Best Law School Laptop for the Money Forum

[ResolutePear]

am I stupid to buy a laptop in a store? I am living in a hotel right now until sep 1 when I can move into my apartment but I need my laptop before then.

Most hotels will receive packages for you. Ask at the desk.

Let them know in advance. Don't tell them it's anything valuable, though. They'll keep it and tell you to report it lost or something.

[jwmalone87]

What do y'all think of the new MacBook Air for law school? Would any of the limitations (slower CPU, 128GB of space) be serious obstacles?

[ResolutePear]

What do y'all think of the new MacBook Air for law school? Would any of the limitations (slower CPU, 128GB of space) be serious obstacles?

Early adopting tech. for law school?

Seriously?

[bk1]

What do y'all think of the new MacBook Air for law school? Would any of the limitations (slower CPU, 128GB of space) be serious obstacles?

It's law school. A laptop from 5 years ago would probably suffice considering all you really need is internet and word processing.

[bostlaw]

What do y'all think of the new MacBook Air for law school? Would any of the limitations (slower CPU, 128GB of space) be serious obstacles?

It's law school. A laptop from 5 years ago would probably suffice considering all you really need is internet and word processing.

what about the games brah!? id go all out for a killer graphics card, def a necesity for LS.

[jwmalone87]

What do y'all think of the new MacBook Air for law school? Would any of the limitations (slower CPU, 128GB of space) be serious obstacles?

Early adopting tech. for law school?

Seriously?

Why not? It's not like I'm looking to pay $2000 for Core i7 and 8GBs of RAM. Just something that's ultraportable and has a great battery life. Wouldn't the new MB Air fit the bill?

I'm aware that adopting early has its costs, but if I don't have a laptop and am in the market to buy one, I'm gonna be spending money. A couple hundred more for this vs. a POS Dell isn't too outrageous.

[ResolutePear]

What do y'all think of the new MacBook Air for law school? Would any of the limitations (slower CPU, 128GB of space) be serious obstacles?

It's law school. A laptop from 5 years ago would probably suffice considering all you really need is internet and word processing.

what about the games brah!? id go all out for a killer graphics card, def a necesity for LS.

[bk1]

Why not? It's not like I'm looking to pay $2000 for Core i7 and 8GBs of RAM. Just something that's ultraportable and has a great battery life. Wouldn't the new MB Air fit the bill?

I'm aware that adopting early has its costs, but if I don't have a laptop and am in the market to buy one, I'm gonna be spending money. A couple hundred more for this vs. a POS Dell isn't too outrageous.

You can't put a price on looking hip.

[jwmalone87]

Finally! Someone who gets it.

[ResolutePear]

What do y'all think of the new MacBook Air for law school? Would any of the limitations (slower CPU, 128GB of space) be serious obstacles?

Early adopting tech. for law school?

Seriously?

Why not? It's not like I'm looking to pay $2000 for Core i7 and 8GBs of RAM. Just something that's ultraportable and has a great battery life. Wouldn't the new MB Air fit the bill?

I'm aware that adopting early has its costs, but if I don't have a laptop and am in the market to buy one, I'm gonna be spending money. A couple hundred more for this vs. a POS Dell isn't too outrageous.

Oh, I was just assuming you heard how the last set of early adopters got swindled ala iPhone 4.

But hey, here's something to consider: Upto the last OSX patch, there is no TRIM for SSD on OSX and it's a brand new platform. Just saying that there are more important things than saving 2 lbs considering the casebooks and doesn't matter anyways. See my past arguments on this thread about reliability.

[jwmalone87]

No TRIM is a very good consideration. Not sure if that's a dealbreaker or not (I really don't know much about it other than the basics), but I'm a little less gung-ho about it...

[kalvano]

I'd be in favor of the Air. The less weight the better. My backpack would make a Special Forces soldier bitch.

[ResolutePear]

No TRIM is a very good consideration. Not sure if that's a dealbreaker or not (I really don't know much about it other than the basics), but I'm a little less gung-ho about it...

Without TRIM, your SSD will eventually slow down and there is a lower-lifespan before you have to replace it.

[Chupavida]

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[savagecheater]

I'd be in favor of the Air. The less weight the better. My backpack would make a Special Forces soldier bitch.

The difference between my Latitude and an Air is 2lbs. The same goes for the vaunted Thinkpad.

I'd rather have the secure construction of the Latitude/Thinkpad and not have to worry about someone swiping my backpack accidentally with their foot and killing my paper-thin MPA.

[StrictlyLiable]

I WAS excited for the new air. Then I found out that they don't have the backlit keyboard. Having it for this long on my MBP I doubt I could do without. I think ill wait until flash memory comes to the MBP.

[Chris_cpb]

FYI I'm satisfied with my ThinkPad although it broke when I set a text book on top of the closed cover. Luckily they fixed it and had it back to me in 4 days. Pretty impressive. I won't be using it as a table anymore.

[ResolutePear]

It would be great. The only consideration would be installing Windows for examsoft if required for exams, something I'm sure isn't an issue.

