Best Law School Laptop for the Money Forum

[SAOJD10]

I just picked up a 13' Macbook Pro, pretty good stuff (it just works). I hope i dont qualify as a weird Mac owner now

[burvowski]

If you had waited a month or so, you could have gotten a free iPod Touch with it.

[irie]

just wondering--what're everyone's thoughts on this laptop?

http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops ... ge-14.aspx
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.a ... ad+edge+14

it is on sale through May 12 for $599 incl. free shipping through the Lenovo website:

http://www.logicbuy.com/deals/lenovo

Basics:

Windows 7 Professional 32-bit
Intel Core i3-330M processor (2.13GHz, 3MB cache)
14-inch 1366 x 768 WXGA glossy display
Intel GMA HD integrated graphics
2GB DDR3 RAM (2GB x 1)
320GB Fujitsu 5400RPM hard drive
Intel 1000BGN Wi-Fi, Realtek Gigabit LAN
Built-in web camera
6-cell 11.25v 57Wh battery
Dimensions: (LxWxH) 13.5 x 9.2 x 1.5"
Weight: 4.94 pounds

also: a very highly rated keyboard (which I think is important) that happens to be spill-proof (also important since I love chugging coffees while typing away in class), larger touchpad than standard thinkpads, good temperature controls (only 80-83 degrees F under the left and right palms compared to most laptops which avg 90 degrees + temperatures) so no sweaty palms, 3 USB ports.

I've been working for two years and have had company-issued Lenovo thinkpads both years (first a T43 and now a T61) and have never had an issue with them. I understand that, macs aside, Lenovos are one of the most reliable brands in computing, but usually on the higher end in terms of price. at $599 this obviously can't be compared to macs in terms of visual superiority (the display is good for tilt angles of 10-15 degrees at best) and certain aspects of performance. Also, the speakers aren't too great. tbh, I don't expect to use this for entertainment purposes (I have a pretty high end desktop + 22-inch monitor + speakers/subwoofer at home). One last glaring problem would be the 4.5 hour battery life w/ wireless on, which I think will be enough to get me through the day (assuming three 45-minute lectures max), but it is certainly not the best out there (I've seen numerous laptops boasting 9-hour+ battery life). However, I think it is worth it to sacrifice the batteries for the lower price and the brand.

would love to hear some thoughts on this product... might be there are some important technical aspects I've overlooked.

thanks in advance!

[savesthedayajb]

Get at least 4GB RAM, and never ever go with a 5400rpm HD, it wont matter how fast your processors is if you HD is slow.

[beach_terror]

Get at least 4GB RAM, and never ever go with a 5400rpm HD, it wont matter how fast your processors is if you HD is slow.

You do not need 4GB of ram for anything law school related. 5400 isn't necessary, but if you want the most out of it, try to grab a 7200 I guess. It honestly doesn't matter. You don't need the need i3/i5/i7's for a law school related computer anyway. 2gb of ram/core 2 duo/5400rpm is more than enough. If you don't like buying outdated technology, that's a different story.

[shepdawg]

Get at least 4GB RAM, and never ever go with a 5400rpm HD, it wont matter how fast your processors is if you HD is slow.

I like how the laptop he posted has one 2GB stick. So if you wanted you could add another one on the cheap. Seems like a perfect computer.

I noticed that it comes with 7 Premium 64 bit, not Professional 32 bit.

[irie]

Get at least 4GB RAM, and never ever go with a 5400rpm HD, it wont matter how fast your processors is if you HD is slow.

I like how the laptop he posted has one 2GB stick. So if you wanted you could add another one on the cheap. Seems like a perfect computer.

I noticed that it comes with 7 Premium 64 bit, not Professional 32 bit.

im still old fashioned and running vista on my desktop and xp pro on my work laptop. how does the 7 pro 32bit compare to 7 premium 64bit? is it significant enough that I should been factoring it into my law school laptop decision?

also, I believe the above laptop can be easily upgraded for additional RAM, but not the HD. I've never actually owned a computer with 5400+ rpm, and they've all suited me fine (even the one I use for gaming etc.)

as for 4gb of ram... seriously? my work laptop is 1gb ram, and I regularly have 10+ windows open with word/ppt/outlook running in the background, not to mention various firm security softwares. seems to go pretty smoothly, and i only make a point to reboot it once a week.

