Help! Just Got Into Grad School - Now I Need A Laptop!

[BDawg]

Phew, after a month of worrying about it, I got my letter of acceptance yesterday to UNC-Greensboro's Masters of Information Technology and Management. I'm so psyched about this!

Unfortunately (or luckily), I have to buy a laptop now. I really like the VIAOs, but they seem pretty expensive. The Dell Inspireon 8100 are good machines, but my bosses has a real flimsy keyboard. I'm an IBM stockholder, so I get Thinkpads at a discount, but they still seem overpriced. Does anyone have any recomendations?

My biggest concern is getting a laptop that's the same tech level as my desktop machine (PIII 933). I don't want something that's going out of date at the same time. Dell is offering $50 off, free CD-RW or DVD-ROM, and upgrade to GeForceGO 32MB now. Is this a reason to buy, or does it mean they'll be introducing something new soon (P4)? Does anyone offer Athlon MP/XP notebooks?

Edit: I don't start until January, so I don't have to order until mid December.

 

[GREATDEALS]

[link deleted]

---

Please spam your own business elsewhere.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[StageLeft]

Its' good to get a laptop for school. Your going to need one for essays!

 

[BDawg]

<< Your going to need one for essays! >>



The wife doesn't understand the need since I have 4 other computers at home. I just tell her, "You can't argue with the requirements!"

 

[StageLeft]

Bdawg

You missed my joke English police remember? its' and your! Anyway, congrats!

 

[crystal]

Not to nef or anything, but I don't see why you would need a labtop for Grad School. BTW, good luck.

 

[AmigaMan]

Congrats BDawg!! I've been looking at Wake Forest Babcock School of Mgmt myself. Did you look at any other schools before choosing UNCG? I'm looking at going for my MBA within 3 years which will make me 30 then. Bout that time I'll be looking at going into management, hence the MBA.

As for lappies, I bought a refurb Dell Latitude CSx about six months ago for $1100. It's a great little laptop, although the CDROM is on the outside and connects via a cable. Other than that, it's great for taking my work home and also doubles as a portable test webserver/database/development environment. I suggest when buying your laptop, look at weight (you'll be lugging that thing around campus alot), make sure the CDROM is internal, and make sure you like the display (make sure it's big enough, bright enough, good resolution, etc).

Good luck!!

 

[EagleKeeper]

You should not need a top end laptop for school. If you think otherwise, please be surre that you justify it (other than keeping up with the Jones).

Any 400-700 MHz should do nicelywith a 10+ GByte hard drive and a 10/100 network interface. External (PCMCIA is better than internal in case of failure)

What you do want is a clear & large screen that is light weight and a solid carrying bag (ex Targa) that will carry your accessories and could be expanded for books, etc..

For notetaking, simple programming and communications/networking a 2-3 year old system will do you nicely.

Save the $$ with a "older" system and use them for accessories (spare network card/battery) or other things you will need for grad school.

/edit
If possible get a system where the CD and Floppy drive can be exchanged and not built in. Allows for easier replacement is there is a problem and you will not lose your complete system if a repair is needed.

 

[BDawg]

<< You missed my joke English police remember? its' and your! Anyway, congrats! >>



You're right...I did.

My head must be up my a** today. Just call me Mr. Butterfingers.



<< Not to nef or anything, but I don't see why you would need a labtop for Grad School. >>



Ida know. It's one of the requirements though. I would figure any of the desktops I have at home would work.



<< Congrats BDawg!! I've been looking at Wake Forest Babcock School of Mgmt myself. Did you look at any other schools before choosing UNCG? I'm looking at going for my MBA within 3 years which will make me 30 then. Bout that time I'll be looking at going into management, hence the MBA. >>



Wake has a great MBA program. I attended undergrad there. Currently, I have a friend in the fast-track MBA program.

None of the other schools around have the MSITM program. If I didn't get it, I was going to apply for MBAs at WFU, UNC-G, and High Point Univ.

Are you local, Amigaman? (checks profile)...Durham, that's not too far away.

