Recommended Laptop for Computer Science Major?

JahLiam

JahLiam

Active member
This might be better suited in M&A but I'm not sure. Anyways, going into first year in September, I'm studying computer science, so I will need to buy a laptop. This will be my first personal laptop so I'm stuck on where I should begin to help me decide. Any computer whiz out there wanna help me out?
 
Some of your classes might have computer requirements or recommendations. Look into that. But chances are you really do not want a Mac. Every single piece of software you'll be using at university was designed with Windows in mind.

Plus you'll pay easily 1/2 the price for a comparable Mac that will last just as long.
 
mac is much better for programming on. But you really don't need one and probably won't know why it's better until you learn more. And for classes you most likely will be using a language that is multi platform anyways so it doesn't matter.

If you want to make iOS apps you need a mac.

Why are you going into computer science if you don't already know this stuff?
 
13470563:Bogez said:
mac is much better for programming on. But you really don't need one and probably won't know why it's better until you learn more. And for classes you most likely will be using a language that is multi platform anyways so it doesn't matter.

If you want to make iOS apps you need a mac.

Why are you going into computer science if you don't already know this stuff?
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because during all 4 years of high school, computers have always been available for me to access, so I've never had the need to buy a laptop

13470575:Rsimpson said:
Check out some of the higher end lenovos.
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Thanks, I've been looking at the t450s and the t450
 
As a computer science student you'll be working less with front end programs and more with code. A Unix OS is better for that. Most of my friends that write and compile nuclear reactor simulation code do so on Linux.

I do my work on a Mac. There are some really old codes that I have to run in a virtual Windows machine (and also my professional plotting software). Most of the professors in my department that do simulations work of any kind have Macs.
 
13470598:JahLiam said:
because during all 4 years of high school, computers have always been available for me to access, so I've never had the need to buy a laptop

Thanks, I've been looking at the t450s and the t450
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Idk if you said it or not but What's your price range?
 
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13470736:Rsimpson said:
You mean desktop? Pretty sure laptops aren't something you can easily order parts for and build.
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You definitely don't have as many options as building a desktop but it's possible - Definitely the way to go if you want something portable and don't want to spend over $2000 for something really good.
 
OP it really doesn't matter, PC/Apple it's personal preference

some features you want to look for: SSD (Solid State Drive) faster, more reliable than traditional hard drvies, and what's called a dedicated video card (as opposed to an integrated video card)

i work in IT so if you post some computers i can weigh in
 
13470865:momsspaghetti said:
OP it really doesn't matter, PC/Apple it's personal preference

some features you want to look for: SSD (Solid State Drive) faster, more reliable than traditional hard drvies, and what's called a dedicated video card (as opposed to an integrated video card)

i work in IT so if you post some computers i can weigh in
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13471099:SprinkleTurd said:
one them Lenovo yogas brethren. Or something around there. I'm a computer science major and its perf af
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what're either of your thoughts on the T450?
 
13471127:JahLiam said:
what're either of your thoughts on the T450?
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its fine id definitely get the SSD option. it has integrated graphics which is usually fine just dont expect to run any sort of graphic intensive software like autocad, photoshop, finalcut pro etc
 
if you're really unsure.. then just buy a cheaper Windows. Chances are, first year all you will be doing is papers and internet.. not really using an hardcore programs.

then as the years progress, and you realize what you will actually be using your laptop for, then see whats being used, what is compatible and what works best for your specified industry. Then go from there.

If you do go with apple, you can always run parallels and operate Windows.

As for me, I have a macbook pro because i'm in the audio industry.. I do have parallels and run windows xp professional as well (because a lot of audio platforms still run xp).
 
I'm not a CS major, but I do a lot of coding for data analysis stuff. My advice:

1. Buy an low/medium end laptop (whatever that means to you) laptop that gets good reviews for durability. Most any decent modern laptop will be powerful enough to run the type of code you'll be writing now. I wouldn't get less than 8gb of ram and would insist on a solid state drive, but assuming that those benchmarks are met, find something that isn't super expensive because you need to:

2. Buy a bigger external monitor. 21 in monitors are available for 100 bucks now. 24 in models aren't that much more expensive. In my mind, this is the best investment you can make for overall computing happiness.

Soon enough you'll have the assignment window, your code, 3 tabs of Stack Overflow and who knows what else open. Being able to see them all at once is a huge time saver. You can even code on your laptops screen and keep all the other references on the other screen. Simply looking at your code on a big screen can make things seem easier sometimes and is certainly easier on the eyes.

Plus, you can watch movies/TV on the bigger monitor in your dorm room.

