Getting New equipment...

[dangit]

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I don't think there's a specific thread for this so i'll try to start...

what new equipment are you guys gonna get? for me, i need to get a new laptop. I have an IBM T40 (was very stable until a year ago...it periodically crashes, but other than that, it's fine). However, I am thinking of buying a new computer. I was recently accepted to a school that doesn't make you buy their laptop, so now that I have a choice, I'm thinking of a macbook especially the new macbooks. they look sweet, but not sure if I should go with appearance over functionality. also, are tablet notebooks worth it? i saw a deal on slickdeals for a tablet notebook for $800. it's the lenovo x61t model. any thoughts on this? I've heard that tablet notebooks are very useful, but i've never used one

also, are pda's necessary (no not physical displayed affection) haha or even smartphones? i have verizon and would like to stick with that. i heard they're not necessary until 3rd year during rotations. i'm thinking of just getting a free phone. getting a smartphone requires that i get a data plan and i want to cut down my expenses as much as possible. i don't think i'll even need it during the first two years of med school since i'll be glued to my books anyway. any thoughts on this as well? thanks!

 

[niranjan162]

I don't think there's a specific thread for this so i'll try to start...

what new equipment are you guys gonna get? for me, i need to get a new laptop. I have an IBM T40 (was very stable until a year ago...it periodically crashes, but other than that, it's fine). However, I am thinking of buying a new computer. I was recently accepted to a school that doesn't make you buy their laptop, so now that I have a choice, I'm thinking of a macbook especially the new macbooks. they look sweet, but not sure if I should go with appearance over functionality. also, are tablet notebooks worth it? i saw a deal on slickdeals for a tablet notebook for $800. it's the lenovo x61t model. any thoughts on this? I've heard that tablet notebooks are very useful, but i've never used one

also, are pda's necessary (no not physical displayed affection) haha or even smartphones? i have verizon and would like to stick with that. i heard they're not necessary until 3rd year during rotations. i'm thinking of just getting a free phone. getting a smartphone requires that i get a data plan and i want to cut down my expenses as much as possible. i don't think i'll even need it during the first two years of med school since i'll be glued to my books anyway. any thoughts on this as well? thanks!

im gonna get a tablet laptop. I dont think a smartphone would be that useful without the data plan or wifi internet at least.

 

[dangit]

im gonna get a tablet laptop. I dont think a smartphone would be that useful without the data plan or wifi internet at least.

are you getting because you want to or because you have to (ie school requires you to have one)? what are your reasons if you want to?

 

[Semicolon]

I'm going to get myself a new laptop right before school starts (one that's relatively small preferably 😀). I believe NYCOM makes you buy a laptop, but I would anyway.

I just recently received an iPod Touch 2nd Gen for my birthday, so I'll be jailbreaking it in time and stocking it with some medical-related apps before school (there are plenty of useful apps, such as anatomy review). Also, the internet may be useful along with its PDA-like capabilities. However, I don't know to what extent an iPod Touch can replace a laptop. 😛

 

[nevinleiby]

My personal list

• Laptop (small, but not quite a netbook)...leaning toward tablets. Old laptop is 10 years old (I'm an IT guy that can keep things alive and kicking well =). I'll also have my first legal OS in about 15 years...woot!
• Ipod classic (I've been delaying the inevitable) for background noise/lectures/music. I'd get the Palm Pre if it would come out sooner and if I didn't have to switch to sprint and potentially buy the data plan. Ironically, I found that navigating ff/rw in a long podcast was very difficult with the iTouch...not worth the dough unless I can find a better software player, imho
• Cable modem (other one is staying home with wife)
• Wireless N router (other one is staying home with wife)
• Scanner (so I can copy/email stuff for myself and to Cc important documents back to my wife)
• Car stereo that I can remove the faceplate so my car won't be robbed in (Philly | Miami | Phoenix) and I can listen to lectures/podcasts if stuck in traffic/traveling

 

[dangit]

I think the iphone is pretty cool, but as i said b4 i don't want to switch to att. so is the ipod touch a better alternative? i'd invest in that if the med apps were really useful. so my question is, is it worth it?

 

[niranjan162]

are you getting because you want to or because you have to (ie school requires you to have one)? what are your reasons if you want to?

the school doesnt require me to. Im gonna get a netbook tablet. So i will have the most portable laptop, im thinking take it anywhere and be able to study if need be. I'll still have a desktop, so im not worried about power.

I think the tablet functions will be useful for some occassional note taking and going over powerpoints.

 

[nevinleiby]

I think the iphone is pretty cool, but as i said b4 i don't want to switch to att. so is the ipod touch a better alternative? i'd invest in that if the med apps were really useful. so my question is, is it worth it?

