Computers

[Infamous]

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Any one planning on picking up a macbook for your first year of v-school?

Most schools only use windows xp - but you can run windows on the new intel based macs.

Any suggestions on a laptop will be a good fit for vet-school? What computer do you use?

Thanks.

 

[lazyjayn]

I picked up a fujitsu lifebook. I'll give you a quick list of pros and cons-

Pro-

tiny- like 8x10x1.5 or so
Light- just over three pound with the cd/dvd rom out
wifi with .11a/b/g
anywhere from 6-7.5 hours battery life off the one main battery under lecture note conditions (no wifi, low light, basic word processing conditions)
hot swappable media/ battery slot
pretty much all built in
you *can* get one with a touchscreen (like for a tablet)
will run basic games (diablo 2, myst up to about riven, that kinda thing)
it's teh sexay
pretty good world-wide support
pretty good screen- wide and all that
at least one slot for anything you could possibly want to plug into it (except xbox controller)

Cons-

dude, it's expensive
you have to be carefull of it- no dropping, or sitting on, or any of that kinda stuff
The processor is really slow- like 1.2G
They tend to come standard with only 256k of RAM
being tiny, the screen is tiny- like 10.5 corner to corner
you'd never be able to run really cool games on it
it comes with WinXP home pre-installed
extra parts and upgrades and whatnot are insanely expensive


Other than that though, it's great- fits in my purse, weighs almost nothing. It does what I need it to for school, which is run the entire time I'm in class without running out of batteries. If I got the secondary battery, it'd probably even cover the entire trip from charleston to NZ- with a stop for charging in LA or SF, of course.

The fujitsu website is here .

and the newegg section for laptops and whatnot is here

And did I mention they're sexy? 😍

j.

 

[youthman]

oh I would love to get a new macbook.

but if I were to get a pc I would go with a convertible tablet/laptop.

 

[tygris]

Any one planning on picking up a macbook for your first year of v-school?

Most schools only use windows xp - but you can run windows on the new intel based macs.

Any suggestions on a laptop will be a good fit for vet-school? What computer do you use?

Thanks.

I am definitely considering a Macbook. In fact, I'm kind of decided on it. I'm sad that it doesn't have the backlit keyboard like the Macbook Pro, but I guess I will live.
The current University I'm at has a lot of software available to students though, including Apple software. So I don't have to pay for the Microsoft programs that run on Mac OS, which is definitely a convincing factor.

 

[kate_g]

If you already know where you're going, then you probably know whether this is true for you, but at least Davis (sorry, all my info is always about Davis...) actually requires you to buy a specific computer *from them*. (Which is, as far as I can tell from their website, fairly heavy and not in the least sexy. 😡 ) So before you drop a huge chunk of change on a laptop of your own choosing, make extra-careful sure that you won't be expected to buy one from the school. (And if your school does *not* require you buy one from them, you should still check whether they have specific software they're going to ask you to run or something. Having tried this on other occasions, having to always ask for exceptions and special help because you insist on running, say, linux, and the class software is only available for windows... it gets old really fast.)

 

[birdvet2006]

I have a Toshiba Satellite (15" screen and 20GB ROM, Pentium III, 383MB RAM). It's old now after 5 years of vet school, but I'm still using it and it's in great condition. I can still play my favourite games, but it's a bit slow. I've taken my laptop to and from the US quite frequently, and on various trips to use as entertainment and to take notes on.

My vet school doesn't require computers and you only occasionally see people with laptops in the library (it's very recently that they got wireless connection, and only available in the library). The computer cluster is well used though - lots of computers there (something like 60 desktops). I've never seen anyone in class with a computer, and you'd truly have to put your laptop on your lap if you wanted to use it in most lecture theatres (tiny desk, if any, is provided).

I really haven't seen many people with PDAs here either. I think we're a bit slow on the IT side of things here. Though all our lectures are via Power Point and are available online.

 

[wishes]

Any one planning on picking up a macbook for your first year of v-school?

Most schools only use windows xp - but you can run windows on the new intel based macs.

Any suggestions on a laptop will be a good fit for vet-school? What computer do you use?

Thanks.

Do you know anyone who has a macbook? I have owned macintosh computers for years and currently have a newer powerbook that I unfourtunately purchased right before macintosh started putting intel chips in their laptops.
I am considering replacing my current computer with a macbook, but I am also considering going with a PC or similar computer due to the continuing software compatibilty issues I am having with macintosh (limited software available, many programs won't run/won't run correctly, thing created on windows operating system are all screwed up, etc.).
I am curious to what extent these things have been "fixed" by the dual core intel processor- any ideas? I did not realize that the new macbook would run windows xp- that is encouraging 🙂.

 

[Boxsterluv]

I got a Sony Vaio. So far I love it - it is pretty light (6 lbs) for such a big screen (15.4), with a big memory (80 gig). The RAM is decent with 512 (don't know units!) but you can expand it for something like 100 bucks. I think the thing I'm happiest about is the screen, it is super bright and huge! I don't know if you guys have a Best Buy nearby, but they have different computers on sale every week.. I picked out the computer that I liked and only had to wait like two weeks for this one to go on sale - it may be worth it to wait a few weeks to see if you can get a better deal! Also, I think that if you buy one and it goes on sale sometime in the next 30 days, you get to pay the sale price and get refunded the difference between the sale price and the price you paid.. Keep an eye out for this stuff, it can save $$$!

 

[HorseyVet]

Do you know anyone who has a macbook? I have owned macintosh computers for years and currently have a newer powerbook that I unfourtunately purchased right before macintosh started putting intel chips in their laptops.
I am considering replacing my current computer with a macbook, but I am also considering going with a PC or similar computer due to the continuing software compatibilty issues I am having with macintosh (limited software available, many programs won't run/won't run correctly, thing created on windows operating system are all screwed up, etc.).
I am curious to what extent these things have been "fixed" by the dual core intel processor- any ideas? I did not realize that the new macbook would run windows xp- that is encouraging 🙂.

I'm in the same position. I have G4 powerbook with lots of digital bling. I'm not in the position to have the funds to upgrade to a macbook. I paid enough for this when I got it and it needs to last several years. Unless it become clear that it won't work, I'm not upgrading. I'm not sure what won't work on my computer other then very specific PC programs, but if I need to use them then I'll invest in a bare bones PC laptop that can be upgraded later. IMO that's a lot cheaper of an approach then running out and grabing a new Macbook.

Even if the school doesn't offer offical mac support (which is unlikely b/c they need someone to help the undergrades with macs), usually they're self fixable. About cross-compatiblity problems....I've used mac forever, and since OSX I really haven't had a single compatibility problem.

 

[traxomatic]

I HAVE A NEW MACBOOK AND LOVE IT! (i had to shout it)

i've had macs since 99 when i got my g4 tower, then an ibook, then an original ipod (which i still have, it's a monster compared to the nanos). the new macbook is fabulous. mine is the dual 2 ghz intel with the superdrive. i was so excited when i toured ohio state to see that so many of their labs had new imacs!

i've never had any problems using my mac during undergrad...basically anything you need you can get for a mac. i think this is just a stigma attached to macs. and i've never had any craaazy problems with mine. i love macs.

--tracy