What kind of computer is best for LS? Forum

[forty-two]

Do Macs need antivirus software? Are there any good ones out there? (If I have to get Norton, it's not even worth switching from Windows)

My iBook doesn't have any and it's never had any problems.

Edited for clarity.

[wreckem]

Do Macs need antivirus software? Are there any good ones out there? (If I have to get Norton, it's not even worth switching from Windows)

As the popularity of Mac's increase, the more worms/viruses/trojans appear on the platform. OSX isnt as bulletproof as Mac-Addicts claim. Hackers just want a bigger bang for the buck and haven't put in the time on OSX, but that is slowly changing.

[wreckem]

Do Macs need antivirus software? Are there any good ones out there? (If I have to get Norton, it's not even worth switching from Windows)

My iBook doesn't have any and it's never had any problems.

Edited for clarity.

If you know what you are doing you should never have a problem on a PC either.

[sullidop]

Everyone I know has windows on their mac via bootcamp (typically ONLY used for examsoft). If your school has examsoft they'll probably load it on your comp for free. Not worth the hassle of having to sync the two so you can keep notes up to date.

Oh, really? I figured it would cost me an arm and a leg.

Nope. Email the IT dept at the law school...they'll let you know what's up.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

i plan on spending roughly $5,000 on a lenovo thinkpad for law school.

ThinkPad W510

Processor: Intel Core i7-920XM Processor Extreme Edition (8M Cache, 2.00 GHz) 1
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 1
Operating system language: Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 US English 1
Display Panel: 15.6" HD+ Anti-Glare Display with LED Backlight and WWAN Antenna 1
System Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M Graphics with 1GB DDR3 memory 1
Total memory: 16 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (4 DIMM) 1
Keyboard: Keyboard US English 1
Finger Print Reader: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader 1
Camera: Camera, 2.0 MP 1
Hard Drive: 128 GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA1
Optical device: Multi Recorder Optical Drive (12.7mm) 1
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & 5 in 1 Card Reader & Smart Card Slot 1
Battery: 9 cell 2.8Ah Li-Ion Battery - Dual Mode 1
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 135W AC adapter 1
Bluetooth: Bluetooth w/ antenna 1
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 62501
Wireless WWAN accessories: Integrated Mobile Broadband (Gobi 2000 3G with GPS) 1
Language Pack: Language Pack US English 1
Microsoft productivity software preload: Microsoft Office Basic 2007 - English 1
Accessories and options:
3Yr Onsite Warranty + 3Yr ThinkPad Protection 41C9338 $349.00 1 $349.00
3Yr Battery Warranty 55Y2645 $139.00 1 $139.00

You're fucking insane.

[sullidop]

i plan on spending roughly $5,000 on a lenovo thinkpad for law school.

ThinkPad W510

Processor: Intel Core i7-920XM Processor Extreme Edition (8M Cache, 2.00 GHz) 1
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 1
Operating system language: Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 US English 1
Display Panel: 15.6" HD+ Anti-Glare Display with LED Backlight and WWAN Antenna 1
System Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M Graphics with 1GB DDR3 memory 1
Total memory: 16 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (4 DIMM) 1
Keyboard: Keyboard US English 1
Finger Print Reader: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader 1
Camera: Camera, 2.0 MP 1
Hard Drive: 128 GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA1
Optical device: Multi Recorder Optical Drive (12.7mm) 1
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & 5 in 1 Card Reader & Smart Card Slot 1
Battery: 9 cell 2.8Ah Li-Ion Battery - Dual Mode 1
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 135W AC adapter 1
Bluetooth: Bluetooth w/ antenna 1
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 62501
Wireless WWAN accessories: Integrated Mobile Broadband (Gobi 2000 3G with GPS) 1
Language Pack: Language Pack US English 1
Microsoft productivity software preload: Microsoft Office Basic 2007 - English 1
Accessories and options:
3Yr Onsite Warranty + 3Yr ThinkPad Protection 41C9338 $349.00 1 $349.00
3Yr Battery Warranty 55Y2645 $139.00 1 $139.00

You're fucking insane.

