Best Law School Laptop for the Money Forum

[burvowski]

--LinkRemoved--

Walmart offers the 5.5-lb. HP G62-149WM Intel Core i5 2.26GHz 15.6" Widescreen Notebook, model no. WQ434UA#ABA, for $598 with free shipping. That's $50 below our mention from two weeks ago and the lowest total price we've seen for any Core i5-equipped G62 laptop. Sales tax is added where applicable. Features include an Intel Core i5-430M 2.26GHz dual-core processor, 15.6" 1366x768 LED-backlit widescreen LCD, 4GB RAM, 250GB 7200 rpm hard drive, dual layer DVD burner with LightScribe, 802.11n wireless, webcam, flash card reader, HDMI output, 6-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

[Emma.]

Alrighty, looks like I'll be diving in to a MacBook Pro! Probably a 15"

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/s ... KPRO-INDEX

The only difference I see between the 2.4ghz and 2.53 is the slightly faster processor and the extra 180 gigs of hard drive (320 to 500).. but surely that isn't worth the extra $200, is it?

Also, does anyone typically know when the school discount/ipod whatever thing happens? It's not the reason I'm getting a Mac, but I might as well wait for that.

That free iPod thing is usually at the very end of May or start of June. I'm definitely picking up a 15" MBP, probably the 2.53 with the antiglare screen. I actually think that processor bump and bigger harddrive is worth it, but I also know I'm pretty much bathing in the Apple kool-aid.

I see the competition begins early in Chicago. You always gotta one-up me, emma.. dontcha?

[zeth006]

The iPod Touch deal is great if you're going to actually keep the Touch. But if you're planning to sell it, just remember you'll be competing against 1,000,000+ other college/grad/med/law school students who're also trying to sell their iPod Touches on fleabay. If you're paying taxes like we are here in California, you may be best off snapping up a deal from a 3rd party seller like MacConnection that doesn't charge taxes.

[superflush]

Just upgraded my mac to 320 GB HDD and 3 GB of Ram with a 500 GB EHDD and 2x120 GB portable EHDDs


I previously had 120 GBHDD and 1GB of Ram.

Works a lot smoother and quicker. Now time to install windows. Is vista ultimate edition ok? Are there any alternatives to onenote? If you dont use onenote are you doomed?

Okay. Do not put Vista on your Mac. Check about the testing with your school, and if you can use 7, do that (if not, use XP). But you don't want Vista. Also, check with your school if you can buy the OS very cheaply through them. At a lot of schools you can.

[superflush]

Alrighty, looks like I'll be diving in to a MacBook Pro! Probably a 15"

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/s ... KPRO-INDEX

The only difference I see between the 2.4ghz and 2.53 is the slightly faster processor and the extra 180 gigs of hard drive (320 to 500).. but surely that isn't worth the extra $200, is it?

Also, does anyone typically know when the school discount/ipod whatever thing happens? It's not the reason I'm getting a Mac, but I might as well wait for that.

That free iPod thing is usually at the very end of May or start of June. I'm definitely picking up a 15" MBP, probably the 2.53 with the antiglare screen. I actually think that processor bump and bigger harddrive is worth it, but I also know I'm pretty much bathing in the Apple kool-aid.

I see the competition begins early in Chicago. You always gotta one-up me, emma.. dontcha?

Lol, I'll one-up both of you and get the SSD.
Anti-glare is definitely the way to go.

[superflush]

If you're paying taxes like we are here in California, you may be best off snapping up a deal from a 3rd party seller like MacConnection that doesn't charge taxes.

Everybody pays taxes on Apple.com unless you have it shipped to a tax-free state (states without Apple stores might get the break too).
Keep in mind you have the education discount + the iPod.

[superflush]

Is a 1GB RAM enough for 3 years of law school?

No.

[zeth006]

If you're paying taxes like we are here in California, you may be best off snapping up a deal from a 3rd party seller like MacConnection that doesn't charge taxes.

Everybody pays taxes on Apple.com unless you have it shipped to a tax-free state (states without Apple stores might get the break too).
Keep in mind you have the education discount + the iPod.

Yes, I took into account the measely $100 off education discount. Even after the discount, California's taxes on the MBP 13 and the iPod Touch really offset whatever savings you would've incurred from getting in on the student deal and selling the iPod Touch. The $100 off on the printer doesn't do squat especially when you consider that Apple doesn't discount printers sold on their website very often.


EDIT: Also, as mentioned earlier, remember that Apple will most likely release their 4th generation iPod Touch. That alone will result in the 3rd generation iPod Touch's average fleabay sale price plummeting.

[Duralex]

Tangerine & Burvowkski -- the Asus should be fine with other machines at home to use for paper writing.

JollyGreen -- get the slower processor, if that's the only difference. You can swap out the HDD later if you fill it up, and storage just keeps getting cheaper and cheaper per GB.

And I wouldn't agree that everyone needs more than 1GB of RAM, especially if just running XP and nothing but Office and a browser. This is even more true if the machine has a discrete GPU with dedicated VRAM.

