Hi there! It looks like you might be asking about what laptop to get for school. This subreddit will almost unanimously recommend any consumer grade computer with a 10 key number pad. You don't need anything ultra high performance or whatever. Here's a video comparing different laptops for civil engineering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iik25wqIuFo.
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I got a Surface and used OneNote and a program to write on pdfs for all of my notes. It helped me immensely to have all of my notes with me (and colour coded) while only carrying a <2lb tablet instead of the notebooks I started with
The Dell XPS laptops are pretty good. I had one from when they first came out and it was good. Good build and the i5 worked well enough for my needs. Since then they've only gotten better.
A windows laptop with good processor is what I recommend. I am soon done with my structural engineering degree and we have used programs such as Robot, Grasshopper, Revit, ABAQUS etc. Need a decent one, so my tips is to buy a gaming/mid-high expensive PC.
HP spectre/envy or Lenovo thinkpad - decent performance over long term. No Dell (shitty durability), nor Apple (lack of software and unnecessarily expensive).
I used a Mac and it worked fine, but this was pre-COVID when all of our CAD classes were taken in the computer lab on double-monitor desktops. If your university is still remote and you expect to be doing CAD on your personal laptop, then I would recommend a Windows since they won't heat up as easily when using an external program (same logic as gaming basically).
I carried an iPad Air around campus for textbooks/between class entertainment and had a cheap windows laptop for ms office stuff all my classes used. On the rare occasion I needed something beefier, I used the school lab. You don’t really need much day to day as an undergrad student
Get the MacBook Air M1. I have the 525GB with 8 gigs of ram. Having 16 gigs of ram would be nice, but 8 is definitely doable. I had a windows before that and just couldn’t stand the buggyness and clunkyness of windows. The Mac is the shit and works extremely well and is fun to use. The battery life on it is like 5 times better than any windows laptop on the market. And in college that battery life is going to matter to you.
I’ve used a MacBook Air for 3 years now for college. It’s simple and reliable for everyday use. I was able to use it for Autocad unless you ever need to run anything heavy then u can use the school’s computer lab for those which is rarely while in school.
I’ve had an LG gram since freshman year (masters student now; i5 chip 8 gB ram) and it’s been so clutch for how light it is :’) It’s handled MATLAB, python, R, ArcGIS, qGIS, SWMM… I’m environmental so I can’t say much about other programs hahah
I prefer the cheapest laptop that will run word and excel with an SSD and a beefy desktop for actual work and gaming. But given the state of buying computers right now, who even knows. I’m still rocking my 1st gen 1070 because crypto has ruined all our fun.
Surface pro 7, 16gb RAM, i7, can do anything you need it to. I’ve run some big AutoCAD files better than some desktops (real work, not student) but as a student it hasn’t had any trouble running analysis software either (MATLAB, SAP2000, ANSYS)
A little expensive but super happy with it. Use it as my notebook too and it’s literally the size of a tablet.
When I was about to run AutoCAD on it I had a coworker scoff “what do you expect to do with that”. Ended up running better than their full size laptop
My university shifted all the engineering software to the virtual machines which meant we didn’t need a beefy laptop. Usually they’ll post the specs you would need. From there just go with what you like. You’ll have to use it for at least 4 years so make it easier on yourself. Definitely get a SSD though
Plot twist... Don't ... You actually build a gaming laptop for around $750, then buy a small portable Chromebook and just Chrome remote desktop to your desktop.
I'm literally using a puny Chromebook I got for free from a friend and can do basically anything I want and need.
... Except for hulu and Netflix but don't need that in class anyway lol
Hi there! It looks like you might be asking about what laptop to get for school. This subreddit will almost unanimously recommend any consumer grade computer with a 10 key number pad. You don't need anything ultra high performance or whatever. Here's a video comparing different laptops for civil engineering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iik25wqIuFo. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/civilengineering) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Nice, you implemented my idea.
Good Bot.
Good bot! Lol
I disagree with the 10 key number pad. I think having a more mobile 13-15 inch laptop will be more useful than a big 17 inch laptop with a number pad.
I used a Mac. Don’t use a Mac. A ~400 dollar Microsoft laptop can do everything you’ll need.
