first of all

no
no
just no
there's no reason whatsoever to get a tablet don't pretend that they're of any use besides some portability
don't get one they're basicallly just heavily dumbed-down laptops with way less functionality but a kinda cool touch screen

just get notebooks (you know the type you write in? with a pen????) like a real man and use a laptop to take notes in lecture-heavy classes, that's the best recommendation. in the long run a laptop is ultimately better.ww

that said if you're hell-bent on getting a tablet i'd really ask you to reconsider; i really don't see their functionality besides being portable and OOOOoooOOOO apps OOooooOOOOO but i guess you can always just be mainstream and get an ipad

source: college student

also tablets don't have notepad++, the greatest fucking note-taking thing of all time

I used to use an ASUS laptop for two years of college, but I wanted a tablet. I got a high end tablet, an ASUS Transformer Infinity with the keyboard attachment.

Pros of laptops: Full computer, you can operate within a familiar setting, better with multitasking. You can program on these, and print at your school's labs.

Cons of laptops: Heavier, have to carry around the charging block, slower to boot (generally), shitty battery life (generally)

Pros of tablets: Lightweight, instant boot, excellent battery life, with a keyboard attachment it's basically a laptop.

Cons of tablets: Not as powerful as an actual computer, meh at multitasking, can get expensive. Can't program or print easily.

I generally tell people that are going into college to get a desktop if they are a gamer, and get a netbook/ultrabook/tablet for notes and schoolwork. I personally love my tablet. I never need to print, and if I do, Google stores my printers in the cloud and I can remote print from anywhere to my home printer. It's great for taking notes (especially drawings, get a stylus), and I've never had an issue in class with battery life/not getting an outlet.

I can't program on it, however, and I stick to my desktop/laptop or school labs for that. But since you aren't a programming major, that's probably not an issue.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Addendum:

Macs vs PC:

If you're even considering going into an Engineering major, get a Windows PC, or even a Linux distro. Macs have a lot of trouble interfacing with programs that you use as an engineer on a daily basis, namely EE applications that allow you to simulate circuts, etc. Most engineers I know don't use Macs, however for CS students Macs can be okay.

its just called a tablet.
get a laptop.

why not do cheap desktop + cheap netbook?

if you're going with the tablet route, then windows 8 is probably a great option, since it really favors the tablet interface. depending on your college, you might not be able to torrent while you're at school, because some schools actually monitor the amount of bandwidth you use, and p2p uses a ton of it (unless you're using seedboxes or other stuff). you sound like you don't need anything powerful though, as you only plan to do schoolwork + listen to music, but as someone who is in college, you'll probably want something you can at least play games on in low unless you plan to be out and about all the time in your free time (as the first year or two in college are just really basic courses until you pick a major).

imo if the tablet is right for your needs, then you should pick it up. try one at a store or something to see if you like it, and buy it if it works out. you already have a laptop, and that should be sufficient for college coursework unless you're going to be working on certain cpu-intensive programs like maya or something.

gl :V

I completely forgot about Win8 tablets. They are decent, and as good as Android ones for taking notes/interfacing with programs, probably better to be honest.

If you're doing engineering there's a good chance that you will be using programs that probably won't run on a tablet. In fact, the engineering school at my college required everyone to have a windows laptop.

Taking notes on a laptop/tablet is really overrated too, btw. You're a lot more likely to get distracted on the internet, have people messaging you in the middle of class, and it's difficult to draw diagrams and stuff.

Unless your laptop is so big and heavy that it would be difficult to carry around, I would just stick with that.

@saber i hope i didn't give the impression that i'm "hellbent" on getting a tablet. i dont know a thing about them. your response is very reasonable

@panzer google results usually tell me that the transformer is a pretty good tablet for students but if i were to decide on getting a tablet what do you think makes the transformer a better option than say, an ipad or a windows tablet?

If you want something to take notes, get something without internet access (ie paper)

or you will learn nothing

trust me

ah just now saw the posts on the windows tablets

I have an Android tablet, and I use it to supplement my desktop in my dorm room. I use it around campus for looking things up for papers and doing online quizzes, etc. For more processing intensive things, I use my desktop (i.e. making maps, video editing for film (also vidja games)).

It's an alternative to a laptop if you have a desktop, but in my opinion, a tablet can't really replace a laptop. A laptop can usually do more, but the tablet tends to be easier on weight and size.

Edit: Also, don't use it to take notes. Too many possible distractions. Paper and pen is better.

You didn't come across that way at all. dwai

The Transformer is really, really good. I love mine. I wouldn't even consider getting an iPad personally, but Win8 tablets might be a decent option. I personally recommend the Transformer Infinity (3 friends bought one through my recommendation and they love it too).

