The Ideal Law School Laptop Forum

[Bankhead]

How do these stats look:

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8400 (2.26GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W 1
Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium 1
Operating system language: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium US English 1
System graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with vPro 1
Total memory: 2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM) 1
Keyboard: Keyboard US English 1
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) 1
Hard drive: 160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm 1
Optical device: CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA) 1
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot 1
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN 1
Wireless card: Intel WiFi Link 5100 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology 1
Mobile Broadband: Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable 1
Battery: 6 cell Li-Ion Battery 1
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 65W AC adapter 1
Language pack: Language Pack US English 1
Microsoft productivity software preload: Microsoft Office Basic 2007 - English 1
Additional Microsoft productivity software preload: Microsoft OneNote 2007 - Eng excluding EU-EFTA 1

[superflush]

Should I get the computer with the 4, 6, or 9 cell battery? Is the 6 enough? I heard it makes the computer larger... any truth to this. Thanks.

Well, it makes sense that if the battery is bigger, then the computer may be larger or weigh more with the battery in it.

[thesealocust]

Edit: n/m

[sentinal5656]

how do we weasel our way into getting one note and Microsoft office for really cheap?

any major discounts?

[superflush]

how do we weasel our way into getting one note and Microsoft office for really cheap?

any major discounts?

Yes, for Windows.
http://www.Microsoft.com/TheUltimateSteal
Its $60 for Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate

[project40]

this is my first post from my new thinkpad that i will be using in law school

[pu_golf88]

That's a great deal, but if you haven't graduated yet you might want to check and see if you can get a copy from your school. I go to Purdue and we have a software agreement with Microsoft so it's dirt cheap. I bought Vista Ultimate and Office Ultimate 2007 for around $15 I think. They say if/when you quit attending Purdue you're supposed to uninstall it, but I doubt anyone does that.

[aholmes87]

Just ordered my T400. Under the advice of my brother I upgraded to 3 gigs of rams for Vista. Now I just have to wait for the thing to ship.

My 10lb, 5 and a half year old Dell is on its last leg. Although, I have to say I have never had a problem with the product. I've heard some Dell horror stories but mine has been fine. Every so often I had to take it apart to clean out the fans and the vents, but other than that nothing major. I'm hoping I can use it to store documents for the next three years. I think it can handle that role.

[superflush]

That's a great deal, but if you haven't graduated yet you might want to check and see if you can get a copy from your school. I go to Purdue and we have a software agreement with Microsoft so it's dirt cheap. I bought Vista Ultimate and Office Ultimate 2007 for around $15 I think. They say if/when you quit attending Purdue you're supposed to uninstall it, but I doubt anyone does that.

Ah, good to know too, I guess. That's pretty cheap. I guess people should also checkout their college bookstore or computer store, and also see if you're prospective law school has any deals. But $60 is pretty good for Office straight from Microsoft.

[djshack]

That is an awesome deal. However, my law school will be providing Office 2007 (apparently Professional + OneNote... Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, and OneNote) for absolutely no charge when we have our computers "approved" by the IT guys. Also check school bookstores. If you don't get it free though, that $60 package is an amazing deal.

[Buckeye]

How do these stats look:

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8400 (2.26GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W 1
Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium 1
Operating system language: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium US English 1
System graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with vPro 1
Total memory: 2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM) 1
Keyboard: Keyboard US English 1
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) 1
Hard drive: 160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm 1
Optical device: CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA) 1
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot 1
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN 1
Wireless card: Intel WiFi Link 5100 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology 1
Mobile Broadband: Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable 1
Battery: 6 cell Li-Ion Battery 1
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 65W AC adapter 1
Language pack: Language Pack US English 1
Microsoft productivity software preload: Microsoft Office Basic 2007 - English 1
Additional Microsoft productivity software preload: Microsoft OneNote 2007 - Eng excluding EU-EFTA 1

Would recommend changing your choice of RAM. I personally wouldn't buy a computer with less than 4 GB. Maybe all you need is 2, but in that case buy 1 2 GB stick of ram, not 2 1 GB sticks of ram. This way, if you want to upgrade in the future you buy 1 more 2 GB instead of scrapping both 1 GB ones and buying 2 new ones.

Also I might look into buying a student version of Microsoft Office rather than getting it bundled with the computer. I feel like you can probably save a good amount of money here.

[sentinal5656]

Would recommend changing your choice of RAM. I personally wouldn't buy a computer with less than 4 GB. Maybe all you need is 2, but in that case buy 1 2 GB stick of ram, not 2 1 GB sticks of ram. This way, if you want to upgrade in the future you buy 1 more 2 GB instead of scrapping both 1 GB ones and buying 2 new ones.

Also I might look into buying a student version of Microsoft Office rather than getting it bundled with the computer. I feel like you can probably save a good amount of money here.

where are the good deals for this?!?!?! and what about one note? how can we obtain these for really cheappp?

[sentinal5656]

That is an awesome deal. However, my law school will be providing Office 2007 (apparently Professional + OneNote... Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, and OneNote) for absolutely no charge when we have our computers "approved" by the IT guys. Also check school bookstores. If you don't get it free though, that $60 package is an amazing deal.

i hope my school has thisssss....

