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College kids: what kind of laptop/tablet do you prefer?

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dpopiz

Diamond Member
I'm looking at machines for college this fall and basically I just want something that's very durable and ergonomic and light so I can get real work done anywhere, in the lib, on a grassy field, sitting on the sidewalk, or in a coffee shop, etc.

At first I was thinking of getting one of those 8-to-10" ultra-subnotebooks like one of the fujitsu's or a libretto.

Then I was looking at getting a convertible tablet or a slate/convertible like the TC1100.

Now I'm thinking maybe I should just get a regular 12-14 incher laptop.


What seems to be the most versatile type of machine for you?
 
so I can get real work done anywhere, in the lib, on a grassy field, sitting on the sidewalk, or in a coffee shop, etc.
Click to expand...
You cannot and will not get work done in those places, even with a laptop. I'll hazard a guess that it will be chained to your dorm room desk 90% of the time.

Build yourself a new desktop and get it over with.
 
Originally posted by: jumpr
so I can get real work done anywhere, in the lib, on a grassy field, sitting on the sidewalk, or in a coffee shop, etc.
Click to expand...
You cannot and will not get work done in those places, even with a laptop. I'll hazard a guess that it will be chained to your dorm room desk 90% of the time.

Build yourself a new desktop and get it over with.
Click to expand...

In the library, sure he will.
 
700m. but it's real small and if you take it places, you probably should guard it with your LIFE!
 
Originally posted by: tami
700m. but it's real small and if you take it places, you probably should guard it with your LIFE!
Click to expand...
The 700m's build quality makes it a POS. Get a Fujitsu S6231, not some plastic piece of Dell crap.
 
I never used my laptop outside. I was always at some "workstation" whether it'd be a the library, classroom or at home.

Tiny laptops just didn't appeal to me, I just got a standard hi-res 15".
 
Originally posted by: dpopiz
would you say a tablet is useless?
Click to expand...

Yes, Traditional Laptop > Tablet PC.

12" Apple iBook (4.9 lbs.)........... :thumbsdown:

Dell Latitude X1 (2.5 lbs.)
http://www.hardwareluxx.de/andreas/News/Dell_LatitudeX1_1.jpg
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product...x1?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&adv=NBAdvisor

Sony T Series (3.04 lbs.)
http://www.itmc.sony-europe.com/pdb/T2_SERIES_left_screen.jpg
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSH...tebookComputers_TSeries&Dept=computers

Fujitsu LifeBook S6000 Series (4.0 lbs.)
http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/3549.jpg
http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=S62

Dell Inspiron 700m (4.1 lbs.)
http://www.davlanbaumn.com/pblog/archives/dell700mf.jpg
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product...0m?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&adv=NBAdvisor

Several friends of mine jumped on the recent 50%-off Dell laptop deals, one got a brand-new Inspiron 700m widescreen ultraportable, DVD/RW, 256MB RAM, 60GB HD, WiFi wireless, Remote Control, two Premium (8-cell) Batteries, and an extended warranty all shipped FREE for under $1100. (For an extra $100 we dropped in a 1GB stick of after-market RAM) At these prices it doesn't make any sense to rule out Dell... The build quality is great, and the prices are right. :thumbsup:

If you want, you can even add a Dell 2005FPW 20" Widescreen LCD for your apartment or dorm for less than $400 more if they have another coupon deal. Unless you plan on gaming alot, there's no need for a separate desktop computer - just come home and plug your laptop into a full sized monitor, keyboard and mouse. Now you have a place to work at home, and a laptop for the road - all doable for under $1500. 😀
 
Originally posted by: dpopiz
would you say a tablet is useless?
Click to expand...

WTF use are you going to get out of the extra few hundred you'd be paying? With a tablet, you'll be able to say "Wow... look... I have a tablet PC!" and that's about it.

Build a desktop and enjoy going outside and having a life.
 
After I went all out on my laptop 4 years ago, I started to realize that a laptop is merely a secondary computer.

Instead of getting yourself a $1500 ultralight super-awesome 5000, build yourself a $900 desktop and buy yourself a used $600 IBM laptop off Ebay. Today's $3000 laptops are tomorrow's $600 laptops. Pretty much any laptop 600mhz+ should be able to do whatever you need it to do.. Another plus is that all pentium 3M laptops have decent batttery life compared to Pentium IVs.

I agree that you want as small and light as possible. My 1.35" thick, 5.7 pound laptop is a bitch to carry around - and mine is lighter than 80% of today's new laptops.

Seriously, get a couple-year-old IBM ultralight.. IBM laptops are above and beyond anything else.
 
Originally posted by: dpopiz
very durable and ergonomic and light so I can get real work done anywhere, in the lib, on a grassy field, sitting on the sidewalk, or in a coffee shop, etc.
Click to expand...


Trust me, those people in coffee shops and grassy fields aren't doing any real work. Hell, most of the people in the library aren't either. Laptops are really convenient - but, imo, it's a lot easier to deal without a laptop than a desktop. Using a laptop as your primary machine will give you a hunchback.

If you get a laptop over 5lbs, you will not be routinely carrying it around anywhere.. It's just too annoying - even if you got a backpack made for it (me).
 
Originally posted by: brxndxn
Trust me, those people in coffee shops and grassy fields aren't doing any real work.
Click to expand...

Bleh, I disagree... :thumbsdown:

If you get a laptop over 5lbs, you will not be routinely carrying it around anywhere.. It's just too annoying - even if you got a backpack made for it (me).
Click to expand...

I wholeheartedly agree. You'll stop carrying anything >5 lbs. around with you after a few weeks/months, guaranteed. :thumbsup:
 
Ok, well I have an old IBM 570 already (333MHz) and I LOVE it for its size and the fact that it has a more typable keyboard than any other laptop in the universe, BUT it's kinda flimsy. I'm serious...I know it's an IBM and all but it flexes really bad so that the keyboard pops out frequently and the hinges keep breaking. I have also have an R40 that feels durable, but it's too heavy for me (5.9lbs).

I'd like to go for an old X series, but I'm afraid it's going to be flimsy like the 570. Oh and also I kinda want one with a high-contrast screen, even though that unfortunately kinda means a new(expensive) one.
 
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