What kind of computer should I get?

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bschwen1

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I recently got into OUCOM and they have no computer requirement. I was just wondering what kind of computer I should get for medical school. Any input would be great.
 
Macbook
Macbook
Macbook
 
Things to look for in a computer:

- Something with pretty good hard drive space, processor, and memory
- Something that is quality made that doesn't break easily since you might be carting it around alot

anything else you might need like wireless connection, bluetooth (if you want), IR, SD card reader, extra USB ports, etc

I would look at some of the reviews on cnet.com or other sites like it for various laptops. While SDNers can give you great advice for what they have, everyone's preferences are different. Some people are apple fiends (I am not at all - don't own anything apple), some people live by IBMS or HP's.

Plus how each school does lectures is different. If all your lectures are online and you want to save paper, you might want a tablet. Or you might just want something small in a laptop like HP's minilaptop (which I think is so cool!). Or maybe you want a 17in screen rather than a 15.4 or 13? There are so many possibilities I suggest you maybe go to an electronics store (like best buy) and browse. Talk to people to find out what brands are build "better" - some that I'd suggest, IBM, HP, (maybe toshiba - I never had issues with them but some people have) Acer. Brands I would suggest avoiding Gateway (EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING FROM GATEWAY = crap), Dell (some users have issues with Dell and customer service and crapping out, but really its all by what model you get so some dell's are solid).


Again, check the personal reviews on sites like cnet.com to find out what people who own the computers say about them.

:luck:
 
I'd suggest a tablet pc from lenovo if you can spend ~$2k.
 
Check and see if OUCOM has wireless access before you buy, then obviously take that into consideration
 
bschwen1 said:
I recently got into OUCOM and they have no computer requirement. I was just wondering what kind of computer I should get for medical school. Any input would be great.
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hey, im not in med school yet, but apples are...*i cant describe with words* good. The macbooks are incredible. I use to use PC's, but have had a G3 ibook for 4 years, drop it 1/2 a foot from the ground and it has never had any problems. Apple recently had a recall on my model and fixed it no charge, returned it in 3 days (from the day I shipped it to the day I got it back) and also put some new pieces in it for free. I am never going back to PC's, In fact, I loath using them when I dont have my laptop..I never realized how much of a headache PC's are untill I started using a mac. Well anyway, best of luck with your decision!
 
skatalite said:
hey, im not in med school yet, but apples are...*i cant describe with words* good. The macbooks are incredible. I use to use PC's, but have had a G3 ibook for 4 years, drop it 1/2 a foot from the ground and it has never had any problems. Apple recently had a recall on my model and fixed it no charge, returned it in 3 days (from the day I shipped it to the day I got it back) and also put some new pieces in it for free. I am never going back to PC's, In fact, I loath using them when I dont have my laptop..I never realized how much of a headache PC's are untill I started using a mac. Well anyway, best of luck with your decision!
Click to expand...

Just upgraded my blackbook to 2gigs of ram and its amazing.
 
Do you really need a LAPTOP in school? Can't you get away with a desktop? Seriously - laptops are such a pain, they always have problems, and they are intentionally designed to last about 3 years. I'm honestly wondering what do you need to have one for in school? I understand people love 'em, swear by 'em, are totally dependent on theirs - but if you think about it - do you actually NEED it so much that you couldn't get through school w/something else?
 
Orthodoc40 said:
Do you really need a LAPTOP in school? Can't you get away with a desktop? Seriously - laptops are such a pain, they always have problems, and they are intentionally designed to last about 3 years. I'm honestly wondering what do you need to have one for in school? I understand people love 'em, swear by 'em, are totally dependent on theirs - but if you think about it - do you actually NEED it so much that you couldn't get through school w/something else?
Click to expand...
i don't think it'd be practical to go back and forth from your house to use your desktop. i find it particularly useful when the lecture notes are available on the internet. if you study better at home, then a desktop may be better, but if you study better in the library, instead of going to a lab, you can sit in a corner of the library and use the wireless internet! using the computer labs could be cumbersome and i know that i type a lot faster than writing in a notepad. there must be a reason why schools provide a laptop or allot money for a laptop.
 
