Laptop choice?

[Firebird]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I also heard that Microsoft stopped supporting Mac's with new versions of Internet Explorer. This essentially would mean that any webpage or application requiring newer versions of say, Active X would no longer work properly. That's just what I heard...I am completely ignorant when it comes to stuff like this.

 

[Dr. Weebs]

I also heard that Microsoft stopped supporting Mac's with new versions of Internet Explorer. This essentially would mean that any webpage or application requiring newer versions of say, Active X would no longer work properly. That's just what I heard...I am completely ignorant when it comes to stuff like this.

It's true. You have to use Firefox or Opera. But don't worry, Firefox is a really good browser. Much better than IE in many respects. However, it does have some functions in more complex webpages that I find do not work very well. For example, pulldown menus don't seem to work very well, and some plug-ins don't work well in firefox either.

Personally, I think Mac's are highly overrated. Their whole spiel is that they are so much more stable than a PC. Well, having owned both, I find that they both crash just as often as the other. I've also had plenty of problems with hardware recognition with the Mac, and had one completely die on me. Windows XP is actually pretty stable, and hardcore Mac users want to prey on the old reputation of Windows 95 (which really was terrible when compared to the Mac OS). If you want a very well-built, stylish, space-efficient, but expensive, Mac's the one for you. PC's are different in the respect that there are many many companies that will build one for you. So, the customer support and build quality can range from horrendous to really good. You have to do your research. With a Mac, you know you're going to get great build quality and decent customer service, because only one company makes them (and Apple has good customer service.) But, they're still overpriced for what you get in terms of performance. PC's will have much much more mainstream software to choose from. Mac's are definitely the best for video editing and high-end graphics (which Apple tries to market as being better for your personal digital camera... total BS), but you won't need that for medical school.

Just as an example, I bought a 17" Dell Inspiron 9300 about a year ago, and it has a 1.73Ghz Pentium M, 1GB RAM, 100GB HD, DVD Burner, 128MB ATI video card, upgraded 1900x1200 anti-glare coated screen, 3 year full warranty with accidental damage coverage, and a nylon carrying case for $1800.

To get the equivalent Powerbook at the time, it would have cost me close to $3300. The top of the line powerbook was $3k, but I would have had to pay extra for a 100GB HD, a 128MB gaming card, and an extended warranty.

Mac's are great computers. Analogous to the BMW of cars. Stylish, well-built, fun to use... but way overpriced, and many people buy them because they're the trendy cool thing to sit at coffee shops with or just to be seen having. They are also very hard to find support for (and that will cost you more than finding someone to support a PC), and are harder to find software for. It's all about what's important to you.

 

[MossPoh]

It's true. You have to use Firefox or Opera. But don't worry, Firefox is a really good browser. Much better than IE in many respects. However, it does have some functions in more complex webpages that I find do not work very well. For example, pulldown menus don't seem to work very well, and some plug-ins don't work well in firefox either.

Personally, I think Mac's are highly overrated. Their whole spiel is that they are so much more stable than a PC. Well, having owned both, I find that they both crash just as often as the other. I've also had plenty of problems with hardware recognition with the Mac, and had one completely die on me. Windows XP is actually pretty stable, and hardcore Mac users want to prey on the old reputation of Windows 95 (which really was terrible when compared to the Mac OS). If you want a very well-built, stylish, space-efficient, but expensive, Mac's the one for you. PC's are different in the respect that there are many many companies that will build one for you. So, the customer support and build quality can range from horrendous to really good. You have to do your research. With a Mac, you know you're going to get great build quality and decent customer service, because only one company makes them (and Apple has good customer service.) But, they're still overpriced for what you get in terms of performance. PC's will have much much more mainstream software to choose from. Mac's are definitely the best for video editing and high-end graphics (which Apple tries to market as being better for your personal digital camera... total BS), but you won't need that for medical school.

Just as an example, I bought a 17" Dell Inspiron 9300 about a year ago, and it has a 1.73Ghz Pentium M, 1GB RAM, 100GB HD, DVD Burner, 128MB ATI video card, upgraded 1900x1200 anti-glare coated screen, 3 year full warranty with accidental damage coverage, and a nylon carrying case for $1800.