[burvowski]

If you're paying taxes like we are here in California, you may be best off snapping up a deal from a 3rd party seller like MacConnection that doesn't charge taxes.

Everybody pays taxes on Apple.com unless you have it shipped to a tax-free state (states without Apple stores might get the break too).
Keep in mind you have the education discount + the iPod.

I believe certain states have tax-free sale days over the summer. I know my state (PA) does that in August, which would be a good time to pick up a Mac before law school

[barkingbug]

In case you missed my point, it's that you're putting way too much premium on the processor.

They are all naming schemes... but how is paying hundreds of dollars less placing too big a premium? And if an i5 2.53 is going to be obsolete in three years, when will the MBP's be obsolete? Two? The extra pound means nothing to me, but that is just personal preference. The T410 does include the option of a free 9 cell.

Honestly, I was leaning towards MBP for some of the reasons you highlighted, but cannot yet rationalize the cost differential... I am using that $1,099 MBP as a benchmark. I don't agree with everything you said, but I do agree that an SSD is preferable. I would certainly prefer a 128 SSD to the 500/7200 HDD. I will hold out another month or two to see if the option surfaces.

[Tangerine Gleam]

Tangerine & Burvowkski -- the Asus should be fine with other machines at home to use for paper writing.

Great, thanks for the advice.

What if I wanted to take it one step up in terms of screen size (and perhaps processor speed), but still wanted something relatively lightweight that won't cost much more? If 13" is too small for paper-writing, perhaps I want something bigger after all. I'd like to be able to work in the library, etc., and in all likelihood, my "back-up" machines will die in the next few years, upon which time this new laptop will be all I have.

I'd like to keep this whole operation under $1000. Is there anything worth bumping up my cost for? I'm willing to sacrifice a little battery life (which I understand will come with a bigger screen and stronger machine) -- after all, I don't anticipate it being too hard to find outlets in class/library environments.

[CaptainSnuggleBunny]

Tangerine & Burvowkski -- the Asus should be fine with other machines at home to use for paper writing.

Great, thanks for the advice.

What if I wanted to take it one step up in terms of screen size (and perhaps processor speed), but still wanted something relatively lightweight that won't cost much more? If 13" is too small for paper-writing, perhaps I want something bigger after all. I'd like to be able to work in the library, etc., and in all likelihood, my "back-up" machines will die in the next few years, upon which time this new laptop will be all I have.

I'd like to keep this whole operation under $1000. Is there anything worth bumping up my cost for? I'm willing to sacrifice a little battery life (which I understand will come with a bigger screen and stronger machine) -- after all, I don't anticipate it being too hard to find outlets in class/library environments.

Asus has a UL80 series (14 inch) and a UL50 (15 inch). They are all spec'ed the same as the previous generation ul30's (there are now Ul30's available with i3/i5 and GPUs. The 15 inch includes a number pad, which is important for me. Now, because the chasis are very similiar across the board, the larger UL80 and UL50 are known to have some flex, especially towards the middle of the keyboard. This can be distracting when typing and may detract from the durabaility.


I'm looking at the Asus N61JV-x2, it's 16'' with an i5 processor, discrete graphics with optimus (automatically turns off gpu to save battery life), 2 year warranty, 2 year accident protection (after warranty registartion), 500 gig 7200 HDD. 4 gb HRAM expandable to 8. All for 899. Now it's bigger and heavier than the UL series, and honestly, I'm thinking about purchasing a cheap/used Thinkpad or UL to bring to class, using the N61 for writing papers/entertainment. Asus is in the midst of updating the UL line so the older, refurbished models should be going down in price soon.

[hubtubrub]

for are you technical geeks out there:

looking to buy a laptop

something that has a good keyboard, that's kinda lightweight (so my arm doesn't hurt carrying it), has a big screen 14-15 inches, will last, has a long battery life (this doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things tho), and will hold up to internet surfing (without slowing down with mulitiple windows)/papering/etc.

Thoughts? Oh price range 500-800.

[zeth006]

In case you missed my point, it's that you're putting way too much premium on the processor.

They are all naming schemes... but how is paying hundreds of dollars less placing too big a premium? And if an i5 2.53 is going to be obsolete in three years, when will the MBP's be obsolete? Two? The extra pound means nothing to me, but that is just personal preference. The T410 does include the option of a free 9 cell.

Honestly, I was leaning towards MBP for some of the reasons you highlighted, but cannot yet rationalize the cost differential... I am using that $1,099 MBP as a benchmark. I don't agree with everything you said, but I do agree that an SSD is preferable. I would certainly prefer a 128 SSD to the 500/7200 HDD. I will hold out another month or two to see if the option surfaces.

But "premium" in that sentence isn't meant to be misdefined as "price." "Premium" in that sentence is defined as "importance." Also you're not really that much more for a MBP 13. Even at full retail before your typical promotions like one I got in one or even student promotions, you really get what you pay for. I paid $1,049 after a rebate. For just a little more money over a T410, I got a sweetass touchpad with tons of gestures you won't find on a PC laptop, lower weight, more thinness, solid build construction, one the best screen displays, long battery life, the best customer service around town, and a near-immunity to viruses.

