Need help picking a laptop for school

[smileyrn96]

Well, class begins in August and I need a laptop. I have owned Dell mostly and have been looking that direction. Recently though I have been researching Tablet pc. They look pretty cool, especially the Thinkpad x61 tablet. Super small with lots of power. Only downside is that it does not appear to come with a CD or DVD drive unless you get the docking station or maybe via usb peripheral. Does anyone have any experience with this sort of laptop and school???
I hear great stuff about macs, but I have only owned IBM type machines and now does not seem like the right time to make that switch and I do not think my clinical tracking software is compatable??
I really appreciate any info on the topic as far a current machines go and the laptop pc vs tablet pc ( not the super mini kind).
Thanks
-Smiley

[bobcat]

hi.. i'm about to start looking myself.
if you're working with the srna budget, getting a non-mac pc would be cheapest. though the mac crowd is growing exponentially. i've read that most techy people are pleased with lenovo thinkpads, having XP installed (instead of vista) or wiping vista off and installing xp right away. personally i'd pass on the tablet, while it seems like a good time, i don't think it's worth the price to me. all i want to do is type notes in class

a good site for reviews:
http://www.cnet.com/

i keep my eyes on these deal sites daily:

http://www.slickdeals.net/
http://bensbargains.net/
http://www.dealdetectives.com/

i've bought a lot from
http://www.tigerdirect.com/
and have nothing but great things to say about them. good, fast, clean service.

a lot of other people like
http://www.newegg.com/

good luck...
-chris

[FlTraumaRN]

I am also starting school in August. I just purchased a new lap top myself. I went to a local chain electronics store and told the clerk about what I would need a lap top for and he steared me to a HP. I thought they would point me to the most expensive laptop in the store, but he didn't. It was actually one of the cheapest.

I have never owned a mac, but I definitely want one and want to switch. I also figured right before school didn't seem like a good time. Plus, I didn't want to spend the extra money. There is a big difference in price.

Just remember that you are going to be carrying your lap top around a bunch. So, look for something light. I went with a 14 inch screen for that reason. Figure I will get the one I "want" after school.

[assilem]

I am also starting school in August. I just purchased a new lap top myself. I went to a local chain electronics store and told the clerk about what I would need a lap top for and he steared me to a HP. I thought they would point me to the most expensive laptop in the store, but he didn't. It was actually one of the cheapest.

I have never owned a mac, but I definitely want one and want to switch. I also figured right before school didn't seem like a good time. Plus, I didn't want to spend the extra money. There is a big difference in price.

Just remember that you are going to be carrying your lap top around a bunch. So, look for something light. I went with a 14 inch screen for that reason. Figure I will get the one I "want" after school.

light is what you're after?

MAC (http://www.apple.com/macbookair/) has just the thing for you....

[bobcat]

"starting @ $1799"
it'd be sweet for sure.... that'd be the after-school delight. for now i'm saying smaller screen and smaller price... i need to type notes (and avoid the forums) while in class.
btw, note the core2duo (available in pc & macs alike) uses less power than many processors, lending to longer battery life. that can add some $$$ on the pc side of things.

[nojrevorg]

I was always a PC guy, and I can tell you that I will never own another as far as a laptop goes. I bought a Mac at christmas and have not looked back . I have a PC desktop, but my Mac is my main stay and it is so easy to use. It takes no time to get use to the way things work. It boots up immediately. NO waiting for crap to load, and other stuff. I use Medatrax, for uploading my cases, and it is a online service. I dont use the PDA to do it yet, I am not sure if it would help me to do that or not. Using my Mac it works through Firefox to document my cases. I love it, and Keynote is a nice presentation software with Iwork. Your Presentations will stand out amongst the rest.
I sound like a dam commercial

[nojrevorg]

If you wait long enough, I believe that INtel will be coming out with their penryn and I am not sure, but I think that it is supposed to be more battery efficient. You get money off the Mac like 100 bucks if you use your education discount on the online store. I have the Macbook and it is light, it fits in my bag, with MM and multiple folders or Barash and 1 or 2 folders.

[944S]

I have to second the MAC recommendation. I bought one almost a year ago and will never go back. On a student budget there are two ways to get a discount.

1. They give an educational (http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/routingpage.html)discount which is substantial.

2. Keep an eye on the refurbished (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=44BD9AA1&nclm=CertifiedMac) models. I got mine for over three hundred dollars off.

As for those who insist on a PC in hopes of keep XP. MS is dropping XP as of almost immediately. (http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/04/13/HNvistaship_1.html)

[assilem]

mac is the way to go and you won't go back. it's worth the extra bucks (okay maybe the macbook air will have to wait until after school) i got the macbook basic model for $1000. can't tell you how many classmates have had computer disasters with their windows boxes. lost research papers, frozen locked up computers, viruses.... don't miss those days

[yoga]

I am not a student, but am a major Mac fan. I run a surgery center and my anesthesia practice totally with Macs. Carry my MacBook with me all of the time and use it for writing, teaching and fun. The new OS has a great automatic back-up system so you won't lose anything.

Jan (mac computer and miller blade user)

[nojrevorg]

Time machine backs up all of your files to a portable hard drive. They even make them wireless connect for back up now during the last update to osx. The computer works well.

[ethernaut]

I have to second the MAC recommendation. I bought one almost a year ago and will never go back. On a student budget there are two ways to get a discount.

1. They give an educational (http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/routingpage.html)discount which is substantial.