To get the equivalent Powerbook at the time, it would have cost me close to $3300. The top of the line powerbook was $3k, but I would have had to pay extra for a 100GB HD, a 128MB gaming card, and an extended warranty.

Mac's are great computers. Analogous to the BMW of cars. Stylish, well-built, fun to use... but way overpriced, and many people buy them because they're the trendy cool thing to sit at coffee shops with or just to be seen having. They are also very hard to find support for (and that will cost you more than finding someone to support a PC), and are harder to find software for. It's all about what's important to you.

I've used/owned both as well. I don't really find it fair to compare as it is more of a personal preference thing...generally (mainly because the fact that apple likes to control every bit of software released for it ..so it seems) macs run an average of two years longer without needed upgrades to continue with new software. I'd search out the statistics but frankley..I'm too lazy. I paid 2300 dollars for my dell centrino, 1.7 ghz with 512 megs of ram, 60 gig hd, 17 inch widescreen and dvd/cdrw in 2003...have had nothing but problems with it and the customer service also blew. Everyone has their own experiences. The processing difference between the the intel and motorolla chips before was unfair because people assumed that higher numbers instantly made winboxes faster when in reality they processed about the same amount. Now with the transition to intel chips we'll slowly be able to more fairly compare systems. Not instantly. But macbooks are not overpriced now in anyway...especially with an education discount (which I get for lenovo and dell as well). If you start tagging on the features it can get expensive..but stuff like ram is so easy to get for 100 or 200 dollars cheaper online I don't know why you'd add that on the site unless you are lazy. I am going to get a macbook most likley..simply because I am flatout tired of windows ...not a good excuse but oh well. I'll turn this laptop into a dual boot linux/xp (maybe vista) when I get the chance.

 

[glp]

Mac's are great computers. Analogous to the BMW of cars. Stylish, well-built, fun to use... but way overpriced, and many people buy them because they're the trendy cool thing to sit at coffee shops with or just to be seen having. They are also very hard to find support for (and that will cost you more than finding someone to support a PC), and are harder to find software for. It's all about what's important to you.

the pro models get expensive really quickly, but for cheap, small, fast, and dependable portable, it is hard to beat the entry level macbook. you can find dells, hps, etc with comparable performance for cheaper, but for size and form factor it is hard to beat. you wont be playing half-life 2 on it during lecture, but it will do everything you need during medschool.

 

[Dr. Weebs]

I've used/owned both as well. I don't really find it fair to compare as it is more of a personal preference thing...generally (mainly because the fact that apple likes to control every bit of software released for it ..so it seems) macs run an average of two years longer without needed upgrades to continue with new software. I'd search out the statistics but frankley..I'm too lazy. I paid 2300 dollars for my dell centrino, 1.7 ghz with 512 megs of ram, 60 gig hd, 17 inch widescreen and dvd/cdrw in 2003...have had nothing but problems with it and the customer service also blew. Everyone has their own experiences. The processing difference between the the intel and motorolla chips before was unfair because people assumed that higher numbers instantly made winboxes faster when in reality they processed about the same amount. Now with the transition to intel chips we'll slowly be able to more fairly compare systems. Not instantly. But macbooks are not overpriced now in anyway...especially with an education discount (which I get for lenovo and dell as well). If you start tagging on the features it can get expensive..but stuff like ram is so easy to get for 100 or 200 dollars cheaper online I don't know why you'd add that on the site unless you are lazy. I am going to get a macbook most likley..simply because I am flatout tired of windows ...not a good excuse but oh well. I'll turn this laptop into a dual boot linux/xp (maybe vista) when I get the chance.

Sorry, but Mac's are overpriced if you are strictly comparing performance. There have been many comparos done, and in high end computers, macs often times cost over $1000 more than its PC counterpart. All of the parts and labor for a mac are more expensive, period. The processing power might be the same with less clock speed in the old chips, but you pay more for it, regardless, especially in middle to high end models. Not saying they're not great computers, but they are definitely much more expensive unless you're buying the basic models.

