Do you have a laptop? If so how useful is it?
Do you have a desktop? If so how useful is it?
Do you have a tape recorder (or similar)? Is it useful?
Is there anything that you have that you (or someone else may) find very helpful?
That’s about it. (I’m going to the U of S this Sept, and I’m excited, I’m not sure what I’ll need)
Do you have a laptop?
Yes I do. In fact, it is what I am using to browse the message boards at the moment. :smack:
If so how useful is it?
If you happen to have professors who put up a lot of notes, and you are a fast typer, it is very useful. There are many times I have sat back and been able to listen to the prof explain the concepts without frantically trying to copy down the notes. And it’s always amusing to watch your classmates to do the frantic scribbling.
Do you have a desktop?
Yes I do.
If so how useful is it?
It’s useful just like a regular computer. It’s very much like having a laptop except it’s not a laptop 
. Both are computers and both gets the job done. However, if you are like who spends a lot of time on the computers and internet, then having a desktop for writing papers and research is better than a laptop, IMO, because a laptop gets really hot after a while.
Do you have a tape recorder (or similar)?
I don’t.
Is it useful?
This question’s pretty much N/A for me, but some people are visual learners, and others are auditory learners. I’m a visual one, so I never found the need for it.
I have a desktop, and use it constantly (mostly for fun though, as I’m a science major and don’t write many papers). I type fast so I was thinking of getting a laptop for lectures, but for me it’s not worth lugging around all the time when paper notebooks and pencils are much lighter. And since I’m a science major, many of my lectures require diagrams or greek symbols, which are difficult to create quickly in a wood processor. Plus, I’ve always found laptop keyboards too flat, I have trouble typing on them.
One thing that you might find useful is a white board for your room. I don’t have one, but my friend does and I’ve been thinking of getting one for the next school year. They help for jotting down quick notes while researching, keeping appointments, and organizing thoughts while studying. It can also serve as scratch paper for homework problems that require a lot of trial and error (if you’re a science or math major, that is).
I have a desktop only. I use it lots, for both homework and fun. I don’t have a laptop and don’t really think that I need it. I take handwritten notes in class, as has everyone else in my classes so far.
I have a desktop, but while I was waiting for it to be delivered, I saw a friend’s setup and was smacking myself for not doing something similar. He has a laptop, which he takes with him to lab and class and such, but when he gets home, he plugs it into a hub. This hub is connected to a normal desktop-size peripherals like a screen, keyboard, printer, etc.; it’s like he’s using the laptop as the tower of a regular desktop. This way he gets the best of both worlds, with the portability of a laptop and the comfort of use of a desktop.
A laptop is useful if a)you like to study/write papers away from your room, or b)if you type well and will be taking mostly classes that are entirely verbal. No matter how good a typist you are, a laptop isn’t good for taking notes in math, chemistry, or physics. but it’d probably be great in a history class if you type faster than you write. Some universities are wiring their classrooms for wireless internet access, which is probably a mixed blessing if you’ve got a laptop, because you’ve got plenty of useful resources but also tons and tons of distractions. I doubt that having IM available would be a good thing most of the time in class, for example.
Some people I know tape lectures, but I have my doubts as to how many of them actually listen to the tapes. Some of the foreign students who struggle with English probably find it useful, but unless you truly don’t absorb written materials and learn only aurally, I doubt it’d be something you’d want.
When I was in school, I had a laptop for a while, but I got tired of having to lug it to and from class. I ended up trading it in for a desktop for use at home.
You want to know the best way to take notes in class? I’ll tell you! Get a PDA that is compatible with one of those little foldable portable keyboards. It’s a fraction of the cost of a laptop, you can type or draw diagrams on it, and you can take all your notes for all your classes with you wherever you go. Plus you can back it all up on a regular computer every day.
Not to mention chicks dig the massive geek coolness factor.
I did this for the last two or so years of college, and loved it.
I thought that a tape recorder might be useful as an insurance (what did the prof say as I was recreating that diagram)
It depends on what you’re studying.
Much of the time, a laptop does not make notetaking easier, especially when there are many diagrams to take down. If you’re studying math for example, you probably would not bring a laptop. You would be taking notes at 20% of the speed of everyone else doing it by hand.
“Laptop friendly” courses are those where the professor mostly talks theory and facts, like in history for example… Basically those courses where you know the professor will elaborate on most of his points (you would be at a great advantage if you’re a fast typist). For the occasional diagram, you can bring in a small notebook and a pencil or pen.
