What laptop are you bringing to med school?

[bunface]

I know the "best" laptop for each person varies according to preference, past experiences, etc...but which laptop in the market do you think is best suited for medical school? I am looking to purchase something in the next 2 weeks, and am deciding between Dell, HP, Sony, and Mac (I know, that is almost the entire market). Feel free to post any discounts you know too. Thanks to all in advance! 🙂

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[Pedsbro]

I know the "best" laptop for each person varies according to preference, past experiences, etc...but which laptop in the market do you think is best suited for medical school? I am looking to purchase something in the next 2 weeks, and am deciding between Dell, HP, Sony, and Mac (I know, that is almost the entire market). Feel free to post any discounts you know too. Thanks to all in advance! 🙂

Are you already accepted to med school? Because many schools require you to buy their own..sometimes they might give you a list of eligible ones and sometimes they just have one model that all their students have to buy.

I would go with a PC...Windows-haters be damned, it's a Windows world and most med schools use PC-based software...they're cheaper than Macs too. I do know people who have survived with Macs in med school though. So if you're allowed to have your own, then it's pretty much personal preference. If you're dead-set on Mac, then maybe call the school's IT dept and see if Macs are compatible.

 

[bunface]

Are you already accepted to med school? Because many schools require you to buy their own..sometimes they might give you a list of eligible ones and sometimes they just have one model that all their students have to buy.

I would go with a PC...Windows-haters be damned, it's a Windows world and most med schools use PC-based software...they're cheaper than Macs too. I do know people who have survived with Macs in med school though. So if you're allowed to have you own, then it's pretty much personal preference. If you're dead-set on Mac, then maybe call the school's IT dept and see if Macs are compatible.

i did get into a med school but they don't have any computer requirements whatsoever.

 

[Scean]

mac, pricey but perfect 👍

And honestly (though you can't live with this philosophy throughout med school or you'll be in trouble) whats a few hundred dollars more for a laptop you love on the scale of med school education debt?

 

[Concubine]

My school is making me buy a lenovo X61 for a total price of $2500 before interest. Such a rip off.😡

 

[dynezxice]

If there's no requirements, hands-down a Mac, all the way. And as for the pricey range, good-end PC laptops (nongaming) actually cost more than a macbook (ie Dell XPS M series, Sony Vaio, etc)

 

[JackInTheBox]

My school is making me buy a lenovo X61 for a total price of $2500 before interest. Such a rip off.😡

Thinkpads are well worth every penny.

 

[Concubine]

Thinkpads are well worth every penny.

Yeah, but for that price I could have bought a loaded macbook pro with more features. I hear the thinkpads are good pc's, but for 2500 bucks I don't even get a dvd burner, web cam, or bluetooth and I'm stuck with windows Vista and crappy integrated graphics.

 

[EpiPEN]

About a month ago I got a lenovo x61 tablet w/ upgraded screen for outdoor viewing but w/out media base for $1500 though a friend who had connections in lenovo. It's what I'm bringing so i can doodle portraits of my professors and send them to my classmates.

EDIT:
Cocubine, you got ripped off

EDIT 2:

OP, you should get a lenovo (not because I got one) becuase they are among the most durable and portable laptops around. You might be carrying your laptop everywhere, so take the weight and size heavily into consideration. Remember, you don't need a powerful laptop to take notes or run office applications, but you do need one that is reliable

 

[0101010101]

Dell XPS 13.3" screen. Will blow away the lenovo and is ridiculously powerful for about $2000. I wanted portability for all the traveling to offices, hospitals, classes, starbucks, in-class use, etc. For compatibility with med programs, and all the other stuff that might come your way it might not be compatible with macs so I advise against getting one. And because they are insanely overpriced.

 

[JackInTheBox]

OP, you should get a lenovo (not because I got one) becuase they are among the most durable and portable laptops around. You might be carrying your laptop everywhere, so take the weight and size heavily into consideration. Remember, you don't need a powerful laptop to take notes or run office applications, but you do need one that is reliable

Seconded. They're built like tanks, and rugged as hell. The only other brand that can really outclass a Thinkpad in terms of durability is a Panasonic Toughbook, but that's overkill for medical school.

Yeah, but for that price I could have bought a loaded macbook pro with more features. I hear the thinkpads are good pc's, but for 2500 bucks I don't even get a dvd burner, web cam, or bluetooth and I'm stuck with windows Vista and crappy integrated graphics.