Credited.

What? No liquid nitrogen cooling system to allow over-clocking? WEAK

[TCScrutinizer]

i plan on spending roughly $5,000 on a lenovo thinkpad for law school.

ThinkPad W510

Processor: Intel Core i7-920XM Processor Extreme Edition (8M Cache, 2.00 GHz) 1
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 1
Operating system language: Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 US English 1
Display Panel: 15.6" HD+ Anti-Glare Display with LED Backlight and WWAN Antenna 1
System Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M Graphics with 1GB DDR3 memory 1
Total memory: 16 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (4 DIMM) 1
Keyboard: Keyboard US English 1
Finger Print Reader: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader 1
Camera: Camera, 2.0 MP 1
Hard Drive: 128 GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA1
Optical device: Multi Recorder Optical Drive (12.7mm) 1
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & 5 in 1 Card Reader & Smart Card Slot 1
Battery: 9 cell 2.8Ah Li-Ion Battery - Dual Mode 1
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 135W AC adapter 1
Bluetooth: Bluetooth w/ antenna 1
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 62501
Wireless WWAN accessories: Integrated Mobile Broadband (Gobi 2000 3G with GPS) 1
Language Pack: Language Pack US English 1
Microsoft productivity software preload: Microsoft Office Basic 2007 - English 1
Accessories and options:
3Yr Onsite Warranty + 3Yr ThinkPad Protection 41C9338 $349.00 1 $349.00
3Yr Battery Warranty 55Y2645 $139.00 1 $139.00

They still make computers with 128 GB hard drives? I thought they discontinued those in like 2007.

ETA: Oh, it's solid state. It still couldn't hold a fifth of the shit on my 2005 Dell.

[thekingiv]

What's so good about them? I know next to nothing about Lenovo.

I've had a Mac for the past 2 years and loved it. Just got a new MacBook about 6 months ago that I will leave at home with my wife and I'm going to get a new computer. I don't think another Mac is necessary as all I'll really be using it for is internet and word processing. Lenovo is the right pick for that?

Also, I'd love to learn more about the OneNote application that was mentioned in this thread. I read up about it online, but would like to hear what people think from experience.

the thinkpad was originally from IBM but it was sold to Lenovo. Thinkpads are very reliable. a friend of mine is still using his thinkpad that he bought over 5 years ago. the services, quailty and reliabilty of the thinkpad are reasons why a lot of businessman use it.

Which kind of ThinkPad do you recommend? Is the cheapest one good enough? There are too many different series to choose from. I just want something with word processing, internet, and a really long battery.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... e=Overview

if money is an issue i would go with the T series. if not then go with the W series.

On these Lenovos, how much longer does the 6 or 9 cell battery last than the 4? Also, it has some note about how the larger batteries stick out farther. Does that make it weird to carry around?

[ChattTNdt]

I decided on my LS laptop tonight...ordering it tomorrow. Regardless of my preference for Mac, I can't justify the extra $$$ and don't want to worry with bootcamp/exam compatibility issues

Here's my future PC...
Dell Inspiron 14 Notebook
Windows 7 Home Premium
Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 (2.13GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
6GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz
14.0” High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife™
250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
High Definition Audio 2.0
Dell 1397 Wireless-G

AND
My Mini...
Mini 10
Intel Atom™ Processor N450 (1.6GHz/667Mhz FSB/512MKB cache)
Windows XP Home Edition SP3
Intel Atom Processor N450
1GB DDR2 SDRAM
10.1" Widescreen Display (1024x600) Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam
160G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Wireless 802.11n (HB95) Mini Card
2.7 pounds


Both for the total of $940 (shipping included)

Thoughts?