[djshack]

How do these stats look:

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8400 (2.26GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W 1
Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium 1
Operating system language: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium US English 1
System graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with vPro 1
Total memory: 2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM) 1
Keyboard: Keyboard US English 1
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) 1
Hard drive: 160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm 1
Optical device: CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA) 1
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot 1
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN 1
Wireless card: Intel WiFi Link 5100 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology 1
Mobile Broadband: Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable 1
Battery: 6 cell Li-Ion Battery 1
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 65W AC adapter 1
Language pack: Language Pack US English 1
Microsoft productivity software preload: Microsoft Office Basic 2007 - English 1
Additional Microsoft productivity software preload: Microsoft OneNote 2007 - Eng excluding EU-EFTA 1

Would recommend changing your choice of RAM. I personally wouldn't buy a computer with less than 4 GB. Maybe all you need is 2, but in that case buy 1 2 GB stick of ram, not 2 1 GB sticks of ram. This way, if you want to upgrade in the future you buy 1 more 2 GB instead of scrapping both 1 GB ones and buying 2 new ones.

Also I might look into buying a student version of Microsoft Office rather than getting it bundled with the computer. I feel like you can probably save a good amount of money here.

+1

I got my T400 with one 2 GB RAM stick, and bought another 2 GB stick online for $33 from NewEgg.

[sentinal5656]

+1

I got my T400 with one 2 GB RAM stick, and bought another 2 GB stick online for $33 from NewEgg.

so you did 1 DIMM and installed the other DIMM? interesting... howd u install it? was it easy?

[djshack]

+1

I got my T400 with one 2 GB RAM stick, and bought another 2 GB stick online for $33 from NewEgg.

so you did 1 DIMM and installed the other DIMM? interesting... howd u install it? was it easy?

Very easy. Right under the wrist rest. I believe I had to remove four screws from the bottom of the computer.

[superflush]

Would recommend changing your choice of RAM. I personally wouldn't buy a computer with less than 4 GB. Maybe all you need is 2, but in that case buy 1 2 GB stick of ram, not 2 1 GB sticks of ram. This way, if you want to upgrade in the future you buy 1 more 2 GB instead of scrapping both 1 GB ones and buying 2 new ones.

Also I might look into buying a student version of Microsoft Office rather than getting it bundled with the computer. I feel like you can probably save a good amount of money here.

+1. If you're getting Vista. And, don't get Office preloaded, it will cost much more.

[superflush]

where are the good deals for this?!?!?! and what about one note? how can we obtain these for really cheappp?

Read what I wrote above.

[littleboyblue]

i haven't seen anyone mention the ASUS EeePC 1000HE netbook - anyone have it? thoughts? seems to have received good reviews.

[superflush]

i haven't seen anyone mention the ASUS EeePC 1000HE netbook - anyone have it? thoughts? seems to have received good reviews.

I don't think that netbook in particular has been mentioned. But there are definitely some netbook fans here.

[djshack]

I personally can't stand netbooks. Whatever I would use a netbook for I can do on my BlackBerry. What will be interesting is the new "superthin-but-cheaper" computers coming out soon with a soon-to-be-released Intel chip. Essentially they'll be similar to the Dell Adamo and the MacBook Air but significantly cheaper (and maybe not AS thin, but still thin and light).

[vut]

I personally can't stand netbooks. Whatever I would use a netbook for I can do on my BlackBerry. What will be interesting is the new "superthin-but-cheaper" computers coming out soon with a soon-to-be-released Intel chip. Essentially they'll be similar to the Dell Adamo and the MacBook Air but significantly cheaper (and maybe not AS thin, but still thin and light).

I agree with you about netbooks. Their specs suggest that they are more of a fun distraction and fashion statement during lecture than a law school sidekick. It's fun to surf the tubes but a pain to do serious work.

[jetlagz28]

I personally can't stand netbooks. Whatever I would use a netbook for I can do on my BlackBerry. What will be interesting is the new "superthin-but-cheaper" computers coming out soon with a soon-to-be-released Intel chip. Essentially they'll be similar to the Dell Adamo and the MacBook Air but significantly cheaper (and maybe not AS thin, but still thin and light).

I agree with you about netbooks. Their specs suggest that they are more of a fun distraction and fashion statement during lecture than a law school sidekick. It's fun to surf the tubes but a pain to do serious work.

I've been out of school for 3 years so its funny to hear about whats popular on campus now a days. I can just imagine every undergrad running around with a netbook. I absolutely love my netbook. I think its perfect for note taking. I don't plan to do major work on the thing, and would hate using it for anything really serious.

[kbigs]

Not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread before or not, but those of you considering buying a mac might be better off waiting a month or two. Last year they issued a 'go back to school' deal where customers buying a mac got a free ipod touch. Look for something similar this year.

[superflush]

Not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread before or not, but those of you considering buying a mac might be better off waiting a month or two. Last year they issued a 'go back to school' deal where customers buying a mac got a free ipod touch. Look for something similar this year.

Yea, its been mentioned, but its somewhere in the earlier pages.