| The case for a desktop: | | | | carry around campus means you can get |
| | | | Internet access pretty much all over. You can |
| Basically, desktops give you better | | | | also use it to take notes in class, and |
| performance for the buck. Budget desktops | | | | depending on the kind of laptop, some even |
| start at around $300-$400 (LCD monitor | | | | allow you to use it as a notebook (see |
| included) while the cheapest laptops will | | | | Tablets under the Laptop Buying Guide). |
| cost you at least $100 more. Desktops are | | | | Laptops are also much less of a hassle to |
| easier to upgrade manually than laptops, and | | | | take home for breaks. Overall, the advantages |
| are harder to steal. They also tend to be | | | | of having a laptop mainly revolve around its |
| more reliable than laptops, which are moved | | | | size and portability. |
| around often and are more prone to failure. | | | | |
| Desktops also support multiple monitors | | | | Which one you pick depends on your situation. |
| easily, which may be important for hardcore | | | | What are you going to use it for? How far do |
| programmers. Finally, serious gamers may | | | | you have to travel to school? What does your |
| prefer high-end desktops for the performance, | | | | budget look like? |
| especially when it comes to supporting the | | | | |
| newest graphics cards. Overall, desktops give | | | | For most students, especially freshmen, I |
| a better deal for raw computing power and | | | | would recommend a laptop over a desktop. |
| better reliability, with support for multiple | | | | Unless you're a hardcore gamer or programmer, |
| monitors. | | | | there isn't a huge gap in performance between |
| | | | desktops and similarly priced laptops for |
| The case for a laptop: | | | | everyday programs like Internet Explorer, |
| | | | Firefox, Word, Excel, IM and so on. Your dorm |
| The main advantage of laptops is portability, | | | | room most likely isn't going to be huge, and |
| which can be a huge plus for college | | | | a desktop will take up more space and be much |
| students. Moving in and moving out out a | | | | more of a pain to move in and out. Also, |
| dorm, house, or apartment with a laptop are | | | | laptop prices have been dropping recently, |
| obviously much easier than with a desktop. | | | | not quite to the level of desktop prices, but |
| Your laptop will take up much less desk space | | | | you can get a serviceable budget laptop for |
| than a desktop, even assuming you have a LCD | | | | around $500. See our Laptop Buying Guide for |
| monitor for the desktop. Most universities | | | | details. |
| are going wireless, so having a laptop to | | | | |