Best Law School Laptop for the Money Forum

[ravens20]

I strongly recommend Asus; they make laptops that are well-built, look great, and are generally very portable.

[dp73816]

anyone?

Too chunky for me...could spend $50 more for a thinner, lighter model

[kalvano]

I just got back from Fry's and looking at a ton of computers.

Don't get a Netbook, they are just simply too small, even with a full-size keyboard. Typing becomes very uncomfortable very quickly.

Everything felt cheap and flimsy except for the Macbook and the Lenovo laptops. The Lenovo's also have the TrackPoint, which is kick-ass.

I'll just have to decide if the Mac is worth the extra scratch. Probably not.

[Mr. Matlock]

I just got back from Fry's and looking at a ton of computers.

Don't get a Netbook, they are just simply too small, even with a full-size keyboard. Typing becomes very uncomfortable very quickly.

Everything felt cheap and flimsy except for the Macbook and the Lenovo laptops. The Lenovo's also have the TrackPoint, which is kick-ass.

I'll just have to decide if the Mac is worth the extra scratch. Probably not.

This is the exact decision I will have to make, come early August...... Mac vs. Lenovo. Jury is still out.

[kalvano]

This is the exact decision I will have to make, come early August...... Mac vs. Lenovo. Jury is still out.

It's about $400 OR $500 more, and nothing about the Macbook Pro really convinced me it was worth that much more.

[zeth006]

This is the exact decision I will have to make, come early August...... Mac vs. Lenovo. Jury is still out.

It's about $400 OR $500 more, and nothing about the Macbook Pro really convinced me it was worth that much more.

Few pros that won me over

(1) Better screen Apple uses one of the best TN panels for their screens, resulting in better overall color reproduction and most importantly, truer whites and deeper blacks. Not a high priority as a law school laptop, but I'm a little more particular than the average joe about how I view stuff. The higher end Lenovos with good screens were higher priced for me.

(2) Weight 4.5 pounds. Generally it's not easy to find laptops at this weight class with good screens. Having these two together in the same package proved to be a strong deal closer.

(3) Glass touchpad Macbooks always comes out #1 or #2 in terms of touchpad quality. Multitouch features are a nice plus and a good replacement for right-click buttons.

(4) Battery life The new Macbook Pro 13 has a rated battery life of roughly 9 hours.

(5) Near-perfect virus and malware immunity. This one's a hotly debated one. But Macbooks are rarely targeted if ever by hackers and viruses. Snow Leopard has its own malware protection for two different breeds of it. Every MB owner I've talked to has said they've never been hit by viruses or malware. Peace of mind I guess? One warning issued by security experts is to load up an antivirus. Malware attacks are on teh rise.

(6)Build Construction Aside from looking sexy, the aluminum unibody also feels tough. It doesn't seem like it'll fall apart at the hinge as the earlier Dell Inspirons are known to do so.

(7) Servicing and tech support. I have actual brick and mortar stores everywhere in Cally I can go to if I need to get any repairs done. PC users are down to either visiting a mom & pop store with an unknown reputation or going with Squaretrade with I know little about. I'm old school so I'd rather have a place I can drive/walk over to for repairs. 3-year Applecare is about $100 on eBay after you apply 8% Bing Cashback

Pros where Lenovos outscore Macs

(1) Build Construction The one area I've noticed Lenovo where beats Macbooks is build construction. Lenovos are built like tanks. Plenty of videos on youtube show drop tests after which the Thinkpad being tested loaded up Windows fine.

(2) OneNote Incompatibility For the past several years, the people at Microsoft have refused to release a Mac-compatible version of OneNote. The only way to get it to load properly on a Mac is to simulate a Windows environment using Crossover or buying a Windows license and using VMware to load OneNote in a separate Window. Unless you're like me and willing to shell $80 for a Windows license, this alone will be the deal breaker. I blame Microsoft for being run by jerkoffs.



BTW, MacConnection has a Macbook Pro 13 for $1,049 after $100 rebate. Make sure to keep copies of all your rebate paperwork around just in case they decide to pull a fast one on you though.

[kalvano]

None of that stuff really matters to me. The screen on the Lenovo looks fine, I miss the right mouse button every time I use my Mac now, I don't get viruses or malware because I pay attention to stuff, and I don't even know what Onenote is. The Lenovo I want is only like 3.5 pounds, which rocks.

I love the Trackpoint on the Lenovo, but I also really like my current Mac laptop. It's been fantastic. That's what's stopping me from being set is that I really like my current Mac.

[zeth006]

None of that stuff really matters to me. The screen on the Lenovo looks fine, I miss the right mouse button every time I use my Mac now, I don't get viruses or malware because I pay attention to stuff, and I don't even know what Onenote is. The Lenovo I want is only like 3.5 pounds, which rocks.

I love the Trackpoint on the Lenovo, but I also really like my current Mac laptop. It's been fantastic. That's what's stopping me from being set is that I really like my current Mac.