Even in the laptop-friendly courses, there are pitfalls. Don’t spend too much time formatting, especially in Word, where AutoFormat features are active and you will be tempted to refine the formatting. You might be better off taking notes in Windows’ Notepad. Also, if you get a wireless connection from the school, you may be tempted to open up your IM programs. Don’t do this.
I hope that’s somewhat helpful. I do have a laptop, which is included in my university tuition (my program’s a business/technology hybrid), and nowadays I only bring it to class when I know I will benefit from a program installed in my computer, such as Visual Basic .NET or SPSS (for Statistics). Besides, the thing’s heavy!
Of course, I’m not saying you should not get a laptop. If you want to use something that takes up less space and you can take along with you, get one. I just wanted to elaborate on the notetaking aspect, that’s all. 
I honestly don’t know a single person who records lectures, and then listens to them again for notes purposes. Shoot, I tried to record my biology lectures because I kept falling asleep (who knew taking a full biology course in 3 weeks would be a bad idea?) and that lasted for all of two days before I realized I didn’t want to listen to six hours of lectures a day.
Your best bet is just learn to take really good notes. Only write down what matters. It might take awhile, but you’ll learn how to filter out the “garbage” and only write down what matters.
I guess if you’re very much an audio-learner, a tape recorder will be a big help. But if you’re just concerned about getting all the notes, don’t rely on one. Just learn basic note-taking techniques and get good at it.
I wouldn’t suggest using a laptop either, unless you type really fast and know shorthand. There’s also the added benefit of typing your notest later. I took pages of history notes, typed them all the day of the test, and aced it. And that’s all I did to study.
I have adesktop and a laptop. I’d say just find a reliable, inexpensive computer (I picked up my baby on ebay for under $400, and there’s nothing wrong with it), take good care of it, and you’ll be fine. If you can afford two computers, then by all means, get a back up.
And speaking of back-ups, back up everything you ever write. Several times if you can.
You know those big 5 subject notebooks? Stock up on those. And zip discs. See my previous point about backing up everything you ever write.
Background: BS mechanical engineering, May 2001; about 18 months off; BA history, Dec. 2004 (I hope)
Desktop - yes, since I started college. I used it mostly for fun while obtaining the engineering degree (perhaps too much fun - that 'splains the lowish GPA). Going for the second degree I use it about 50/50 for fun and for research (there are a lot of good sites out there with primary historical documents).
Laptop - I got one while working on my current degree. Basically, I got fed up one day with my lousy handwriting. I spent about 4 hours in the library researching a major paper. When I got home I spent another 4 hours trying to decipher the notes I took. I got a used laptop pretty cheap and use it whenever I am in the library. It also made going home for breaks easier as I could easily take my work with me and write anywhere. I currently only use it for research or writing when away from my desktop. (Okay, I check out the Dope too, but that probably goes without saying ).
The only other tool I recommend is rather low-tech. I always have a small memo pad and a pen handy. I get some really good ideas in the craziest places and will forget them fast if I don’t write them down.
I have a laptop. I would never trade it for a desktop while I’m at college. It’s easy for me to bring home on breaks, or to the library if I’m working on a paper. If you prefer using a desktop, I’d suggest doing what GilaB mentioned a friend does, and buy a keyboard and monitor. I was going to do this, but haven’t gotten around to it (yet).
IMHO, a tape recorder is unnecessary. Nobody over here (I study in Scotland) uses them (or they are very discreet about it). I can’t imagine myself ever listening to a lecture again when I get home or for revision purposes. Learn to take good notes instead. Or just follow my terrible example and skip lectures and the day or two before an exam read the textbook and hope that the professor has lecture notes online.
I am too poor for both a laptop and a decent desktop, so I chose the desktop. It would be very useful from time to time, but it’s certainly not necessary. From what I have seen so far, using them to take notes (during the lecture) is more common in subject with mass lectures of several hundred students. At our institute where 10 people in the same room are considered a lot, it is not so common.
Yes. Absolutely essential. From my experience it depends on the subject but we (computational linguists) could not study without one in reality. (In theory a computer room is open 24 hours a day, but depending on it exclusively would be a nightmare)
No, and I don’t know anyone who does.
It is not necessary in any way but I should have bought a laser printer for a long time. Again it depends on the subject, but I printed a lot. It would have paid off long ago, not to mention the convienience.
Ok, I just finished school, so I’m going to give you an answer:
Laptop? Yes, and with the wireless network on campus, it’s been wonderful. I can work almost anywhere when I’m there. I got this one near the start of my second semester, partly because of the availability of the wireless network.
