laptops for psych grad students

[tomato123]

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Hello, I was wondering with the type of work that doctoral psych students do in school, if any particular laptop will be useful. More specifically, I am looking at a 11" ultraportable laptop for my schooling, writing, class notes, research/data work, and everyday email/web use. With the awesome portability of the 11", I'd also most likely end up being able to manage just 1 window at a time (i.e. MS word), or 2 windows on the same screen at most. So I wondering if I might need more room on my screen display than an 11" laptop would allow. And if anyone owns a tablet notebook, I'd like to hear your experience as well. So any feedback with this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! 🙂

 

[JockNerd]

I have a 12 inch Gateway MX1027. I love it. I can manage my applications without any issue, and the resolution is good enough that I can have two documents open (e.g. a pdf and Word) and use them both. It's also a decently powerful little machine. At home, I use the vga port to output to a 21 inch widescreen lcd. I love having a small, portable laptop, but it's not everyone's favorite thing.

 

[Marissa4usa]

And if anyone owns a tablet notebook, I'd like to hear your experience as well. So any feedback with this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! 🙂

I spent a fortune on the Gateway CX200x 2.5 years ago and I am deeply regretting it because I constantly have trouble with it since it overheats superquickly. After a short of amount of time (usually 15 minutes) the alptop is so hot that I can barely touch it, the fan is rotating like crazy and therefore very loud which would annoy anybody sitting next to you in class. Also, I believe that due it is due to the fact that the whole thing is constantly working overtime I alrady had to replace the battery twice (within one yearI could only run my laptop on battery power for about 15 minutes).
Then, although the tablet function sounds kind of cool I have actually never used, simply because I type faster than I write and if I really have to copy diagrams or the like I just use paper anyways.

Obviously this is just my experience with this one model but I have heard in general that the tablet pc's quickly overheat which causes a whole bunch of sideeffects.

 

[auro]

I regret not investing in a lighter laptop, especially since they keep getting so much lighter every year. I love having my laptop at school, but hate taking it there now.

 

[lukeb]

I have been using an Asus eee PC with just a 7" screen and it has been enough for most tasks.

It nearly fits into your pocket yet the keyboard is big enough to type comfortably on. If you think it is too small, I recommend some of the newer ultra portables with a 9 inch (Acer Aspire One) and 10 inch screens (MSI Wind). Price is also a major reason to go for these, since they range from 400-600 dollars.

The only time a small screen seems to bother me a great deal is when I am reading several research articles at the same time while trying to integrate the information or summarize the information that I am reading. The problem is that if I can't see enough of the page in the article, I have a difficult time scanning and finding what is important as well as keeping track of the different articles. So I do not recommend it for synthesizing your own papers. However, if you get an 11 inch screen like you mentioned then I am sure it will dramatically reduce any problems you might have in that area.

For notes, it is a perfect choice. For reading books and papers and web browsing too. It is especially great for situations like the train/bus/subway, since it isn't bulky or cumbersome to take out and use.

Since you mentioned touch screen I would also consider the Gigabyte M912, an ultra portable touch screen coming out next month.

Gadgets and psychology, what a good combination 🙂

 

[PsyTiger]

You should check out this recent thread. I found it very helpful in making my own laptop purchase (Dell Latitude D430 - I love it!)

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=516064

 

[NPmemory]

I've only had my new computer a week, but I definitely recommend it. I got it for a great deal. It is the cheapest tablet out there, plus they were having a sale from gateway direct.

Anyways, the best thing of love about it. Is NO MORE PAPER! I can take all my notes and save them write on my comp. I like to handwrite notes ( I just don't encode the same when I type). And I memorize things about where I put on the page. It comes with One Note which is an awesome program! The best thing is you can take pdfs, press print to onenote, and it puts it in one note so you can highlight and take notes on the actually pdf. It's awesome! I can't wait to use it once I start school.

Plus vista seems to be working really well. Its fast and the battery lasts 6 hours, more if you put it in power saver. So far, I highly recommend this computer.

It is a little heavy at 6 lbs and the battery is a little ackward, but if you get the case from gateway, its no big deal.

definitely check it out, if you are even semi-interested in a pc tablet.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I had a compaq 15.4"....it was like carrying a large concrete slab around, and it died. I replaced it with a Dell Inspiron 700m, which has taken a beating and still works.....but I've used my warranty at least 5 times in 3 years. My next laptop will be a mac. Many of my friends have Macs and they seem to have less issues than I've had with my laptops. I love the look of the VIAO, but I'm not sure about fragility (as I use to have one and I had to baby it).

I've found my 12.1" screen to be the perfect size because it is light enough to carry around all day, but also big enough that it doesn't kill my eyes after using it all day.

 

[Sarahanne]

Anyone have experience with the Asus R1F tablet pc?

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

ps. I've seen the baby VAIO (and other brand or two have them) and they are awesome. A classmate of mine carries it around, and once you get use to the smaller keyboard, it really is an ultra-portable. think it is an 8" screen?

 

[myelin]

I had a compaq 15.4"....it was like carrying a large concrete slab around, and it died. I replaced it with a Dell Inspiron 700m, which has taken a beating and still works.....but I've used my warranty at least 5 times in 3 years.

I have a Dell 700m as well and I really enjoy it. Dell does not produce that model anymore but from what I've seen they have a new line of laptops coming out.

At any rate, if you do go with dell, DO NOT use their financing plan. They will give you $3k no problem but at 20% interest or more. I'd recommend applying for a regular credit card with 0% interest for a year.

 

[Marissa4usa]

I was wonderig if anybody knew a website that rates/recommends laptops or components of laptops (i.e. what processor is the best for which purpose, etc) and is also comprehensible for people like me who know absolutely NADA about computers?

Thx

 

[eastbaygrease]

You might want to check what type of computers your PhD program uses. For example, I worked at a research lab that collaborated with Stanford's Psych Program, and Stanford's staff/faculty all use Macs.

 

[eastbaygrease]

I was wonderig if anybody knew a website that rates/recommends laptops or components of laptops (i.e. what processor is the best for which purpose, etc) and is also comprehensible for people like me who know absolutely NADA about computers?

Thx

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-laptops/?tag=dir