[texas man]

I can't justify the extra $$$ and don't want to worry with bootcamp/exam compatibility issues

What bootcamp/exam compatibility issues are you speaking of?

[ChattTNdt]

Just basing it on what I read in this thread about using Bootcamp to run your Mac in Windows to take exams

If you have a copy of Windows available, you can partition your hard drive so one side is OSX and the other is Windows. Then, whenever you start up your computer, you can select whether you want to boot up in Mac or in Windows.

So you're saying that some exams can only be taken via a Windows computer?

Most can only be taken on windows. (Note that it could be taken on a Mac with windows loaded, as described above.)

[texas man]

Just basing it on what I read in this thread about using Bootcamp to run your Mac in Windows to take exams

If you have a copy of Windows available, you can partition your hard drive so one side is OSX and the other is Windows. Then, whenever you start up your computer, you can select whether you want to boot up in Mac or in Windows.

So you're saying that some exams can only be taken via a Windows computer?

Most can only be taken on windows. (Note that it could be taken on a Mac with windows loaded, as described above.)

Like your quotes point to, when using Bootcamp to start your Mac with Windows, you are running a Windows machine — just with Apple hardware. There should be no issues running any Windows-compatible software. However, when people speak of using Parallels or VMWare to run Windows, this is different, as these are virtualization programs.

[ArtVandelay]

Just basing it on what I read in this thread about using Bootcamp to run your Mac in Windows to take exams

If you have a copy of Windows available, you can partition your hard drive so one side is OSX and the other is Windows. Then, whenever you start up your computer, you can select whether you want to boot up in Mac or in Windows.

So you're saying that some exams can only be taken via a Windows computer?

Most can only be taken on windows. (Note that it could be taken on a Mac with windows loaded, as described above.)

FWIW, Notre Dame said they have Mac-compatible software.

[vexion]

i plan on spending roughly $5,000 on a lenovo thinkpad for law school.

ThinkPad W510

Processor: Intel Core i7-920XM Processor Extreme Edition (8M Cache, 2.00 GHz) 1
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 1
Operating system language: Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 US English 1
Display Panel: 15.6" HD+ Anti-Glare Display with LED Backlight and WWAN Antenna 1
System Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M Graphics with 1GB DDR3 memory 1
Total memory: 16 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (4 DIMM) 1
Keyboard: Keyboard US English 1
Finger Print Reader: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader 1
Camera: Camera, 2.0 MP 1
Hard Drive: 128 GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA1
Optical device: Multi Recorder Optical Drive (12.7mm) 1
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & 5 in 1 Card Reader & Smart Card Slot 1
Battery: 9 cell 2.8Ah Li-Ion Battery - Dual Mode 1
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 135W AC adapter 1
Bluetooth: Bluetooth w/ antenna 1
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 62501
Wireless WWAN accessories: Integrated Mobile Broadband (Gobi 2000 3G with GPS) 1
Language Pack: Language Pack US English 1
Microsoft productivity software preload: Microsoft Office Basic 2007 - English 1
Accessories and options:
3Yr Onsite Warranty + 3Yr ThinkPad Protection 41C9338 $349.00 1 $349.00
3Yr Battery Warranty 55Y2645 $139.00 1 $139.00

A top-of-the-line quad-core i7 and 16GB of RAM? Diminishing returns much?

Unless you're using this computer to try and set new personal folding records, the processor, the RAM and the dedicated graphics are pointless. The W510 is way to heavy to lug to class and back. If you're tossing money around like that, get a T510s. Light, skinny, still a 15" display, not stupidly overpowered, but still far more than you'd ever need. $1,500-$2,200 or so depending on how you option it.

[GobiasIndustries]

Since Apple just refreshed their MacBook Pro line, I went and got one (13") last week. Cost me just under $1400 with tax, AppleCare, and a carrying case/sleeve thing. Installed Windows 7 in Bootcamp and haven't had any issues.

