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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that not every university student has a laptop?

46 replies

hellokittymania · 11/07/2017 03:24

People are incredulous that I don't have one. Surely I am not alone though.

I am a mature student and I'm doing the course online. Out of curiosity, especially if you are a mature student with a family or a full-time job, do you find it hard to relate to the 18-year-old students? I feel so old. 😂😩

OP posts:
Cocklodger · 11/07/2017 03:26

Not every student will have one. Be it mature students like yourself or people barely out of school/college.
But it does seem to be the expectation/norm nowadays... if you've a good enough desktop or other device to do your course just stick with that, though. Smile

Want2bSupermum · 11/07/2017 03:27

I have a laptop and run a trading platform off it because I use a virtual desktop along with remote servers.

Only reason for the laptop is that it takes up less space. I also have three screens and use all of them. I'm an assistant controller for a broker dealer.

mohuzivajehi · 11/07/2017 03:30

I think desktops are only a thing for the over 35s these days. I would guess 90% of students have a laptop and 10% have a Tablet - that 10% limited to those studying non-essay subjects.

Never been a mature student - I had a colleague who had done her degree in her 30s with a young (primary school age) child - she was very "young at heart" though and was able to shrug off unnecessary layers of maturity when appropriate.

KoalaDownUnder · 11/07/2017 03:36

I went to law school as a mature-age student.

TBH, I would have really, really struggled without a laptop. I type faster than I write, and I took all my lecture notes on my laptop. Also took it to the library, tutorials, etc etc.

Original poster
hellokittymania · 11/07/2017 03:42

Does nobody just use an iPad? Or the Internet café? I really feel old now. 😂

Must be all of those years in Asia. Very rural Asia. I did take a level one class in interpreting though and absolutely nobody in the class ever brought a laptop. We were all foreigners, well, I'm not really a foreigner but I haven't lived in the UK for most of my life

OP posts:
Want2bSupermum · 11/07/2017 03:45

Internet cafe? No I have data on my phone. My iPad is useless for work. Beyond basic shopping, MN and paying bills it just doesn't cut the mustard.

KoalaDownUnder · 11/07/2017 03:51

Do you have a desktop computer? Or just an iPad?

I'd hate not to have a full-sized keyboard, basically. Although I missed that your course is all online, so I guess you don't need a laptop to carry to lectures etc.

Original poster
hellokittymania · 11/07/2017 03:57

No, I only have an iPad mini and before that I only had an iPhone 4. I do everything on both.

I have one of those cheap under 20 pound foam with a regular Sim card and it's not currently working. Oh well, I like being different. Grin

I do need to find a new Sim card though as not having any phone is a bit difficult. I don't really know why it's not working either.

OP posts:
Original poster
hellokittymania · 11/07/2017 03:59

Even if I had lectures, I would not carry a laptop to a lecture. I can't stand them!

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 11/07/2017 04:01

I can't take notes on pen and paper! I can't write quickly enough.

Original poster
hellokittymania · 11/07/2017 04:16

living in Asia changes the way you do a lot of things. I can in like entertain myself for 13 hours when the electricity goes off but I know people who go nuts for 13 hours without any Internet.

I have a slate and stylus for writing braille which nobody in the UK under the age of 40 seems to know about. Anyway I can write very quickly with it and braille has a contracted form like shorthand.

I feel so out of place when I'm not one of these events where the newest technology is on display and people ask me if I know how to use the blah blah blah. I say no, I have no idea about the blah blah blah. I feel like an alien.

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 11/07/2017 04:24

Oh, I'm with you there! I lived in rural Indonesia for a while, in a village that had intermittent electricity and no hot running water. Smile

Being able to write Braille on a slate is a very cool and unusual skill.

I did law school in my thirties with a bunch of very young and competitive people, so I had to step up my tech game pretty quickly. I'm a Luddite at heart and would happily sit in a jungle with a paper book and no internet, if I could get away with it. Grin

SuperBeagle · 11/07/2017 04:28

I didn't know anyone in uni without a laptop, and I certainly don't think I could've managed my degrees with just an iPad.

MrsOverTheRoad · 11/07/2017 04:42

Your situation is a bit unusual Kitty I'm glad you're on a Uni course though! I remember you as a long time poster...way back when I first came here under another name! Are you back in the UK?

Original poster
hellokittymania · 11/07/2017 05:19

Yes, I am in the UK at the moment, but still doing projects abroad.

Kulala, I am with you there. From what I gather, the other students on the course are scattered around the world and everyone that I have encountered has been a mature student who is already working in the field of study, import export. It's really interesting and I enjoy it.

OP posts:
Ifailed · 11/07/2017 05:55

If I went back to Uni now, I'd want a desktop and a laptop. The former would be used to hold copies of all my work, have external backup drives etc and when I was in my room I'd use it as I find them more ergonomic to work on.
The laptop would be used in lectures, library etc. But as they are more vulnerable to damage or theft I would not feel comfortable with it being my sole PC. I am well aware of on-line storage, but that is not always available and can be costly, plus I just know that I would lose the laptop before an important deadline.
Tablets and phones are OK for accessing information, but I find them a PITA as input devices.

VeryButchyRestingFace · 11/07/2017 06:06

How do you write essays, OP? Do you have a desktop?

araiwa · 11/07/2017 06:09

Every student should really have some sort of computer, either a laptop or desktop.

Fuck writing essays on a tablet

sashh · 11/07/2017 06:14

I only use my laptop when I am teaching somewhere that doesn't let me use theirs.

I teach computer science (amongst other things).

Laptops are not meant to replace desktops, they are not good for typing long term as you can't adjust screen/keyboard.

FinallyHere · 11/07/2017 06:25

The screens and keyboards supplied with laptops may not be very ergonomic, but they are portable.

At home, as in the office, i use external screens, keyboard and mouse. A port replicator makes it quick and easy to connect, just one USB plug.

I'm really struggling to understand how that is different to a desktop, for ergonomics and ease of use?

Groupie123 · 11/07/2017 06:27

I am an OU student and was told I needed a computer because of the software required. If you don't need a computer at all it's likely not going to be the kind of course that will provide long term value in your career - even art/design courses need a PC.

Bubblesagain · 11/07/2017 06:32

I couldn't cope with just an iPad, love a good desktop and multiple screens! At uni though I used a laptop but rarely in class, just pen and paper for the most part.

Ifailed · 11/07/2017 06:34

FinallyHere I agree with you that using a external screens, keyboard and mouse is ergonomically the same whether a laptop or desktop is driving them.

Keeping all your work on one PC, a laptop, is risky in my view as it's more vulnerable than a static desktop.

RagingCunt · 11/07/2017 06:40

I couldn't have done my degree without a laptop as I travel a lot. I could not have written all those essays on an iPad!

Re the security aspect - I back everything up on a pen drive when I'm out and about, and a portable hard drive when I'm at home.

luckylucky24 · 11/07/2017 06:43

I couldn't have done my degree without a laptop. I cannot type fast enough on an Ipad.
DH doesn't believe me that some people don't have the internet these days Hmm