My College PC

[JAmerican]

I released an article about the steps I took to build my college PC. Check it out...

http://jamerican.net

JA

[rcxAsh]

Hey JAmerican, looks really great. I've always thought about getting a nice small form-factor case for my desktop PC.. but since it rarely travels anywhere (I use a tablet PC for university), I could never justify spending the money at this point in time. Though, if my desktop were to be my university PC, then I would definately get one of those types of cases too. (Actually, if I were going to use a desktop for university, I would have built a whole new one haha...). A case with a small form-factor will make moving so much easier if you're living away from home.

I know that I made a lot of performance trade-offs with my notebook.. but the size/weight and capabilities were my primary decision factors. But in the end, everything is working out for me.

The thing that I realized is that I didn't want a desktop replacement notebook... as you say in your article, desktop replacement laptops just aren't that great... I mean, in most cases, if you want a desktop, get a desktop! The exception why I might get a desktop replacement over a desktop might be if I were attending a school overseas. In this case, the available portability would make the move easier.

My original plan was to subsequently build a new desktop PC geared for gaming. After my next co-op term, I should be able to afford it without burning my pocket too much.. however, I haven't found myself playing games as much as I used to.. and the only games that I've been playing are more than playable on my current desktop PC. And then at uni.. this past term didn't leave me with much time for any serious gaming haha.

A notebook is definately not a necessity, but after using one for a year now, I'm very happy with my decision. There are computer labs usually in the main buildings.. but sometimes your project group may want to work somewhere without computer labs... in this case, if you do happen to need a computer, then it makes things a little more complicated. As an example, for my first two terms, I stayed in residence.. the residence I stayed in was about 15 minutes away from my faculty's buildings. So understandably, most of my groups did not want to make the long treck there to work - group study rooms within the residence were so much closer! But again, this was more of a convenience. I have a friend who went through his entire computer science undergraduate program with a desktop PC. So laptops are definately not a necessity. But I will say that having a laptop definately made group meetings more flexible - we could meet anywhere.

But anyway, I think I'm getting a little long-winded here!

What are you studying at college? Best of luck with everything! You must be gearing up to start soon? Excited? :)

[JAmerican]

Hey JAmerican, looks really great. I've always thought about getting a nice small form-factor case for my desktop PC.. but since it rarely travels anywhere (I use a tablet PC for university), I could never justify spending the money at this point in time. Though, if my desktop were to be my university PC, then I would definately get one of those types of cases too. (Actually, if I were going to use a desktop for university, I would have built a whole new one haha...). A case with a small form-factor will make moving so much easier if you're living away from home.

I know that I made a lot of performance trade-offs with my notebook.. but the size/weight and capabilities were my primary decision factors. But in the end, everything is working out for me.

The thing that I realized is that I didn't want a desktop replacement notebook... as you say in your article, desktop replacement laptops just aren't that great... I mean, in most cases, if you want a desktop, get a desktop! The exception why I might get a desktop replacement over a desktop might be if I were attending a school overseas. In this case, the available portability would make the move easier.

My original plan was to subsequently build a new desktop PC geared for gaming. After my next co-op term, I should be able to afford it without burning my pocket too much.. however, I haven't found myself playing games as much as I used to.. and the only games that I've been playing are more than playable on my current desktop PC. And then at uni.. this past term didn't leave me with much time for any serious gaming haha.

A notebook is definately not a necessity, but after using one for a year now, I'm very happy with my decision. There are computer labs usually in the main buildings.. but sometimes your project group may want to work somewhere without computer labs... in this case, if you do happen to need a computer, then it makes things a little more complicated. As an example, for my first two terms, I stayed in residence.. the residence I stayed in was about 15 minutes away from my faculty's buildings. So understandably, most of my groups did not want to make the long treck there to work - group study rooms within the residence were so much closer! But again, this was more of a convenience. I have a friend who went through his entire computer science undergraduate program with a desktop PC. So laptops are definately not a necessity. But I will say that having a laptop definately made group meetings more flexible - we could meet anywhere.

But anyway, I think I'm getting a little long-winded here!

What are you studying at college? Best of luck with everything! You must be gearing up to start soon? Excited? :)

I was thinking that if I do need a laptop to access my desktop PC, I would purchase a cheap $200 laptop for that purpose. But if I need to type something, I will just use my TX and keyboard for that. My major is Microelectronic Engineering. I want to learn how the process to developing chips as well as how to utilize them. I hope to take Computer Engineering as a minor if I am able to do that and if its not a burden.

JA

[firelord901]

JA can you post your background cuz it goes great with the theme.

[rcxAsh]

I was thinking that if I do need a laptop to access my desktop PC, I would purchase a cheap $200 laptop for that purpose. But if I need to type something, I will just use my TX and keyboard for that. My major is Microelectronic Engineering. I want to learn how the process to developing chips as well as how to utilize them. I hope to take Computer Engineering as a minor if I am able to do that and if its not a burden.

JA
That's a good idea. One of the ideas that I've had would be to get a really nice desktop like you did, and then get a really light ultra-portable computer or tablet. Though, I can't afford to do that right now haha. (ultra-portable computers are always pricey... :( )

Your program sounds really neat. I'm also in engineering but a different one, systems design. Perhaps you might end up developing components for the next generation handhelds in the future :).

I had an introductory digital systems course this past term. It was kind of neat, and I got to play with Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). Made me think of the HHE used in their UX and TH Clies...

But anyway, best of luck in the new school year!