I've gotta say that I love the touchpad. It doesn't take the typical 2-button approach. The entire touchpad itself is a gigantic button. That leaves plenty of touchpad space to allow for 1, 2, 3, and 4 finger gestures. It easily dwarfs my Asus's touchpad and allows me to navigate easily without needing a mouse.

And about processors, you're missing the point again. ALL PROCESSORS get obsolete within 1 year of release! I stated such an obvious fact because you had the nerve to declare that the i5-520m would be the "norm" in 3 years. Sorry bro, but as I stated earlier, Intel's always revamping its processor lines. There's no way in hell they're holding onto it as long as AMD's always hunting for ways to play catch-up and leapfrog. If you're into tech news, stay tuned for Sandy Bridge. Even Mac fanboys are listening in closely for it. Some of the more gung-ho fans are waiting for the 22nm die shrink which will certainly make things cool and leave room for more transistors. It's all part of Moore's Law, friend! Our processors won't be a norm in 3 years because, well, there is never a norm!

Once again, each to his own. The MBP 13 doesn't rely on a 9-cell battery life for 10 hour battery life. Maybe I should start carrying extra tanks of gas in my future car instead of just buying car
with lower mileage.

But anyhoo. Here's by cost breakdown of how much extra I'd pay to get these on a hypothetical T410. Note this doesn't include everything. Just a few factors.

Screen - $100-150 - I'd gladly pay extra to keep a 10:6 display that has excellent color reproduction, better viewing angles, and high ranges of customizable brightness.

Touchpad - I'd pay $200 in a blink of an eye for what it allows me to do.

Customer service - I'm not a big fan of trusting big-name PC companies for customer service. Someone listed his experiences with Dell. These CSRs literally read from the script. Genius bar people don't.

So.

Screen: $100-150

Touchpad: $200

Customer service: Priceless

[MU10]

for are you technical geeks out there:

looking to buy a laptop

something that has a good keyboard, that's kinda lightweight (so my arm doesn't hurt carrying it), has a big screen 14-15 inches, will last, has a long battery life (this doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things tho), and will hold up to internet surfing (without slowing down with mulitiple windows)/papering/etc.

Thoughts? Oh price range 500-800.

Randomly browse two of the twenty-some pages to this thread for some ideas. This thread is a goldmine, you just need to take the time to read.

[holborn]

according to the website, the free ipod touch promo is over. does anyone know if this will come back before august?

[zeth006]

according to the website, the free ipod touch promo is over. does anyone know if this will come back before august?

Most likely. It's been going on once a year for years. I believe they started the promotion earlier than usual in May.

[holborn]

according to the website, the free ipod touch promo is over. does anyone know if this will come back before august?

Most likely. It's been going on once a year for years. I believe they started the promotion earlier than usual in May.

If its only once a year then wouldnt it NOT come back before august? either way, its really irrelevant. i only need a computer. do i need an ipod touch? not at all. do i really want an ipod touch? absolutely.

[Sangiovese]

If its only once a year then wouldnt it NOT come back before august? either way, its really irrelevant. i only need a computer. do i need an ipod touch? not at all. do i really want an ipod touch? absolutely.

Bah! 80GB ipod brick from way back > wimpy ipod touch

(At least that's what I keep telling myself so I don't waste money buying a new toy!)

[zeth006]

according to the website, the free ipod touch promo is over. does anyone know if this will come back before august?

Most likely. It's been going on once a year for years. I believe they started the promotion earlier than usual in May.

If its only once a year then wouldnt it NOT come back before august? either way, its really irrelevant. i only need a computer. do i need an ipod touch? not at all. do i really want an ipod touch? absolutely.

I'm not sure if I understand your post. To rephrase, the promotion isn't just a one-day gig. It goes on for weeks if not for months. Just be patient.

[zeth006]

If its only once a year then wouldnt it NOT come back before august? either way, its really irrelevant. i only need a computer. do i need an ipod touch? not at all. do i really want an ipod touch? absolutely.

Bah! 80GB ipod brick from way back > wimpy ipod touch

(At least that's what I keep telling myself so I don't waste money buying a new toy!)

I hear ya.

[SAOJD10]

I'll sell you my IPOD touch if ya want????? 80 bucks

[zeth006]

I'll sell you my IPOD touch if ya want????? 80 bucks

I dunno if counts as spam/self-promotion. But if someone here wants it, you can always create an eBay listing and just mention your username.

[Duralex]

If its only once a year then wouldnt it NOT come back before august? either way, its really irrelevant. i only need a computer. do i need an ipod touch? not at all. do i really want an ipod touch? absolutely.

Bah! 80GB ipod brick from way back > wimpy ipod touch

(At least that's what I keep telling myself so I don't waste money buying a new toy!)

I hear ya.

Neither of my classic iPods will boot--either my original iPod, or my 4th gen.

:sadface: