Laptops for Uni (1 Viewer)

[Frigid]

I can answer two of your three questions:
2. It can make it rather easy, providing you're willing do some fill-in work. Most laptops come with a microphone as standard. So in addition to typing up notes, you can also record the lecture. That or clip on a small lapel mic to pick up ambience. You'll have to adjust the gain, so it won't be the best quality recording, but it's only voice anyway

i've voice-recorded all of my classes (about 16hrs worth of mp3s a week), but trust me, other than self-assurance, you will not have time to review them.

edit: small font speaks big words.

 

[Dreamerish*~]

Yeah, I can't imagine myself going home to listen to recorded lectures.

I don't want to waste money on something that isn't worth it, so I'll see how it is when uni starts, whether people find it really useful or not.

 

[fnkychk]

Most laptops come with a microphone as standard

That sounds pretty cool. Cooler than it really is, probably.

I was looking at laptops in some catalogue, and it had different names for screens, e.g. Brightscreen. What the hell is that?

 

[hipsta_jess]

1. No
2. No
3. Yes

 

[_dhj_]

Just get one as a desktop replacement... cos laptops look sexier

 

[ace]

brightscreen

basically, it means you can use your laptop in the sun, and the screen looks all smooth/shiny

the older screens have like a matte finish

its all about that reflection/glare stuff. With usual laptops, you normally have to be under some shade, else the laptop screen becomes like a pain in the ass to see (believe me, its not fun having to adjust the position of the laptop cause someone decides to open a blind/move a curtain)

well yeah, my 2cents

buy a laptop if you can afford it and if you'll use it. If you buy it for the point of just having it, you'll probably not use it and succumb to playing games or watching a movie during a lecture (i've seen way too many people do that so far in lectures)

nothing keeps you concentrated on the work at hand like a car racing game in the row below yours

 

[seremify007]

Don't get a PDA. PDAs are horrible to try to write on... I stupidly bought one thinking it'd come in handy but instead, it took even longer to use because it has poor handwriting recognition and the onscreen keyboard just isn't that fast. Maybe a laptop is useful if you can type fast (say 100+ wpm?) but otherwise, paper is probably better since it'll always be visible, it'll always work, and provided you write half-decently, it'll be readable without electricity.

 

[AsyLum]

Edit: Size 3 is much better than size 1.

You just don't want to fit in

I'm thinking of buying a laptop for uni, but I have a few questions:

1. Is it common for students to use laptops during lectures?
2. Does it make note-taking easier or faster?
3. Is it a pain in the ass to carry around?

Thank you.

1. No.
2. No. In fact its harder, since formatting takes a few steps whereas i can quickly do any sort of formatting with ease.
3. Yes.

 

[Lundy]

I rarely see people using laptops in lectures.

 

[iamsickofyear12]

I have a laptop and I take it to uni sometimes but I use it mainly for watching movies and playing games when I have big gaps. Since the lecture notes are posted on the internet for all my subjects I just listen to lectures and don't bother writing anything at all. I think most people who have laptops use them for the same thing as I do.

But my laptop is useful at home because it means I have my own computer and I can store all the lecture notes and stuff on there and I can use it anywhere in the house.

I am thinking of buying a PDA to use when I am at uni.

 

[MiuMiu]

Yeah Id say a pen and paper are MUCH more convinient thant a laptop. Ive had my laptop since year 12 and the only time it leaves the house is when I go to a public library to do assignments. Ive taken it to uni ONCE to do a powerpoint presentation.

Theres a guy in one of my classes that brings it like everyday and me being quite anal the tapping of the keys pisses me off to no end!

 

[~ ReNcH ~]

If you don't use a laptop, do you guys usually write your notes during lectures and then type them out when you get home? Or do you study from the notes that you took initially?

Btw. do lecturers tend to go over things that are covered in the textbooks anyway, or do they try to approach the content differently by putting their own spin on things? I'm guessing it's different to school where teachers literally read from the textbook

Edit: does anyone know much Tablet PCs cost?

 

[Lundy]

Some people like to type their notes later on. I don't because I'm lazy.

 

[Frigid]

Edit: does anyone know much Tablet PCs cost?

pound for pound, more than the price of a similarly-specced plain laptop

 

[Frigid]

"Only fag*ots use laptops in lectures...actually, if they watch porn on them instead of typing, they're alright, but usually the Asian fag*ots with laptops watch FU*KIN ANIME in lectures, co*kheads.

what is your fascination with homosexuals and pornography brogan?

have you some guy-on-guy-hentai-on-a-laptop-in-a-packed-lectureroom fetish?

<3 frigey

 

[iamsickofyear12]

99% of people I have seen using laptops in lectures were playing games or watching tv shows or movies.

 

[Frigid]

Yes, I would hope you do to....TENTACLE PORN!

tentacle porn doesn't usually involve guys [not enough holes]...

also, i'm yet to get a laptop.. anybody got some good lightweight recommendations for around $1600?

 

[gman03]

If you don't use a laptop, do you guys usually write your notes during lectures and then type them out when you get home? Or do you study from the notes that you took initially?

Btw. do lecturers tend to go over things that are covered in the textbooks anyway, or do they try to approach the content differently by putting their own spin on things? I'm guessing it's different to school where teachers literally read from the textbook

I write my notes on scrap paper then type them up at the end of the week on computer. I do that because it forces me to revise the boring shitz and two I can't read my hand writing after a week or so. It comes in handy when making executive notes.

As to lecturers, some course doesn't even have notes and you have to write down what he/she said. So hard for those now-or-never notes. Shame

 

[MiuMiu]

Ive never been to a lecture that was vital to my understanding of the material. Thats why they're not compulsory I suppose.

 

[xeuyrawp]

I'm thinking of buying a laptop for uni, but I have a few questions:

1. Is it common for students to use laptops during lectures?
2. Does it make note-taking easier or faster?
3. Is it a pain in the ass to carry around?

Thank you.

1. It depends on the subject, but I usually have only 1-3 students per lecture having them.
2. It wouldn't for me.
3. It shouldn't be if you look after it, get a decent bag for it, and get a slimmer model.

I would never use them in lectures as I think I'd get shitty when people look at what I'm typing. I also can write extremely fast and use lots of shorthand notes/diagrams, which you can't use as a laptop... Also note that some subjects require notes unable to be taken on a comp, like math/science and foreign languages.

Personally, I would recommend waiting until you've tried uni for a while until you invest in such a big thing. You might find that a lot of your subjects require a lot of putting hand-outs together, in which case, you might not even use your laptop.

Also remember that you could sit in the library and use your laptop rather than queuing for a computer. I live close to uni (literally a two-minute drive), so if I want to use a comp, I just come home.

Also worth factoring in is whether it will actually be a distraction to you. I told a person to either stop playing games or leave, because he was sitting infront of me playing half-life 2. It was really annoying, as well... Why would you even bother coming to lectures? Not only that, but the lecturers would usually notice (she didn't in this case), and it would peeve them...