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betasteve wrote:51 pages and we still haven't found the ideal laptop? This thread is hopeless.

Actually, here it is.
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Original source here (LinkRemoved), a poster first linked it in this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... k#p1829575

betasteve wrote:51 pages and we still haven't found the ideal laptop? This thread is hopeless.

Nah, this has basically become the discussion thread for most tech related things. And, there are some ideal options too.

superflush wrote:

betasteve wrote:51 pages and we still haven't found the ideal laptop? This thread is hopeless.

Nah, this has basically become the discussion thread for most tech related things. And, there are some ideal options too.

Without sifting through 50 pages, has there been a verdict on smartbooks (the tiny laptop looking guys that weigh like 5 lbs)

Okay, this may be a slightly dumb question, and it may have been answered somewhere in the course of this enormous thread. So, I apologize in advance.

I have been about 95% persuaded to switch from a PC to a Mac for law school. My school has stated that Mac users must have XP installed via Boot Camp in order to take exams, etc. Thus, as a potentially brand new Mac user, this is where my question arises. Is there a special Mac-compatable version of XP I have to purchase, or can I just use the same XP CD that I have for my PC desktop? Thanks!

same regular old xp cd will work fine.

enygma wrote:same regular old xp cd will work fine.

Thank you!!

Inygma wrote:Without sifting through 50 pages, has there been a verdict on smartbooks (the tiny laptop looking guys that weigh like 5 lbs)

Do you really mean smartbook, or do you mean netbook??

GaGirl09 wrote:

enygma wrote:same regular old xp cd will work fine.

Thank you!!

is that clive i see??

I'm thinking about going with 2 laptops. I have a 17" Sony Vaio that I love, but it unfortunately doesn't work with wireless internet anymore. Yeah, I dunno. It's also a bit big to lug to class everyday.

I'm thinking about getting a 10" netbook to take to class, and then using the Vaio for exams and at home.

Anyone see a problem with this plan?

worldtraveler wrote:I'm thinking about going with 2 laptops. I have a 17" Sony Vaio that I love, but it unfortunately doesn't work with wireless internet anymore. Yeah, I dunno. It's also a bit big to lug to class everyday.

I'm thinking about getting a 10" netbook to take to class, and then using the Vaio for exams and at home.

Anyone see a problem with this plan?

Just out of curiosity, have you tried updating the drivers? Can't be too difficult...

worldtraveler wrote:I'm thinking about going with 2 laptops. I have a 17" Sony Vaio that I love, but it unfortunately doesn't work with wireless internet anymore. Yeah, I dunno. It's also a bit big to lug to class everyday.

I'm thinking about getting a 10" netbook to take to class, and then using the Vaio for exams and at home.

Anyone see a problem with this plan?

you could buy a wireless network card at best buy for like $50.

1000bmr wrote:

worldtraveler wrote:I'm thinking about going with 2 laptops. I have a 17" Sony Vaio that I love, but it unfortunately doesn't work with wireless internet anymore. Yeah, I dunno. It's also a bit big to lug to class everyday.

I'm thinking about getting a 10" netbook to take to class, and then using the Vaio for exams and at home.

Anyone see a problem with this plan?

you could buy a wireless network card at best buy for like $50.

Or online for cheaper.

1000bmr wrote:

worldtraveler wrote:I'm thinking about going with 2 laptops. I have a 17" Sony Vaio that I love, but it unfortunately doesn't work with wireless internet anymore. Yeah, I dunno. It's also a bit big to lug to class everyday.

you could buy a wireless network card at best buy for like $50.

True, unless its not a hardware issue, in which case it still might not work.
Try what coolkatz says, and if it is a hardware issue you could get a cheap wifi card or usb stick.

superflush wrote:

1000bmr wrote:

worldtraveler wrote:I'm thinking about going with 2 laptops. I have a 17" Sony Vaio that I love, but it unfortunately doesn't work with wireless internet anymore. Yeah, I dunno. It's also a bit big to lug to class everyday.

you could buy a wireless network card at best buy for like $50.

True, unless its not a hardware issue, in which case it still might not work.
Try what coolkatz says, and if it is a hardware issue you could get a cheap wifi card or usb stick.

i would still recommend not having a laptop the size of a small child.

worldtraveler wrote:I'm thinking about getting a 10" netbook to take to class, and then using the Vaio for exams and at home.

Anyone see a problem with this plan?

To answer this part, a few people have been saying that this is what they are going to do. On one note, make sure that you are comfortable typing on whatever keyboard your netbook has. Secondly, I am not sure if that screen size is sufficient for law school notetaking and outlining.

superflush wrote:

Inygma wrote:Without sifting through 50 pages, has there been a verdict on smartbooks (the tiny laptop looking guys that weigh like 5 lbs)

Do you really mean smartbook, or do you mean netbook??

Oops, ya, netbook!

superflush wrote:

worldtraveler wrote:I'm thinking about getting a 10" netbook to take to class, and then using the Vaio for exams and at home.

Anyone see a problem with this plan?

To answer this part, a few people have been saying that this is what they are going to do. On one note, make sure that you are comfortable typing on whatever keyboard your netbook has. Secondly, I am not sure if that screen size is sufficient for law school notetaking and outlining.

