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The question is not whether you should bring a computer to school, but what kind you should bring. With all the options available it's not easy to figure out what type of computer is right for you. The decision that students struggle with the most is whether to bring a PC or a laptop. In the section that follows is an outline of the major advantages and disadvantages of laptops and PCs. This will help you to make an educated decision about which type of computer is best for you.
Don't worry if you won't be bringing your own computer. There will be plenty of computers on campus that you will be able to use. Convenience is the only major thing you will be sacrificing by not having your own computer.
I. Bringing a computer to school is a good decision if you have the option.
If you are fortunate enough to have a computer, you should definitely bring it along. Don't worry if you will not have the option of taking your own computer. Your school will have computer labs available for you to use. It is important to keep in mind that around exam time computer labs on campus will get very crowded, and you should get to the labs as early as possible.
II. Get a computer that is appropriate for your studies.
Think of a computer like a car. It can be fast, it can sound great, it can be powerful, or it can be all of these things. And just like with a car, you will pay big bucks for performance! Before you purchase a computer specifically for school, make sure you know what you will be using it for. If you will be using your computer for typing papers or constructing the occasional PowerPoint presentation a computer with average performance (and an average price tag) will be fine for you. If you will be majoring in graphical design, or some other computer-related major then you will need a computer with higher performance (and a higher price tag). If you're unsure about what you will need, contact your school for information on what type of computer will be adequate. Regardless of what type of computer you will be bringing, make sure it already has an Ethernet card (enables you to access the internet via the school's network) installed. You will be waiting a long time to have a card installed when you get to school.
III. Your school may require you to bring a laptop computer.
Some schools are requiring students to bring (or purchase through them) a laptop computer. This saves some time and research because the school will tell you exactly what to get. But this also makes you a great target! If every student is required to have a laptop computer, your campus is transformed into a goldmine for any willing thief. Don't think that it can't happen to you! Most laptops (and PCs) that are stolen on college campuses are not taken by petty thieves, but instead by people who know what they're doing, and have done this sort of thing before. Exercise caution and common sense and you will have your computer for a long time. Don't leave your laptop unattended, lock it up whenever possible, and never leave it out in plain view in your room.
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IV. If you will be taking a laptop to school a docking station will make studying in your room a lot easier.
A docking station looks like a full-size computer (PC) with no guts. It has a full-size monitor, keyboard, and mouse that will make studying and writing papers much easier. A docking station can also house extra drives, allowing for a larger memory capacity. If you won't be getting a docking station, you should at least consider getting a full-size monitor, keyboard, and mouse separately that you can use when you are working in your room.
The main advantages of a portable computer (PCs) are:
The main advantages of a laptop computer are: