For college: Desktop or Laptop?

Question

I am going into college (undeclared major) and I am leaning towards a desktop because I don't see myself carrying a laptop around, plus the risk of theft/damage. Space isn’t an issue; I will have a large desk with lots of room either way. Also, all of the computers at my college (including dorm computers) are on a network, so you can access your files anywhere. I'm so torn between the two!

SO! Pros and cons of each? Thanks a ton everyone!

Answer 1

Go with the laptop. It has just as much power as a desktop and is easier to maintain. The mobility of a laptop is another plus. You can use it as a CD and DVD player where ever you are. They are easy to network and most colleges are wifi equipped so they can be used anywhere. I have two laptops and a desktop and rarely use the desktop.

Answer 2

I'd stick with a laptop. Although a laptop is nowhere as good as a desktop of the same price, it has many handy advantages, mainly of its portability. In college, you're gonna be going around a lot; a friend's dorm, the coffee shop, lunch break, outside on a bench, class, etc., and you're not gonna drag your desktop around in a trailer are you? No.
A laptop's screen is better for your eyes than the traditional LCD screen for a desktop.
The only main downside is that a laptop is less powerful than a desktop of the same price, powerful as in CPU speed, since it is clocked lower and less quality due to the fact that it's running on a battery and there's not a lot of room to work with. Most laptops don't come with a floppy drive either, but who uses it?
There are some very good laptops that aren't expensive; personally, mine is only $999 plus tax, Toshiba Satellite a100, and specs are:

Windows XP Home SP2 15.4" widescreen LCD
Windows Vista capable
Intel Centrino dual-core 1.6 GHz
1024 MB RAM
100 GB hard drive
Dual-layer DVD burner
128 MB video card by Intel or w/e

And it's great. Got it from Future Shop.

Answer 3

I'd go with a laptop. What if you wanted to go to a coffeeshop or work on stuff at home over break? Or go on vacation and stay in touch uploading photos?

I'm not even in college anymore, rarely take this laptop anywhere but between rooms in the house, and I never use my desktop anymore. It just sits there.

I think you'll love the laptop once you get it. Mine's a Dell that's wireless, can burn CDs, blah blah blah. If this ever crashed, I'd be getting another laptop.