Check this these threads #1 #2 #3

 

[Semicolon]

Check this these threads #1 #2 #3

You mentioned access charges on the iPod Touch. There are no access charges for any services, unlike the iPhone. If you mean charges for certain apps, then that's a different story. However, I plan to get around that by jailbreaking my iPod Touch (which is not illegal and does not void your warranty, btw 😀) and simply getting the paid apps (such as Netter's flashcards for $40) for free.

Also, another poster mentioned that the iPod Touch does not have an external speaker, which it now does (the original 1st Gen doesn't).

 

[nevinleiby]

You mentioned access charges on the iPod Touch. There are no access charges for any services, unlike the iPhone. If you mean charges for certain apps, then that's a different story. However, I plan to get around that by jailbreaking my iPod Touch (which is not illegal and does not void your warranty, btw 😀) and simply getting the paid apps (such as Netter's flashcards for $40) for free.

Also, another poster mentioned that the iPod Touch does not have an external speaker, which it now does (the original 1st Gen doesn't).

Sorry my post was unclear...I didn't intend that iTouch required access charges. I made the mental leap towards the itouch/iphone -> iphone vs pre.

That being said I picked up the 32gig itouch, but will be returning it in favor of the classic + Netter's old fashioned flashcards. I didn't think the itouch/phone version was worth an electronic version

 

[engineeredout]

I'm definitely going to be getting a new laptop before med school. I have a sony vaio right now that is an incredible piece of junk. So much physical damage has come to this thing (and no I didn't drop it, it sits on a desk 95% of the time). I'm very disappointed with it. If not for the extended warrenty I got (which is now expired) I would have had to get a new one years ago.

I do not want a mac.

I've heard good things about the Lenovos. I've also been impressed with Toshiba. Haven't really have time recently but I gotta start browsing around and see which I like better. No tablet for me. I don't really end up using it as a portable device, its more of a desktop replacement for me, and I only take it somewhere if necessary. I also don't play a lot of games so I don't need a gaming machine.


I can't think of anything else I really need. I have an 80gig ipod classic, and use about 15gigs on it. I have a smartphone, the AT&T Tilt (I don't pay for any data plan, just use Wifi). Got a good stereo in my car. Maybe a new all in one printer cause I get the feeling my current one is on its way out.

 

[MossPoh]

I'd say out of the people I've met that use tablets, a small fraction actually USE the tablet feature. Most I know use it for about a month and then just stop. I attended lectures at a medical school that requires a specific tablet. 4 months into the semester there were 6 kids out of a class of 130 that were using the tablet feature...yes I was counting. I am a tech person but I personally hate reading notes from a computer screen. When I study I have to eliminate distractions, which includes my computer...that is why I gravitate towards paper.

That being said I need a new ipod. I'll probably upgrade to the macbook pro. I want the additional screen real estate.

 

[rockchalkjdoc]

If you're going to a school that is mostly/entirely paperless, be sure to get a laser printer. Often you'll be able to stumble across a great deal- I picked up an HP from best buy for $80

 

[nevinleiby]

If you're going to a school that is mostly/entirely paperless, be sure to get a laser printer. Often you'll be able to stumble across a great deal- I picked up an HP from best buy for $80

LOL - I had better...a box store's shipping/data center was going out of business...I got 2 IBM network laser printers, circa 1990, for a total $5

...otherwise it would be on my list =)

 

[MossPoh]

If you're going to a school that is mostly/entirely paperless, be sure to get a laser printer. Often you'll be able to stumble across a great deal- I picked up an HP from best buy for $80

Is DCOM like that? (I'm guessing that is where you are by your location) Every other school I toured had a massive color laser printer free of charge for students...or at least the ones I was paying attention at.

 

[ModernChemistry]

I'm going to try my best to not buy a new laptop, even though mine kinda sucks. Perhaps I will buy a new battery for it because I don't think 5 minutes off of external power is going to cut it.

 

[Sandlot13]

not gonna lie, i read the title of this thread and instantly thought someone was getting a penile implant or breast enhancement 😉

I just got a macbook this summer, and I love it (though my school is giving me another new laptop, so no worries about that one). Also, I plan on snagging a new car, just so I have something reliable to get me to and from school/internships for the next few years. Other than that, im just waiting on the Palm Pre (I really hope it is just as good as the iPhone and can compete application-wise.

 

[dangit]

not gonna lie, i read the title of this thread and instantly thought someone was getting a penile implant or breast enhancement 😉

I just got a macbook this summer, and I love it (though my school is giving me another new laptop, so no worries about that one). Also, I plan on snagging a new car, just so I have something reliable to get me to and from school/internships for the next few years. Other than that, im just waiting on the Palm Pre (I really hope it is just as good as the iPhone and can compete application-wise.

lol yea, i just read the title again and i see what you mean! what were you thinking?? um...actually nm haha

 

[Jamers]

If I were you guys I would hold off on buying the PDAs until at least 3rd year. You won't be using it the first two years at all. DMU gives us a PDA and I think I have used it a total of 4 times; I think I would be really kicking myself if I had actually voluntarily paid for it and only used it that often! Really, a small copy of Tarascon's is all you need for most of the drugs.