I think, besides comfort of the keyboard, that you should also take into consideration the weight and battery life. If you're going to lug that thing around, i would want to maximize the portability of it. Decent specs (1.6 ghz, centrino core duo, 1 gig of ram alth 512mb is enough IMO, 5-6.5 lbs) should get you by just fine.

Currently, i'm typing this on my sony vgn-fs690. Light, decent battery (not great battery life), and a 14.1" widescreen (perfect for having two documents open). I got it for about $800 last year on ebay (bidded on it during new year's day). I think the prices have dropped considerably.

Oh yeah, get integrated wifi which most laptops have anyways. I'm not a laptop guru but i have sold and bought several laptops, till i found the one that i'm most happy with. PM if you have any other questions🙂
 
Orthodoc40 said:
Do you really need a LAPTOP in school? Can't you get away with a desktop? Seriously - laptops are such a pain, they always have problems, and they are intentionally designed to last about 3 years.
Click to expand...

Not true. You are speaking of another type of computer. It is called a Dell. Buy a Toshiba and you will change your mind. Dell hires amazing ad people. They got people to believe they are saving money and getting a quality product. Neither of which is true.
 
If it appeals to you at all, I'd check out some convertible tablets. You have all the functions of a normal laptop, plus being able to use the tablet to circle structures on a histo slide, label anatomy pictures, highlight notes, etc., saving a lot of time. I haven't met anyone who regretted purchasing a tablet, but I have heard many people say that they wish they had gotten one.

http://www.tabletpcreview.com/

If this ASUS had come out a few months earlier, I probably would have gotten that instead of the Acer I ended up with. Toshiba and Fujitsu also have some solid offerings.
 
DRKUBA said:
Not true. You are speaking of another type of computer. It is called a Dell. Buy a Toshiba and you will change your mind. Dell hires amazing ad people. They got people to believe they are saving money and getting a quality product. Neither of which is true.
Click to expand...

You have it backwards. Toshiba laptops are terrible. You must have missed the fiasco with their screens this past summer.
 
oBMTo said:
You have it backwards. Toshiba laptops are terrible. You must have missed the fiasco with their screens this past summer.
Click to expand...

What about the exploding battery fiasco this summer with Dell, Sony, Mac, ...

In my experience, Dell has the best customer service for getting replacement stuff to you.

My brother just bought a brand new HP, and his hard drive died, it took HP over 1 month to ship him a new one ... there is no way it would ever take Dell that long, this is coming from someone who has owned Dells since 1995 ... yea for the money you can get a better system, but jsut make sure that you are going with a company that is willing to send you replacement hard drives etc in a timely fashion



This is a good topic tho, I'm thinking about getting a new laptop for next year and I cant decide if i should go with Mac, Hp, Dell, Toshiba ...
 
jafri91 said:
What about the exploding battery fiasco this summer with Dell, Sony, Mac, ...

In my experience, Dell has the best customer service for getting replacement stuff to you.

My brother just bought a brand new HP, and his hard drive died, it took HP over 1 month to ship him a new one ... there is no way it would ever take Dell that long, this is coming from someone who has owned Dells since 1995 ... yea for the money you can get a better system, but jsut make sure that you are going with a company that is willing to send you replacement hard drives etc in a timely fashion



This is a good topic tho, I'm thinking about getting a new laptop for next year and I cant decide if i should go with Mac, Hp, Dell, Toshiba ...
Click to expand...

I have a Toshiba Qosmio and it runs beautifully. Every one I know who has a Toshiba loves it. You must have purchased a service plan to have such a good experience with Dell.
 
DRKUBA said:
I have a Toshiba Qosmio and it runs beautifully. Every one I know who has a Toshiba loves it. You must have purchased a service plan to have such a good experience with Dell.
Click to expand...

I wasn't trying to knock on Toshiba, I was just trying to say that every brand has its problems ... actually we bought a Toshiba laptop for my grandfather, I used it when I was visiting and it runs perfectly

Yea I usually get a 2 - 3 year warrenty ... but its worth it ... btw if you buy any brand from Best Buy or something they offer extended warrenties that would cover damage too
 
what would be a good suggestion if I already have a desktop for my primary computer and just want a tablet soley for the purpose of notetaking in class? Should I just get a cheapo refurbished gateway or is that asking for it? haha
 
I think IBM (lenovo) makes the best tablet out there.
 