I personally use a 13in Macbook Pro. It works well. I could run Windows on it if need be (and I believe you can run OSX virtually from a Windows machine, but I've not done it). I'm not an Apple true believer though. Windows 10 seems like a nice operating system. I wouldn't worry about getting into either ecosystem.

Where are you going? I might ask the CS department there if they have a prefernce.
 
Look into professional laptops instead of basic home laptops, for example i have a hp probook 4540s thats pretty good
 
You're a CS major, can't you figure that out?

srsly tho, you'd be better off with a decent desktop with dual/triple monitors for the real stuff and a small laptop to take notes with in class. Most of what you'll do won't really strain computers too hard, you're not going to be making video games on day one. Most universities will give you supercomputer access as well if you have some really complex stuff to do.

I think you'd regret being confined to a 14" laptop screen.
 
id recommend a MBP, because they last longer and i like OSX...most CS majors prefer Linux which is a cool OS which can operate on any computer if you like it. Plus its nice to be compatible between PCs and Macs...puts you at an advantage from the PC guys who get frustrated trying to 'right click' on a mac. Don't be the CS grad who can't navigate a MBP lol
 
macs come with xcode built in, which is was nice to code in. you don't really need that beefy of a computer either. compiling small amounts of code doesn't take much computing power.
 
I don't think it matters at the entry level... when you have specialized skillz eg: 'I'll be working on .net based sites so I will need a pc to code c# and use visual studio as an IDE' vs. 'I'll be learning basic conditionals and for/while loops which I can write in notepad since I have no clue what code refactoring/debugging are'.
 
sorry for double post

I think if your prof. hasn't informed you ahead of time that you will need a specific laptop and it's an entry level course, you can make the assumption that he has accounted for his/her students working on different platforms. This has been my experience.
 
BUy a good one. I can't give you any actual advice.

All I can tell you is that for the last 5 or 6 years I've been buying the cheapest thing at best buy for 200-300 bucks knowing it won't last long. A few years ago that worked fine enough and I'd get a little over a year out of the laptop before the power supply got fucked or something but Im not exaggerating the last few years I have only gotten 6 months of use out of my laptops.

I don't do anything other than tons of web browsing and uploading and downloading pdfs no torrents or anything either. Its such a bitch having a shitty laptop the one I bought 3 months ago sucks ass if I have a bunch of browsers open shit slows down and the power supply is already fucked it charges but when I use it its not enough and it drains slowly while being used.

GL hopefully I talked you out of buying something really shitty you'll hate soon after purchase. 2 years ago I'd have said save the money and get whatever but these days they are such fucking pieces of shit fuck HP and Toshiba and all them.
 
It does not really matter. You will probably do most of your programming in a linux VM, which can be run on windows or mac. If you have an iPhone and want to write apps for it, the extra cost of a mac could be worth it. Otherwise, I recommend you go with PC just because it will be cheaper.
 
lenovo or asus, or a mac I guess... it doesn't really matter unless you want to develop using visual studio in which case don't get a mac. You can run linux in a box so get something that has one of the major OSs installed. chances are you'll start out with java or python which can be run on pretty much any machine. lenovo and asus are the best for the money
 
I would look into a desktop and then a cheaper laptop for use at school. Combine the laptop with teamveiwer and you are golden. Im not in computer science, but that is how I do all my school regardless, manly just excel stuff, but I get away with running the basic Microsoft surface and have the same computing power as my home computer.

that said make sure teamviewer can work with Linux, because that is what the majority of your work will be done with it.
 
should clarify, team viewer is a free progam that lets you remotely control a host computer as long as both are connected to the internet.

oh and saw the poll question, do NOT get a mac.
 
Depends on how you plan on working through your degree and what your emphasis is if you have one and so forth...

Plan out your class schedule for the next 2 years figuring what you will probably be taking. Look online to see if there are required courses and the likes. If you plan on doing something like a graphic design minor, it may require a mac. If you're doing an emphasis on web and web application development, again, it may require a mac. If your program is based more on classical languages like c+ and java... you may be better off getting a mid range windows laptop till you need to upgrade.

The other option: You should have been assigned an advisor unless your program lets you chose your own. Ask your advisor. If you don't have an advisor, look at your course map of the next 2 years and contact the professor of the most advanced class in what's most relevant to your emphasis and ask for their suggestion.

As a now senior web app developer... 95% of the work/recruiters that contact me work on mac environments. It's just the nature of the work. But that may be entirely irrelevant to you if you're plan is to get into security or software applications.

I would NOT purchase based on the opinions here, I WOULD purchase based on the advice of your specific department.
 
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