Laptops

Shiny495

I'm starting university this year and have been wondering about laptops. For a while now, I've been thinking about getting one. Before I go ahead and spend all that money, I wanted to know if many people at DCU use laptops for their courses. Would I be at a disadvantage if I started my course without one? Thanks.

Urizen

Which course are you doing? As a general rule, I'd certainly advise it. Across the board, a lot of assignments need to be typed, and require email submission or the like. As well as that, my own proved invaluable during study periods, when the library and other computer rooms are packed.

Short answer: yes. I'd recommend something functional and lightweight, maybe a good netbook or, if you're willing to view it as an investment, an ultrabook.

Dietmar Hamann

I'd well recommend you get a laptop. The library can be very busy around exam time and end of semester near submission dates.

robby^5

No you wont be at a disadvantage without one at all, unless it is prescribed by your course as a necessity.

If you plan to do a lot of work or study on campus then it might be beneficial to have a laptop. If you only need access to your saved work on campus then you could consider portable storage instead. If neither then a PC at home will suffice and there are an adequate number of computers on campus to use whenever needed.

Also consider that laptops can be distracting during lectures. In my experience 90% of the time if a laptop is open during a lecture the person is browsing the internet, distracting others around them also.

jennyq

I would definitely advise getting a laptop if you can at all. Pretty much all communication from the college and lecturers is done by email. Many lecturers exclusively put their notes or tutorial sheets online. My course was maths and so didn't involve any real written assignments but I imagine if you were doing a course that did involve essays it would be very awkward not having your own laptop. There are computers available in the college but as people have said there is a limited amount which tend to be hard to come by during busy periods, and some of the library computers in particular are frustratingly slow.

So, unless you are living at home and have a PC in your house or something I would definitely advise in getting a laptop once you start. I didn't get mine until about a month after I started first year and as it was before smartphones were common I found it such a nuisance having to go to a computer lab every time I wanted to even just check my emails. It probably wouldn't be so bad if you did have a smartphone but I'd definitely say if you have any written assignments in your course you'd want your own laptop.

Laura says

I have to be honest, in my course i never bring my laptop to lectures, there's no need and they are just distracting. Generally if you can at all, id advise buying a laptop because it comes in handy for doing assignments when not on campus, checking college emails and accessing moodle (this is where all the lecturers put their powerpoints and notes) . Laptops however can be expensive and if your circumstances don't allow for this, the library is free to use as a student, has long opening hours and is well stocked with computers and printers. If you're going to use the library computers though, I would suggest buying a usb key to save assignments to so that you dont lose your work.

polkabunny

I found my laptop was really helpful for typing up notes (I type quicker than I write, and spell check is always a bonus) and for bringing to meetings and such (I had a lot :P). There are a lot of computer labs which you'll have access to, the computers in the Business building, Henry Gratten and the Library. However, it is nice to be able to do work outside of these places, and if you want to go on the internet a lot to check Moodle and your timetable, it's handy to have a laptop too.
There's no real requirement for it though. You should also be aware, should you buy one, of what you really need from it. If it's just for word processing and internet useage, maybe a netbook might be easier to use? Be aware of size and weight also for your trip to college, I couldn't use my proper laptop bag (satchel style bag) and couldn't be bothered to get a proper school bag for holding a laptop, and my laptop looks like so battered now!

ironictoaster

I'd definitely consider getting one. They're handy for college work/assignments, very hard to get a computer library during the academic year.

allygatore

Do you guys have any special prices for laptops at DCU?

alittlelamb

allygatore wrote: »

Do you guys have any special prices for laptops at DCU?

Hey, you get a 10% discount with Apple, I'm doing Communications so my MacBook is my baby, but unless you're doing Comms, Journalism or Multimedia I don't think a Mac is strictly necessary! Not sure about other brands!

Kavrocks

alittlelamb wrote: »

Hey, you get a 10% discount with Apple, I'm doing Communications so my MacBook is my baby, but unless you're doing Comms, Journalism or Multimedia I don't think a Mac is strictly necessary! Not sure about other brands!

Or you are looking for an Ultrabook and the Macbook Air actually comes in as the cheapest. May have changed since I got mine though so shop around.

If you are getting a laptop for college unless you drive or will be driving everyday I suggest an Ultrabook, will be much easier to carry around and leave you more room for other items.

dubdub123

hi alittlelamb, my daughter is starting communications this year and we were just wondering would she need an apple? She has a laptop but I need to get a new battery sorted but before I put money into that would that be ok or realistically would she need an apple mac? do you know if any other hardware is required later on in the course, such as camcorder or stuff? If so is anything supplied or on loan?

iiHyPeRize

alittlelamb wrote: »

Hey, you get a 10% discount with Apple, I'm doing Communications so my MacBook is my baby, but unless you're doing Comms, Journalism or Multimedia I don't think a Mac is strictly necessary! Not sure about other brands!

The only course that a MAC would be helpful in is Multimedia, I can't see why you'd need a mac for Journalism or communications? I mean, I'll be doing journalism this year, and I have a very powerful laptop, more powerful than a MAC and significantly cheaper also.. The whole 'you need a MAC' story is quite frankly bull****.

MACs are a luxury, not a necessity...

B00MSTICK

10% off a Mac is still a hefty price to pay.
I honestly don't see why a mac would be needed for any course unless you're doing something design or music related possibly.

For the majority of students a basic enough laptop will do perfectly OP.

Noodleworm

some laptops may be more powerful than macs but in my class (Multimedia) by the end we were about 95% mac owners.
Main reasons being compatibility with the college computers. (Multimedia/Communications/journalism will mostly work in the mac labs), also the fact they are much lighter, and last really well, the hardware is excellent, aluminium instead of plastic, I've known plenty of people to keep one for about 5 years and still be pleased with it.

In something like communications they will mostly focus on using industry cameras (We loan Sony EX3s), camcorders can be handy for personal assignments when those aren't available but usually won't be the same quality.

alittlelamb

iiHyPeRize wrote: »

The only course that a MAC would be helpful in is Multimedia, I can't see why you'd need a mac for Journalism or communications? I mean, I'll be doing journalism this year, and I have a very powerful laptop, more powerful than a MAC and significantly cheaper also.. The whole 'you need a MAC' story is quite frankly bull****.

MACs are a luxury, not a necessity...

I'm going into final year specialising in Photography & Imaging, and hope to pursue graphic design, so a Mac was a bit of a necessity for me. I'm not sure about Journalism but in Communications and Multimedia they're definitely an advantage, considering how busy the Mac labs in college get around assignment time.

alittlelamb

dubdub123 wrote: »

hi alittlelamb, my daughter is starting communications this year and we were just wondering would she need an apple? She has a laptop but I need to get a new battery sorted but before I put money into that would that be ok or realistically would she need an apple mac? do you know if any other hardware is required later on in the course, such as camcorder or stuff? If so is anything supplied or on loan?

Hi! I bought one about a couple of months into first year on the advice of my media practice lecturer, but it is a huge chunk of money! I bought it as I didn't have a laptop at the time, if I had had one it would have been fine. But if you're going to be spending a lot on the battery then a Mac might be the way to go! I find it great for the design work, if she's planning on specialising in photography it's probably a good call All equipment can be taken on loan from the college for assignments so there's no need to worry about that

dubdub123

Great guys , thanks for the feedback. Will price up the options and see what she might be able to do and if there's any options of paying monthly once her grant comes in and stuff.