College Laptop

[qvp]

The college requires students have a laptop, and offer the following for $1849:

Hardware

Intel Core Duo T2500 processor at 2.0 GHz
(2 MB cache, 667 MHz FSB)
1GB RAM
14.1? SXGA+ (1400x1050) TFT display
100GB 7200RPM Serial ATA hard drive
128MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 video chipset
CD writer/DVD writer (dual layer)
10/100/1000 on-board Ethernet and 56K modem
802.11a/b/g integrated wireless
Ports: 3 USB 2.0, Docking/Port Replicator,
External Display, Headphone Line out, RJ-11,
RJ-45, Microphone / Line in
UltraNav (touch pad/TrackPoint) pointing device
Fingerprint Reader
Bluetooth
6-cell Lithium-ion battery (one-year warranty)
Three-year manufacturer's warranty
Three-year ThinkPad Protection (accidental damage)
Weight: ~ 5.5 lbs

Pre-Installed Software

Microsoft Windows XP Pro
Microsoft Office Pro 2003
Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Maplesoft Maple - symbolic algebra program
MathWorks MATLAB
National Instruments LabVIEW
NX4 (Unigraphics) - CAD package
MapInfo Professional
Bentley Microstation
Cygwin
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Oxford University Press Dictionary
Encyclopedia Britannica
Adobe Premiere Elements
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Symantec anti-virus software suite

Even though I can get a much better price overall for better hardware (For software, I already have Office, Photoshop), should I stick with what they offer? It seems that if I end up needing that extra software, I'd go through more trouble than it's worth to get it later on. I also wanted something that would be more ready for Vista (2GB), and with a better video card, when I decide to get Vista down the road, and to at least have the ability to play games.

Also, how long do you think this setup would last? Would I find myself wishing to replace it and pay for all that software again in two years?

Many thanks for any input.

 

[Brainonska511]

First, when do you need this notebook? If you need it for the fall, wait until the summer as new notebooks will be coming out next month with the Centrino Pro platform and today's notebooks will be cheaper.

Second, what Lenovo notebook is it?

Vista runs fine with integrated graphics. Just make sure you get 2GB of RAM. As far as the graphics card goes, how much gaming are you realistically going to do? If you plan on doing a moderate amount, you'll want to go with a notebook with at least a midrange graphics card, like a 7700Go (or X1700/X1600/7600 Go, but the 7700 is the best in that range), which will move you away from Lenovo. Also, dedicated graphics chips will significantly reduce battery life. Do you want this notebook to be mobile and used on batteries a lot?

 

[TheStu]

From what I have seen, if you get the school's machine, they usually have a certain amount of in house IT that can take care of issues. If you get your own, you may not have those options available to you.

 

[DarkThinker]

TheStu is right about the IT issue, it's not that they won't be able to support it, it's just that they might refuse to.

Also another thing, if I were you I would try to see if I can get that Thinkpad in a 15" LCD + Core 2 Duo configuration instead of 14" Core Duo (or you can upgrade to Core 2 Duo on your own it's up to you really)

EDIT: If you upgrade the Thinkpad with Core 2 Duo + 15" / 15.4" LCD you won't feel the need to get another one for a long time.

DarkThinker

 

[herm0016]

the software on the machine is worth at least a power of 10 above what the cost of the machine is. Matlab, Maple, NX4.... are all very expensive. It looks like a good notebook.

 

[TheStu]

I wouldnt say that the software is worth a full order of magnitude above the laptop... maybe equal in cost? matlab and maple both can be had for $100 on a student license. call it $250 for the duration of the student (assuming 4 years at school) for each one. MathWorks (Matlab's maker) charges a maintenance fee after the first year, in order to keep the software up to date, and the only reason i know this is because i researched how much it would cost to put matlab on a bunch of lab machines.

 

[qvp]

I plan on getting it as late as I can for the reasons you said, so I won't need it until mid-late summer. I also don't think I can upgrade it from their standard; they only offer that one.

I might just stick with it, mostly because of the repair opportunities and software available. I also have this intense curiosity to try the Encyclopedia Britannica and not have to worry about Wikipedia faults.

Thanks all.

 

[Jaxidian]

What school?

 

[tatteredpotato]

I was about to yell rip off until I saw the software. Thats a good deal for all that software. Although are the software licenses transferable?

 

[WackyDan]

I deal with a lot of University IT departments....

The laptops programs are a good buy. The 14" at 1400x1050 is a sweet screen, but that is just an opinion I hold. Yes, they will support it, they will most likely be a self maintainer, which means they can repair it right there on campus, and if it comes to it, they will probably have loaners to sign out if yours has to be in for extended repair, which is unlikely as it woul dbe a THinkPad.

 

[TheStu]

@ BlameCanada: that generally depends on the Software maker, and a couple of other issues. The likely situation is that ultimately the University will maintain control over the laptop. They will let their students do almost anything they want to them within reason, and in exchange they will provide software and tech support. So like I said, it depends a lot on the software vendor, but mostly likely the answer is no. Though the school may have a software purchase program available for the students that would get them the licenses on the cheap

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: TheStu
@ BlameCanada: that generally depends on the Software maker, and a couple of other issues. The likely situation is that ultimately the University will maintain control over the laptop. They will let their students do almost anything they want to them within reason, and in exchange they will provide software and tech support. So like I said, it depends a lot on the software vendor, but mostly likely the answer is no. Though the school may have a software purchase program available for the students that would get them the licenses on the cheap

The college gets the same educational discount on software as a student would. The student has full ownership of the laptop, but the college will mandate their antivirus, etc be on the system.... Actually nice as you'll get 4 years of free AV and anti spyware/malware....

 

[cheesehead]

It depends, really. University tech support has to deal with a lot of non-techie students, and has strict rules as to what you can and cannot do.

For me, it would be worthless - I run Linux.

 

[slackwarelinux]

Originally posted by: Jaxidian
What school?

RPI

 

[RedWolf]

Check to see if you own the software or are just renting it. The college I work at has agreements with several software companies to allow students to install software on student machines. I know you can get a license from Microsoft for that (although we don't do it). If you own the software then I think it's a good deal. If not you will probably have to remove the software from your machine when you leave the college.

We have some T60s as well and they are great machines. They cost a little more than Dell but they are much better quality. The keyboard is fantastic and makes typing a joy. I hate typing on my Dell 9300 at home in comparison. Very uncomfortable after a few paragraphs.

 

[RedWolf]

In answer to my own question about the software, you own the MS products but must uninstall the others.

http://www.rpi.edu/laptops/graduates.html

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: TheStu
I wouldnt say that the software is worth a full order of magnitude above the laptop... maybe equal in cost? matlab and maple both can be had for $100 on a student license. call it $250 for the duration of the student (assuming 4 years at school) for each one. MathWorks (Matlab's maker) charges a maintenance fee after the first year, in order to keep the software up to date, and the only reason i know this is because i researched how much it would cost to put matlab on a bunch of lab machines.

At least at my university matlab and maple are free for students/faculty :shock;