[beach_terror]

I noticed that it comes with 7 Premium 64 bit, not Professional 32 bit.

im still old fashioned and running vista on my desktop and xp pro on my work laptop. how does the 7 pro 32bit compare to 7 premium 64bit? is it significant enough that I should been factoring it into my law school laptop decision?

You can't join domains on 7 premium. That's really the only significant thing. So if you're law school has a domain you can join (which it probably will) you won't be able to join.

Also, you can't compare a 32 bit OS to a 64 bit OS, it's apples to oranges. The pecking order for 7 for me personally is: 64 Pro, 32 Pro, 64 Ultimate, 32 Ultimate, 64 Premium, 32 Premium.

[burvowski]

Most large schools probably would be able to give you a copy of 64-bit Windows for free. At least mine does.

[beach_terror]

Most large schools probably would be able to give you a copy of 64-bit Windows for free. At least mine does.

The pecking order for 7 for me personally is: 64 Pro, 32 Pro, 64 Ultimate, 32 Ultimate, 64 Premium, 32 Premium.

LOL. What specifically are these rankings based on, may I ask?

What I want my OS to do for me. I don't want the extra random stuff from Ultimate, so I'd rather have Pro instead. However, I'd rather have the domain join feature than not have it, so I'd rather have Ultimate instead of Home Premium.

And yes, the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit OS's on the laptop I'll have is going to be marginal (the same being for most non-gaming laptops). So once again Pro > Ultimate > Premium.

[Billy Blanks]

For anyone that doesn't know, you need a 64-bit OS if your computer has more than 4 GB of RAM (a 32-bit OS will be unable to assign addresses to RAM over 4 GB, thereby rendering all additional RAM useless).

FYI.

[granger]

I just got the Toshiba Satellite A505-S6005:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... ear0195-20

(As a precursor to anything I say: I didn't know much about laptops heading into the process, and I'm hardly well-informed now!)

At 16'', portability will be a concern, but I'm otherwise really, really thrilled about my purchase. Great keyboard, great trackpad, incredible speakers. 4GB, 64-bit, Intel i3, 12-cell battery that's lifted so it doesn't heat too much at all. Multi-tasking is so easy compared to the Macbook I previously owned.

I'd highly recommend it for battery life, sound, keyboard, mouse, and performance - it's probably as good as the next level (1000-1200) priced computers in these aspects, and it cost 679.99 before tax. However, it's big and bulky, so it may not be the best bet for LS. The smaller you get, you may have to sacrifice some of this comp's specs to stay within the price range, but I don't think that's such an obstacle.

The one thing I'd say about buying a laptop is that you need to test these computers. Some companies make really good computers that have horrendous keyboards and trackpads, and in day-to-day use (especially word processing), at least for me, that's a huge priority. But go to Best Buy and test the keyboard & mouse, play a song on it, and definitely try multi-tasking before you make a decision.

[irie]

I noticed that it comes with 7 Premium 64 bit, not Professional 32 bit.

im still old fashioned and running vista on my desktop and xp pro on my work laptop. how does the 7 pro 32bit compare to 7 premium 64bit? is it significant enough that I should been factoring it into my law school laptop decision?

You can't join domains on 7 premium. That's really the only significant thing. So if you're law school has a domain you can join (which it probably will) you won't be able to join.

Also, you can't compare a 32 bit OS to a 64 bit OS, it's apples to oranges. The pecking order for 7 for me personally is: 64 Pro, 32 Pro, 64 Ultimate, 32 Ultimate, 64 Premium, 32 Premium.

Thanks, this is really good to know. I wouldn't have uncovered it skimming the specs on my own. How much does having domain access matter during law school? I understand it will give you access to resource databases and maybe even storage space on the law school's network, but do students actually make use of this regularly? Do most schools even provide private storage/backup space to their students on the LS network? or is everything public?

Also, I've just about scoured the columbia law school website and could not find any mention of IT providing us with the windows 7 OS. in fact, i don't think they even support it yet... doh

[burvowski]

You mean, this Columbia?

