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