Laptop or desktop???

[Dr Who]

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I think I have gotten all I can from my old desktop and its time for a new computer. I start med school in August so I said what the hey, why not buy it now?? I havent decided between a nice desktop or a laptop. Which in your opinion is best for med school???

 

[ekimsurfer]

it's not so much for med school as personal taste.

laptops now are quite capable of functioning as primary computers. if you want to save money get a nice desktop. if you want a computer you can take to class or on vacation... go with laptop.

all in all, if you can deal with the laptop keyboard get a laptop as it has many more uses. and like i said you get get a stacked one for around $1500. (80+ gigs, 3 MHz etc.)

 

[subtle1epiphany]

I think I have gotten all I can from my old desktop and its time for a new computer. I start med school in August so I said what the hey, why not buy it now?? I havent decided between a nice desktop or a laptop. Which in your opinion is best for med school???

It really depends whether you want the portability or the power.

Although you can get some incredibly powerful laptops these days, like the Dell gaming laptop and the Sager offerings, they can be more costly and difficult to upgrade (although standardization is finally coming!) So if you need some serious power or find that flexibility and upgradeability is primary, then desktop would be a great choice.

For me, I'm set on getting the IBM T42 because I finally got a notebook a year and a half ago and I love the portability. Also, the Centrino/Pentium M notebooks have incredible battery life...like 2-3 times what I used to get on this one (in the neighborhood of 5-6 hours with the right one)...and they sacrifice very little, if any, speed.

It really comes down to your priorities, as a med student, you'll likely be using it for notes, slides, email, web, and maybe some presentations and such, so I'd imagine almost any computer manufactured in the last couple years would fit the bill.

Happy shopping!

 

[malumd2b]

I went through the same debate before I ended up buying my laptop. If you decide on one and want a really good lightweight portable computer with all the toys you could need, then go with a centrino chip laptop from toshiba or dell or something well supported. Mine is very light and has a realatively long battery life. Also if you look around and shop smartly, you can get a good deal; mine after rebates was $1000 with up to date stuff.
good luck

 

[docbill]

I went through the same debate before I ended up buying my laptop. If you decide on one and want a really good lightweight portable computer with all the toys you could need, then go with a centrino chip laptop from toshiba or dell or something well supported. Mine is very light and has a realatively long battery life. Also if you look around and shop smartly, you can get a good deal; mine after rebates was $1000 with up to date stuff.
good luck

laptop for sure. Some schools have wireless internet and you can follow lectures online. Gateway is the one I got... it is great and the keyboard is big. Slightly heavy.. details on website. The next time arround I will get a small/light labtop.

 

[ddmo]

Unless you are into digital editing or gaming, even a relatively cheap (~$1200) laptop will work awesome for what you need. I say laptop because it is such a neater package. It allows me to do work at the kitchen table, or take it with me when I am going somewhere for extended periods of time. As for the keyboard, I find that I can type much faster on a laptop than a normal keyboard due to the lack of spaces between keys and that you don't need to push them down as far. I probably won't ever go back to desktops, unless it would be for kids or something.

 

[tinkerbelle]

You should check to make sure your med school does not require you to buy a specific laptop. I think my school does, and the cost of their particular laptop is built into the tuition or something.

 

[acidhouse303]

i am going to get a 12'' G4 powerbook bc it is portable
small and sleek is the way to go, b/c you dont need to do high powered graphics or anything insane like that. just something to take notes on, look at lecs, online labs etc.... i have a 17'' sony viao which is a pain to carry around but its nice to watch dvds on and do presentations on if you want
ive never had a desktop except in work environments.

 

[erin682]

I've got a Dell laptop and its great. I am so glad I decided to go that route. I study so much on my computer and with a laptop I can study just about anywhere I want. It makes me a lot more productive. The thing I would recomend though if you decide on a laptop is to get a warranty. Its worth the extra cost because laptops are broken easier because you transport them around more.

 

[jonb12997]

my one hint... check with the school first. like someone said, some schools have you buy theirs (and often it's a good price b/c it comes loaded with all kinds of software). A friend at UConn Dental got a sweet Toshiba completely loaded, hardware and software, for a comparatively good price. Some of my classes, the professors even require us to all have our laptops in class with us. I actually use mine to take notes on in some classes quite often... and, if the school "requires" them, you're allowed to get a little extra loan money to buy one. My school gave us $2500 in loans to get a new laptop, which is obviously more than enough.

