New Laptop For First Year?

[VilleDent]

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Just wondering if it would be wise to invest in a laptop computer for dental school. Do you use a computer for classes or is it mostly the old-fashioned note-taking? I know the professors probably use powerpoint or something, but do they give you access to those electronically?

If yes, does anyone have a recommendation? Should it be small? Have any certain software? Certain brand better than another? I'm using an old home PC now so don't know if I need to put away some money. Thanks!

 

[goosestuff]

Just wondering if it would be wise to invest in a laptop computer for dental school. Do you use a computer for classes or is it mostly the old-fashioned note-taking? I know the professors probably use powerpoint or something, but do they give you access to those electronically?

If yes, does anyone have a recommendation? Should it be small? Have any certain software? Certain brand better than another? I'm using an old home PC now so don't know if I need to put away some money. Thanks!

I guessing it depends where you'll be attending. I hear that UMD places it lectures online as Powerpoints but other schools....

 

[utahdent123]

Just wondering if it would be wise to invest in a laptop computer for dental school. Do you use a computer for classes or is it mostly the old-fashioned note-taking? I know the professors probably use powerpoint or something, but do they give you access to those electronically?

If yes, does anyone have a recommendation? Should it be small? Have any certain software? Certain brand better than another? I'm using an old home PC now so don't know if I need to put away some money. Thanks!

I think you should find out if the school you are going to attend requires you to buy a certain laptop. I know Case and Buffalo have you purchase a new laptop but, it's a certain laptop you have to buy. If you buy one with out checking into this you will end up with two laptops.

 

[bruinpredent]

I think you should find out if the school you are going to attend requires you to buy a certain laptop. I know Case and Buffalo have you purchase a new laptop but, it's a certain laptop you have to buy. If you buy one with out checking into this you will end up with two laptops.

many schools make all of their students buy the same laptop computer, i know for a fact that UCLA does. i agree with utahdent, you might want to wait off until you get more info from the school.

 

[Mackchops]

If you don't have to buy a particular model I recommend avoiding the big-screen desktop replacement laptops and go for small. More portable. I'm considering picking up a tablet since I need a new one anyway (I have a mac right now... NYU requires a PC 🙁)

 

[license2drill]

Get a tablet...I have a Toshiba M400 and it's awesome 👍 A little on the expensive side but it's worth every penny

 

[4thQtrDreams]

I purchased a used Toshiba m200 Tablet to try out the tablet functionality this year, and have decided i want a tablet next year for dental school.

The toshiba m400 was high on my list as it is small yet very versatile and reasonably light(4.5 lbs).. I have decided to wait for the IBM Lenovo Thinkpad x60 Tablet. Its an ultra portable, its fairly fast and has impressive battery life (8 hours) .. that means you can theoretically do a full days work without a charge. One downside is it doesnt have a built in CD or DVD drive but that cuts down on the weight (3.8lbs) and its ultra thin. The Thinkpad is also more expensive so the m400 is a great choice as well (you pay less and get more actually)

 

[INFNITE]

If you don't have to buy a particular model I recommend avoiding the big-screen desktop replacement laptops and go for small. More portable. I'm considering picking up a tablet since I need a new one anyway (I have a mac right now... NYU requires a PC 🙁)

you could always install Boot Camp if you have a newer Intel Mac.

 

[lemoncurry]

I would wait until you get accepted and learn whether your school has a specific laptop requirement. but yeah, you'll probably need one either way.

 

[Mackchops]

you could always install Boot Camp if you have a newer Intel Mac.

I wish!! I'm running Tiger on my Ibook G4.

For you tablet guys, are you thinking slate or convertible?? I really like thinkpads but have heard good things about the toshibas. Fujitsu too.

 

[VilleDent]

I got accepted to Kentucky and Louisville and chose UofL. I'll call them this week to find out if they have any certain requirements. Thanks guys.

 

[jackbauer!]

if they don't have a requirement, go pick up a macbook pro. you will never go back to a PC, i guarentee you.

i have a 12" powerbook g4 and it's the best thing since sliced bread.

jb!🙂

 

[wvupredent]

i agree. go with a macbook pro. apple is incredible. 👍

 

[4thQtrDreams]

For you tablet guys, are you thinking slate or convertible?

Definitely convertible notebooks.. A slate would be highly annoying as there will definetly be times when you need a keyboard... and the ibm convertible thinkpads are about as thin as a slate anyway so no point in getting a slate.

