Reddit reviews Objects First with Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (6th Edition)

Yes, the lab is mandatory. If you are currently enrolled in lecture but not lab, you will need to try to force/add a lab section (and will probably not have any choice on times--you'll probably be placed where ever they can find a space). However, contrary to advice here, you should not wait for the first day of class to request a force/add from the instructor. In CS, all force/adds for undergraduate courses are handled centrally through an online form and you cannot force/add into a class just by going on the first day of class. The force/add policy description and link to the online form are on the CS website here: https://cs.vt.edu/Undergraduate/ForceAdd.html.

Regarding your computer, a MacBook or MacBook Pro is fine. Pretty much any decent notebook computer (whether Win/Mac/Linux) will work. No touch screen is required. All software is provided for free and is available for download from Canvas once you're in the course. The software is cross-platform and runs on about any OS. There is a required course textbook. I'm not sure if it is listed at the bookstore or not, but it is usually this one: https://www.amazon.com/Objects-First-Java-Practical-Introduction/dp/0134477367. An older 5th edition will probably also work, but you can find out on the first day of class when the instructor goes over the syllabus requirements. If you wait until the first week of classes to get the textbook, you'll still be fine.

i know bluej is kinda hated here, but I just learnt literally the things u mentioned in the first 4 chapters of this book:


https://www.amazon.de/Objects-First-Java-Practical-Introduction/dp/0134477367/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1562878283&refinements=p_27%3ADavid+J.+Barnes&s=books&sr=1-2&text=David+J.+Barnes


I know where to find it online in pdf form if you wanna have it. I think its REALLY good and made me pass my exam I failed twice before