I'd stay away from Dell laptops. All of my friends in college had them, and they're crap. You can just feel the difference. Everything is cheap painted plastic, and it feels like a Fisher-Price "My First Computer."

If you can hold off, look into the new X200s that Lenovo is supposed to start welling in August, or the X300.

 

[cbrons]

Gateways are good... I mean, the customer service is really good.. In my experience. I would check pricewatch.com though for all your tech needs...

 

[Concubine]

About a month ago I got a lenovo x61 tablet w/ upgraded screen for outdoor viewing but w/out media base for $1500 though a friend who had connections in lenovo. It's what I'm bringing so i can doodle portraits of my professors and send them to my classmates.

EDIT:
Cocubine, you got ripped off

EDIT 2:

OP, you should get a lenovo (not because I got one) becuase they are among the most durable and portable laptops around. You might be carrying your laptop everywhere, so take the weight and size heavily into consideration. Remember, you don't need a powerful laptop to take notes or run office applications, but you do need one that is reliable

Yep I know, but unfortunately It's school mandated. They buy them for you and tack it on to your tuition. I called them to see if I could waive it, but that's not an option.

The ironic thing is that it's the damn "student laptop committee" that came up with this idea and the computer they would make the students buy. You can bet I'll force my way on this committee and change this shortly.

 

[EpiPEN]

Yep I know, but unfortunately It's school mandated. They buy them for you and tack it on to your tuition. I called them to see if I could waive it, but that's not an option.

The ironic thing is that it's the damn "student laptop committee" that came up with this idea and the computer they would make the students buy. You can bet I'll force my way on this committee and change this shortly.

Where do you go to, Case Wester? 😀

 

[Concubine]

Dell XPS 13.3" screen. Will blow away the lenovo and is ridiculously powerful for about $2000. I wanted portability for all the traveling to offices, hospitals, classes, starbucks, in-class use, etc. For compatibility with med programs, and all the other stuff that might come your way it might not be compatible with macs so I advise against getting one. And because they are insanely overpriced.

For $2,000 you could get an insane macbook pro as well. Windows compatibility isn't an issue. You can load windows on your macbook with bootcamp or run it through parallel.

 

[EpiPEN]

Gateways are good... I mean, the customer service is really good.. In my experience. I would check pricewatch.com though for all your tech needs...

That's the first time someone told me Gateway's customer service is good, EVER

 

[Concubine]

where Do You Go To, Case Wester?

Wvu

 

[EpiPEN]

Seconded. They're built like tanks, and rugged as hell. The only other brand that can really outclass a Thinkpad in terms of durability is a Panasonic Toughbook, but that's overkill for medical school.

Panasonic Toughbook... *DROOL*

 

[EpiPEN]

Wvu

that makes 2 schools that I know make you buy their laptops now 😀

 

[Concubine]

My original idea (before I found out I was screwed) was to buy the HP tx2000z tablet. Check this deal out. You are going to be hard pressed to beat it anywhere:

HP has Stackable $200 off $999 on HP Pavilion Notebook PCs, limit 2160 uses w/ coupon code: NB3408 (exp 7/20). Coupon stackable w/ instant savings.

HP Pavilion tx2500z tablet notebook w/ AMD Turion X2 Dual-Core Mobile RM-70 2GHz, 12.1in WXGA HD Touch-screen, free 2GB, free 250GB, DVD+-RW, ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics, HP Imprint Finish (Echo) + Microphone + Webcam, 802.11b/g wireless, Vista Home Premium, 1yr warranty for only $1049 - $150 instant off - $200 off via HP coupon = $699 w/ free shipping.

This tablet has got great reviews, and although I admit the lenovo tablet is probably more durable, this one comes with a hell of a lot more features for half the price.

 

[dog0]

Ehhhhhhhhh, the same one I used in college...

 

[175961]

If your rich (and we all know students about to begin med school are) you can get a mac AND a pc. The mac for all the awesome things it does, and the pc for the windows requirement that lots of school have. Cant go wrong with this approach😉

 

[Concubine]

If your rich (and we all know students about to begin med school are) you can get a mac AND a pc. The mac for all the awesome things it does, and the pc for the windows requirement that lots of school have. Cant go wrong with this approach😉

Nah, Just use your mac for both! That's the beauty of bootcamp.

