Question Which laptop for Computer Science major?

Aug 10, 2023
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1. What is your budget?
No more than $2500, but ideally less than $2000

2. What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?
I am currently using a 15" Macbook Pro 2013 and I think it is too big for school use, so 13.5" or 14".

3. What screen resolution do you want?
Not too worried about screen resolution or aspect ratio, standard HD works and anything else is bonus.

4. Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?
This laptop will be my only computer. It will be replacing my 2013 15" Macbook Pro

5. How much battery life do you need?
It should last a school day, so around 6hrs minimum

6. Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)?
I probably will play games with it but the specs of the laptop do not need to reflect that. I'll make do with what I get.

7. What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo/Video editing, Etc.)
I am buying this laptop for my Computer Science Major as I am starting in the fall. It needs to be able to do programming and whatever else you do in comp sci. My program recommends a 64-bit i5 minimum with 4 cores, 16gb RAM, 256gb ssd.

8. How much storage (Hard Drive capacity) do you need?
I want to have 512gb ssd

9. If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post their links.

10. How long do you want to keep your laptop?
I would like it to at least last for my undergrad (4 years)

11. What kind of Optical drive do you need? DVD ROM/Writer,Bluray ROM/Writer,Etc ?
Don't think I need an optical drive

12. Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons.
I just don't want a Mac because I'm already using that and I think it's going to be too much of a pain for comp sci

13. What country do you live in?
Canada

14. Please tell us any additional information if needed.

I'm buying a laptop for uni and I'm unsure of what to get. It will be my only computer (don't have a desktop) so it needs to be able to do pretty much everything you'd normally do, as well as keep up with whatever comp sci stuff I need to do. I want it to be 2-in-1 so that I can use it for digital notes in class.

In terms of specs, I figure I should have a minimum of an i5 or it's equivalent, 16bg of ram, and 512gb storage space.

So far I have 3 laptops I'm looking at:

- Refurbished Surface Laptop Studio (i7, 16gb ram, NVIDIA RTX, 512gb ssd) $1800 CAD

- Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 (i5, 16gb ram, 512gb ssd) $1700 CAD

- Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 (Ryzen 7, 16gb ram, 512gg ssd) $1100 CAD

Which of these should I get, or is there something else that's better?
 
Check with the applicable uni Department/Advisor for your major.

The uni may have some specific laptop recommendations and/or possibly some purchase paths that include a discount on the laptop purchase.

Very likely that your courses will require the installation of specific software and the laptop's specs must be able to support that software and perform accordingly. Check the software requirements: usually listed in the form of minimal, recommended, and best. You do not want minimal and you do want as much best as you can afford.

Ask other Computer Science Majors what laptop and specs they use.

Although it would be nice if the laptop survives and works for 4 years of undergrad work that is unlikely to happen.

Consider a "ruggedized" laptop with some extra warranty if possible.

Try to buy the laptop at a local business if at all possible so you can get quick repairs etc. if necessary.

And have backup plans and data if the laptop gets lost or broken.

Just my thoughts on the matter.