I think pretty much anything nowadays will get the job done and long as you dont get absolutely bargain basement. I personally have one with a 17 inch screen which is really nice because it makes the computer wide enough to fit a number keypad on it...which I personally use alot. However it does weigh quite a bit more and gets less battery life, so if you're looking for something that your are going to be taking absolutely everywhere it might be best to invest in a laptop which is a little lighter. My personal computer is a compaq which ive had no problems with after more than a year...and its a bit cheaper than the hp even though they're made by the same company (at least it was when i bought mine)...happy shopping!

oh and also I'd try to get them to take all that pre-installed crap off of your computer before hand... its generally just a bunch of things you'll never use that take up space and slow down your computer...most schools will offer the software you need for free download anyways! and if you're getting a pc you probably should just wait til windows vista comes out (i think its soon) so you dont have to worry about buying and changing it later

and make sure you get wireless...its gonna be used everywhere eventually!

hope this helps
 
CanadianPremed said:
Macbook
Macbook
Macbook
Click to expand...

After ordering my macbook, which I am yet to receive, I was kind of informed that I should've waited till the macworld expos. Since the guy works for apple he really couldn't say much more than waiting for the macworld expos would be advantageous, so I could see what is new out there. Kind of a hint hint, wink wink thing. He finished it with a "I hate it when I buy something new and they release something really cool a month or two after I bought it"....so wait a while and see what happens with apple.
 
Orthodoc40 said:
Do you really need a LAPTOP in school? Can't you get away with a desktop? Seriously - laptops are such a pain, they always have problems, and they are intentionally designed to last about 3 years. I'm honestly wondering what do you need to have one for in school? I understand people love 'em, swear by 'em, are totally dependent on theirs - but if you think about it - do you actually NEED it so much that you couldn't get through school w/something else?
Click to expand...

By that thinking you could also argue we don't need a computer at all though. And fact is, yes I do need a laptop. Maybe not for medical school, but my current line of work/studies kind of entails having all my information on hand. It is one of those things that you can argue what you said, until you have one for a bit. It is very nice to have access to everything in my quiet study spot, or on the plane when I'm traveling, watching a dvd with a few minutes downtime to relax, sitting here watching t.v. while I type this stuff. I don't need to worry about carrying around anything on a thumbdrive. Sure I could set up remote desktop, but I'm not guarenteed a computer spot wherever I am...this way I can sit in the quiet empty part of the building with my headphones on and write to my heart's content.
 
MossPoh said:
...this way I can sit in the quiet empty part of the building with my headphones on and write to my heart's content.
Click to expand...

You can do that with a pad of paper, and a pen, too. It's much lighter weight, costs a lot less, doesn't really break down, or act funny, and if you lose it, or drop it, it's not much to replace. And you don't have to worry about someone stealing it. :laugh:
 
CanadianPremed said:
Macbook
Macbook
Macbook
Click to expand...

yesss!! macbooks are amazing! I had a dell desktop a long time ago and a dell inspiron throughout college and I had so many problems! in 4 yrs I had to replace 2 hard drives, 1 cdrom drive, and my entire motherboard!!

I bought a macbook in august and I actually love using my computer now. easy to use, ilife is wonderful if your obsessed with pictures and music, and the battery life is decent (I can watch about 2.5 hrs of dvds before it dies otherwise if im using normal apps i get about 3.5-4.5). i will never buy another pc...
 
Orthodoc40 said:
You can do that with a pad of paper, and a pen, too. It's much lighter weight, costs a lot less, doesn't really break down, or act funny, and if you lose it, or drop it, it's not much to replace. And you don't have to worry about someone stealing it. :laugh:
Click to expand...

