The Ideal Law School Laptop Forum

[SaintClarence27]

Found a good deal on a 2nd monitor:

http://www.fatwallet.com/best-deals/asu ... d-monitor/

ASUS 23" HDMI Widescreen HD LCD Monitor
$159.99 after rebate

[sangr]

ive been lookin at the past pages but could someone please help me out for a laptop choice?

i just need one thats

relatively easy to carry around

RELIABLE( doesnt break down)

comfortable to use (fast, keyboard is good)

Price is not an issue. but i dont see how it could go extremely high when those three are my main criteria

could someone please help me? i did lookat the past threads but they dont necessarily answer what i want to know

id appreciate it a lot

thanks guys

[BVest]

ive been lookin at the past pages but could someone please help me out for a laptop choice?

i just need one thats

relatively easy to carry around

RELIABLE( doesnt break down)

comfortable to use (fast, keyboard is good)

Price is not an issue. but i dont see how it could go extremely high when those three are my main criteria

could someone please help me? i did lookat the past threads but they dont necessarily answer what i want to know

id appreciate it a lot

thanks guys

MacBook Pro 13 fits your description quite well. The downside is the lack of OneNote for Mac.

[Jaeger]

ive been lookin at the past pages but could someone please help me out for a laptop choice?

i just need one thats

relatively easy to carry around

RELIABLE( doesnt break down)

comfortable to use (fast, keyboard is good)

Price is not an issue. but i dont see how it could go extremely high when those three are my main criteria

could someone please help me? i did lookat the past threads but they dont necessarily answer what i want to know

id appreciate it a lot

thanks guys

Sony Vaio Z series if price is no issue. Get one with an ssd. I have been salivating. Plus, buy a PC, get an xbox plus windows 8 when it comes out for $15.

[lovejopd]

What about getting a huge screen such as 17.3? I saw many law students open more than 2 documents at the same time, so I thought having a big screen could be a good idea. Any thought?

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-MC2 ... pd_sxp_f_i
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 11&name=17

[rinkrat19]

What about getting a huge screen such as 17.3? I saw many law students open more than 2 documents at the same time, so I thought having a big screen could be a good idea. Any thought?

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-MC2 ... pd_sxp_f_i
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 11&name=17

I love my 17" and I'll be taking it to Chicago as a backup, but it's a beast. Most laptop bags don't even fit it, and it weighs a ton. You probably don't want to be carrying around a 17" every day. Get an external monitor for working at home, and a 13-15" laptop.

[lovejopd]

What about getting a huge screen such as 17.3? I saw many law students open more than 2 documents at the same time, so I thought having a big screen could be a good idea. Any thought?

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-MC2 ... pd_sxp_f_i
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 11&name=17

I love my 17" and I'll be taking it to Chicago as a backup, but it's a beast. Most laptop bags don't even fit it, and it weighs a ton. You probably don't want to be carrying around a 17" every day. Get an external monitor for working at home, and a 13-15" laptop.

Thx!
Due to an advancement of technology, it is not really heavy even though it could be hard to find a perfect pouch/bags lol
I am waiting for 17inch Ultrabook!!

[Prospecta8571]

This might have already been addressed, but does anyone know when Sony's new line is going to be released? I went on the website to buy a laptop and most are going on steep discount or are unavailable. I was looking into getting the 14-in C series with some bumped-up ram but the only one now available in that screen size is bright pink. I have a feeling that they are about to put some new stuff up, but do not know for sure. Any rumblings in the interwebs?

[superflush]

ive been looking ...
i just need one thats
...

MacBook Air.
And wait a week or two until the announcements at WWDC.

[bk1]

What about getting a huge screen such as 17.3? I saw many law students open more than 2 documents at the same time, so I thought having a big screen could be a good idea. Any thought?

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-MC2 ... pd_sxp_f_i
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 11&name=17

I will add (as I have many times before for this same question) that it's not only screen size but resolution that matters. A 15" can open two docs side by side pretty easily if its 1920x1200, but if its 1366x768 then not so much. Though it's also important to consider the fact that screen resolution is one of the biggest driving factors in laptop price.

[rinkrat19]

Thoughts?

$1309.99
HP ENVY 15T-3200

Processor - 3rd generation Intel(R) Core™ i5-3210M Processor (2.5 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz)
Graphics - 1GB Radeon™ HD 7750M GDDR5 Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
Memory - 6GB 1600DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive - 750G 7200 rpm Hybrid Hard Drive
Display - 15.6-inch diagonal Radiance Full HD Infinity LED-backlit Display (1920 x 1080)
Optical drive - SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
Networking - Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) with Wireless Display Support
Operating system - Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Primary battery - 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (Up to 10.25 hours of battery life)
Camera - 720p HD video streaming webcam supports Skype
Audio - Beats Audio™ (6 speakers and HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer)
Keyboard - Full-size Radiance backlit keyboard
Ports - 3 SuperSpeed USB 3.0; 1 HDMI; 1 DisplayPort; 2 headphone-out; 1 microphone-in
Removable media - Digital media card reader

It's $100 extra to upgrade to an i7 processor. Worth it?
I didn't upgrade the RAM from the base setup because I can always buy new memory, probably cheaper.
I wish it had a blu-ray drive, but that's not a dealbreaker.
I don't game, but I do work with big photos.