 

[BDawg]

<< For notetaking, simple programming and communications/networking a 2-3 year old system will do you nicely. >>



I want to still play games on it when I visit the in-laws.

I know floppy drives are less important now, but my old laptop (Texas Instruments P75) had a swapable floppy/CD, and it was a PITA!

 

[jlee75]

Have you considered the new Duron laptops? A 900MHZ sony w/ 15" TFT, 20GB, DVD, 128MB, etc is around $1300. An HP 900MHZ w/ 14" TFT, 20GB, DVD, and 256MB is around $1200.

 

[AMDPwred]

Cool man, my desktop is enough for me. I wouldn't mind having a laptop though. I would wait a liitle while and see if anything new comes out.

 

[AmigaMan]

<< None of the other schools around have the MSITM program. If I didn't get it, I was going to apply for MBAs at WFU, UNC-G, and High Point Univ >>



While I want to stay in the technology sector, I work now for a bank (in their Internet Banking operations) and the possibilities for advancement in manangement are opening. I'll probably go for their evening MBA program and concentrate on the financial options. This will give me more headway in advancing here.
BTW, what was your GMAT score and your undergrad GPA?





<< I want to still play games on it when I visit the in-laws. >>



Ah yes, the truth comes out!

 

[BDawg]

<< While I want to stay in the technology sector, I work now for a bank (in their Internet Banking operations) and the possibilities for advancement in manangement are opening. I'll probably go for their evening MBA program and concentrate on the financial options. This will give me more headway in advancing here. >>



I think I'd like to do something in the network security field. I figure in 3 years, the tech sector will be hot again, and my masters will give me an edge. Now, I just have to remember how to study.




<< BTW, what was your GMAT score and your undergrad GPA? >>



YGMP!

 

[ratkil]

I kind of like the Sony Vaio 505R laptop. It's like $1100 at Best Buy. I like the fact if you just need the laptop part it's 1 inch thick and like 4 pounds. Then if you attach the docking station you have a dvd drive and the thing is still just about the same size as a normal laptop. I dont' actually have one though, so I dont' know how good they are "real worldwise"

 

[hans007]

i have a laptop as my main system now. its pretty slow (p3-600) compared to normal systems, but it seems just as fast as anything out there for what i do. its a toshiba portege 3480ct , like 3.4 pounds and i take it on campus and use it in libraries and stuff. seems to work great, and it runs winxp pro fine on 192mb of ram. the hard drive was much slower so i got a new hard drive, seems to be the biggest bottleneck in laptops now.

 

[greenfirs]

Will you be living in a dorm, or getting a small apartment, or commuting every day, or what?

If you have 4 computers at home, just lug your favorite computer over to your new place of residence.

 

[UNCjigga]

Bdawg, you've got PM!!!

The boys in Hot Deals have found a great deal on the Sony VAIO PCG-300FX series....DIRECT FROM SONYSTYLE.COM (OFFICIAL SONY SITE!)

You gotta love those dealjumpers...makes me sad that so far I've only been a lurker there...

I believe it was $1470 shipped for a nice 1GHz machine with all the goodies (not sure if its Tualatin or not, but chipset info says 815EM so it might be a T!!!)

 

[Zenmervolt]

<<I'm an IBM stockholder, so I get Thinkpads at a discount, but they still seem overpriced.>>

ThinkPads do seem expensive, until you use one, that is. I've played around with Dells, VAIOs and Gateways, none of them come close to my ThinkPad IMO. I had to wait 5 months (long story, won't go into it) for my Thinkad to ship and looking back I'm glad that I stuck with IBM. The A Series ThinkPads are amazing. I'd say that if you can swing it, get a ThinkPad, but failing that I'd reccommend Toshiba, the Tecra is very nice.

Zenmervolt

 

[The Stigenator]

Bdawg.. check out..
www.dell.com/dfo

Its the Dell Factory Outlet. You get stuff cheaper because people return the goods cause they dont like it or something, or they didnt order that product.. its worth checking out the stock.

TGG