Desktop? Yes, but I almost never turn it on - only when I need to print something, since it’s hooked to the printer and the laptop isn’t.
Tape recorder? Nope, and I’ve never wanted one. BUT, if English isn’t your native language or one that you’re fluent in (I didn’t notice if there was any indication in your location field), you might find one very useful. There were several international students in my classes, and at least two of them used tape recorders in every class.
What else is helpful? Mostly, the USB drive that I bought my last semester - the one that fits on my keychain. When I had presentations to do, I could save the presentation to that, then just plug it in and go - no need to deal with CD. And, if I didn’t feel like hauling my laptop to campus, I could take that, because most of my work was saved there.
Make sure, if you take a laptop, that you’ve got a good case/backpack to carry it in.
I have a laptop, not a desktop. It’s my only computer, and very useful to me.
Unless you live in the state, or have relatives nearby, or don’t mind moving all the desktop stuff every time you move, a laptop is better than a desktop. You want a desktop? Most universities have computer labs where you can use them for free.
I have a tape recorder, I use it to listen to music 
. Seriously, some professors will glare at you and tell you to stop recording the classes, although I’m sure others won’t mind.
Get a printer in which the ink lasts a long time, or is cheap to buy. Otherwise, buy removable storage devices so that you can print your stuff at the computer labs. Warning: in many cases you’ll have to pay.
Get a notebook and pen to take notes.
Do you mean the University of Saskatchewan? I was there for seven years.
I can give you more useful advice about that place than whether or not you’ll need a laptop (I didn’t, by the way, and I managed all right), but I have to run. One of the best things I will say about the U of S is that most of the computer labs are open 24/7, and if you’re an arts student I can think of at least four separate labs on campus that you can use. In seven years I always could find a free terminal.
Amazed that others don’t use tape recorders! I use a minidisc recorder and it has saved my life over the past year. Because I have an archive of all the lectures I can find virtually any subject I’ve studied and go straight to what the prof was saying. I find my notes very difficult to work from, as I’m always missing important bits in favour of other important bits. Also, I can go for walks and listen to the lecture again, which helped me get back into a sense of where the academics were at while I was writing my essays.
I find this is less necessary in courses that give really, really good lecture notes, but how many of them are there?
Also have a laptop and a desktop. Probably don’t need both. But the desktop is way too noisy to use during the night, and that’s when I have to do about half my studying. Laptop is useful for library work but the batteries are only about two hours, max, and using a cable makes it very awkward to find somewhere quiet to sit and work (all the power points are in rooms full of other computers!)
Oh I don’t know what I’d do without my minidiscs of the past term. If I had recorded the first term my current revising would be a LOT easier!
I do maths, and couldn’t have used a laptop to take notes for almost all of my courses, because there’s too much surprising notation - if you have a diagram, or multiple subscripts, or suddenly need the Hebrew alphabet, you’re done for. A tablet PC could be wonderful, maybe, but expensive, and it’d take a while to configure.
For some courses most of the lectures would be prose, and then I think a laptop could be good. If you put the time in to set up decent shortcuts for abbreviations, etc, then it’s probably going to be faster and more readable.
However, I’m glad to have a laptop because it enables me to go and work in a friend’s room, or the library if I want, or even outside; it’s a lot less hassle to take home at the end of term, I can go to LAN games easily; if there’s a powercut I can carry on for two hours without noticing, or move the computer round the room easier.
Destop advantages would be cheaper, upgradable, ec.
Yep, U of S= University of Saskatchewan.
Also, the computer I will probably be taking has a HD with about 3.7 of 7 (or so) GB free (500 Mhz, 96Mb RAM, Win 98 Se, Office XP) is that good enough (I play no games on it), or should I consider a new computer?
What model of MD player did you use, and what sort of classes did you take?
FWIW, I’m going into the College of Commerce, with a side of Chemistry.
My laptop kept me from having to use the school’s beat up Dell models in classes that required their use. I’ve only had to use it for two classes, but I’m an Education/English major. Lots of people use them in my Political Science classes, but I don’t usually carry it with me to those.
As someone else mentioned, laptops are nice when it comes time to move.
As far as a tape recorder goes, if you use a laptop, just hook up a small microphone and record onto your hard drive.
Also, if you go the laptop route, get a backpack that can carry it. And don’t get a widescreen laptop. Mine is awesome and all, but tough to carry.