Laptop

[Somedfjd]

This subject have nothing to do with being an International student but I think that it's the best place for it.

I spent all of my Undergrad with a regular desktop at home, and I did not need a laptop because there was computers in every spot in the campus.

How much an laptop will be necessary to me as grad. student, do you think that I will be OK with regular desktop computer?

[Debating]

I spent my whole undergrad with a laptop because I had to move at least twice a year. I don't think having a laptop will be necessary in grad school and I think I'll end up buying a desktop (mini Mac, here I come ). I like having the laptop on the side though.

[Guest daphna]

I've been laptoping for the past 2.5 years because my handwriting has become so illegible I can't understand it anymore.

I'll take my laptop with me to the US, but will probably also buy a desktop there (my laptop is an ultra-light one that doesn't have a lot of power).

Anyway, computers are supposed to be quite cheap in the U.S., both desktops and laptops, so the decision should be a bit easier.

[elvisina]

My old laptop has just died, so I'm looking forward to buying a nice cheap new one when I move over. Yay for cheap(ish) US electricals!

[Guest caffeine addict]

I am contemplating a laptop simply for mobility and convenience. Like the first poster, I spent all of undergrad with a desktop computer, and no computer notebook. For my discipline, at least, I think a laptop is more practical, for researching, and travel (I'm in history, so my dissertation will require overseas archival work, and having a laptop would be much more practical than making hand-written notes).

Also, if you want to do any research in your carrel, it's probably a good idea to have a laptop if you want convenience at your fingertips. I'm sure almost all university campuses are wireless these days, and having your own computer will let you connect to the internet from the comfort of your cramped study space so that you can locate books with greater ease.

However, I imagine that having a laptop is all about personal preference. For me, at least, I think it will be an investment to have everything at my fingertips wherever I go.

[Guest guest]

I have been a grad student for 2 years now, and I can tell you a laptop is very useful tool to have at your disposal. Sooner or later it may be a good idea to get one. Here are some reasons:

1. You'll have to do various presentations of projects for your courses, and a computer presentation is viewed as way more novel and professional than transparencies or blackboards. The students that didn't use computers really stood out a s a bit more outdated. Another plus of doing presentations on computers: can change typos/mistakes the last minute instead of redoing/reprinting the whole transparencies.

2. Conference presentations. Same reasons as above, but add that finding printers/transparencies/markers in the conferences is quite a hassle, so a laptop is a convenience. Also, you can connect to internet without having to rely on the hotel computer, which often has a lineup and/or costs a bit.

3. A laptop may be useful in classes in which you have to take a lot of notes (humanities/arts).

4. It is nice to type your thesis in your laptop while sitting at the local coffee shop.

5. You can connect to wireless there and check forum posts like this when taking a break (which I am doing now )

[Guest Guest]

Although I hate them, I would say that a laptop is a great investment for a grad student. Specially since you can connect wireless everywhere on campus and, as somebody said, coffee shops.

[Somedfjd]

I do not need it to take notes during classes, for two main reasons, first of all I type REALLY slowly, and secondly I'm going to Engineering program so there is a lot of formals and sketches that typing them takes a lot of time.

[Guest guest]

I'm going to Engineering program so there is a lot of formals and sketches that typing them takes a lot of time.

Have one advice for you: learn LaTeX. Sooner or later you'll need to, but better sooner.

I am in program that has way more formulas and sketches than Engineering, but still find a laptop very useful for the other reasons I listed previously.

[enoksrd]

Have one advice for you: learn LaTeX. Sooner or later you'll need to, but better sooner.

I am in program that has way more formulas and sketches than Engineering, but still find a laptop very useful for the other reasons I listed previously.

I certainly can't type LaTeX well enough myself to do this, but I once had a TA in a math class that would come to lectures and take note in LaTeX of everything the teacher said and wrote. Pretty amazing.

[Minnesotan]

I would be so lost in grad school without my laptop. I'm in the humanities/social sciences, though, so I write a lot more than the natural sciences peeps.