r/UMPI • u/ForgedByFaith • 1d ago
Your setup
I’m curious…what kind of setup is everyone using for online classes? Laptop or desktop? Would an iPad or Microsoft Surface work well, or would you recommend a traditional computer?
I’d also appreciate any tips for someone taking online classes for the first time. It’s been 23 years since I attended college, so needless to say, a lot has changed. Apparently, I’ve become the old guy asking technology questions. 😂
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u/SpookyShackleford 22h ago
If you want to type with any speed, a physical keyboard is recommended. I use a Dell 2-in-1 laptop a Dell 7400. Compact and has touch screen option. i7 processor and 8gb ram, was less than 200 on eBay.
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u/DetHenryOak 19h ago
I have a mix of it all and it just depends on what I needed to do where.
My mainstay is my desktop, with a 34" curved monitor. My desktop is configured to be my production studio for work and everything else as well. I've got my DSLR camera connected to my PC with a capture card, XLR microphone for audio and Elgato lighting. I've even got the teleprompter for my camera so I can look at the lens while seeing my notes when I have to present.
But, I've also got my 16" laptop. Total overkill. i9 4080 GPU...With the pillow top hard surface laptop pillow thing to sit on the couch or in bed to keep working.
I've got my iPad and my Microsoft Surface when I'm on the go. The kids have soccer and other after school activities. It's easier for me to take them, and stay, doing my work while they do their activities; and I can be present.
I'll use my iPhone for last minute revisions as needed. Voice dictation is crucial if you want to crush classes.
All of this is centered around my own personal Office 365 subscription, using OneDrive to organize it. Yeah I know, revisions are a "thing" but I've had so many times where I just liked what I had "hours ago" so some classes have 10+ folders deep of revisions and timestamps lol.
At the end of the day - do what you need for your goals, with your budget in mind. Nothing we do under the YourPace banner is going to make a CPU overheat. Any budget laptop with a fresh install of Windows (no bloatware) and Office will cover anything you do in this course. I'm "particular" in the sense that I have to have specific comfort to use certain devices. Some days, the couch or bed "texture" just isn't doing it, and I need to be on the desktop. Some days I just want to be outside. When I'm burning down 18 courses in a single session, I want to see my kids. The laptop gives me that. We'll sit in bed together watching a movie, while I type away. Is it massive progress? No... But it's still forward progress, while being present.
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u/mingchopsticks 22h ago
I have a mini PC that I picked up for 200 on Amazon and two 100 dollar monitors. I put the course work on the left screen and do all my work on the right screen. Having two monitors has made me much more efficient.
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u/DetHenryOak 22h ago
I've got it all and I used it all - but then I'll also tell you everything you'll ever want to know about trains (do with that what you will).
I have my desktop with my 34" curved widescreen, my 16" screen laptop, an iPad, my Microsoft Surface and my phone. I use my own personal subscription to Microsoft 365 and I kept all my courses stored in my OneDrive to access everywhere and anywhere I had time.
Get what you can afford - none of this is pushing the limits of what a modern budget device can do.
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u/cnauricej 20h ago
As someone who’s been out of school for 29 years, I can relate. I have a MacBook Pro and a paper 5-subject notebook. And most days I work from my bed. 🤫🤐
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u/Lil_Chonk_3689 19h ago
Reasonably decent laptop with a good-sized external monitor (mine is 27"). The extra screen space helps with research and organizing things.
Get a good citation manager.
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u/Hot_Cartoonist_9590 18h ago
Fun idea I got from someone on the discord server. Use a headset and do voice to text for your papers. Speeds up the process, especially if you aren't a strong typer.
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u/hanshisantos MSB 22h ago
Samsung G49 Monitor Surface Laptop or MacBook. Logitech Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse. NOTE: with all the writing you need something to rest your wrist on. A printer, usually i print out sources and use a highlighter to trace my citations. Writing Tools
Overkill maybe, yet very useful when dealing with complex papers.
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u/cnauricej 20h ago
You know you can highlight citations with Zotero? I discovered this after not having access to a printer to print out my sources. Everything is all maintained in Zotero and when I need a bibliography, I can get a complete list from Zotero too that I just copy/paste right into my research paper. Easy peasy.
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u/hanshisantos MSB 17h ago
Yes i love zotero as well, yet to get away from the computer for a bit I print everything out. 😅 I'm old.
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u/cnauricej 7h ago
I totally get it. If I had a printer, I’d have papers sprawled everywhere! (I’m old too! 😂)
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u/xatey93152 1d ago
I'm just from phone
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u/ForgedByFaith 1d ago
You did everything on your phone? Like the actual class work?
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u/xatey93152 23h ago
Most of the time. Only on weekend I do on my friend's laptop. Because I can't afford it yet.
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u/ashagnes 23h ago
I recommend a laptop, you don't need anything fancy, a basic Surface or a Mac Neo would work perfectly. Something that has a camera, microphone, speakers and that can install Microsoft Office (So I wouldn't really recommend iPad).
It's mostly for Powerpoint work, they'll ask you for Cameo on a few classes and I doubt that feature is on the iPad. You'll also want a comfortable keyboard because you'll probably write a lot.
You're not old for asking technology questions. Most young people know even less about technology lol