 

[Sust]

I'd second what the above have said with a few caveats.
Sending the uninitiated into upgrading their own computer can be disastrous and it's always good policy to find guides on how to perform the upgrade(pictures and diagrams preferrable) or to have a friend who can hold your hand through the ordeal. For those who need a medical analogy, this is why we have attendings and senior residents supervising the interns/med students in the OR.

Tablets are nice(but expensive) and I even plan on getting one of these.
However, adding RAM into a slate tablet like this could be fairly involved which is why i'm going to let the builders drop the RAM in so that I dont have to deal with the frustration of dismantling/reassembling the entire tablet just to upgrade the RAM. I've noticed that normal laptops from dell and ibm/lenovo are typically simple RAM upgrades but not all laptops have RAM that is easily installed(i.e. Sony and their frickin keyboard removal %&$*).

Old skool apple fanboys might flame me for this but I think AAPL is making the right long-term decision in going the INTC x86 route esp. in light of the new Core 2 Duo processors that are coming out in July. I only hope that AAPL continues to support the software translation program that allows old mac apps to run on the new INTC processors. Also, for those who are particularly masochistic, AAPL has something called "bootcamp" which allows you to install Windows XP, but I think it's still in beta and requires a lot of patience on the user end to get things working properly.
Overall ibooks or whatever theyre calling them these days are decent laptops. They're not the bulletproof holy grail of laptops but they get the job done for most normal people and they do it quietly. Just be aware that they also have their own flaws which pop up so be prepared to walk over to the local apple store to stand in line and get your problem fixed. Despite what people say about tech support quality, they ALL make you jump through their hoops before they will take it for repair.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Gotcha!]

I'd second what the above have said with a few caveats.
Sending the uninitiated into upgrading their own computer can be disastrous and it's always good policy to find guides on how to perform the upgrade(pictures and diagrams preferrable) or to have a friend who can hold your hand through the ordeal. For those who need a medical analogy, this is why we have attendings and senior residents supervising the interns/med students in the OR.

Tablets are nice(but expensive) and I even plan on getting one of these.
However, adding RAM into a slate tablet like this could be fairly involved which is why i'm going to let the builders drop the RAM in so that I dont have to deal with the frustration of dismantling/reassembling the entire tablet just to upgrade the RAM. I've noticed that normal laptops from dell and ibm/lenovo are typically simple RAM upgrades but not all laptops have RAM that is easily installed(i.e. Sony and their frickin keyboard removal %&$*).

Hey,

I'm curious as to why you are getting an Electrovaya? It looks really nice and all that - but for that money you could probably get a unit thats comprable (say a Fujitsu or IBM convertable, or even a Fujitsu slate) and save 600-800 dollars, with a more powerful machine...
I have heard IBMs have some problems with the writing feature right now though....
Also - if your getting a pure slate - I'm guessing you have another computer to type on or are you just gonna attach a keyboard...

 

[crys20]

i got a 12 inch powerbook as well - i have a desktop PC already and though file transfer might be iffy, i'm no computer person (but i don't know when i'll transfer files really anyway), i bought this computer for portability and battery life which are both great. it's sleek and light and works well day to day being hauled around - i think it'll be great.

 

[Labslave]

i got a 12 inch powerbook as well - i have a desktop PC already and though file transfer might be iffy, i'm no computer person (but i don't know when i'll transfer files really anyway), i bought this computer for portability and battery life which are both great. it's sleek and light and works well day to day being hauled around - i think it'll be great.

I would definitely go with an Apple if it weren't for the compatibility issues with software used by my med school (lectures that are online can't be played 2x speed on a Mac; lab software used for histology isn't compatible with Macs). 👎

Since Macs aren't an option, I'm going for a tablet PC. The Fujitsu tablet looks mad nice, but it's also mad expensive.

 

[Sust]

Hey,

I'm curious as to why you are getting an Electrovaya? It looks really nice and all that - but for that money you could probably get a unit thats comprable (say a Fujitsu or IBM convertable, or even a Fujitsu slate) and save 600-800 dollars, with a more powerful machine...
I have heard IBMs have some problems with the writing feature right now though....
Also - if your getting a pure slate - I'm guessing you have another computer to type on or are you just gonna attach a keyboard...