--LinkRemoved--

[shepdawg]

You mean, this Columbia?

--LinkRemoved--

OMG!!! Do you need a license code for that?

Edit: NVM you need your CU login info. I thought I just stumbled upon Windows 7 for free.

[burvowski]

Yeah, you need to activate it once installed, I would assume. You can run Windows 7 for like 30 days without a key, I believe.

[irie]

You mean, this Columbia?

--LinkRemoved--

sweet thanks,

what is windows 7 enterprise? does that include all features of pro? i'm guessing its just a brand name for institutional use, but as long as it allows you to join domains its preferable to the premium right?

[burvowski]

Yes, it is preferable, and available in 64-bit.

[beach_terror]

I noticed that it comes with 7 Premium 64 bit, not Professional 32 bit.

im still old fashioned and running vista on my desktop and xp pro on my work laptop. how does the 7 pro 32bit compare to 7 premium 64bit? is it significant enough that I should been factoring it into my law school laptop decision?

You can't join domains on 7 premium. That's really the only significant thing. So if you're law school has a domain you can join (which it probably will) you won't be able to join.

Also, you can't compare a 32 bit OS to a 64 bit OS, it's apples to oranges. The pecking order for 7 for me personally is: 64 Pro, 32 Pro, 64 Ultimate, 32 Ultimate, 64 Premium, 32 Premium.

Thanks, this is really good to know. I wouldn't have uncovered it skimming the specs on my own. How much does having domain access matter during law school? I understand it will give you access to resource databases and maybe even storage space on the law school's network, but do students actually make use of this regularly? Do most schools even provide private storage/backup space to their students on the LS network? or is everything public?

Also, I've just about scoured the columbia law school website and could not find any mention of IT providing us with the windows 7 OS. in fact, i don't think they even support it yet... doh

I'm constantly backing up my document folder on my UG's virtual network. It's great to know all your important things will be safe somewhere if your laptop decides to blow up. Most schools will provide you with network space to store things, you could always check with the school you're attending to make sure they provide storage before you spend a few extra $ on professional.

[zeth006]

I'm constantly backing up my document folder on my UG's virtual network. It's great to know all your important things will be safe somewhere if your laptop decides to blow up. Most schools will provide you with network space to store things, you could always check with the school you're attending to make sure they provide storage before you spend a few extra $ on professional.

Is there a quick/easy way to find out whether my school has this domain network? Does Snow Leopard support it?

[barkingbug]

it seems to me that lenovo's thinkpad is $370 less than the comparable macbook pro, with more advantages than disadvantages. the pc weighs less than half a pound more, but has a bigger screen and a bigger, faster hard drive and an equally strong display. it also has a multitouch touchpad and a trackpoint button, as well as an i3 chip.

[vexion]

I'm just one opinion out of many, but I just bought a brand-new, top-of-the-line Thinkpad (T410s) and I'm obsessed with it. This laptop is awesome.

[Mr. Matlock]

it seems to me that lenovo's thinkpad is $370 less than the comparable macbook pro, with more advantages than disadvantages. the pc weighs less than half a pound more, but has a bigger screen and a bigger, faster hard drive and an equally strong display. it also has a multitouch touchpad and a trackpoint button, as well as an i3 chip.

Can you link me to this particular Lenovo????

Kthanxbye!!

[burvowski]

it seems to me that lenovo's thinkpad is $370 less than the comparable macbook pro, with more advantages than disadvantages. the pc weighs less than half a pound more, but has a bigger screen and a bigger, faster hard drive and an equally strong display. it also has a multitouch touchpad and a trackpoint button, as well as an i3 chip.

Yep, that's accurate, but with the free iPod Touch deal, that essentially knocks $200 off the price difference between the two. If you're not interested in an iPod, then the gap goes back to $370 (or more)

I'm just one opinion out of many, but I just bought a brand-new, top-of-the-line Thinkpad (T410s) and I'm obsessed with it. This laptop is awesome.

I love TF2! HEAVY IS CREDIT TO TEAM!

[vexion]

I love TF2! HEAVY IS CREDIT TO TEAM!

WHAT KIND OF SICK MAN SENDS BABIES TO FIGHT ME!?