Seriously, they have more than enough power for anything/everything school related, and have enough juice for casual gaming and HD video, all in a light-as-hell-yet-durable/reliable package.

And regarding TRIM and lifespan...

No. That's not how it works at all.

Well gee, thanks for the detailed explanation on TRIM. But, for the sake of the rebuttal - let me cover it:

Without getting into the low-level operations involved with TRIM, it does improve lifespan because it cuts down on the amount of data which needs to be deleted.

HTH.

(Source: http://windows7center.com/windows-7-fea ... rformance/)

[dextermorgan]

What do y'all think of the new MacBook Air for law school? Would any of the limitations (slower CPU, 128GB of space) be serious obstacles?

Early adopting tech. for law school?

Seriously?

Why not? It's not like I'm looking to pay $2000 for Core i7 and 8GBs of RAM. Just something that's ultraportable and has a great battery life. Wouldn't the new MB Air fit the bill?

I'm aware that adopting early has its costs, but if I don't have a laptop and am in the market to buy one, I'm gonna be spending money. A couple hundred more for this vs. a POS Dell isn't too outrageous.

Oh, I was just assuming you heard how the last set of early adopters got swindled ala iPhone 4.

But hey, here's something to consider: Upto the last OSX patch, there is no TRIM for SSD on OSX and it's a brand new platform. Just saying that there are more important things than saving 2 lbs considering the casebooks and doesn't matter anyways. See my past arguments on this thread about reliability.

We did?

Oh wait, I remember. I can't make phone calls when I hold my phone in a very odd unnatural way. Shit, I feel so cheated.

On topic: The new MBA isn't worth the cost, just like every MBA before it.

[ResolutePear]

Early adopting tech. for law school?

Seriously?

Why not? It's not like I'm looking to pay $2000 for Core i7 and 8GBs of RAM. Just something that's ultraportable and has a great battery life. Wouldn't the new MB Air fit the bill?

I'm aware that adopting early has its costs, but if I don't have a laptop and am in the market to buy one, I'm gonna be spending money. A couple hundred more for this vs. a POS Dell isn't too outrageous.

Oh, I was just assuming you heard how the last set of early adopters got swindled ala iPhone 4.

But hey, here's something to consider: Upto the last OSX patch, there is no TRIM for SSD on OSX and it's a brand new platform. Just saying that there are more important things than saving 2 lbs considering the casebooks and doesn't matter anyways. See my past arguments on this thread about reliability.

We did?

Oh wait, I remember I can't make phone calls when I hold my phone in a very odd unnatural way. Shit, I feel so cheated.

How's that 'fix' consisting of a rubber band you wrap around the phone working out for you?

[bostlaw]

pear....yes

[Chupavida]

.

[2807]

Is SSD the same as Flash for memory? Because you can get SSD HD's on macbook pros now.

I have had the Macbook Air for years with SSD. I love it. I got mine when they first came out, switched from a nice 15'' Macbook Pro. The size/weight difference is AWESOME, and the SSD is so fast and SILENT that I can never see me going back to the old school way.

I was concerned about a 13" screen, but it proved to be no problem for endless research and papers for my UG degree in History. I learned to use "spaces" like a pro, and had no prob. I absolutely lived off of it for nearly 3 years now. (I think February will be three years, although I did upgrade to bigger HD at some point) I have 128g SSD HD and plenty of room left over, and I run Fusion w/Windows. Although, bootcamp is more stable (and supported by Apple)

HOWEVER! -- I am waiting to see if they come out with a 15" Macbook air/Pro by the fall of next year before school starts. THAT would be ideal. I believe all Apple laptops will mirror the air style in the future. All SSD, no CD. I have used the CD drive for my Air maybe 6 times in 3 years.

The lightweight Air is really awesome. Unless you play games and need more guts, but they do get 4g ram now!

[dextermorgan]

Is SSD the same as Flash for memory? Because you can get SSD HD's on macbook pros now.

I have had the Macbook Air for years with SSD. I love it. I got mine when they first came out, switched from a nice 15'' Macbook Pro. The size/weight difference is AWESOME, and the SSD is so fast and SILENT that I can never see me going back to the old school way.

I was concerned about a 13" screen, but it proved to be no problem for endless research and papers for my UG degree in History. I learned to use "spaces" like a pro, and had no prob. I absolutely lived off of it for nearly 3 years now. (I think February will be three years, although I did upgrade to bigger HD at some point) I have 128g SSD HD and plenty of room left over, and I run Fusion w/Windows. Although, bootcamp is more stable (and supported by Apple)

HOWEVER! -- I am waiting to see if they come out with a 15" Macbook air/Pro by the fall of next year before school starts. THAT would be ideal. I believe all Apple laptops will mirror the air style in the future. All SSD, no CD. I have used the CD drive for my Air maybe 6 times in 3 years.

The lightweight Air is really awesome. Unless you play games and need more guts, but they do get 4g ram now!

The flash memory in the new MBA is more akin to the memory in an iPhone. Much faster startup, but not upgradable.

[Chupavida]

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