They're sleek, slim, sophisticated and lifesavers with multimedia capabilities that are sometimes distracting. While taking courses this semester, Weber State University students see more laptop computers in use than at any previous time. "I never used to see students using laptops,
Dewalt Batteries for dewalt power tools, " said Ben Johns, a sophomore at WSU. "I'm definitely seeing it more now than in my previous schooling."
With an endless amount of entertainment only a mouse click away and accessible from nearly anywhere on campus, thanks to the wireless service on campus that gives students free access to the Internet, some students may find such activities distracting them from paying attention in their classes.
Sony laptop batteries for sony laptops. Some distracted students have even found ways around professors' watchful gazes. "It takes a lot of guts to play Warcraft while the teacher's talking," Johns said. Such distractions are more affordable than ever, too. According to ZDNet.com, laptop sales now often surpass sales of desktops. Decreases in the cost of laptop manufacturing and laptops' sizes, increases in laptops' performance and longer battery life have all helped facilitate this increase in laptop use, even among dirt-broke college students. Now, instead of only using a desktop when at home or in one of the computer labs, some WSU students have the ability to tote their laptops next to their textbooks. "Laptops have a portability factor, and that's one reason I love them," said Jeff Nicholson, a sophomore at WSU.
"Students with laptops don't want to sit around in the computer lab." In addition to the portability, laptops facilitate the learning process for many students. "I think it's a good idea," Johns said. "It's a whole heck of a lot easier to take notes." Laptop computers allow students to perform many tasks in addition to homework,
sony camcorder batteries for sony camcorders, and some of those tasks might offer distractions. Thanks to the improved portability of laptops, students can easily communicate with each other just about anywhere through instant messaging services. In addition, now that laptop computers can often match their desktop counterparts in terms of raw power, they allow students to download and listen to music, watch movies and play games. These activities make up a small portion of the vast number and variety of media and communication-related tasks computers can perform.
"I think it's a good investment," Johns said. "There's no distraction. It can become a problem, but most professors can handle them. If it works for you, then great." Laptops may sometimes provide a convenient guise for students that allows them to appear as if they are busy taking notes while in class. "I've seen a few other people using laptops in class,
canon camera batteries for canon cameras, and they're probably chatting," Nicholson said. "However, I can multitask. I can be listening and chatting at the same time. Most people can probably do the same." Computer science students use laptops for many of their classes, so they may have an even easier time getting sidetracked from their studies. "Since most computer science students are heavily involved with computers, it is common to see the students have computers in class," said Drew Weidman, WSU computer science instructor, in an e-mail interview.
"I really haven't questioned what the students are doing with the computers. For all I know they could be working on a programming assignment for another class." Nicholson said he had not seen too many laptops in his introductory computer science course.
Nokia batteries longer battery life for nokia mobile phones. Despite their inherent abilities to make students' lives easier and more entertaining, both inside and outside the classroom, some students may still find their cost a challenge. "Everything in the computer world is more affordable, even laptops," Nicholson said. "They're still quite a bit up there, though."