 

[MossPoh]

I'm going to try my best to not buy a new laptop, even though mine kinda sucks. Perhaps I will buy a new battery for it because I don't think 5 minutes off of external power is going to cut it.

My personal goal is to last a year with my current one. I figure 4 years is a good time and it will become a play computer that I mess around with after that point. I'm a huge packrat though and save all of my old computers. It looks pretty geeky around here. I have my imac, a gateway desktop, a dell laptop and a macbook in my room the size of a prison cell. The others didn't work and I didn't feel like repairing them.

 

[Phenol312]

Anyone think an MSI wind would be too small for taking notes on in med school? at $380 its a nice price for something that I would just be carrying back and forth to to class. 10" too small to type comfortably?

 

[dangit]

whats msi?

 

[Phenol312]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152093
MSI Wind. - you can add another gig of ram for like 15 bucks and put in a 7200rpm hard drive for an extra 50 or so.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220385
ASUS n10j - Has more RAM than the wind stock and a 9300m graphics card vs onboard intel.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220488
ASUS n80 - bigger, dual core, more graphics more ram...more expensive.

I would also put up the HP dv4t...but the HP website is crawling for me for some reason

 

[Semicolon]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152093
MSI Wind. - you can add another gig of ram for like 15 bucks and put in a 7200rpm hard drive for an extra 50 or so.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220385
ASUS n10j - Has more RAM than the wind stock and a 9300m graphics card vs onboard intel.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220488
ASUS n80 - bigger, dual core, more graphics more ram...more expensive.

I would also put up the HP dv4t...but the HP website is crawling for me for some reason

Personally, I'd never go for an Atom processor; they're just too slow for my liking. 😀

If you're looking for a laptop, http://www.deals2buy.com usually has some really good deals for laptops; check it often and your patience will usually pay off.

 

[Phenol312]

Personally, I'd never go for an Atom processor; they're just too slow for my liking. 😀

If you're looking for a laptop, http://www.deals2buy.com usually has some really good deals for laptops; check it often and your patience will usually pay off.

Well with the MSI you can overclock the Atom to 2.0ghz which isnt too bad. I'm def leaning toward the dv4t or the N80...but considering how fast the netbook market is advancing i might be better off waiting for Nvidias Ion platform to arrive. I'm sure that will increase the useabiltity of these netbooks by a good margin.

great site...i usually check slickdeals every day.

 

[rockchalkjdoc]

The school has a laser printer free of charge to 500 pages, but I like having the convenience of not having to wait for my stuff to print

 

[davis749]

I plan on selling off the old Jeep (it's rusting a bit, and Ft. Lauderdale is going to destroy it...) and replacing it with a n/used car of some sort.

As for a computer, I'm currently running a 5 year old dell laptop. It's been crashing a bit lately, so I think it'll probably have to be replaced soon. This is where I run into a dilemma: MacBook or PC notebook. I've been doing a bit of research, and the potential office struggles kind of push me away from Mac, but I also live with 5 very happy Mac users. Anybody have any advice/input/comments between the two?

School notebook specs for NSU haven't been released yet; this will obviously play some sort of a role.

 

[Phenol312]

I plan on selling off the old Jeep (it's rusting a bit, and Ft. Lauderdale is going to destroy it...) and replacing it with a n/used car of some sort.

As for a computer, I'm currently running a 5 year old dell laptop. It's been crashing a bit lately, so I think it'll probably have to be replaced soon. This is where I run into a dilemma: MacBook or PC notebook. I've been doing a bit of research, and the potential office struggles kind of push me away from Mac, but I also live with 5 very happy Mac users. Anybody have any advice/input/comments between the two?

School notebook specs for NSU haven't been released yet; this will obviously play some sort of a role.

PC notebook...

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLiyglcRcCA[/YOUTUBE]

 

[niranjan162]

Personally, I'd never go for an Atom processor; they're just too slow for my liking. 😀

If you're looking for a laptop, http://www.deals2buy.com usually has some really good deals for laptops; check it often and your patience will usually pay off.

unless ur playing games, video coding etc. atoms are fine

 

[Phenol312]

unless ur playing games, video coding etc. atoms are fine

you can play a pretty healthy variety of games on a netbook. nintendo 64 and PSX emulators will run fine on it. Anything more graphically intense I would rather play on a desktop anyway.

 

[MossPoh]

I plan on selling off the old Jeep (it's rusting a bit, and Ft. Lauderdale is going to destroy it...) and replacing it with a n/used car of some sort.

