Is a netbook adequate?

Joe_Dull

I know a laptop of some shape or form is more or less essential for college, so I'm wondering if I'll have to shell out for a fully-featured model or would a basic notebook do the job?

What laptops are you guys using, and could recommend?

Thanks

boblong

Yes, quite probably.

Are you doing CS? The only time I found my netbook inadequate and required my laptop was when I had to compile the end of year programming project.

ronkmonster

Depends on what subject you are doing. Autocad work or processing heavy subjects will struggle on it.

For basic office applications, email and internet a netbook will do but small screen might annoy you when working on projects for hours. You could invest in a monitor for using at home for longer project work.

zoom!

I've found netbooks to be quite annoying. The screen is way too small and the keyboard takes a while to get used to. I'd get a fully sized laptop, most of them are slim enough and light enough anyway.

Joe_Dull

Thanks for the replies

I'm doing Psychology, so I suppose it'll mostly revolve around Word and Excel? Also have a decent desktop at home for working for hours on projects etc.

Manach

Could could try the free equivalents to MS Office, openoffice which I found worked well on a netbook.

ronkmonster

The problem I had with OpenOffice is the formatting doesn't always stay exactly the same. If you spent time formatting a project, bring it into college to print with MS Office it would be slightly off. OpenOffice on memory key works around this but sometimes you forget to bring with you.

Netbook should be enough for using in college for you. Handy if you want to have notes open on it in class too. Not too big to get in the way.

mickoneill30

I'm using a Toshiba T130. Just a bit larger than a netbook but more powerful, faster, bigger screen resolution and great battery life. Unfortunately it's also pricier.
There's nothing (that I do) that I really need to go back to the PC for.

In work I support Samsung NC10s (or similar models). I always give our users a choice when getting a laptop for them. Samsung or bigger 15" laptop. They always choose the Samsung. I'd recommend an external monitor if you're going to be spending hours in front of it though. The keyboard on those is the best of the bunch. Most people should have no problems on those.

As to OpenOffice. It's a good product and you'll have no problems if that's your only Office app.
As a student you should be able to get MS Office cheap(ish). I'm in DCU part time and on my portal page there it has an offer for MS Office (http://www.microsoft.com/student/office/en-ie/default.aspx). Once you choose MS Office though it's hard to go back to OpenOffice (I tried in work with our users and couldn't do it because of formatting differences), they're about 90% compatible but that 10% is a killer.

Groinshot

ronkmonster wrote: »

The problem I had with OpenOffice is the formatting doesn't always stay exactly the same. If you spent time formatting a project, bring it into college to print with MS Office it would be slightly off. OpenOffice on memory key works around this but sometimes you forget to bring with you.

Netbook should be enough for using in college for you. Handy if you want to have notes open on it in class too. Not too big to get in the way.

you can print from your laptop/netbook by getting the drivers from the ISS website, and you type in your username when you click print.

And a netbook is fine- laptop isn;'t even necessary in college, college PC's do fine.

claire h

Joe_Dull wrote: »

Thanks for the replies

I'm doing Psychology, so I suppose it'll mostly revolve around Word and Excel? Also have a decent desktop at home for working for hours on projects etc.

And SPSS! [um, assuming they still use that - it's been a while. Statistics fun!]

ronkmonster

Groinshot wrote: »

you can print from your laptop/netbook by getting the drivers from the ISS website, and you type in your username when you click print.

And a netbook is fine- laptop isn;'t even necessary in college, college PC's do fine.

That's handy, I went to a different college and had to use college PCs.

celestialteapot

Im not sure id say a laptop/netbook is absolutely essential. I didnt have one for my first two years but ive got a netbook for this year.

If you like having really organised notes and youre a fast typer (im not) then i can see the benefits of typing notes. Aslo, in the library you can only take out certain books which means youll have to photocopy the books you cant take out and do essays at home. So although i wudnt say a laptop/netbook is 'essential' i can definitey see the benefits

Oh and seeing as the the main reasons for getting a laptop/nebook is to type lecture notes and write essays from books that you cant take out, i reckon a netbook would be enough

The Black Oil

SPSS should be on most college computers and is definitely on the machines in the Mac lab in the psych department, though this may not always be accessible due to classes and postgrad use. It's worth having your own copy of the software and I'm assuming ISS still sell copies. They were €7 a few years ago and you get a code for a year, this is then renewed, but don't think there's any additional cost in subsequent years. Obviously it will lapse once you've left college and no longer have access to new codes.

I got away without having a laptop in first year, I managed between my home PC and college machines. It was a different story in my final year due to the pace and amount of work. If things are still the same, you'll be submitting assignments through www.turnitin.com which is an anti-plagiarism website. Our lecturer sent an email in first year citing certain 'irregularities' of people lifting stuff from websites, but a few of this thought this might have been a scare tactic. Finally, make sure you back up all your work.

Joe_Dull

And SPSS is ... The MS Word of statistics?

Also, anybody have any experience with the Dell Mini 10?

Sir Ophiuchus

Joe_Dull wrote: »

And SPSS is ... The MS Word of statistics

Kinda, except there aren't really good alternatives if you're doing anything complicated. Just use it in the psychology computer lab anyway.

omcc91

It depends...I like typing my notes and it's handy to have to check college email, not having to print out stuff for seminars etc...would be good to have a good battery if you're stuck without plugs for a long day

Joe_Dull

Just ordered a Dell Mini 10, decided to buy Irish

Hopefully nobody's experienced unexplained fires or the like from this model ... !

Varik

ronkmonster wrote: »

The problem I had with OpenOffice is the formatting doesn't always stay exactly the same. If you spent time formatting a project, bring it into college to print with MS Office it would be slightly off. OpenOffice on memory key works around this but sometimes you forget to bring with you.

Bit of advice, had years of Engineering projects that were full of equations and charts, when formatting is that important and you're using OpenOffice make sure to convert to a .pdf that way it remains the same no matter what.

If a lecturer say use MS word ** only ask as they manly say that to stop peopls using some odd format and to make sure they can read it which a pdf will be easily readable.

I manage a thesis using a Office 2010 beta and if was much easier than openoffice which i started the work on.

In either case convert to pdf and save yourself some hassle.

aas

Use LaTeX :cool:

Thirdfox

Speaking as a law graduate (almost graduate - commencement this December) - I recommend getting a netbook:

1. Openoffice is great - if you want to make sure formatting is perfect when printed - just convert to pdf before printing

2. Battery life is awesome compared to laptops - my old netbook gets 7 hours - newer ones get up to 14 hours - no need for a charger, and lighter = more portable.

3. Touchtyping all your notes = easier to review...BUT you lose handwriting speed... for a subject like law where you'll need to be writing reams of material at the exams this can be a definite negative as you lose some motor skills - imagine not writing anything by pen for 8 months, it definitely feels alien again once you pick up a pen again.

If only TCD would get with the times and allow exams to be taken using computers (my exchange uni in the US did it, so much more convenient).

4. Screen/keyboard - for word processing, web browsing the resolution is enough. Plus the fact that it can't play any games from the last 4-5 years discourages you from wasting your time (Starcraft is obviously still awesomely playable on it though). The keyboard I'm used to now - but that might be because I've got tiny girly hands :P - and even then I've had to remap the up key to shift and vice versa.

SligoBrewer

Groinshot wrote: »

you can print from your laptop/netbook by getting the drivers from the ISS website, and you type in your username when you click print.

And a netbook is fine- laptop isn;'t even necessary in college, college PC's do fine.

Funny, all you did last year was bitch about ISS before you got a certain job...

And the links to those drivers were dead when I went to download them last year.