2. Keep an eye on the refurbished (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=44BD9AA1&nclm=CertifiedMac) models. I got mine for over three hundred dollars off.

As for those who insist on a PC in hopes of keep XP. MS is dropping XP as of almost immediately. (http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/04/13/HNvistaship_1.html)

linux platform much better (IMO), and more stable as well.. much more resistant to viruses and hackers....
that's why Mac's kick a$$~

[matman]

linux platform much better (IMO), and more stable as well.. much more resistant to viruses and hackers....
that's why Mac's kick a$$~

No doubt- I have a PC, many of my classmates use Mac and I routinely have apple envy. First thing I'm gonna get when I finish school is the latest and greatest Mac I can find.

[MmacFN]

I love my macbook. Once im done school ill upgrade my home PC (a sony vaio laptop) to a mac as well. Im done with PCs. My vaio screw up on a weekly basis and slows down within a few days of being on. I have gone 3 monthds without rebooting my mac and they only reason i did was for an install that needed restart.

While you can get a cheap PC remember, you get what you pay for. Buy a cheaper MAC and you will be much happier in the long run.

[smileyrn96]

I was wondering if mac os was compatable with medatrax. It looks like everyone for the most part recs the macbook. Hmmm....Makes me think a bit....I think you guys are making this more difficult...LOL...I have a friend whos wife is in Duke's program and originaly bought a cheap laptop from a chain and it kept locking up on her so she bought the macbook and loves it...All her class mates have Mac-envy and have multiple problems with school software that is not Vista compatible...Hmmm well I will cont to do research...thanks
-Smiley

[smileyrn96]

Did you switch to mac for the first time right before school and how did that work out, if you did???
-Smiley

[MmacFN]

I got it in my first few months of school. I use it for everything related to school. You can get Office for Mac so that if you only know how to use MS office you can use it on the mac too.

[ethernaut]

I was wondering if mac os was compatable with medatrax. It looks like everyone for the most part recs the macbook. Hmmm....Makes me think a bit....I think you guys are making this more difficult...LOL...I have a friend whos wife is in Duke's program and originaly bought a cheap laptop from a chain and it kept locking up on her so she bought the macbook and loves it...All her class mates have Mac-envy and have multiple problems with school software that is not Vista compatible...Hmmm well I will cont to do research...thanks
-Smiley
hey smiley,
maybe you want to check with the school's IT dept. or whoever sets up the medatrax system. they should be able to tell you which platforms are compatible. besides, you can use internet explorer, safari (mac's browser), or firefox. any of these should allow you to use medatrax. but i'd check just to be sure..

[assilem]

I use medatrax with firefox on my macbook, no problems. works with safari too.

[batgirlsrna]

I use medatrax with my mac (safari) and it's fine. I got my macbook right after I started school (had only PC's prior) and LOVE it! Definitely mac.

[Nancicrna08]

I have a HP Notebook and its worked well for me so far-got it just before school started. Have a Sony Viao laptop as my home PC and don't use it as it is slower and always seems to have some problem (long upload times, takes long to boot up, just not as quick).

Now I'll have to look into the Macs after graduation- such overwhelming good things being said about them. I don't think I can afford to change over now during school (no time or money) but will definitely check it out after graduation.

[PropofolDiva]

Okay, I have pondered this for awhile and I am now leaning towards getting a MAC. I have 2 HP PCs and 1 HP laptop and I am tired of them freezing or having to crash and restart the hard drives. So my question is ......................

If I only need the MAC for school and email, I am not into gaming, website creation or anything that is too techy, which one should I take a closer look at, the MacBook or the MacBook Air. Also which add-ons/upgrades should I definitely purchase?

Thanks for the input.

[assilem]

MacBook should be all you need for school. Get the Microsoft Office package for Mac.

[KermitRN]

Macbook for sure. I love mine. You won't need any other updates really.

[ethernaut]

i have the iBook..
has everything i need --

[nojrevorg]

I Bought a Mac book at Christmas. I think it is awesome. It works great and smooth. I believe that there is a new Processor going into them as well which should benefit your timing. I Have the Microsoft pack and it works well. I like the I work productivity software as well. They are compatible to read with Microsoft as well so your professor should be able to open your stuff. I wont buy another CPU (unless for games alone...not that I have time for that anymore... .I digress)
I bought it initially to stay away from Vista, and I am glad for making the switch.

[MmacFN]

The macbook air is WAYYYY too expensive for a school laptop (as nice as it is).

I want one badly but its awful pricey and my mackbook does everything I need as it is. Go with the macbook!

[assilem]

Yep I agree, MacBook Air is going to be a post graduation purchase

[Anthony]

If you HAVE to go PC because of $$$ - then DO NOT get a vista machine - get one with XP professional - if you want colorful comments - ask Army all about it.....hahah

t

[PropofolDiva]

Thanks all. I have never used anything but PCs. I will do a review from a newbie's point of view once I get it.

[jologs1]

i highly recommend a dell inspiron e1505, due to the fact that i have one it's fast as heck, esp with multitasking etc.. had it for 2 years and it hasn't given me any problems yet, in fact, it's been among the top 5 laptops in the past few years according to reviews ..

[smileyrn96]

Well, I ordered my macbook 2.4 ghz and 2 gig ram yesterday as well as time capsule. Thank you guys/gals for the advice it helped a lot. Now it is time to stress about the pda vs smartphone and books too I guess:eek5:
-Smiley