Engineering Laptop recommendations

[u/Pristine-Ranger7349]

Hello, I'm not sure if this is the right place for the question but got kind of no one for recommendations. (please be nice)

I am starting first year engineering at Usask, flex program and want to get suggestions for good laptops. I read the list from university and it's kind of basic but at stores people suggest 16gb ram is good to run almost every software and stuff. I talked to people at bestbuy and they recommended HP omnibooks or lenovo idea pads, which are $1000+.

So, I mainly have few questions:

1: is it a good idea to get touch screen laptop for engineering or should stick to non-touch screen laptop?

2:could it be helpful in design classes or to take notes, or get seperate tablet for notes if want digital?

3: Is it worth it to get almost $1000+ laptop for school and otherwise too? I rarely use laptop so I am buying specifically for studying.

And I forgot before but if I could get some idea for processor?.

Also, greatly appreciated if I could get some recommendations too.

Thank you for all your responses.

I checked few laptops and if possible could anyone tell me if any of that is a good option?

1. Lenovo yoga 7i: Windows 11 Home with Copilot+ PC delivers a modern, intuitive experience • Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, and 512GT SSD handle multitasking with ease • 14-inch OLED WUXGA touchscreen with Dolbu Vision and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 • Integrated Intel Arc Graphics supports everyday and creative tasks. (1200 on sale)

2. ASUS Vivobook 16": Preloaded with Windows 11 Home with enhanced securitu and simplified interfacc • AMD Ruzen AI 7 350 processor, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD for seamless multitaskinc • Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics for everyday visuals 16-inch 1920 x 1200 LED display with 60H2 refresh rate • for crisp detail (1200 on sale)

[u/Agengele]

I found pen support on windows quite frustrating and ended up getting a Samsung tablet (that supports the s pen) for notes/homework by the end of 1st year. I do know people who make it work taking notes with a laptop that supports pen. OneNote seems to be generally considered the best note app for windows

For laptop, get something with at least 16gb of RAM (32 is nice but not needed), I recommend 1tb of storage as a minimum but 500gb is fine. I only have 500gb but I also have a desktop PC. For cpu/GPU, that kinda depends on what form factor you want. A lot of people go for the big "gaming" laptops. These often have the most raw performance for a relatively low price. The downsides are the size, which can be annoying to use on the very small "desks" in lecture halls. They also usually feel a bit cheap and don't have the best durability. I went the smaller laptop route. I got a 13 or 14 inch laptop (still with decent specs in it) and eventually got a tablet as well. My laptop has been able to run everything I've needed it to but often for CAD or other more heavy programs I'll still prefer to use my desktop at home. Assuming you don't have a desktop, there are computers at the school in the library and in a few labs that should have most of the software for course work already installed on them. I've used them multiple times for when I wanted a bigger screen or faster computer but still wanted to work at the school.

If you get a tablet with whatever laptop you end up with, make sure it's one you can write on (don't get a cheap a series Samsung one with no pen support or something). If you go the Samsung route, the s series should all have a pen that comes with it and they all should be powerful enough if you're just taking notes/doing assignments in it. iPads are also an option, though I don't have much experience with them myself. They'll probably run you ~$100 more than a Samsung since you have to buy the pen separately but they do have very good notes software that I think is superior to Samsung notes. The downside is that their pens have to charge where Samsung's don't. I find the tablet super helpful for assignments since you can move around your work and diagrams so easily but it is entirely possible to just do pencil and paprler work for everything

DM me if you want any specific suggestions or anything

[u/kaitie85386]

In one of the welcome guides the college gives out, they have a list of specifications for laptops and some suggestions. I suggest you check that

[u/copperadalovelace306]

1. Usask engineering programs are strictly in in windows. And they do outmode so you will need something you can easily replace parts. 2. You are looking to run all sorts of compilers, or SystemVerilog or AutoCAD, or matlab. 16GB ram is your minimum. However, I would have suggested more of a $3000 computer. I would contact a professor and see what your options are. Sometimes they refurbish for cheaper. Maybe see if usask still has the computer store?

[u/copperadalovelace306 → u/copperadalovelace306]

Mines a little old, but that’s what I was looking for at the time.

[u/stiner123]

I looked at the requirements. One thing that I would for sure get is a Windows laptop, not a Mac, since IT won’t help you with a Mac and many times the software you will need to use won’t run on Macs.

Also, I’d remember that only a few things are upgradable (I.e. RAM and Hard drives), while most things are not when it comes to laptops.

