laptops or new pcs

[Cantal]

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I'm buying a new laptop but planning to start medical school in 2004. I am told that some schools give their new incoming students PCs or laptops for personal use (whether or not its included in their tuition I don't know). Anyone have a list of these schools or know where I can get this kind of info short of calling each school?

-Cantal

 

[VienneseWaltz]

I don't have a list, but I would hold off on buying the laptop if you can. About one-third of the schools I applied to required laptops, and I would bet that number increases this year and next year.

I do know that UNC, Univ. SC, Case Western , and Wake Forest require that you buy a specific laptop. The reason for that is mainly tech support--they don't want to have to pay people to support a zillion different machines and versions of programs. Duke requires a laptop but I don't know whether you can use your own if it meets certain requirements.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Wake gives you a laptop to use if you matriculate there. Then they upgrade it to a new one after second year. I think you have to return it after you graduate though. At least thats what I remember from interviewing there.

 

[Jillianrae]

At my Wake interview, someone specifically asked if we got to keep the computers, and we were told they are ours. We also get to keep the PDA we get in our 3rd year (from what I understand). The price of the technology is factored into tuition.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by Jillianrae
At my Wake interview, someone specifically asked if we got to keep the computers, and we were told they are ours. We also get to keep the PDA we get in our 3rd year (from what I understand). The price of the technology is factored into tuition.

Hmm...actually I think you are right. Scratch what I said earlier.

 

[Catalyst]

Wow, talk about boosting the dependency of medicine on technology... laptops and PDAs viewed as essential to learning medicine? That's pretty awesome..

Sachin

 

[VienneseWaltz]

One more thing: In terms of "buying" a laptop or "being given" a laptop, there's no difference. No one's going to "give" you a laptop, unless there's some endowment for buying the first-years a machine, which is pretty unlikely. Implicitly or explicitly, it comes out of your tuition and fees.

 

[Jillianrae]

But, it's less stress on those with grants, scholarships, and loans if they don't have to worry about buying the computer before they get to school.

 

[kito]

if you go mac, you'll never go back.

 

[wfu2005]

At Wake, you get a laptop during orientation. It's yours as long as you graduate. If you drop out, you give it back. There isn't an upgrade along the way. I believe last years class got IBM thinkpads, 1.2 GHz with DVD/CDRW drives, a printer, and various software such as Stedman's and all the normal Office stuff, etc. Before you start your rotations, you get a PDA. We got the Dell Axim PocketPC. It's pretty cool, but probably more device than we actually need. It's also yours to keep.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by ankitovich
if you go mac, you'll never go back.

i just went mac 2 weeks ago(15" powerbook)...i'll never go back 🙂

 

[xaelia]

Originally posted by UCLAMAN
i just went mac 2 weeks ago(15" powerbook)...i'll never go back 🙂

Ohio State explicitly requires a Windows laptop...but it looks like it's just their IT department doesn't feel like supporting MacOS X. I plan on using my old iBook for a bit, and then getting a Powerbook G5 whenver they come out.

 

[deltamed]

macs are nice and all, but too expensive. If you know what you are doing you can put together a fully loaded PC for ~350 bucks.

 

[southerndoc]

Be careful about buying a Mac. Many schools that require laptops also have software they will give you (like software to help you with H&P's, ENT exams, etc.). Nearly all of this is for Windows and not a Macintosh.

Dell offers decent discounts to higher education students. Click on the education link on their website for more info. I just ordered a new Dell Inspiron 5100 and absolutely love it! Beats my old hp laptop anyday.

 

[Yogi Bear]

here's a repost from the lounge where i described ordering a inspiron 1100 notebook from dell.com this evening in the home section.

Intel? Celeron? Processor 2.2GHz,15 XGA, 256 mb ram, 30 gb hd. the battery is a 90 kwh battery that should last 3-4 hrs. however, laptop is heavy at ~8lbs.

Sub-Total $1,149.00
Discount -$125.00 ($25 and $100 coupons)
Shipping $49.00
Shipping Discount -$49.00
Estimated Tax $0.00 (no tax for dell home)
Total Price $1,024.00 -350 dell mail in rebate - 3% fatcash rebate - 1% discover cashback bonus ~$635.

this will be an awesome deal for me if the order goes through.