[noleknight16]

Thoughts?

$1309.99
HP ENVY 15T-3200

Processor - 3rd generation Intel(R) Core™ i5-3210M Processor (2.5 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz)
Graphics - 1GB Radeon™ HD 7750M GDDR5 Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
Memory - 6GB 1600DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive - 750G 7200 rpm Hybrid Hard Drive
Display - 15.6-inch diagonal Radiance Full HD Infinity LED-backlit Display (1920 x 1080)
Optical drive - SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
Networking - Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) with Wireless Display Support
Operating system - Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Primary battery - 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (Up to 10.25 hours of battery life)
Camera - 720p HD video streaming webcam supports Skype
Audio - Beats Audio™ (6 speakers and HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer)
Keyboard - Full-size Radiance backlit keyboard
Ports - 3 SuperSpeed USB 3.0; 1 HDMI; 1 DisplayPort; 2 headphone-out; 1 microphone-in
Removable media - Digital media card reader

It's $100 extra to upgrade to an i7 processor. Worth it?
I didn't upgrade the RAM from the base setup because I can always buy new memory, probably cheaper.
I wish it had a blu-ray drive, but that's not a dealbreaker.
I don't game, but I do work with big photos.

Great laptop as is. Unless you do HD video editing/rendering on the reg, I doubt you'll need an i7.

[BVest]

It's $100 extra to upgrade to an i7 processor. Worth it?
I didn't upgrade the RAM from the base setup because I can always buy new memory, probably cheaper.
I wish it had a blu-ray drive, but that's not a dealbreaker.
I don't game, but I do work with big photos.

Speaking more generally than about this system, I've been buying systems for my company for 16 years and I always find far more value in RAM upgrades and HDD size/speed than I do in processor speed.

My typical purchase is:
Second best processor (there's usually a steep dropoff in price from bleeding edge to leading edge)
Max the RAM
Max the HDD speed and get double the HDD space I think I could possibly ever want.

At that rate, the systems tend to run smooth for 4-5 years.

[el William]

Thoughts?

$1309.99
HP ENVY 15T-3200

Processor - 3rd generation Intel(R) Core™ i5-3210M Processor (2.5 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz)
Graphics - 1GB Radeon™ HD 7750M GDDR5 Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
Memory - 6GB 1600DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive - 750G 7200 rpm Hybrid Hard Drive
Display - 15.6-inch diagonal Radiance Full HD Infinity LED-backlit Display (1920 x 1080)
Optical drive - SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
Networking - Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) with Wireless Display Support
Operating system - Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Primary battery - 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (Up to 10.25 hours of battery life)
Camera - 720p HD video streaming webcam supports Skype
Audio - Beats Audio™ (6 speakers and HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer)
Keyboard - Full-size Radiance backlit keyboard
Ports - 3 SuperSpeed USB 3.0; 1 HDMI; 1 DisplayPort; 2 headphone-out; 1 microphone-in
Removable media - Digital media card reader

It's $100 extra to upgrade to an i7 processor. Worth it?
I didn't upgrade the RAM from the base setup because I can always buy new memory, probably cheaper.
I wish it had a blu-ray drive, but that's not a dealbreaker.
I don't game, but I do work with big photos.

Great laptop as is. Unless you do HD video editing/rendering on the reg, I doubt you'll need an i7.

This looks like a nice machine, but the price is a little high for me.

I have been looking at the Lenovo idea pad u410. You can get it with up to 8 gb ram ( which is the most important spec IMO) and you it has the new ivy bridge processors, up to a core i7. The best part is they claim the price for the entry model will be around $800. I cant find the price for the maxed out version yet. They are available for sale on the Lenovo site by the end of the month. It looks like a great computer and an option where I can max out the ram and processor for less that $1000.

[presidentk1]

IMO you should drop the hybrid drive and get a real SSD

Prices have recently hit the 1gb=$1 parity

If you can spend the extra cash, i would recommend corsair's force GT series
its async memory, sata III, i get 500+mb/sec read/write

the difference is very VERY noticeable in all aspects of usage

[superflush]

I will add (as I have many times before for this same question) that it's not only screen size but resolution that matters. A 15" can open two docs side by side pretty easily if its 1920x1200, but if its 1366x768 then not so much. Though it's also important to consider the fact that screen resolution is one of the biggest driving factors in laptop price.