 

[PeterGriffin]

I decided to get a laptop when I started school in August. However, my new laptop is a desktop replacement so I haven't lost any power and I have gained portability. We have wireless access all over our school, so it's really great to be able to take my notebook to class (although I usually just use it to check my e-mail or just to waste time during class 😎 )

 

[stoic]

get a notebook. you're going to be dealing with a lot of powerpoint presentations, and it's nice to be able to take them with you to the library or whatever without printing out 1500 pages. also, if your school has wireless internet (and it seems that most either have it or are planning on getting it), you can dick around during lecture. errr, i mean, you can use the internet to augment any lecture material.

 

[dswonger]

I know incoming MS I for 2006 will be required to have a tablet @ University of Kansas Med.

Does anyone know anyone who has been using a tablet and likes it?
I'm going in in 2005 and am seriously thinking of getting a tablet. I have a friend that sells them and he says this summer they are breaking out a model that is really cool.

 

[topworm]

I know incoming MS I for 2006 will be required to have a tablet @ University of Kansas Med.

Does anyone know anyone who has been using a tablet and likes it?
I'm going in in 2005 and am seriously thinking of getting a tablet. I have a friend that sells them and he says this summer they are breaking out a model that is really cool.

What brand?

I think tablets would be sweet because you'd never have to carry paper around, but I've heard so far they've been expensive, unreliable, fragile, and mainly built by noname companies. If Dell or Apple came out with one or one came with an option for complete accident insurance, I just might be sold.

 

[Rogue_Leader]

I came into med school with a laptop which was considered awesome by 2002 standards. I considered whether to get a new computer for med school. I'm glad I didn't, since med school doesn't require a whole lot of computing power. How good of a system do you really need in order to surf the web, check E-Mail, and study dozens and dozens of powerpoint presentations? So don't think that your requirements for a computer are going to change all that much for med school, unless you have other hobbies on the side that do need more power. That being said, if you are going to get a new computer I would recommend getting a laptop. I'll be useful for going to various study spots and taking your notes with you, and wireless is getting more prevalent every day. You could also do what I did; I was tired of having my primary computer being a laptop with a tiny screen and a more tiny keyboard and having to manuver the mouse with that track point button, so I bought a 19 inch moniter, wireless mouse, and wireless keyboard and hooked it all up to my laptop. Thus in essence I have a desktop system. Then when I want to take my computer somewhere, I just unplug all the devices, and it's good to go. It won't even add all that much to your cost. A 19" CRT moniter you can get for less than $200, and the wireless keyboard and mouse go for about $50 total. It's the best of both worlds.

 

[stoic]

I know incoming MS I for 2006 will be required to have a tablet @ University of Kansas Med.

Does anyone know anyone who has been using a tablet and likes it?
I'm going in in 2005 and am seriously thinking of getting a tablet. I have a friend that sells them and he says this summer they are breaking out a model that is really cool.

are you gonna at KUmed next year?

I am both going to be at KU next and getting a tablet pc. My friends that are students up there now all wish they had them. I guess a lot of people take them to class and write their notes right on the powerpoint presentations.

Plus, they top the cool scale 😎

 

[DrThom]

What brand?

I think tablets would be sweet because you'd never have to carry paper around, but I've heard so far they've been expensive, unreliable, fragile, and mainly built by noname companies. If Dell or Apple came out with one or one came with an option for complete accident insurance, I just might be sold.

Gateway makes a tablet...

OH! and some schools will buy the laptop for you and just give them to you during orientation (Wake Forest come to mind, Ohio State is also "giving" their first year class a laptop this year)

 

[dswonger]

What brand?

I think tablets would be sweet because you'd never have to carry paper around, but I've heard so far they've been expensive, unreliable, fragile, and mainly built by noname companies. If Dell or Apple came out with one or one came with an option for complete accident insurance, I just might be sold.

Toshiba, compact, and my friend says Dell is jumping in this summer!
There are a couple of others too. Check out tabletpc.com or other geek sites!

