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Furry · 10-31-2005, 08:37 AM

I'm finding my laptop incredibly useful. The computers in the institute where I study are in dire, dire need of an upgrade (Read Win 98 SE) and run incredibly slowly. There's no way to save your work unless it's onto floppy (No e-mailing your work to an account so that you can pick it up later elsewhere, as something is messed up network-wide and no USB key disks either).

The machines in the library are running some kind of Linux (I think it's Mandrake) and while they are modern, I just can't get used to the layout. Plus, something in the brower settings (Konquerer) crashes it every time I try and go onto the institute's own web site to get class updates, info etc. Add to this the fact that I just can't get used to a French keyboard (Shift+comma for a full stop or period(!)) and I've got a prime excuse for using my laptop.
Moving a desktop over to another country is not an option, and I tend to do all of my non-note related work on my computer anyway - it's neater.

All of these things combined make my personal choice obvious, but what about a "3rd way" - Small Form Factor or SFFs? I know you need all the extra kit such as a screen etc but even once those having been added on, if you're not going to be using your machine for note-taking or (as in my case, rubbish uni computer replacement) then it may work out as cheaper and less of a hassle. Laptops can be horrifically overpriced, especially for top-of the range model. The one thing I would point out is the ease of wireless networking with the newer models - good if home's a way away and the on-site machines are rubbish/unaccessable etc.

10-31-2005, 08:37 AM	#41 (permalink)
Furry Crazy Location: UK	I'm finding my laptop incredibly useful. The computers in the institute where I study are in dire, dire need of an upgrade (Read Win 98 SE) and run incredibly slowly. There's no way to save your work unless it's onto floppy (No e-mailing your work to an account so that you can pick it up later elsewhere, as something is messed up network-wide and no USB key disks either). The machines in the library are running some kind of Linux (I think it's Mandrake) and while they are modern, I just can't get used to the layout. Plus, something in the brower settings (Konquerer) crashes it every time I try and go onto the institute's own web site to get class updates, info etc. Add to this the fact that I just can't get used to a French keyboard (Shift+comma for a full stop or period(!)) and I've got a prime excuse for using my laptop. Moving a desktop over to another country is not an option, and I tend to do all of my non-note related work on my computer anyway - it's neater. All of these things combined make my personal choice obvious, but what about a "3rd way" - Small Form Factor or SFFs? I know you need all the extra kit such as a screen etc but even once those having been added on, if you're not going to be using your machine for note-taking or (as in my case, rubbish uni computer replacement) then it may work out as cheaper and less of a hassle. Laptops can be horrifically overpriced, especially for top-of the range model. The one thing I would point out is the ease of wireless networking with the newer models - good if home's a way away and the on-site machines are rubbish/unaccessable etc. __________________ Furry is the leader of his own cult, the "Furballs of Doom". They sit about chanting "Doom, Doom, Doom". (From a random shot in the dark by SirLance)