Bigman Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 I am after a new computer for when i head up to UNI, i am not sure whether to go for a desktop or a laptop, i know the obvious advantages of the laptop being more mobile etc, but apart from that i havn't the faintest, also what computers would u recomend, i currently use a Dell and have never had any problems with there kit AT ALL, an i am considering going dell again for my UNI computer, but are there any other systems that you would recomend? It must be able to run 3D desugn packages, such as Solid works, prodesktop etc, and have no problems with them, as most of my course is based apon this type of work, it must also have wireless internet capabilities as all the halls at harper adams work there internet on a wireless system, so i must have wireless to be able to access the net. thanks Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 (edited) i'd say get a new dell model there very good looking pc and the packages you can get for them are mint you can get a right deal for right cheap. Carl Edit- he's a good del offer on a laptop clicky Edited July 7, 2005 by Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munkee Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 (edited) i went for a dell laptop (inspiron 9100) i had to spend a lot of £ to get it to run all the programs i use at uni but the main reason was just the whole having to pack up a pc and take it to uni, not being able to move it around in my room etc. Laptop has just been so much more convenient especially when ive been pushed for space i can just stick it in a bag and move it off my table. My vote goes for laptop even though its going to cost a lot more than a normal spec pc i dont really know any other advantages lol Edited July 7, 2005 by Spacemunkee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Nick Riviera Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 laptop would be usefull for taking notes in lectures too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munkee Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 laptop would be usefull for taking notes in lectures too . ← i would laugh if i saw that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biketrialler Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 That dell that you linked to... 256mb ram and 40gb hard disk is a f**king joke for £479 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 That dell that you linked to... 256mb ram and 40gb hard disk is a f**king joke for £479 ← i thought it was a good deal but i don't now very much about pc so you now :"> Carl :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OD404 Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 If you want to be running CAD packages, then a desktop would be the better option in my opinion. Bigger screens and more power (for less than the laptop equivalent) is what will be needed for programs like Solidworks. I started at uni with a laptop, but I now have a desktop and its far better. The mobility given by a laptop is useful no doubt, especially for group work, but I don't regret switching. The ideal setup would be a reasonably powerfull desktop and a cheap laptop for transporting project work, I know a few people who have this and it makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan6061 Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 I hear Alienware are good... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tank_rider Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 Another vote for a desktop here too. I have one which i use for CAD and other apps quite a lot. Trying to use a laptop efficiently for CAD would be become annoying after a while, as you cant setup your screen and contact points as easily (yes you could get a keyboard and mouse to use with a laptop but that kinda defeats the object doesnt it?) If you want, i could do you a sepc for a PC, then build it up for you when you go off to uni (you'll be coming over to luf to ride lots anyway. If you definately want to go for a factory build i would try and find an athlon 64 powered system as they are much better performers and run cooler than P4 systems meaning they are quieter and easier to live with. One of my housemates last year had a P4 dell and couldnt leave it on overnight due to the noise it made, whereas my highly overclocked athlon xp was nice and quiet allowing me to leave it on downloading etc overnight. The advantage of a custom built system being that you get exactly what you want, however you have the problem of no service backup (well ill do it but not onsite, or owt). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 All Dell are P4, by the way. I'm sure you knew that Andy but some people might not. In fact AMD are currently sueing Intel for their monopoly on the market and forcing Dell to use only Intel CPU's. I use a Dell at work (P4 2.8GHz), and I have to say, it's the quietest PC I've ever used/heard. So quiet you can barely hear the fans. You can if you try, but it is nearly silent. Probably isn't up to much graphics wise, but it doesn't need to be. Conversely my A64 shuttle is a noisy little bugger. Most of it is graphics card fan though. I think: If I didn't play games on my PC, I'd just buy a cheap laptop. Everyone seems to need the most expensive laptop at the time, but 99% of people don't need it. For general buzzing around the internet, a cheap laptop would be fine. And obviously portable = better. But as Steve said, if you're doing lots of CAD, you should probably look at something quite powerful, with a decent graphics card. Which basically means a desktop (unless you're willing to throw money at this PC). Something like a shuttle coupled with a nice thin TFT would be pretty portable and small, yet have all the functionality of a "proper" PC :) Oh, and don't worry too much about the wireless - even if the computer doesn't come with it, you can just buy a wireless (PCI/PCMCIA) card for less than a tenner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant_ride Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 I startred with a desktop and loved it... got the top spec compaq presario on boxing day with a 700 squid reduction (Y) i use lots of cad and 3d modelling programs and a desktop is definitely superior ALTHOUGH I spunked 400 on a second hand laptop [which is awesomely powerful] but nothing beats the old desktop? as far as i care its more power for your money if you buy a desktop and there's a lot more you can do with them. up tp you but id go for a desktop oo and more space for music too .. i have 78Gb on mine now ho ho ho make sure you gert i-tunes and my-tunes on your uni network. oli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prawny Baby Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 if you hav to choose ad, id get a desktop mate! ive got both, and the desktop wins hands down! also, if you have a good desktop you wont need a mega laptop to run everything! im taking my home desktop and ive bought a laptop on ebay. ive got an IBM thinkpad X24, its seriously small, 12'' screen, docking bay, its a proper tiny laptop! but its pretty powerful, 512mb of ram, 30gb hard drive, 1.3 pentium centrino thing processor its a year old, comes with 1 years warranty, and only cost me £300!!!! its awesome get a desktop, and then a job and buy a 2nd hand laptop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johneh Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 a laptop could get stolen much easier, just something to bare in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardman Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 A laptop will be more practical at uni you can take it with you and plug it in where ever you go, try go wireless awell. I didnt really care as I was registered with special needs as in bad eyesight so the council gave me about 3k's worth of equipment and I still have it and I got to spend £200 a year on books and claim all the money back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigman Posted July 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 if you hav to choose ad, id get a desktop mate! ive got both, and the desktop wins hands down! also, if you have a good desktop you wont need a mega laptop to run everything! im taking my home desktop and ive bought a laptop on ebay. ive got an IBM thinkpad X24, its seriously small, 12'' screen, docking bay, its a proper tiny laptop! but its pretty powerful, 512mb of ram, 30gb hard drive, 1.3 pentium centrino thing processor its a year old, comes with 1 years warranty, and only cost me £300!!!! its awesome get a desktop, and then a job and buy a 2nd hand laptop! ← Haha, prawn u are a jammy git, your dad just LOVES ebay doesn't he, lol. A laptop will be more practical at uni you can take it with you and plug it in where ever you go, try go wireless awell. I didnt really care as I was registered with special needs as in bad eyesight so the council gave me about 3k's worth of equipment and I still have it and I got to spend £200 a year on books and claim all the money back. ← I will deffinalty be wireless, as all the internet supplys for any computer at Harper Adams is wireless, so even if i got a desktop it would have to be wireless. I think i am going to go with a desktop, as like u have all said, for the money i get a much higher spec. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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