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Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:13 pm
by UserNameHere
My family just gave me $1500 to spend on a laptop for my graduation gift from undergrad. I know how to use a computer well enough, but when it comes to what these machines actually are I might as well be a time traveler from the 1920s. Anybody who knows a thing or two about laptops have any suggestions for what to buy?

I watch plenty of streaming video, but not really any DVDs. I often have a lot of tabs open and like to be able to cycle through those (as well as .docs) easily. Good speakers would be nice. Lightweight and durable are a must. Anything else I should be looking for?

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:29 pm
by tfer2222
UserNameHere wrote:My family just gave me $1500 to spend on a laptop for my graduation gift from undergrad. I know how to use a computer well enough, but when it comes to what these machines actually are I might as well be a time traveler from the 1920s. Anybody who knows a thing or two about laptops have any suggestions for what to buy?

I watch plenty of streaming video, but not really any DVDs. I often have a lot of tabs open and like to be able to cycle through those (as well as .docs) easily. Good speakers would be nice. Lightweight and durable are a must. Anything else I should be looking for?
i think probably 50% of the people in my classes (including myself) have 13 inch macbook pros. I've never had a problem.

if you don't need a disc drive you could go for the macbook air.

macs make it really easy to customize different swipes, etc. to get through multiple docs open at once, etc.

disclaimer: I don't know a lot about computers either. I typically just buy apple products without doing much research on that type of stuff.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:32 pm
by Nova

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:55 pm
by muskies970
UserNameHere wrote:My family just gave me $1500 to spend on a laptop for my graduation gift from undergrad. I know how to use a computer well enough, but when it comes to what these machines actually are I might as well be a time traveler from the 1920s. Anybody who knows a thing or two about laptops have any suggestions for what to buy?

I watch plenty of streaming video, but not really any DVDs. I often have a lot of tabs open and like to be able to cycle through those (as well as .docs) easily. Good speakers would be nice. Lightweight and durable are a must. Anything else I should be looking for?
So if you want to spend the whole 1500 dollars, def go with the Macbook Air 13" in my opinion...

You could prob get a comparable p.c. for a lot cheaper, and use the money elsewhere though. I like the macbook air though, great computer worth it imo.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:07 am
by togepi
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... N_BASE_SAP

Or buy this beast machine if you are anti-apple

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:17 am
by JamMasterJ
literally anything will work

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:27 am
by 09042014
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 834230770a

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834230959

Then save the other 800 bucks for when you want a new computer in 3-4 years.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 2:05 am
by laxbrah420
JamMasterJ wrote:literally anything will work
windows 8 was not supported by my school's exam software during finals. Maybe they'll fix it soon? I'd look into that first, because vmware on exams is not really allowed

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 3:27 am
by CR2012
To those of you recommending the MacBook Air, how old is your computer? Has it slowed down or has the performance otherwise deteriorated noticeably in the time that you have owned it?

The reason I ask this is because my girlfriend bought one in 2008 (I think it was the first model) and the performance really started to suffer in the last 2 years she had it.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 5:18 am
by jselson
laxbrah420 wrote:
JamMasterJ wrote:literally anything will work
windows 8 was not supported by my school's exam software during finals. Maybe they'll fix it soon? I'd look into that first, because vmware on exams is not really allowed
Ugh, this sucks. I just bought a Surface Pro because of its portability, just found out (right now) that HLS uses Exam4 software, and just found out (right now) that Exam4 software supports Windows 8 but NOT Surface Pro. So OP, if you want Windows 8, get an ASUS or Lenovo or something else. Ugh.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 7:52 am
by Icculus
The school will send you or direct you to the we page that has the minimum operating requirements and software requirements and compatibility. Buy whatever lap top you like best that meets these requirements.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 8:50 am
by Crowing
jselson wrote:
laxbrah420 wrote:
JamMasterJ wrote:literally anything will work
windows 8 was not supported by my school's exam software during finals. Maybe they'll fix it soon? I'd look into that first, because vmware on exams is not really allowed
Ugh, this sucks. I just bought a Surface Pro because of its portability, just found out (right now) that HLS uses Exam4 software, and just found out (right now) that Exam4 software supports Windows 8 but NOT Surface Pro. So OP, if you want Windows 8, get an ASUS or Lenovo or something else. Ugh.
Yuck don't get Windows 8. 7 or even XP yolo

