USF engineering question

[BLUE2KSS]

im getting ready to transfer to usf to finish my undergrad, and my question is do you guys recommend a laptop or desktop computer?

what do you guys use of either? i have a feeling im going to need a pretty bad ass computer because of the programs im going to need to run. maple already is a big program i use.

any help would be greatly appreciated

[Whaazup17]

What programs are you going to be running that any NEW computer couldn't handle? Hell I run CAM/CAD CFD all day on my labtop they are 3d programs also. A few years ago with just a regular graphics card (I dont know to much about them) but I had a computer without an AGP slot and it couldn't do the programs I am doing no. So if you bought a new laptop from gateway (That is what I use) You would be fine. I ran all there at once one time.

[BLUE2KSS]

cad def, but the others im not sure about until i get there


i talked to the head of the college of engineering (forget the womans name) and she recommended something spectacular


i knew pretty much any computer would work, im more interested in seeing what everyone is using i guess


thanks

[boostedOne]

Did something drastically change at USF??
We always had the old, outdated software when I was there(90s), so pretty much anything would work. MS Office was probably the most rigorous program you had to use.
CAD? You sure you are going to need that for engineering? I mean hell, you use it to draw parts, not design them. But even CAD runs fine on a Pentium II or III.
If you are just looking to get money out of the parents, and they have it go for it. But I doubt you really need anything all that great. They got Pro E or Ansys just before I graduated, but even that ran fine on a P400.

[BLUE2KSS]

ok, next question is do you guys recommend a laptop or desktop.


at the college im at now i dont need a laptop because everyroom has a computer. im just not sure of USF

[Whaazup17]

get a laptop cause then you don't have to worry about saving to a disc and then tranfering the data. I hate doing that.

[NoFatChix]

im graduating mechanical engineering in december, you wont need a laptop. Get an usb drive and save all ur work on there. Some of the software that is being used is just too expensive and too hard to find online, so a laptop is not worth it. I have one and all i do on it is browse tr or tf in class lol

[Zealot]

Some of the software that is being used is just too expensive and too hard to find online

Not if you know where to find it ;)

I recommend a laptop, but it depends on what field you're in. I'm Computer Science, so it pretty much neccessary because of all the projects. If your Mechanical or Civil you may not need it that much. Plus it always helps when you're in a boring class and can surf the web.

[Blue04ES]

Im a Mechanical major, granted its at UCF but seriously you dont really ever NEED a laptop. Personally Id just save your cash and get a desktop. Everything that you need to do thats actually intensive you usually wanna do in groups anyway. In which case it'd be better off using one of the labs.

Seriously though the people you meet and help you out will make or break ya when it comes to 3000+ level classes, especially in Engineering.