 

[DentalBoarder]

wait and find out the requirements at the school you're going to attend. i know one school recommends students to get a certain laptop with a certain program.

 

[biocmp]

I've got the x60 and it is a really nice tablet!! It is super small and light. I got the docking station with it, so now I can dock it at home and use cd's or whatever I may need.

The only problem with the x60 is that it comes loaded with tons of crapware!! You have to burn some restore discs and do a fresh install. My boot-up time on my x60 was around 90-120 seconds!!! That is a brand new core duo 1.83ghz with a gb of ram!! Now that i have deleted some of lenovo's software and others, I have gotten it down to about a minute. I am waiting for vista before I do a fresh install etc.

Besides that, the inking is really good, and everything is laid out very nicely. I'm just waiting on my 8 cell battery to get here now 😡 and my extra ram 😡 😡

I highly suggest trying a tablet and specifically the x60 if you get a chance. Onenote 2007 and office 2007 are much more user friendly and they allow you to search your notes so much faster. Plus, inking on a screen is a lot of fun, because you have every color pen and highlighter one click away!!!

 

[apaul]

I got accepted to Kentucky and Louisville and chose UofL. I'll call them this week to find out if they have any certain requirements. Thanks guys.

requirement for laptops at UofL? the school is like a cave and everything is from the 1970's

 

[moistener]

I've got the x60 and it is a really nice tablet!! It is super small and light. I got the docking station with it, so now I can dock it at home and use cd's or whatever I may need.

The only problem with the x60 is that it comes loaded with tons of crapware!! You have to burn some restore discs and do a fresh install. My boot-up time on my x60 was around 90-120 seconds!!! That is a brand new core duo 1.83ghz with a gb of ram!! Now that i have deleted some of lenovo's software and others, I have gotten it down to about a minute. I am waiting for vista before I do a fresh install etc.

Besides that, the inking is really good, and everything is laid out very nicely. I'm just waiting on my 8 cell battery to get here now 😡 and my extra ram 😡 😡

I highly suggest trying a tablet and specifically the x60 if you get a chance. Onenote 2007 and office 2007 are much more user friendly and they allow you to search your notes so much faster. Plus, inking on a screen is a lot of fun, because you have every color pen and highlighter one click away!!!

Thanks for a quick review on the x60, I want to get a tablet; however, they seem to be too expensive (esp the x60) without the performance capabilities of a laptop of the same price.

One question though, is the writing on the tablet feature a better option than a normal laptop for dental classes requiring laptops? We all type faster than we write but how often do you need to write on top of what you typed?

 

[biocmp]

It all depends on the course that you are taking. For some pathways it is very handy to be able to draw arrows and change pen colors/highlighers etc. It makes reviewing over your notes alot easier, but that may be a personal thing.

When writing equations or wanting to put things in boxes etc. it really comes in handy. I can't really explain it, but i definately think it is worth it. Plus, you can get a Visa discount if you call them and tell one of the lenovo sales reps, that you would like that discount. I received the x60 with 1gb of ram dual core 1.83ghz processor, 80gb memory and the x6 tablet ultrabase for around $1680. That is much better than their list price! but you may have to spring for the 8 cell battery. It is another $159

I am in love with my tablet and I have only had it for 10 days or so. I am mainly using Onenote 2007. but, Snag-it from camtasia studios is a really nice product for capturing pics or explanations from the web, then they have a bunch of tools that allow you to annotate over it and export it into onenote etc.

Mindmanager is loved by many, but I don't think it suits me. there are so many nice software choices to enable tablet functionality. In the next 12-18 months, you will see tablets move more to the mainstream. There will be many more nice options coming out later this year. But i don't think the Lenovo will be challenged in it's category. (12" screen)

good luck with your decision. I owned a slate before this and it was really nice, but I don't suggest getting one for d-school or undergrad, because it lacks the keyboard. You will really miss that, it is much harder to write emails etc. yes you can get a USB keyboard, but I prefer having a convertible.

 

[kappa505]

Get one, it will obsolete by the time you start D school anyway.

 

[Zanderale6]

Get one, it will obsolete by the time you start D school anyway.

Well ... that's your opinion. My laptop's been going strong for a good two decades now.

 

[kappa505]

I have that same computer but in red. And I still use dial up.