MSI Wind good for university?

Hello I am considering purchasing the $400 MSI Wind for use in university.
I will be going for engineering.

I am wondering is the screen to small? Would I have to purchase another desktop/laptop?

I see pros being that it is lightweight and cheap.

(sorry if wrong forum)

 

well if you ever have to use any design software like AutoCAD then the Wind will be hopelessly underpowered.
Office and internet no problem of course. If you have the money I would get a 2nd desktop/laptop to do the main work. The Wind keyboards is also not too comfy to write long reports on. I guess you could always use the universities Computerlab, but having your own is nicer.

If you dont think you need to use any programs that need a faster computer then maybe you can get a external keyboard, mouse and even a LCD screen and be fine with it.

 

I think it might be underpowered even for browsing the web. I would get something more powerful.
currently I'm struggling with a inspiron 1100, it has a 2.2ghz pentium 4, should be alot faster than ATOM, and I'll tell you that I get lag on youtube! and it's not because of connectivity.

 

I am not too sure about that. Kevin benchmarked the Eee 901 with the Atom with wPrime and got 111 seconds. The benchmarks I found online for the Pentium 4M 2.4Ghz was 2min 25 sec so 145 seconds. I guess the Atom is not that slow. It is supposed to be optimized for decoding and things too.

 

I'm picking one up to compliment my Sager and take notes with. It's like the perfect acessory to a desktop-replacement notebook.

 

Thanks guys it seems that I will need another PC aswell

 

Just about all new processors barring the VIA's are better then P4 Prescotts. Hyperthreading was good in 2004. The P4 has not aged well let me tell you.

 

I don't believe that. I've seen benchmarks and my guess is that it will be fine for browsing the web.

I don't think that problem is related to your CPU. I have a Asus A6g with 1,6 Ghz Centrino and 1GB memory, it's absolutely perfect for the web. No problems with youtube.

Well the only thing that can make it stutter is if I open 5 tabs that all have heavy anmimated flash ads going on. But that's not a problem because I use Adblock for that.

 

I really would not use it as your primary, only computer. I would also get a powerful desktop and use this as a great compliment to it.

 

You will definitely come across MATLAB and some 3D modelling software like AutoCAD or Sketchup.

The Wind's a good machine to carry to lectures, but you will need a desktop (replacement) at home / residence for the more power-demanding softwares.

 

I'm taking one to college and I don't think it's "underpowered".

Notes, web, typing, Office apps, etc. all should work fine.

Unless you're in some specialized field that requires CAD or modelling software, you won't need a high-powered uber-laptop. But if you were in one of those fields, you would already know this.

 

It all depends upon which Atom processor we are talking about here too... are we talking silverthrone or diamondville? You may have benchmarks from a different chip than is in the Wind...

 

I think the obvious has been missed. Ask the University- I bet they have a listing of minimum specifications for the equipment you will need to use. Then the lecturers have probably taught the course in earlier years. Ask them. From what I can see no-one is basing advice on your course, rather on their own experience and use- don't forget- this is not the same as your needs.

Talk to your teachers.

 

I am a engineering student and several of my classmates are using the eee 701 in lectures. You will most likely be using matlab, but prob not in lectures. Just to take notes, surf ect the Wind will work very well. But you need another computer also....

 

You don't take engineering notes on a laptop, least of all on an Eee 701. The only reason to have one in class is if you are not paying attention and want to surf the web and play games in class.

If you are going to be doing Matlab, yeah I guess you could do it fine on the Wind, or C++ same, but CAD or Solid Modelling you want a real laptop, or preferably a desktop.

When you will use a laptop a lot is when you are on campus and not in a lecture or lab. Studying, writing reports or assignments, doing research, listening to music (if you don't already have an iPod for that). For those purposes, the Wind should work very well. When I start my last year of Mechanical Engineering in September with my Wind, I'll let you know for sure

 

You can always attach it to a cheap 19" LCD and buy a USB keyboard/mouse to have a kind of "docking station" when you are in your dorm, or at home so that you are more comfortable for long periods of time.

Your best bet: try it out in a store, or go somewhere where they sell ultraportables and see if the size is good for you.

 

Wind has got bluetooth. You just need a bluetooth keyboad/mouse combo so that you will not occupy one of the USB ports.

 

If you are going to have a seperate keyboard, mouse, moniter, and possibly speakers, why not just connect them to a desktop? Unless you carry that stuff around with you, you will be much better off...

 

Yeah I have had to use Matlab in my ENG classes as well, but also be prepared with MS Office 2007 and possibly UGNX3? Your school should have deals on these for you though.

Hope this helps!

 

You may not need MATLAB in your first year courses, I didn't in mine.

 

I didn't use Matlab until 3rd year, and C++ in 2nd year. First year is basically an extra year of high school, you only have one engineering course...

 

Depends on program. I had to code in C++ first year, and had 2 Engineering Design projects (half-sem each), which required Google Sketchup
Other courses like circuit analysis, statics and dynamics, and thermo really only require a calculator.

 

I had both Java AND Matlab first year at my school, so I wouldn't count it out. Not ALL schools have a 5 year program like yours Galahad, and it's possible to get a nice ENG degree in 4 years with 16 credits a semester.

NOTE: I'm not actually trying to sound like a jerk here just telling it how it is.

 

It may be a little different in Canada, but it is possible to get it in 4 years here too if you don't take coop and take the maximum courseload the university allows. But at least we get the Iron Ring when we finish

 

All eng programs are 4 years at UofT... what 5-year program? :s
Well, there's an optional year of internship but hardly counts as a 5th academic year?

Galahad, do americans not get the ring? I'm confused about your last claim.

 

It's like 4 and 1/2 years, if you do coop. After 2nd year, every other semester (including the summer) is a work term. And no, Americans do not get an Iron Ring, so far as I know...

 

Iron Ring??? Not sure what you mean by that.

And as for a 4 year program, I am saying that without a coop, and max credit load at my school is 19 credits not a mere 16...

 

As I suspected, Americans do not get an Iron Ring.

The way it is set up at our school, full courseload is 5 credits per semester, if you do the 4 year program, you take 6 credits per semester, which is the most that the university will allow. Wouldn't want us to learn too much I guess...

 

ONLY U of T engineering students who graduate get the iron ring.
It has something to do with a bridge collapsing in 1922 and 75 workers/engineers dying. Kind of a symbol... never forget... if you will.

 

Not only U of T students get an Iron Ring, I'll be getting mine in around 200 days, and I don't go to U of T. All Canadian engineers get one, or such was my understanding. Dalhousie Engineering FTW!

 

Yea the ring was originally made from that bridge's iron, and indeed, not only UofT students get the ring.

I actually thought it was a worldwide symbol for prefessional engineers, guess not.