I've chosen electrovaya simply because it's the lightest with a supposedly decent battery life/screen brightness/performance tradeoff. One of the problems with having a faster processor is that you sacrifice battery life if you dont turn on the power-saver settings. Once you turn on the power saver settings, laptop CPUs like the Pentium M, Core whatever, and Turion all downvert to like 1/5th of the normal clock speed thus negating any real world performance, but preserving battery life. Of course in that peak moment of activity when you turn on MS Word or Firefox, the laptop will crank up the speed on that processor again to speed you up for a few seconds, but IMO I dont think there will be much difference. I plan to only use it to take notes and stuff so processor power is low on my priority list of features i'd pay for. I'd rather pay for more RAM or a faster hard drive than a faster processor and upgrading seems to be pretty simple according to the website's online manual.
You are right in that the scribbler's price is a bitter pill to swallow, but i've kinda given in to the fact that all tablets are going to be painfully expensive anyways 🙁
The slates dont have a keyboard, but if I ever needed one I could always plug in a usb keyboard. However, i've found that the handwriting recognition is pretty damn good at recognizing my chicken scratch and using MS One Note or MS journal is like writing in a notebook(minus the tactile feel of pencil/pen against paper). The tablet is a love it or hate it sort of machine and how much you learn to love it depends on how flexible/patient you are. For example, I like using the tablet for presentations and occasional note-taking, but my boss nearly lost his cool while using it. You should borrow one from a friend and use it for a day or so to figure out if a tablet might be for you because that might be the only way to know if you're going to like it.

My biggest gripe about the scribbler is the lack of a built-in CDROM which means that my ability to fix/recover/clean my machine will be limited unless I cough up another couple hundred for a bootable external drive.

I cant speak about the lenovo X41 or whatever tablets since there hasnt been a major uproar about it as far I know. Maybe someone else who owns one can clarify for you?

 

[Firebird]

Before you buy a slate style, you should note that I have heard from a couple people who have bought slates that they hate them because they have no keyboard. The handwriting recognition is good, but it is MUCH SLOWER than typing. If you want to talk to someone on an instant messenger program, it will drive you crazy, trust me.

If you get one, you need to also get a keyboard with it. I think the best types are the kind that disconnect from a full sized, normal-looking laptop.

 

[Sust]

Before you buy a slate style, you should note that I have heard from a couple people who have bought slates that they hate them because they have no keyboard. The handwriting recognition is good, but it is MUCH SLOWER than typing. If you want to talk to someone on an instant messenger program, it will drive you crazy, trust me.

If you get one, you need to also get a keyboard with it. I think the best types are the kind that disconnect from a full sized, normal-looking laptop.

I second this.
I think it's a given that people in general type faster than they write. With the slate, I wouldnt plan to solely depend on the tablet pen either and thats why there are thankfully lots of USB keyboards available on sites like www.newegg.com .
Also, one of the neato parts about tablets and ink can be found in MSN messenger because you can send your chicken scratch as instant messages.

 

[Handle]

Tablets are nice(but expensive) and I even plan on getting one of these.
However, adding RAM into a slate tablet like this could be fairly involved which is why i'm going to let the builders drop the RAM in so that I dont have to deal with the frustration of dismantling/reassembling the entire tablet just to upgrade the RAM. I've noticed that normal laptops from dell and ibm/lenovo are typically simple RAM upgrades but not all laptops have RAM that is easily installed(i.e. Sony and their frickin keyboard removal %&$*).

If you're going to go slate, go motion. Cheaper, lighter, option for very long battery life, just as powerful.

http://www.motioncomputing.com/products/tablet_pc_le1600.asp

And that nifty keyboard accessory gets you halfway to a laptop should you ever need it. I have a Fujitsu convertable, and I love it. When I was looking I considered going slate, but I am glad I went with the convertable so I have full tablet and laptop capability.

 

[randhail]

I'm leaning towards getting one of the new Macbooks. Do you guys think it's worth buying Apple's protection plan or any extended warranty for a laptap?

 

[PurpleHaze]

I'm leaning towards getting one of the new Macbooks. Do you guys think it's worth buying Apple's protection plan or any extended warranty for a laptap?

I'd go with yes, because with any computer, things can always go wrong... and between the price of parts and labor, the price to fix it can be extremely costly, more so than the warranty itself.