Law School Laptop

[stlmapman]

Hi all,
I'll be starting law school in the fall and need to buy a new laptop. The school highly recommends buying one of two Dell bundles through the bookstore (D620 and a D820), but these seem to be a bit of overkill for my needs (Office Pro preloaded, Vista Business edition, etc) and are pricey (1800 each). Here's a link to the specs of these bundles - http://www.cavcompbts.virginia.edu/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=48

Ideally, I'd like to get everything I need (minus Office which I'm buying through a friend) for under 1500. I get the education discount from Dell/Gateway/etc too, which helps. I'm not against the Dells per se, but am concerned that the Dells I've used in the past have dim screens. I really like a bright screen. Also, I'm toying with the idea of getting a MacBook and dual-booting XP. I have a desktop computer for games and home use, so this laptop will be strictly for law school and maybe for some DVD watching. The reason I'm considering the Mac is I've had real problems burning DVD's and doing video editing on my PC (crashes a lot) and Mac's reputation is stellar in this area.

Any thoughts/advice? Appreciate your help.

 

[Brainonska511]

The D620 is pretty good - I'd order it direct through Dell though to save money and cut costs where you don't need upgrades. I would say only get the MacBook if you plan on using OSX as your main OS. They are great for what they are, but if you are going to be using Windows all the time, get a Windows based notebook. There is also the D630 now, the Santa Rosa refresh of the D620 - it has a better integrated Intel graphics chip if you plan on going with integrated graphics.

Customizing Direct through Dell: I'd say look at the D520 (starts at $600, not Santa Rosa, not widescreen), D531 (starts at $650, AMD platform), or the D630 (starts at $900).

Burning DVDs shouldn't be a problem with the right program within Windows. As for video editing, as long as you have a good program, decent processor (any Core Duo or Core 2 Duo), enough RAM (1GB+), and a 5400RPM hard drive or faster, you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[TheStu]

I know my sister got a macbook when she started law school, I just can't remember if she used OS X or Windows as the primary. I do agree with Brainonska about the OS X comment though possibly for a different reason. I feel that even though the Windows drivers are spectacular on the Macbook, even in Vista, there are few issues that some straight Windows machines take care of. For instance, HP machines have a hardware switch to turn off the trackpad, a handy thing when you have a mouse attached. OS X offers that as a System Preference (Control Panel) option, but doing the same in Windows is an annoying process.

Also if you are getting Office from a friend then it is probably Windows Office, and in that case that is more money to put towards the Mac... Do some research into it, try to get out to some stores and test out the machines that you are thinking about buying. I didn't buy my Mac until i had checked out the keyboard. I usually do not like laptop keyboards but I really enjoyed the macbook. You have to think that if you are in law school then it isn't out of the realm of possibility that notes will be taken. You want to make sure that you get a machine that is comfortable to you.

 

[gus6464]

Also Office 2004 Mac is not very good. Crashes all the time when my wife tries to make her powerpoint presentations for work. Maybe Office 2008 Mac will fix all those issues.

 

[TheStu]

I have had no problems whatsoever with Office 2004, in any of the applications. The only app I haven't used is the email app, don't remember what it is called. I actually prefer Office 2004 over both 2003 and 2007, mostly for the Formatting Palette which is very handy. Sort of like the Ribbon, but not quite as throwing as it.

Gus, is she running any other applications at the same time? Also, what machine is it? Are there any updates for Office 2k4 that you may not have gotten? I ask all these because every person that I know that uses Office 2004 has had no problems with it that I know of. Also, are the problems only in powerpoint, or every Office App? if every app, you may want to reinstall, something in the library or prefs may have gotten fubared

 

[gus6464]

She has every update released so far on her macbook pro 15in. As far as I know when she is working on her presentations that is all she has open. She does some layer things to her slides and always complains when powerpoint all of a sudden quits and she loses the last 10 mins of work she did. I cant really explain what she does since I am not very fluent in powerpoint.

 

[TheStu]

That's really strange, I don't use PowerPoint that heavily, but I haven't ever had it crash on me like that. Maybe it is that layering thing that you are talking about that is causing some sort of problem. But you said that she can do the same thing in Windows Office and there isn't a problem?

 

[aphex]

Heads up about a macbook.... My law school used a program called Examsoft, and while people have reportedly gotten Examsoft to run on the Intel Mac's, most school's require you to use a standard pc.... Just something to keep in mind if you plan to take your exams via computer.

 

[gus6464]

Yeah she uses our home pc with office 2003 and office 2007 and she doesnt encounter any problems.

 

[TheStu]

Very very strange indeed to hear gus. I think I would still recommend the OP at least looking at the macbook. Like I had mentioned earlier, this is something that the OP will be using for 3 years, taking a lot of notes on it. Making sure that the keyboard and trackpad are comfortable is key.

 

[gus6464]

Originally posted by: TheStu
Very very strange indeed to hear gus. I think I would still recommend the OP at least looking at the macbook. Like I had mentioned earlier, this is something that the OP will be using for 3 years, taking a lot of notes on it. Making sure that the keyboard and trackpad are comfortable is key.

Yeah the keyboard and trackpad comment are very true. You do not want a laptop with an uncomfortable keyboard or trackpad. And honestly the macbook has one of the best of both out there. I would recommend going into best buy, circuit city, frys, compusa to try out the different keyboards from different brands. But thinkpads are legendary for offering some if not the best laptop keyboards.

 

[fbrdphreak]

ThinkPad

[/thread]

(Biased of course )