+1 to this.

You can very easily view 2 docs at once on the MacBook Air. High resolution is what matters.

[Doorkeeper]

Sony Vaio Z series if price is no issue. Get one with an ssd. I have been salivating. Plus, buy a PC, get an xbox plus windows 8 when it comes out for $15.

The S Series is also pretty damn good if you're not looking to spend that much. Mine was like $1,200 last year. It's great.

It looks like you can get a pretty nice one for $899 now. Damn.

[dstr15]

Do you guys have any recommendations for an external monitors to use with a MBA-if that makes any differences, prob going to have to buy an adapter regardless (under $200, 21-24 inches)? Thanks.

[Confused7]

I apologize if this has been covered before, but does anyone use a Netbook? I've been using Netbooks all throughout college pretty much and I love how compact and convenient they are. Do people use these in law school too or are they considered a gamble since law school exams are taken on the computer??

[rinkrat19]

I apologize if this has been covered before, but does anyone use a Netbook? I've been using Netbooks all throughout college pretty much and I love how compact and convenient they are. Do people use these in law school too or are they considered a gamble since law school exams are taken on the computer??

A few people seem to like them, but most people think they are too small and too unreliable.

Realize that you are going to be typing thousands of words on exams, frequently under a time restraint, and decide whether the mini keyboard is going to work for you. Also, having 2 programs open side-by-side on your screen is useful (word + one note or internet, etc.) and that's just not going to happen on a 10" screen.

They're also built of cheaper components and are basically the disposable toilet paper of computers. Odds are it won't fail in the middle of an exam, but...

[BVest]

Do you guys have any recommendations for an external monitors to use with a MBA-if that makes any differences, prob going to have to buy an adapter regardless (under $200, 21-24 inches)? Thanks.

If you own a macbook, you should own an adapter anyway.

Model will not matter as long as it has a DVI input.

DVI cable should run about $14-16 for a 6'.

[lynch]

Toshiba or Apple can last long.

[TheRainMan]

Toshiba or Apple can last long.

Apple also will have neither an optical drive nor an ethernet port. Awesome.

[Ded Precedent]

Thoughts?

$1309.99
HP ENVY 15T-3200

Processor - 3rd generation Intel(R) Core™ i5-3210M Processor (2.5 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz)
Graphics - 1GB Radeon™ HD 7750M GDDR5 Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
Memory - 6GB 1600DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive - 750G 7200 rpm Hybrid Hard Drive
Display - 15.6-inch diagonal Radiance Full HD Infinity LED-backlit Display (1920 x 1080)
Optical drive - SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
Networking - Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) with Wireless Display Support
Operating system - Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Primary battery - 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (Up to 10.25 hours of battery life)
Camera - 720p HD video streaming webcam supports Skype
Audio - Beats Audio™ (6 speakers and HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer)
Keyboard - Full-size Radiance backlit keyboard
Ports - 3 SuperSpeed USB 3.0; 1 HDMI; 1 DisplayPort; 2 headphone-out; 1 microphone-in
Removable media - Digital media card reader

It's $100 extra to upgrade to an i7 processor. Worth it?
I didn't upgrade the RAM from the base setup because I can always buy new memory, probably cheaper.
I wish it had a blu-ray drive, but that's not a dealbreaker.
I don't game, but I do work with big photos.

I'm just curious, where are you buying this from?

[rinkrat19]

Thoughts?

$1309.99
HP ENVY 15T-3200

Processor - 3rd generation Intel(R) Core™ i5-3210M Processor (2.5 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz)
Graphics - 1GB Radeon™ HD 7750M GDDR5 Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
Memory - 6GB 1600DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive - 750G 7200 rpm Hybrid Hard Drive
Display - 15.6-inch diagonal Radiance Full HD Infinity LED-backlit Display (1920 x 1080)
Optical drive - SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
Networking - Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) with Wireless Display Support
Operating system - Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Primary battery - 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (Up to 10.25 hours of battery life)
Camera - 720p HD video streaming webcam supports Skype
Audio - Beats Audio™ (6 speakers and HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer)
Keyboard - Full-size Radiance backlit keyboard
Ports - 3 SuperSpeed USB 3.0; 1 HDMI; 1 DisplayPort; 2 headphone-out; 1 microphone-in
Removable media - Digital media card reader

It's $100 extra to upgrade to an i7 processor. Worth it?
I didn't upgrade the RAM from the base setup because I can always buy new memory, probably cheaper.
I wish it had a blu-ray drive, but that's not a dealbreaker.
I don't game, but I do work with big photos.

I'm just curious, where are you buying this from?

From the HP website.
I ended up upgrading the CPU and RAM one more step up, and using the 33% off code that someone posted (expired now) to bring it down to $1150. Pretty decent deal, I think.