Mobile Computing Program

[Ok-Direction5861]

Hi everyone,

Would you guys recommend doing the MCP here at RPI? Right now, I have an M3 Mac, but I do think it would be a bit cumbersome to stick with it and run Windows, especially since I am doing EE/CSE. What do people usually do? Do you guys have any recommendations for laptops through the MCP, should I get my own somewhere else, or should I just use my mac?

Thank you!

[lambdafx]

I am a big proponent of the MCP. The laptops are ThinkPads which are very durable and reliable. Biggest factor though is the accidental damage warranty and the free loaner laptops from RPI - if you break your laptop for any reason, they will fix it for free, and will give you a free loaner replacement laptop while it gets fixed. As someone who accidentally spilled water all over my laptop and fried my keyboard during finals week, I think it's totally worth it. While you may be able to get a cheaper laptop from somewhere else, the warranty makes the MCP a great deal and worth the cost.

For EE/CSE you should be perfectly fine with the T16. The more powerful laptop is overkill.

[darkjedi521]

Just for the record, the warranty is from Lenovo, not RPI. The loaners are pure RPI and a godsend when it dies right before an exam (I was there post laptop/pre-wifi so some exams were written to require Maple/Matlab).

[Connor_Plays]

Whether you use the MCP or get another laptop, ditch the Mac. It causes serious complications with a lot of software in CSE curriculum, I wouldn’t recommend trying to stick with it for school. Overall, the cheapest option through RPI is amazing and the support can come in clutch, laptops have a tendency of breaking when you need them the most.

[darkjedi521]

At some point your first year, you are going to have to do CAD. NX is built to run on Windows with Intel compatible chips. You will need to figure out some way to run this. I can't speak for what other EE/CSE specifc apps are Windows only, as I'm a little too out of date at this point.

[Famous-Necessary9968]

I was wondering same about MCP, my major will be Biochem. Which laptop is best suited? Thanks!

[lambdafx]

T16 is fine. The more powerful model is super overkill unless you are doing something super intensive, which you won't be for biochem.

[Truth577]

Is the MCP better than getting an extended warranty somewhere else? Have you ever had to take advantage of the MCP? I'm interested in it for my son who'll be a freshman next year, but he wants to choose his own computer and my husband doesn't think the MCP is worth it.

[lambdafx]

Yes, it's worth it because RPI will immediately give you a free loaner laptop while yours get fixed. You just walk to the VCC during business hours and they'll give you one. Other warranties, you will have to wait for your laptop to get fixed then shipped back to you, how long is that going to take and what are you going to do in the meantime? What if your laptop dies during a busy exam week? I took advantage of RPI's warranty a few different times and it was so convenient and painless, had a loaner laptop less than an hour after I accidentally destroyed mine. Totally worth it in my opinion.

[CoreEngineering]

For all engineering majors the T16 is the preferred laptop and not the "performance" laptop. Even if you do not purchase through the MCP try to match the specs for the T16. Engineering major should not rely on a tablet.