As for a computer, I'm currently running a 5 year old dell laptop. It's been crashing a bit lately, so I think it'll probably have to be replaced soon. This is where I run into a dilemma: MacBook or PC notebook. I've been doing a bit of research, and the potential office struggles kind of push me away from Mac, but I also live with 5 very happy Mac users. Anybody have any advice/input/comments between the two?

School notebook specs for NSU haven't been released yet; this will obviously play some sort of a role.

Never had any struggles with office. It won't play any role for me. I'm going to NSU and will probably get a macbook pro. There is no software they will release that will require the full processing power of nearly any computer you buy.


As far as new equipment, I just got something but it isn't too medically. I got me a safety squat bar. 1500 pound load capacity. Totally awesome and ready to bring a world of hurt in the gym. A bargain at 465 dollars.

 

[engineeredout]

Never had any struggles with office. It won't play any role for me. I'm going to NSU and will probably get a macbook pro. There is no software they will release that will require the full processing power of nearly any computer you buy.

I just gotta toss in that Office 2007 is the ****. At first I thought it looked stupid compared to office 03 because of the big colorful icons which seemed to be designed to work best with idiots, but it actually turned out to be a damn nice piece of software. Excel and word work great, I can't really say I've put any of the other apps through their paces. Yes .docx extension is annoying, but it is more efficient (smaller file sizes) than the standard .doc or .ppt. I use office 07 on my computers and find that I miss it when I go to work and have to use 03.


I've tried office 2008 (the mac version of the new office). It just isn't the same.


/end of random opinion.

 

[nevinleiby]

I just gotta toss in that Office 2007 is the ****. At first I thought it looked stupid compared to office 03 because of the big colorful icons which seemed to be designed to work best with idiots, but it actually turned out to be a damn nice piece of software. Excel and word work great, I can't really say I've put any of the other apps through their paces. Yes .docx extension is annoying, but it is more efficient (smaller file sizes) than the standard .doc or .ppt. I use office 07 on my computers and find that I miss it when I go to work and have to use 03.


I've tried office 2008 (the mac version of the new office). It just isn't the same.


/end of random opinion.

I wish that I could loose about 1" off those buttons though...why can't there be an option for that. And how everything has been moved. 🙁

 

[Semicolon]

I will never budge from my Office Pro '03. Never.

 

[MossPoh]

I just gotta toss in that Office 2007 is the ****. At first I thought it looked stupid compared to office 03 because of the big colorful icons which seemed to be designed to work best with idiots, but it actually turned out to be a damn nice piece of software. Excel and word work great, I can't really say I've put any of the other apps through their paces. Yes .docx extension is annoying, but it is more efficient (smaller file sizes) than the standard .doc or .ppt. I use office 07 on my computers and find that I miss it when I go to work and have to use 03.


I've tried office 2008 (the mac version of the new office). It just isn't the same.


/end of random opinion.

I just use the old mac version of office but honestly...I never use it. The apple software works just as well for nearly everything I need. (Everything) I hate the new office. I used it for a year and a half and never got used to it. Research showed that people that had never used old versions of office learned that one faster than the older versions but that it was really a hassle for people used to the old versions. I was using it for my thesis on PACS usability and integration and spent more time messing around trying to get things I wanted right than anything else.

Microsoft doesn't care to write friendly programs for apple products, so most of the stuff is a little sketch. I just got it originally because it was for free. If I had to pay then I'd stick to the cheap apple software that opens everything just fine.

 

[engineeredout]

I wish that I could loose about 1" off those buttons though...why can't there be an option for that. And how everything has been moved. 🙁

Hey no argument here the oversized buttons are annoying.


You know whats worse than even the mac office though, Open Office for linux. This one computer I've been working on has linux only. The open office is absolutely horrible. Its like office 03 except so unstable that its worthless. I end up taking the time to transfer the files I need onto flash drives and then onto a windows computer just so I can avoid having to do work on open office.

 

[rc4ch]

I'm thinking of getting a Sony Vaio. Anyone have any experience with the Z or SR models?

 

[rddoms]

Anyone looking to get a new tablet pc should look at the HP Tx2z. It is AMAZING! It comes with capacitive touch (both pen and touch functionality), and has multitouch (use multiple fingers). The other great thing is that it starts at around $1000 for a well equipped machine. I am currently running the Windows 7 beta on it, and you would be amazed at how well it works.

I have used many different tablet pc's lately, and this is by far the best for a medical student.

 

[MossPoh]

I got the most important equipment ever yesterday.

My safety squat bar.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDAyfMEtTvg&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]


That'll be me tomorrow on a smaller scale.

 

[binko]

I have a Macbook Pro and while it's not perfect, it's definitely quality. I work my electronics hard and it's stood a lot of abuse.