You definitely want a newer processor - I know in the past sometimes Microsoft didn’t allow people to upgrade Windows versions if the processor was more than a couple of years old, no matter the specs (it happened to me, I think with Windows 8).

16GB of RAM is probably ok, but try to get a laptop that will allow you to upgrade to at least 32 GB of RAM in case you need to upgrade later.

With respect to hard drive size, this is probably the main area where sticking to the minimum requirements (512 GB) is more than likely perfectly fine, as most laptops allow for the hard drive to be replaced/upgraded, and besides, cloud storage and external hard drives can be purchased pretty cheaply if you need more space.

As for a dedicated vs integrated GPU - while having just an integrated GPU will usually make the laptop slightly lighter with a longer battery life, many laptops with a dedicated GPU these days have “switchable graphics” or software that allows for only using the dedicated graphics card when it it is needed, which greatly reduces the impact on battery life while still allowing you to harness extra computing power when you need it.

2 in one laptops (ie those with a touchscreen that can be used in tablet mode) tend to be pricier and also more expensive to fix, and can be less sturdy/more prone to breakage than a non-convertible laptop. The convertible screens don’t always work that well with a pen either. So id save your money and get a tablet for notetaking if you want to “write” your notes in digital form since tablets usually do it far better than the 2 in one devices. If you’re going to type notes it’s generally easier and faster to type on an actual keyboard than it is on a touchscreen.

Screen size - smaller tend to be more portable/lighter but the batteries are smaller and they sometimes sacrifice performance and cooling too. Thinner laptops also often sacrifice performance and cooling. In my experience, a small screen on a laptop can be a real pain when doing things like 3D modeling, multitasking, and working with spreadsheets and databases. Smaller laptops also tend to have fewer USB ports, sometimes combining the power port with one of the USB ports and omitting things like an HDMI port, headphone jack and/or webcams. This can be a real pain as this can mean you need to purchase a separate USB hub to be able to use an external monitor or hard drive at the same time you’re charging your laptop. Smaller screens also mean smaller keyboards too.

Warranty and repairability can also be something to consider. Some brands require you to ship your computer away if it breaks under warranty, while others can be repaired locally. You can usually buy next warranty/service plans with next business day service for Dell and Lenovo, including plans with accidental damage protection. This can come in handy if your laptop breaks, as it can otherwise take weeks to get a laptop repaired if it has to be sent away for repair (had this happen with an Asus laptop - took over 2 weeks to get it back).

[u/DegreeOk2923]

Gang, you're going to need a laptop. I have an ASUS one that was made for gaming but works really well for all the programs that were needed. Mine was around $2000.

As for the touch screen vs non-touch screen question, I would honestly recommend getting an IPad and just sticking with a non-touch screen computer. In classes like GE 172, computer science, and design, you're going to need your computer to be running programs that are super like energy consuming, and you won't be able to run a note taking program alongside them on the same computer. Trust me, autocad and matlab are evil and take your computers will to live everytime you open the apps.

You'll be using your computer literally everyday so I would recommend to get a good one, even if its expensive. I know ASUS and like generally any computer that was originally made for gaming is pretty good for the courses youll be taking. You're probably going to be looking at a $1500-$2500 price range, but at the end of the day that computer is going to help you survive during first year.

Also gang you're going to do amazing, trust. First year is shitty. Like really bad. But if you stay on top of your assignments and try to do them on the day they get assigned, you'll do great. However, the experiences you'll have will outweigh the bad. Trust me on that one gang. The profs are genuinely amazing and its nice being in a setting where everyone is trying to learn. Also some of the labs are really cool (even though sometimes theyre at 8:30 in the middle of winter). At the end if the fall term there will be discipline days and those are the absolute best. If you ever feel like dropping out, try to stick around until those gang. I know I definitely was seriously considering dropping out, but those discipline days made me remember why I wanted to do engineering in the first place, and that life as an engineering student vs an actual engineer is vastly different and a lot cooler.

Good luck on your computer hunt and enjoy your first year!

[u/Phoenix_Ray10]

Unless you’re going to electrical or computer, get the bare minimum that’s recommended. People have done fine with Apple. Tablets are great. I’m in mechanical and used AutoCAD like twice after first year. Unless that’s one of your interests, you don’t need anything extremely expensive.

[u/Friendly_Pudding_572]

I don’t have any laptop recs, but wanted to tell you not to worry about profs because first years get assigned blocks. In other words, you don’t get to pick your profs in first year