University of Virginia School of Law 2011 Forum

[ubuntu]

The bundles are now up for the cavalier computers. Just Dells and a Mac, no Thinkpads . I'll probably go with the mac just because I hate dell.

mmmmm black macbook = sexy!

[Da Stain]

Don't quite know why, but our MacBook bundle is $250 cheaper than the UG bundle of what appears to be the same thing. WOOT!!!

[cantwaitforuva]

2. Cantwait - Sounds like your going to be up for some dinner parties. Are you white? B/c us white people love dinner parties. It's okay if your not, because the only thing better than a dinner party is a dinner party with diversity. In All Seriousness though, I too love to cook, so it sounds like its up to us to prevent a TLS famine.

Haha. Yes, I'm white (and a little Asian) and I love dinner parties. Not in a snooty way - I just love them because I like to cook for people. And yes, we should throw some dinner parties for our TLSers.

[cantwaitforuva]

It's a pretty accepted fact that the MacBook will be updated in June and I'm wondering if we'll be getting that update. I can wait to order regardless since the earliest we could get it is July or so. I just hope we're getting the goods so to speak in the end.

Why is july the earliest?

[cantwaitforuva]

I'm decent at cooking, but would like to get better. On a side note, did anyone see Top Chef last night? I unfortunately missed it.

Yay, another someone to cook with. I saw Top Chef. It was great - there was some major back talking to Tom and he was having none of it.

[Da Stain]

I guess for me. Might be a pain to deal with their "training" in June though.

--LinkRemoved--

But the update is why I wouldn't really be in a hurry.

[wesleybs]

Might be a pain to deal with their "training" in June though.

Does anyone else find the information about the early pickup and the configuration setup confusing?

[J-Rod]

did anyone else notice how the MacBook bundle is an awesome price! and the dell bundles are a HUGE ripoff?

[vvv4]

I guess for me. Might be a pain to deal with their "training" in June though.

--LinkRemoved--

But the update is why I wouldn't really be in a hurry.

Whatever you do when you come to UVa, do NOT buy anything at all from Cavalier Comp if you can help it. Find a good sale at a site like techbargains.com. Every friend of mine that has had a Cavalier Computer notebook in undergrad has had some sort of stupid problem with it, and the people who troubleshoot it are generally clueless or unhelpful. I happily am doing fine with my cheap laptop and desktop, which combined cost less than an overpriced Cavalier Comp notebook with close to the same specifications.

[shadowfish]

Yeah, I thought the Dells sounded expensive. I know very little about laptops, though. I kind of want a Tablet PC, but I'm wondering if I'll kick myself when my computer breaks down the week before exams.

[OnceLost]

I got the snail mail letter today, so apparently the "you're in off the wait-list" email wasn't an administrative error...that's a relief.

I've used a Dell Inspiron 2200 laptop for about 3 years now and been pretty happy with it. Of course, you have to use a de-crapifier to get all the junk off of it, but it's a solid machine. It's just starting to stagger, and a 3 year haul is pretty good machine running XP. I think I'm going to re-format it and reload everything to use as a back-up laptop.

I used Dell's "Customize" feature to make as close a comparison to Cavalier Computer's price for a Dell Latitude D830 ($2079) as I could and I stopped when they were within $50 of each other...and I didn't get to the part where you add software on the Dell site. The price seems high to me (but I'm a cheap bastard; my laptop was around $400), but it doesn't seem out of whack with what you'd get directly from Dell.

I'd always suggest looking at Tigerdirect.com and Newegg.com, though. I've bought components for several computers there (including the parts for my last two desktops, which I built) and I've been very satisfied overall.

[breanne2011]

Man, I'm going to end up bringing my N64 to Cville as well.

DOOO ITT

I'm hoping I'll have a Wii before I move...but I'm waiting until I get my economic stimulus package. Thanks, confused economic advisors!

[MissVirginia]

[OnceLost]

Okay, I did a more thorough comparison of the Dell 830 bundle from Cavalier and the same setup customized on the Dell website. I was wrong about the price from Cavalier, incidentally, because it's $1,899 (--LinkRemoved--). The same setup (not including some peripherals and the UVa software) directly from Dell is $2,593. Total savings of $694, although I believe Cavalier charges sales tax while Dell doesn't.

[vvv4]

Okay, I did a more thorough comparison of the Dell 830 bundle from Cavalier and the same setup customized on the Dell website. I was wrong about the price from Cavalier, incidentally, because it's $1,899 (--LinkRemoved--). The same setup (not including some peripherals and the UVa software) directly from Dell is $2,593. Total savings of $694, although I believe Cavalier charges sales tax while Dell doesn't.

