Tablet or laptop for CCENT/CCNA studying?

mike+

I just picked up the book for the new CCENT and am torn between a nexus 7 for mobile reading/videos or a laptop for mobile labbing. I'm not sure how often or how many hours I will be spending doing labs vs reading and watching videos.

Any thoughts?

networker050184

Laptop. You can read and lab on it.

DeezyFF

Laptop. The more you lab the easier the tests will be.

mike+

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice. Is there any particular simulation software you recommend?

MrXpert

Imo I'd only ever use a proper PC to do labbing. laptops are too underpowered and just plain rubbish to type on.
For studying I use a cheapy tablet or my PC. On my PC i create big mind maps and benefit from having a big screen.
I do own a laptop but not used switched it on in about a year.:)

NetworkVeteran

laptops are too underpowered and just plain rubbish to type on.

Using GNS3--a full emulation--256MB of RAM is enough per device. Even a 9-device TSHOOT topology only takes 2.25 GB of RM, possible with 4GB, better with 6-8GB RAM. There are plenty of sub-$800 laptops capable of this. Simulators are easier.

s there any particular simulation software you recommend?

For simulators, Boson Netsim or Packet Tracer. For emulators, GNS3. The difference is, a simulator pretend (reasonably well) to run the IOS software, while an emulator actually does. For the CCNA, either option is sufficient. NetSim runs ~$150. Packet Tracer is free for Cisco Academy students. GNS3 is also free but takes some time/work/effort to setup.

MrXpert

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

Using GNS3--a full emulation--256MB of RAM is enough per device. Even a 9-device TSHOOT topology only takes 2.25 GB of RM, possible with 4GB, better with 6-8GB RAM. There are plenty of sub-$800 laptops capable of this. Simulators are easier.

Maybe so but for practical purposes and performance I just use my PC.It is so much nicer to work on. Nice big screen, proper keyboard and a robust mouse and most importantly plenty of power for multitasking, labbing etc.I did try GNS3 on my laptop and it ran OK but after some 3 hours of typing on its silly tiny unmanly keyboard i just couldn't hack it so went back to my PC. I could have plugged in an external k'board and mouse into my laptop but thought if i'm gonna do that may as well use my PC. I have owned only 4 laptops (some very high spec at the time) over a period of 15 years and I think between all of them have only used them for the aggregate total time of 1 month.
Laptops imo are limited and they have limited upgrade options making them not cost effective in the long term.
Tablet PCs on the other hand are good as you can carry that around easily and just read books on it.I bought one for £50 on ebay and it's running Android. Good enough for watching vids and reading though.

On the topic of simulators or emulators, I'd highly recommend Packet Tracer because it is very scalable and fairly easy to use.Perfect for CCNA. If you want to a bit further you could try GNS3 which is excellent if you want to learn routing such as RIP,OSPF etc. The other major plus side of GNS3 is that you can download labs onto it and troubleshoot them. Rene Molenaar has several for CCNA on his website. Free of charge the last time I checked. I used GNS3 heavily when I was doing the CCNP Route exam and I remember thinking retrospectively wishing I had used it and Rene's labs when I had done CCNA. It allows you to go that extra mile and you would be better for it imo.

iamme4eva

I work on the road a fair bit, so although I love my dual screen, big monitor set up...I end up doing most of my labbing on the laptop.

It can be a bit fiddly, but with a tabbed terminal emulator, and GNS3, it's not so bad. I always carry a mouse in my bag, because the touch pads do my head in.

DoubleNNs

You need to do labbing. You're not going to be able to do any real labbing on a tablet.

So whichever one you do get, just make sure you have some method available to do some labbing.

And after passing the CCENT, the labbing requirements for the CCNA are even higher than for the CCENT.

mike+

Thanks again for the advice all. I ordered a refurb 17" i7 laptop that should work as a desktop replacement when I'm out and about and want to do some labbing. I figure my phone is perfectly acceptable for reading pdf's on if I want a mobile reading device.