Basic, some .NET, possibly database apps like Oracle and a raft of other Windows-only jobs?

I also assume the OP doesn't have money to burn.

workaccount

There are arguments for Mac. You can run windows, linux or OSX.

Microsoft is more or less dead in the technology world. If I was going to do a software related course i'd be extremely careful in choosing my course. Not all courses are the same. The technology world is changing fast. Even microsoft relalizes now that the future of common desktop applications is on the web with technologies such as AJAX. To be successful in the technology industry you really have to follow it tbh and understand changes and the like. It's far from the likes of commerce or accounting. Unis and techs will be slow to adapt usually. If your conscious of the technology industry, follow it and understand it your already a step ahead of your now peers. Perhaps a step ahead of many professors who are just there because its a job.


Linux and server based apps are the future. Gmail proves what's possible with AJAX.