The thing is that Dell (or other competitors) will have very good sales on occasion which make the cost far cheaper than the static price of a Cavalier Computer. Sites like techbargains centralize all those random sales and deals going on to help you choose out a good computer for much less. And you wouldn't even need to necessarily have the specs or software that they would put on there, so you're just paying extra for whatever useless Microsoft Office programs are out there when you only need a basic MSOffice package that includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The fact that Cavalier Comp doesn't even offer anything else other than two models is a problem as well. You can't even reduce the unnecessary 3 year warranty to make the cost cheaper (1 year warranties are the best, that's the most highly likely time that something will be wrong with your notebook), 160 GB harddrive, 2 GB of RAM, and Microsoft Vista (ick).

If you want to have the exact same computer they're offering, then, yes, you probably won't be able to find a sale that matches up exactly like that so what CC is offering is indeed cheaper. However, if you don't want to spend the extra money on a 160GB harddrive when you're fine with an 80GB harddrive then CC is of course much more expensive. And there will definitely be some sort of sale this summer which offers some sort of computer that fits your needs for a very good price as long as you look through sites like techbargains.

[greygoose]

the bundles are convenient (at least on paper); however, you can find similarly configured computers at a fraction of the price. if you're paying over 1200 for a computer with those specs, you're over spending (in reference to the dell(s)). the warranty is nice, but personally, i'd rather buy two computers (1K - top of the line specs) over the next 3 years, than spend it all on one system.

[rsr28]

With all the talk of video games -- I have an XBox 360 that I don't use and someone might be able to have if they wanted it. Would anyone be interested? Not really looking to sell it I don't think, I'd just be happy to give it to someone who will put it to use.

Oh, I'm totally down with flag football. I don't have breakaway speed but I'm quick and sure-handed underneath. I'm a ball-hawker at safety, too.

Hey while we're throwing ideas out there... anyone play soccer??

[J-Rod]

ok people . . . more graduation partying tonight!! i'll see ya on TLS tomorrow sometime!


. . . some of you need to get out and start partying or you're gonna make me feel like an alcoholic!

[OldBlue]

haha cantwait while I was writing about the loft I was thinking about how awesome a pillow-and-blanket fort would be... something like what peter griffin made in the first class cabin while Lois was a flight attendant (family guy, anyone?).

and damn, two wiis in one apartment! we're going to have some crazy wii parties. I call Pit and or Donkey in Smash.. good lord King Dedede is awful. Flag football sounds awesome (me=pretty good receiver). though it could be tough fitting it into the demanding softball schedule. we also need to get a group together for birdwood, the university's golf course... $12 for 18 holes!

and yes, black macbook=ridiculously sexy.

Alright i'm ready to call it. UVA Class of 2011=GREATEST LAW SCHOOL CLASS EVER!!

congrats to everyone who just graduated

[cantwaitforuva]

I'm confused about the computer bundles. It seems like a good idea because of the replacement policy (I'm sure we've all heard the horror stories) and it would come with all of the stuff I need for UVA, so that's convenient. I'm just not crazy about the selection. I really wanted a small laptop that would be easy to bring to and from class. Not sure what to do.

On another note - I have THREE ceremonies to attend for graduation (fri, sat, and sun morning) - that is ridiculously excessive and I wish I could skip them all.

[hokiefan]

I haven't played golf this year but I'd be down for hitting up the links. Anyone play tennis?

[gladiator]

With all the talk of video games -- I have an XBox 360 that I don't use and someone might be able to have if they wanted it. Would anyone be interested? Not really looking to sell it I don't think, I'd just be happy to give it to someone who will put it to use.

Oh, I'm totally down with flag football. I don't have breakaway speed but I'm quick and sure-handed underneath. I'm a ball-hawker at safety, too.

Hey while we're throwing ideas out there... anyone play soccer??

Umm...I'd be happy to take an XBox360 for free.

[wesleybs]

I'll have a 360, original xbox, wii, dreamcast, and super Nintendo.

I'm wanting to learn how to play golf. I guess that won't help for the tournament, but I would love to go out and play some.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/W ... rtifiedMac

I might buy a refurbished mac. Saves a good bit of money.

[OnceLost]

I should have noted in that comparison that I think the 830 is overpowered. According to the computing thread on the admitted students forum, it looks like you only need MS Office...or Open Office, for that matter. I've seen other manufacturers with student discounts on occasion, so that's something else to consider. I can't see spending $2,000 for a laptop that isn't Alienware or something equally ridiculous, but as noted above, I'm a cheap bastard.

[rayallen20]

Alright guys, I'm leaving for our senior trip to Foxwoods for the day. Wish me luck!!! I'll be playing 200 Max NL Hold'em so I could go broke pretty fast.......