Fair enough. I've always hated touchpad keys anyway. Each to his own.

[Sogui]

This is the exact decision I will have to make, come early August...... Mac vs. Lenovo. Jury is still out.

It's about $400 OR $500 more, and nothing about the Macbook Pro really convinced me it was worth that much more.

Few pros that won me over

(1) Better screen Apple uses one of the best TN panels for their screens, resulting in better overall color reproduction and most importantly, truer whites and deeper blacks. Not a high priority as a law school laptop, but I'm a little more particular than the average joe about how I view stuff. The higher end Lenovos with good screens were higher priced for me.

(2) Weight 4.5 pounds. Generally it's not easy to find laptops at this weight class with good screens. Having these two together in the same package proved to be a strong deal closer.

(3) Glass touchpad Macbooks always comes out #1 or #2 in terms of touchpad quality. Multitouch features are a nice plus and a good replacement for right-click buttons.

(4) Battery life The new Macbook Pro 13 has a rated battery life of roughly 9 hours.

(5) Near-perfect virus and malware immunity. This one's a hotly debated one. But Macbooks are rarely targeted if ever by hackers and viruses. Snow Leopard has its own malware protection for two different breeds of it. Every MB owner I've talked to has said they've never been hit by viruses or malware. Peace of mind I guess? One warning issued by security experts is to load up an antivirus. Malware attacks are on teh rise.

(6)Build Construction Aside from looking sexy, the aluminum unibody also feels tough. It doesn't seem like it'll fall apart at the hinge as the earlier Dell Inspirons are known to do so.

(7) Servicing and tech support. I have actual brick and mortar stores everywhere in Cally I can go to if I need to get any repairs done. PC users are down to either visiting a mom & pop store with an unknown reputation or going with Squaretrade with I know little about. I'm old school so I'd rather have a place I can drive/walk over to for repairs. 3-year Applecare is about $100 on eBay after you apply 8% Bing Cashback

Pros where Lenovos outscore Macs

(1) Build Construction The one area I've noticed Lenovo where beats Macbooks is build construction. Lenovos are built like tanks. Plenty of videos on youtube show drop tests after which the Thinkpad being tested loaded up Windows fine.

(2) OneNote Incompatibility For the past several years, the people at Microsoft have refused to release a Mac-compatible version of OneNote. The only way to get it to load properly on a Mac is to simulate a Windows environment using Crossover or buying a Windows license and using VMware to load OneNote in a separate Window. Unless you're like me and willing to shell $80 for a Windows license, this alone will be the deal breaker. I blame Microsoft for being run by jerkoffs.



BTW, MacConnection has a Macbook Pro 13 for $1,049 after $100 rebate. Make sure to keep copies of all your rebate paperwork around just in case they decide to pull a fast one on you though.

Reeks heavily of Mac fanboyism.

Because Apple never excludes functionality in the name of hurting their rivals...

[zeth006]

Reeks heavily of Mac fanboyism.

I don't know how you get that idea. I've been researching notebooks on and off for a few months. Is there something wrong with laying my thoughts out in an organized fashion? Maybe you should try rebutting that post instead of just screaming "Fanboy!" You'll at least do yourself a favor by distinguishing yourself from pimply-faced Linux fanboy geeks who make similarly baseless accusations.

Because Apple never excludes functionality in the name of hurting their rivals...

I assume you made this statement in sarcasm? I ask this because honestly, I couldn't give a rat's ass about the cat fights that ensue in these kinds of discussions. It's a simple fact. Microsoft writes a Mac-compatible version of Office but chooses to leave out the best portion of its suite: OneNote. There's no debating that part.

I use a PC desktop at home and have no plans to buy a Mac Pro. In the end, it's just a different platform with its share of inconveniences and upsides.

Oh and I wouldn't say I'm a fanboy as much as you're simply just an uninformed hating troll. GTFO.

[mpasi]

Before buying a Mac, make sure your LS doesn't require you to run a windows-based application for test-taking/researching purposes. I was already warned at UCLA not to buy a Mac, or if I already had one, I needed to make sure it met their minimum requirements. Examsoft was the name of their application. It sounds like a massive pain because you have to basically emulate windows XP on your mac and then run their test taking app. I can imagine that would be more stressful for a student that's unfamiliar with emulating windows.

It's not hard at all. Just buy Bootcamp and you're set. Macs run Windows software better than PCs.

[Panther7]

The difference between a 5 lb. laptop and a 5.8 lb. laptop is negligible. I love my Lenovo and it's still very light. It only get slightly heavy with the battery in it, but I have a 9-cell which gives me 6 hours of use. And it's light as a feather without the battery in it.

[mpasi]

I've had a number of laptops over the years, and to be perfectly honest, my Macbook Pro is the only one that's held up the best. My HP shut down regularly, and refused to come back to life for hours. My Toshiba just flatlined for fucking reason one day, and I spent my entire summer without a computer. Nice, eh? After that, I decided I was done with PCs, and got my current laptop. I love it. It doesn't freeze up, my programs run smoothly, and it doesn't feel like a brick in my bag. With that said, I think you should get what suits you.