[honestabe84]

Since Apple just refreshed their MacBook Pro line, I went and got one (13") last week. Cost me just under $1400 with tax, AppleCare, and a carrying case/sleeve thing. Installed Windows 7 in Bootcamp and haven't had any issues.

My screen on my laptop for undergrad is absolutely huge, so I definitely want a smaller one. 13" seems really small, though. It seems like you would have to squint to see what you had just typed.

[beach_terror]

I'm coming from a 15.6, and I think that 13 is pushing it for me. I'm a big guy as well (6'3), and the 13's all seem too "mini" for me. I'm aiming for 14 as a nice middle ground; it'll be noticeably smaller, but not so much that it's off-putting or annoying to use.

[honestabe84]

As far as macs go, does anyone know if there is much of a difference between the 2.4GHz and the 2.66GHz? Is the latter worth the extra $$$?

[Snoopy1216]

Okay, so I have decided I am definitely buying a MAC for law school.

1. Do you guys know what time is best for purchase? When they will have the best deals?
2. I was planning on buying a new one, but what's the deal with the refurbished ones? Are those virtually the same?

[ArtVandelay]

For those who have used both 15" and 13"--how significant is the difference? (both in portability and in functionality)

[Rand M.]

I just picked up one of the 15 inch MBPs after the refresh last week. This is my first mac and I am never looking back. I have Windows 7 installed for parallels, but Chicago apparently has no exam software so Windows will just be used for other stuff. Thus far I have been very happy with the purchase and would recommend this computer to anyone looking. I'm sure the 13" model is fine as well, but as someone who is just used to a larger screen this thing is perfect.

[beach_terror]

As far as macs go, does anyone know if there is much of a difference between the 2.4GHz and the 2.66GHz? Is the latter worth the extra $$$?

Not for law school, and for anything really. Unless you're into benchmarking and the like, anything around 2ghz will be more than fine (much more).

2. I was planning on buying a new one, but what's the deal with the refurbished ones? Are those virtually the same?

Stay away from refurbished products. I work IT for my UG and we have a warranty with Dell where we get refurbished parts for new ones that broke. Refurbished means that (probably) something went wrong with it once, and they fixed it. From experience, there's a high (really high) probability of it happening again. This is especially true with HD's. Don't save a few bucks by getting a cheaper one that might crap out at a pivotal time in law school, go with a new one.

[honestabe84]

I see.

I have one last question: What is the difference between a macbook pro and the standard macbook. Is the pro worth it?


It seems like it's a good idea to not cheap out on a your law school computer - If you buy a $1200 computer, that's only $400 a year for something that's going to be you're life for the next three years.

[beach_terror]

I see.

I have one last question: What is the difference between a macbook pro and the standard macbook. Is the pro worth it?


It seems like it's a good idea to not cheap out on a your law school computer - If you buy a $1200 computer, that's only $400 a year for something that's going to be you're life for the next three years.

I don't know much about Mac's. However, you can easily get a similarly specced windows machine for 700$ if money is an issue and it'll be just as reliable (not trying to start/revive the Mac-PC debate, just stating a fact). Just don't click on links to Chinese tv websites.

[honestabe84]

I see.

I have one last question: What is the difference between a macbook pro and the standard macbook. Is the pro worth it?


It seems like it's a good idea to not cheap out on a your law school computer - If you buy a $1200 computer, that's only $400 a year for something that's going to be you're life for the next three years.

I don't know much about Mac's. However, you can easily get a similarly specced windows machine for 700$ if money is an issue and it'll be just as reliable (not trying to start/revive the Mac-PC debate, just stating a fact). Just don't click on links to Chinese tv websites.

I'm computer illiterate, so I really have no idea what to get. I've pretty much have just been going off of what people in this thread and other threads have said. Unfortunately, there seems to be no consensus on what laptop to buy. It's almost like asking people what the best T.V. show is.