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 12:38 pm
by 09042014
jselson wrote:
laxbrah420 wrote:
JamMasterJ wrote:literally anything will work
windows 8 was not supported by my school's exam software during finals. Maybe they'll fix it soon? I'd look into that first, because vmware on exams is not really allowed
Ugh, this sucks. I just bought a Surface Pro because of its portability, just found out (right now) that HLS uses Exam4 software, and just found out (right now) that Exam4 software supports Windows 8 but NOT Surface Pro. So OP, if you want Windows 8, get an ASUS or Lenovo or something else. Ugh.
Yea, Windows 8 isn't always the same. The tablet version isn't full windows.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:26 pm
by jselson
Desert Fox wrote:
jselson wrote:
laxbrah420 wrote:
JamMasterJ wrote:literally anything will work
windows 8 was not supported by my school's exam software during finals. Maybe they'll fix it soon? I'd look into that first, because vmware on exams is not really allowed
Ugh, this sucks. I just bought a Surface Pro because of its portability, just found out (right now) that HLS uses Exam4 software, and just found out (right now) that Exam4 software supports Windows 8 but NOT Surface Pro. So OP, if you want Windows 8, get an ASUS or Lenovo or something else. Ugh.
Yea, Windows 8 isn't always the same. The tablet version isn't full windows.
That's true for the Surface RT, but not the Surface Pro.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:37 pm
by Rahviveh
If you get Windows 8 then you MUST get a touchscreen laptop. you cannot fully appreciate the power of windows 8 without a touchscreen (the future).

But yeah, don't get a god damn surface pro.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:41 pm
by 09042014
So why isn't Surface Pro allowed on exam software? Windows 8 is backwards compatible with Windows 7, anything that runs on 7 should run fine on 8.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:43 pm
by cwid1391
ChampagnePapi wrote:If you get Windows 8 then you MUST get a touchscreen laptop. you cannot fully appreciate the power of windows 8 without a touchscreen (the future).

But yeah, don't get a god damn surface pro.
What's new about Windows 8 and the touch screen that make it awesome?

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:45 pm
by 09042014
cwid1391 wrote:
ChampagnePapi wrote:If you get Windows 8 then you MUST get a touchscreen laptop. you cannot fully appreciate the power of windows 8 without a touchscreen (the future).

But yeah, don't get a god damn surface pro.
What's new about Windows 8 and the touch screen that make it awesome?
Some people say touchscreen on a laptop is revolutionary. Others says it's a gimick and mouse is way better.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:57 pm
by jselson
Desert Fox wrote:So why isn't Surface Pro allowed on exam software? Windows 8 is backwards compatible with Windows 7, anything that runs on 7 should run fine on 8.
Exactly my question.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 2:03 pm
by 09042014
jselson wrote:
Desert Fox wrote:So why isn't Surface Pro allowed on exam software? Windows 8 is backwards compatible with Windows 7, anything that runs on 7 should run fine on 8.
Exactly my question.
I'm guessing these exam companies are TTT as shit and lock down their software in some retarded way (like checking the version of windows) and just failed to updated correctly. Some schools claim EBB software works on Windows 8. Maybe there is an update.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 2:49 pm
by laxbrah420
Also this matters 8 days a year only. Feel free to write your exam on an old clunker that you've restored and kept in the closet, and buy what makes you happy

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 2:08 pm
by gpallet01
Thread hijack but.. I use a PC and have always used a PC and am comfortable w/ a PC. Friends and fam saying to get a Mac b/c it's better.. thoughts?

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 2:11 pm
by 09042014
gpallet01 wrote:Thread hijack but.. I use a PC and have always used a PC and am comfortable w/ a PC. Friends and fam saying to get a Mac b/c it's better.. thoughts?
Mac's aren't objectively better.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 2:15 pm
by jselson
gpallet01 wrote:Thread hijack but.. I use a PC and have always used a PC and am comfortable w/ a PC. Friends and fam saying to get a Mac b/c it's better.. thoughts?
Stick with what you know and like.

Re: Good Laptops for LS Students

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 2:17 pm
by hephaestus
gpallet01 wrote:Thread hijack but.. I use a PC and have always used a PC and am comfortable w/ a PC. Friends and fam saying to get a Mac b/c it's better.. thoughts?
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