[zeth006]

I've had a number of laptops over the years, and to be perfectly honest, my Macbook Pro is the only one that's held up the best. My HP shut down regularly, and refused to come back to life for hours. My Toshiba just flatlined for fucking reason one day, and I spent my entire summer without a computer. Nice, eh? After that, I decided I was done with PCs, and got my current laptop. I love it. It doesn't freeze up, my programs run smoothly, and it doesn't feel like a brick in my bag. With that said, I think you should get what suits you.

This.

[Doodsmack]

What do people think of this laptop? Good bang for the buck? I guess the downside would be the size.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... _-04262010

[kalvano]

What do people think of this laptop? Good bang for the buck? I guess the downside would be the size.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... _-04262010

Newegg comments are typically pretty accurate. If something gets a crappy rating, there's a good reason for it. In looking at that one, a lot of people seemed rather "meh" about it.

[burvowski]

Before buying a Mac, make sure your LS doesn't require you to run a windows-based application for test-taking/researching purposes. I was already warned at UCLA not to buy a Mac, or if I already had one, I needed to make sure it met their minimum requirements. Examsoft was the name of their application. It sounds like a massive pain because you have to basically emulate windows XP on your mac and then run their test taking app. I can imagine that would be more stressful for a student that's unfamiliar with emulating windows.

It's not hard at all. Just buy Bootcamp and you're set. Macs run Windows software better than PCs.

While it's true that you can use Bootcamp (it's free, there's no need to buy it, btw), "Macs run Windows software better than PCs" is probably one of, if not the, most idiotic things I've ever read on this forum.

[JohnWild]

I've been looking around some and I'm starting to think the Lenovo ThinkPad will be my labtop of choice. The only problem is I would like to see the ThinkPad in person before buying it and the stores in my town only carry one version that wouldn't be practical for law school. What type of ThinkPad would you all reccommend? I was thinking 14 - 15 inch screen (maybe the Edge version?). One thing I want is a decent sized keyboard if that matters.

[burvowski]

Not as good as seeing it first-hand, but Youtube has good reviews from everyday people on laptops.

[burvowski]

pretty good deal for a Lenovo

--LinkRemoved--

[dlac]

pretty good deal for a Lenovo

--LinkRemoved--

For those contemplating Lenovo, this is a GREAT deal. I would have pulled the trigger if not for the weight of the thing (almost 5 lbs). I want something in the 3.8 or 4 lb range.

[navalspartan]

got my custom lenovo T410, couldn't be happier. higher end at around 1050, but it's fast, has a loooooooong battery life (6hrs browing internet), very durable, amazing keyboard, and some really cool security features with the optional fingerprint scanner.

Glad to hear you like it.


Still debating. Wait for Asus UL30JT or go for a MBP 13." The T410 is starting to look great with that upgraded 6200 wifi card!


For anyone interested in Macbook Pro 13" for $1,049 after a $100 rebate that expires April 30th:

--LinkRemoved--

If you wait a month or so, they will start their summer student deal...student discount + free iPod touch + free printer is their usual deal.

Any chance that they include special pricing on an IPad as part of the promotion? Apple has been focused on pushing the IPad to college students.

[Mr. Matlock]

Any chance that they include special pricing on an IPad as part of the promotion? Apple has been focused on pushing the IPad to college students.

That's one experiment I don't want any part of. I'll stick with looking at the MB Pro.

[shepdawg]

Any advice on the Macbook Air? I am considering this used one on eBay. My wife's macbook is dented worse than that and still works fine. http://cgi.ebay.com/AS-IS-Apple-MacBook ... 335c79a63b

[burvowski]

Any advice on the Macbook Air? I am considering this used one on eBay. My wife's macbook is dented worse than that and still works fine. http://cgi.ebay.com/AS-IS-Apple-MacBook ... 335c79a63b

Unless you're extremely rich and have a high amount of disposable income, I'd say it'd be a waste of funds that could be better used on other things in law school. I mean, come on, you could buy an amazing desktop computer with a HUGE HD monitor and a netbook for less than the price of a Macbook Air. In fact, you could probably purchase two desktops and two netbooks before you reached the cost of an Air. (or some textbooks or something). EDIT: Woops, I saw that the used one was only $600 or so. Still seems like a terrible return on value to me. That $600 could buy a brand new fully functional laptop (you know Macbook Air's have no optical drive, right?) with a warranty. I would not buy an expensive electronic without a reputable warranty.



Anyway, I played around with a MBP for the first time today at an Apple store. I had no idea they are glossy screens. I'm not sure how correct he was, but the sales guy I talked to said an "upgrade" is available on the 15" for $150 (rip off). I like to work outside a lot in the sunlight, so now I'm hesitant on getting a MBP if there's no matte option on the 13". Can a non-fanboy tell me realistically how well the MBP's screen holds up on a bright sunny day (with the sun shining onto the screen)?