Not for the stuff I do. Excel spreadsheets, project, and critical emails are tough without the computer part. lol Plus you just have to weigh how much your time is worth. I type around 100 wam, and can't really read my handwriting. So the time it takes to recopy whatever I just wrote is such a waste of time for me it doesn't make sense. I mean more props to you if you don't..but I think if you had one for long enough it becomes very difficult to go without. It also depends on your medical school, or your current major/research in my case. I am information science technology. I can't even get most of my resources without a computer. Every relevant file is posted on a website, for my crypto stuff I had numbers that were large enough that my ti-89 couldn't handle them. I am pretty add...aka very and if I have a desktop in my place nothing will get done, even if I'm in a computer lab i get distracted.
 
bkpa2med said:
I think IBM (lenovo) makes the best tablet out there.
Click to expand...

i 😍 😍 😍 love my x41 tablet (paid about 1400 on an ebay store -thinkpad world or something like that)

studying for finals has been so much easier (if i don't get a concept, i type it into search and bam! it comes up whichever class i came across it in)

i bought a fancy pen that when flipped over works as an eraser($40 bucks) and a portable cd drive ($20), no dvd drive - but hey i watch movies at home

i mostly type my notes- but having all those colors and highlighters has helped with note taking. i do hand write on top of pdf's (most🙄 professors are good at getting the pdf's out before class, but really why can't they all do that?)

it's been awesome for me (first year optometry student), i just can't recommend enough

😍 😍 😍 😍
 
Regarding tablets, how clear is the writing when you use it? Does it translate well when you are writing quickly or handwriting? I'm interested in a tablet, but would love to hear some opinions on them. Thanks~
 
bodymechanic said:
Why no Acer? I'm completely satisfied and have had zero problems with my Acer, not to mention that it also cost me about $600 less than a comparable Fujitsu, Toshiba, or IBM.
Click to expand...

Almost everyone I talked to complained about their service. While I don't need tech support services, I may need warranty services in the future. Not something I want to hassle with while in school 🙁
 
cyclohexanol said:
Almost everyone I talked to complained about their service. While I don't need tech support services, I may need warranty services in the future. Not something I want to hassle with while in school 🙁
Click to expand...

what kind are you getting cyclo? i'm thinking about getting a tablet too
 
I did some online research and the lenovo x60 tablet seems like a great tablet. If i were buying a notebook now, that is what I'd get.
 
DRKUBA said:
I did some online research and the lenovo x60 tablet seems like a great tablet. If i were buying a notebook now, that is what I'd get.
Click to expand...

Definitely the way to go!👍
 
rub1003 said:
what kind are you getting cyclo? i'm thinking about getting a tablet too
Click to expand...

I got a Gateway CX210X w/2GB RAM and a 160GB hard drive. No problems so far. Its a little on the heavy side compared to my old laptop however.

The lenovo was my first choice, but it was a couple hundred over my budget.
 
cyclohexanol said:
I got a Gateway CX210X w/2GB RAM and a 160GB hard drive. No problems so far. Its a little on the heavy side compared to my old laptop however.

The lenovo was my first choice, but it was a couple hundred over my budget.
Click to expand...

i'm definitely down with the lenovo. i was checking it out yesterday and it looks awesome but pricey... i saw there was talk of lenovo x61, 2.3 lbs, maybe i'll wait for that if it comes out before school starts =)
 
The tech-geeks Ive spoke with all say the most important thing is to have the new intel core2 duo processor. All computers have the lifespan of a housefly, so pick what is in your price range.
My $.02
med-geek

OP; are you going to be in Athens next year?
 
rub1003 said:
i'm definitely down with the lenovo. i was checking it out yesterday and it looks awesome but pricey... i saw there was talk of lenovo x61, 2.3 lbs, maybe i'll wait for that if it comes out before school starts =)
Click to expand...

The quality and support of Lenovo (IBM) are defintely top notch, but you sure do pay a premium for it.
 
I'm thinking about just keeping the laptop that my husband and I share at home and not buying another one for myself unless required. I think that having a laptop on campus will be a huge distraction.
Does anyone know if CCOM gives us paper copies of the notes in our mailboxes?
 
If you want a PC laptop I would try to wait until the new windows comes out. Of course I'm not sure it will be in time for Aug classes.
 
I would also wait as long as possible in getting a laptop. Sucks to get one now that have it be already outdated when classes start next year.
 
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