My firm is having their vendor visitors fair, right now, and I just went and looked at Lenovo's netbook. it felt WAY too small, in terms of the keyboard, and the screen, to comfortably take notes... So, make sure you try one out for a bit before you commit and purchase one!

Inygma wrote:

superflush wrote:

Inygma wrote:Without sifting through 50 pages, has there been a verdict on smartbooks (the tiny laptop looking guys that weigh like 5 lbs)

Do you really mean smartbook, or do you mean netbook??

Oops, ya, netbook!

I got the Samsung NC10 and I really like it. There are other similar Samsung netbooks, but this was the only one that had a matte screen, and that was practically a must for me. The NC20 is 12 in. and a bit more expensive, but has a glossy screen.

hoffb86 wrote:

superflush wrote:

worldtraveler wrote:I'm thinking about getting a 10" netbook to take to class, and then using the Vaio for exams and at home.

Anyone see a problem with this plan?

To answer this part, a few people have been saying that this is what they are going to do. On one note, make sure that you are comfortable typing on whatever keyboard your netbook has. Secondly, I am not sure if that screen size is sufficient for law school notetaking and outlining.

My firm is having their vendor visitors fair, right now, and I just went and looked at Lenovo's netbook. it felt WAY too small, in terms of the keyboard, and the screen, to comfortably take notes... So, make sure you try one out for a bit before you commit and purchase one!

The S12 or the S10?

lex talionis wrote:

hoffb86 wrote:

superflush wrote:

worldtraveler wrote:I'm thinking about getting a 10" netbook to take to class, and then using the Vaio for exams and at home.

Anyone see a problem with this plan?

To answer this part, a few people have been saying that this is what they are going to do. On one note, make sure that you are comfortable typing on whatever keyboard your netbook has. Secondly, I am not sure if that screen size is sufficient for law school notetaking and outlining.

My firm is having their vendor visitors fair, right now, and I just went and looked at Lenovo's netbook. it felt WAY too small, in terms of the keyboard, and the screen, to comfortably take notes... So, make sure you try one out for a bit before you commit and purchase one!

The S12 or the S10?

10 i think, it had to be, cuz it was REALLY small. FWIW, they were asking $329 for it.

hoffb86 wrote:My firm is having their vendor visitors fair, right now, and I just went and looked at Lenovo's netbook. it felt WAY too small, in terms of the keyboard, and the screen, to comfortably take notes... So, make sure you try one out for a bit before you commit and purchase one!

Oh, yea, this is definitely true and kinda goes without saying, but in case people didn't know, we can say it anyway: the thing with netbooks are that the specs are capped by Microsoft, so essentially they usually have the same exact specs, so the decided point is really stuff like the keyboard which is really important. A lot that I've played with I thought were just too small, and it was essential for me to test on the keyboard on my netbook in person before I bought it from Amazon.

lex talionis wrote:

hoffb86 wrote: My firm is having their vendor visitors fair, right now, and I just went and looked at Lenovo's netbook. it felt WAY too small, in terms of the keyboard, and the screen, to comfortably take notes... So, make sure you try one out for a bit before you commit and purchase one!

The S12 or the S10?

The S12 just started shipping recently I believe.
I played with the Lenovo 10inch and it just seemed pretty small. Not as small as the Acer's & Asus' I played with. But definitely smaller that my NC10.
I know you were looking at the S12 lex ... I wonder if you can find one in a store to play with.

superflush wrote:

Inygma wrote:

superflush wrote:

Inygma wrote:Without sifting through 50 pages, has there been a verdict on smartbooks (the tiny laptop looking guys that weigh like 5 lbs)

Do you really mean smartbook, or do you mean netbook??

Oops, ya, netbook!

I got the Samsung NC10 and I really like it. There are other similar Samsung netbooks, but this was the only one that had a matte screen, and that was practically a must for me. The NC20 is 12 in. and a bit more expensive, but has a glossy screen.

Have you heard anything about the ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-PU1X-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 10.5 Hour Battery Life


It looks pretty cool. Its also the top sold item right now on amazon in the category

After all my asking about macs and law school I've decided to go all PC and the laptop at home/netbook in class/out and about route (crazy, huh? but together they cost about as much as a mac anyway and I don't want to be lugging a 6 lb laptop everywhere with me especially considering the weight of our books). It just seemed like I'd have to buy a lot of stuff to make the mac work and with my school's environment/support systems, PC just seems like it'll be less hassle. I still appreciate all of your advice, though!

Inygma--I'm shopping for netbooks now and have checked out the one you mentioned. It does seem like one of the best out there, but you should be aware that there are HA-P (the one you cite) and HA-V versions of this netbook. From what I can tell, the differences are as follows: HA-P has a glossy screen, 1.3MP webcam, 6 cell battery with 10.5 hour battery life, and it comes with a sleeve. The HA-V version has a matte screen, 6 cell battery with 8.5 hour battery life, a .3 MP camera, and does not come with a sleeve.

Personally I think I might go with the V version, solely for the matte screen. Haven't decided which laptop I'm going to get though, but lenovo t400 seems to be popular around here and I've also heard good things about the Toshiba Satellites and the Dell studio 15.

webster021 wrote:The HA-V version has a matte screen, 6 cell battery with 8.5 hour battery life, a .3 MP camera, and does not come with a sleeve.

Personally I think I might go with the V version, solely for the matte screen.

I'm making a mental note of this.