I think i'm sold, but i could go back! Our pediatrician's office went wireless, paperless with the tablet and really like it! The trend is in the wind!

Decisions, decisions! And then the $$

 

[dswonger]

are you gonna at KUmed next year?

I am both going to be at KU next and getting a tablet pc. My friends that are students up there now all wish they had them. I guess a lot of people take them to class and write their notes right on the powerpoint presentations.

Plus, they top the cool scale 😎

Cool is all that really counts when it's all said and done 😀 . I mean really! A computer is a computer, but a tablet dangling from your arm is just a half step from a porsche in your garage 😀 😎

In all seriousness. The note taking capability is what i'm really worked up about. Office 2003 allows for that, like you said in your post. What a great tool. I'm thinking for 2G, we're in.

Yes KU class of 2009!

 

[dtreese]

Dell has some cheap, solid desktops, so get both!

 

[Jamaican MD]

Gateway makes a tablet...

OH! and some schools will buy the laptop for you and just give them to you during orientation (Wake Forest come to mind, Ohio State is also "giving" their first year class a laptop this year)

Is it true that OSU is giving the 1st year class a laptop? Can you provide a link to that online? Thanks.

 

[skiz knot]

I know incoming MS I for 2006 will be required to have a tablet @ University of Kansas Med.

Does anyone know anyone who has been using a tablet and likes it?
I'm going in in 2005 and am seriously thinking of getting a tablet. I have a friend that sells them and he says this summer they are breaking out a model that is really cool.

I have an NEC Versa LitePad tablet pc. It is completely awesome for class (except battery life sucks, ~2.5 hours).
Most class material is available in Powerpoint form, or in other forms online, and it is great to be able to annotate your notes directly on the screen in your own handwriting. I'd rather carry around a 2.2 lb computer, than a stack of printouts. I'm just sure to back up my stuff on my desktop.
I haven't had any problems with the tablet.
I wouldn't buy a $2500 tablet as a desktop replacement though. Way too expensive an option. Instead I use my P3 933 mHz, 20 Gig tablet for portability only! It is a true tablet (not a convertable) where everything is external. Only input I normally have with me is the stylus because keyboard and mouse are separate. I have a P4 3.3 gHz, 160 Gig VAIO desktop with all the goodies for home use. Total cost was about $2100 ($1100-ish for the desktop, $860 tablet pc, both online).

 

[dswonger]

I have an NEC Versa LitePad tablet pc. It is completely awesome for class (except battery life sucks, ~2.5 hours).
Most class material is available in Powerpoint form, or in other forms online, and it is great to be able to annotate your notes directly on the screen in your own handwriting. I'd rather carry around a 2.2 lb computer, than a stack of printouts. I'm just sure to back up my stuff on my desktop.
I haven't had any problems with the tablet.
I wouldn't buy a $2500 tablet as a desktop replacement though. Way too expensive an option. Instead I use my P3 933 mHz, 20 Gig tablet for portability only! It is a true tablet (not a convertable) where everything is external. Only input I normally have with me is the stylus because keyboard and mouse are separate. I have a P4 3.3 gHz, 160 Gig VAIO desktop with all the goodies for home use. Total cost was about $2100 ($1100-ish for the desktop, $860 tablet pc, both online).

Great idea. How is the handwriting recognition? Do you find yourself going back on your notes, or do you just interpret what you thought you wrote as you read it back?
Do you backup with an external RWCd/Dvd and then transfer to your big dog and does the handwriting show back up or do you need additional software on your VAIO?

Thanks again,
D

 

[DoctorDoogie4]

Get a laptop. The portability and the compact size of a laptop will help.

 

[UTCobra]

My school offered a $2500 CPU loan so i took it and bought a friggin sweat a$$ desktop and a nice printer. I don't use it to its full capabilities so I guess it wasn't the swiftest move, but its a one shot oppurtunity w/ the loan.

BUT I got annoyed only being able to use a CPU at home or school so I picked up a Compaq desktop at Circuit City for $550 + tax 3 days ago. It had $430 in rebates. It does all the basic stuff I need for school, but if I nee anymore I got the desktop at home. I guess it depends on what you will use it for, but definitely check the school for requirements & a loan.

Also I waited for a few weeks and just happened to find a great deal so ALWAYS be looking.