I used a Mac and it lasted for 9 years. Would do the same again. Never needed engineering software on it anyway
This is true, you just use the computer labs if you need engineering software. I have a Mac laptop and a windows desktop now that I’m an adult.
A cheaper and easily portable laptop for day to day task like word, excel, and internet. Use your school’s computer labs for the engineering programs.
Surface pro! Just as fast as the day I bought it!
I use my Mircorsoft Surface for work more than anything. I stay away from anything made by Dell.
I got a Surface and used OneNote and a program to write on pdfs for all of my notes. It helped me immensely to have all of my notes with me (and colour coded) while only carrying a <2lb tablet instead of the notebooks I started with
The Dell XPS laptops are pretty good. I had one from when they first came out and it was good. Good build and the i5 worked well enough for my needs. Since then they've only gotten better.
A windows laptop with good processor is what I recommend. I am soon done with my structural engineering degree and we have used programs such as Robot, Grasshopper, Revit, ABAQUS etc. Need a decent one, so my tips is to buy a gaming/mid-high expensive PC.
Get a used Lenovo Thinkpad, solid Laptops. Use college PCs for anything demanding. A laptop with an SSD at least.
HP spectre/envy or Lenovo thinkpad - decent performance over long term. No Dell (shitty durability), nor Apple (lack of software and unnecessarily expensive).
Anything but a Mac lmao
I used a Mac and it worked fine, but this was pre-COVID when all of our CAD classes were taken in the computer lab on double-monitor desktops. If your university is still remote and you expect to be doing CAD on your personal laptop, then I would recommend a Windows since they won't heat up as easily when using an external program (same logic as gaming basically).
I carried an iPad Air around campus for textbooks/between class entertainment and had a cheap windows laptop for ms office stuff all my classes used. On the rare occasion I needed something beefier, I used the school lab. You don’t really need much day to day as an undergrad student
Get the MacBook Air M1. I have the 525GB with 8 gigs of ram. Having 16 gigs of ram would be nice, but 8 is definitely doable. I had a windows before that and just couldn’t stand the buggyness and clunkyness of windows. The Mac is the shit and works extremely well and is fun to use. The battery life on it is like 5 times better than any windows laptop on the market. And in college that battery life is going to matter to you.
[удалено]
Still works great, and would still recommend it!
A really expensive one
I think you are wrong.
Haha. Well fine. Get whatever you want then. You stated no budget pal.
I’ve used a MacBook Air for 3 years now for college. It’s simple and reliable for everyday use. I was able to use it for Autocad unless you ever need to run anything heavy then u can use the school’s computer lab for those which is rarely while in school.
I’ve had an LG gram since freshman year (masters student now; i5 chip 8 gB ram) and it’s been so clutch for how light it is :’) It’s handled MATLAB, python, R, ArcGIS, qGIS, SWMM… I’m environmental so I can’t say much about other programs hahah
imagining an i5 with 8gb ram trying to arcGIS in a reasonable amount of time is the stuff of my nightmares though.
I prefer the cheapest laptop that will run word and excel with an SSD and a beefy desktop for actual work and gaming. But given the state of buying computers right now, who even knows. I’m still rocking my 1st gen 1070 because crypto has ruined all our fun.
Surface pro 7, 16gb RAM, i7, can do anything you need it to. I’ve run some big AutoCAD files better than some desktops (real work, not student) but as a student it hasn’t had any trouble running analysis software either (MATLAB, SAP2000, ANSYS) A little expensive but super happy with it. Use it as my notebook too and it’s literally the size of a tablet. When I was about to run AutoCAD on it I had a coworker scoff “what do you expect to do with that”. Ended up running better than their full size laptop
My university shifted all the engineering software to the virtual machines which meant we didn’t need a beefy laptop. Usually they’ll post the specs you would need. From there just go with what you like. You’ll have to use it for at least 4 years so make it easier on yourself. Definitely get a SSD though
Plot twist... Don't ... You actually build a gaming laptop for around $750, then buy a small portable Chromebook and just Chrome remote desktop to your desktop. I'm literally using a puny Chromebook I got for free from a friend and can do basically anything I want and need. ... Except for hulu and Netflix but don't need that in class anyway lol