This question is only for computer science students (or lecturers) so please do not answer questions from others.
During your studies, do you do a lot of programming in the university or only at home in the flat etc? The reason for the question is whether buying a programmable laptop is more advantageous than buying an Ipad that is much better suited for handwritten notes. (Programming would then take place at home on the desktop)
What is your experience? Do you need a portable laptop to study IT?
So I would absolutely advise against tablet. Nothing can replace a real keyboard. As soon as we had a course where a computer was necessary, we were in a room full of computers, but really everyone had their own device, because otherwise starting up and installing / adjusting the respective programs simply eats up too much time. It is also always tedious when something does not work at home that worked on the university computer. Experience has shown that you will not always get a computer from the university, my university was extraordinary.
There are also notebooks with touchscreens that can be folded down into tablets. If that's important to you, take something like that.
More like only at home. Right now there's no other way, but especially in computer science studies, lectures are streamed or recorded.
Going to the university is actually only necessary for exercises or tutorials and for that I usually need a laptop. (A cheaper one is also sufficient, programming can be done just as well on Thinkpads or similar.)
I needed a laptop for a couple of events at university:
Java programming course
C # / C ++ programming course
Software internship
Attendance was not compulsory for the programming courses, but attendance was definitely advisable. In theory, it is enough if you can take a look at a friend's house, but we recommend your own laptop.
The software internship was virtually impossible without a laptop.
I'll just talk about normal operation (without Corona).
What is your experience? Do you need a portable laptop to study IT?
no, you DO NOT NEED a laptop for your studies.
However, it is recommended in my opinion. I spent a lot of time with fellow students programming solutions together on site - each with their own device.
Your faculty / university will provide a computer pool, but you are always tied to one location and you have to make sure that you always transfer the data somehow if you want to work with it elsewhere.
Sure, you would have to do that with Laptop + Desktop too, but you have far more options there - in addition, you always have the data on the laptop if you are primarily working with it.
A desktop at home is good, of course, but it also keeps you tied to your home.
A laptop for programming does not have to be particularly powerful unless you are visiting a module with complex 3D graphics calculations. For little money, e.g. Used Thinkpads are gladly recommended.
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Regarding the notes and your iPad:
I basically got through the whole course of studies with a laptop, PC and handwritten notes.
A tablet with a pen is of course not necessary. An iPad is all well and good, but personally I would never buy, but rather rely on an Android device - it gives you some freedom that you don't have with Apple.
No matter what you choose: Personally, I would go for both, laptop + notes (tablet, paper, whatever)
Alternatively, you can choose a convertible that supports a pen
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Nevertheless, especially now with Corona: If you mainly have online lectures, save the purchase for the moment and see how it goes - you can buy a laptop relatively quickly at any time.
Yes, a laptop is advisable. You can write notes faster than by hand / pen in latex or something. You can program, work, anything that needs to be done. It is your system that you know.
The requirements are not very high for something like that. A simple laptop is sufficient for now.