It's not really *better* than a Win8 tablet per se, but I like Android, and the apps that I use are good. Also, the YouTube app is great when lounging around. Add on really good GDocs functionality and you have a winner.

so far it sounds like im just going to be bringing a laptop. @applesauz&panzer, can android phones do most of the things your droid tablets can do?
edit: in other words, is there anything in particular that makes a tablet a significantly better complement than a smartphone?

idk, my plan is this:

asus g75vx
tablet

I've yet to buy the tablet. But if it comes down to one or the other, don't get a tablet; it's really not worth the money unless it's supplementing another computer.

I have a Nexus 10 tablet, I think its a fun toy and enjoy using it but I couldn't imagine doing work on it though.

Pen+paper is the best method for actually learning shit in class; it's grating but you will be the best god damn student in that lecture hall guaranteed.

You really don't need something portable most of the time in college honestly. Myself and most people only ever seemed to use them as a distraction in class/the library.

I bought a netbook just for college. Fairly inexpensive, light, and great battery life.

My wrist hurts pretty bad after writing continuously for about two minutes, so I pretty much had to get a laptop/netbook.

I'd probably get Microsoft Surface Pro if you can't decide between tablet or notebook, since it has a real windows 8 on it and not the dumbed down only-use-apps-version. (Which is on the Microsoft Surface RT) also offers a keyboard so you can use it just like a laptop when you need that.

But generally you're better off just getting a notebook. Offers more functionality and you get more bang for your buck - eg. power.

In college you are going to type. A lot. A keyboard will be much more amenable than a touchscreen. I'd even go as far as recommending bringing a real USB keyboard for your desk in your room (or bringing a desktop...), but most people don't do that.

Definitely laptop

Tablets are amazing tech and I use my Transformer Prime for at least two hours a day even if its just to catch up in the morning or read before bed, but they compliment your tech life, rather than fulfill everything you want to do.

I've already said this in multiple threads like this but I will say it again.

From the POV of someone that has spent almost a decade at universities, (ungrad, grad, some time working on doctorate) If it is tough class, or a class of your major, do not take anything than a notebook and pen to class. If you need it for something specific, fine take it, otherwise do not use it for taking notes. You will end up paying less attention to the prof and write less notes.

Oh and make sure that dorms don't already come will a desktop first. My first year, I had a single and it had a computer and a laser printer in it. Granted, the computer wasn't great and I just used mine but the laser printer was a godsend for PDF files. I was a POLS major so like 80% was PDFs from JSTOR. Back time reading on a monitor was eye rape.

Lastly, regarding your music, I'm confused on WHEN you're going to be listening to it. If it's in dorms and class, you could listen to last.fm, but when it's walking to class you likely will not. Even though while working at OU when had every inch of campus covered by AP's, (yes, every inch of grass too) you would be jumping from AP to AP and would have to reconnect each time. It's better to just have a cheap MP3 player that has an SD extension port, since it's so cheap.

Laptop!

Oh god. Do NOT get a tablet. I am a recent college graduate from a large university. Every one uses laptops in class. Furthermore, laptops are great for on-the-go projects or working on things on the bus or just while sitting in class. Tablets will not help you. Those things (in my opinion) are just used for surfing the web and using some awesome apps. Correct me if I am wrong.

get a laptop

torrent MSOffice 2012 or 2010 or w.e

buy notebooks for each class, take good notes.

I have a tablet and a laptop, I use the laptop for work and the tablet to fuck around in class when there is nothing productive going on. Laptops are far superior to tablets because they are for college students. Tablets haven't been exploited to the point where they are on the same level as a laptop.

If I may offer an opinion, don't bring any kind of laptop/tablet to school.

I learned this lesson quite the hard way my first semester.

It will suck, yes. You will not be able to game as much, true.

You'll be quite grateful to your younger self much further down in your life.

PPS- Even during my days, they were becoming increasingly good at shutting down access to your dorm room for torrenting. If you're going to do that make sure you use a VPN and have a REALLY good excuse why you're moving that much traffic to and from your room.

I ended up getting a job as a student data technician and since they only hired 2 people, we had full access to routers, skeleton keys, servers, and even the NOC room. So we didn't have to really worry about logs that we could remove :P

If you have the bux, get a MacBook Air. It's lightweight, has instant boot, 7h+ battery life, nice keyboard, runs all the shit you need. If you end up needing to run some old ass Windows-only software it can easily run a VM.

Tablets are a huge waste of money IMO. I can't be sure about the windows 8 ones since I've never used one, but iPads and shit... Overpriced crap. Can't install any software you may need, have to cross your fingers that "there's an app for that". Plus with the law passing making it illegal to jailbreak iPads it's going to be even more worthless.

Just get a laptop. Please don't get a Mac either, there is NOTHING they do that a PC can't. It's just personal preference on the OS. Apple is trendy and they overcharge for EVERYTHING because they know hipsters and other idiots think they are magical.

Look for a good sale on a laptop and pick one up. I just found my friend a really nice asus on sale for $300

Definitely don't get *just* a tablet, but if you can afford it a small tablet like an iPad mini can be cool to have.

I previously questioned the usefulness of tablets, but I got an iPad mini as a gift and even with my laptop with me I find myself using this thing all the time, it's pretty nice.