 

[sweetbunny]

what do you guys think about macbook air?😳

 

[175961]

what do you guys think about macbook air?😳

personally.....just a way of showing that you arent afraid of spending a **** load of money for a computer that you probably could do without. all of the other macs (desktop and laptop) have everything you need, well at least a bigger hard drive and a disk drive and are a heck of a lot more affordable

 

[EpiPEN]

what do you guys think about macbook air?😳

I'll use that laptop when I run out of plastic knives to slice my cake

 

[sweetbunny]

I'll use that laptop when I run out of plastic knives to slice my cake

😕

 

[EpiPEN]

My original idea (before I found out I was screwed) was to buy the HP tx2000z tablet. Check this deal out. You are going to be hard pressed to beat it anywhere:

HP has Stackable $200 off $999 on HP Pavilion Notebook PCs, limit 2160 uses w/ coupon code: NB3408 (exp 7/20). Coupon stackable w/ instant savings.

HP Pavilion tx2500z tablet notebook w/ AMD Turion X2 Dual-Core Mobile RM-70 2GHz, 12.1in WXGA HD Touch-screen, free 2GB, free 250GB, DVD+-RW, ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics, HP Imprint Finish (Echo) + Microphone + Webcam, 802.11b/g wireless, Vista Home Premium, 1yr warranty for only $1049 - $150 instant off - $200 off via HP coupon = $699 w/ free shipping.

This tablet has got great reviews, and although I admit the lenovo tablet is probably more durable, this one comes with a hell of a lot more features for half the price.

Yeah I know well of the lures of this tablet (I shopped around for 2 months before finally buying my lenovo w/ the factory discounts). However the thing that turned me off was the reviews about this laptop having high heat and low battery life due to the AMD chip. My last laptop had the heat problem and my lap just can't take another 4 years of being slow roasted

 

[EpiPEN]

😕

never saw that commercial about how the macbook air is so thin they can use it to cut cakes?

 

[LikeClockWork]

what do you guys think about macbook air?😳

A soon-to-be med student I know looked into this, and he said it looks like it's memory and video capacity isn't what it really needs to be to look at some of the high resolution junk he thinks med schools require.

What exactly that means, I'm not sure, but it does make sense that Mac would skimp on some features just to make it look sleek.

 

[JackInTheBox]

what do you guys think about macbook air?😳

Like too many girls I knew in college: great looks with not a lot inside to back it up, and it only has one port that you can use 😉

 

[ChemGrad08]

I'm going to second what other people have said.
1. Don't buy a Dell they've become steadily worse and worse over the past few years. I teach a p-chem class and my students bring their laptops to office hours and it is a rare dell that has a working keyboard AND mouse, it's just a lot of trouble.

2. Get a mac. Mac's don't have real compatibility issues anymore and there are enough computer labs everywhere that if you HAVE to do something on a PC you can get it done. Also Vista is miserable, if you could wait a year maybe get a high end PC, but with Vista still basically in beta stages I would stay away from it for awhile. A nice high end laptop will last you into your residency.

 

[175961]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQiiszIthx4&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

 

[sweetbunny]

never saw that commercial about how the macbook air is so thin they can use it to cut cakes?

no😳

 

[sweetbunny]

Like too many girls I knew in college: great looks with not a lot inside to back it up, and it only has one port that you can use 😉

well, i am a girl and i have this air mac😳 must say a lot about me. ha ha

if by ports u mean usb's, it has two.

 

[EpiPEN]

Like too many girls I knew in college: great looks with not a lot inside to back it up, and it only has one port that you can use 😉

Boy I hope it was a female port

 

[LikeClockWork]

[youtube]sQiiszIthx4[/youtube]

Fantastic. This was what I'd been thinking since I first heard about its specs. I'm glad someone agrees.

 

[JackInTheBox]

if by ports u mean usb's, it has two.

😕 I thought the Macbook Air only had one USB port.

Boy I hope it was a female port

Indeed, but which one? 😀

 

[EpiPEN]

Indeed, but which one? 😀

well if it was USB then my RJ45 jack will have nothing to jack to, if you know what I mean. (becuase I'm not sure If I do anymore)

*EDIT*

Well I guess since it was Macbook "AIR" they wouldn't use the ethernet cable anyways

 

[sweetbunny]

it has 2 ports. they all look the same to me RJ45 jack shmack...
ain't no diff. to me/

 

[175961]

fantastic. This Was What I'd Been Thinking Since I First Heard About Its Specs. I'm Glad Someone Agrees.

100%

 

[EpiPEN]

it has 2 ports. they all look the same to me RJ45 jack shmack...
ain't no diff. to me/

dang girl, dang

*EDIT*

I feel bad for side tracking so much. So, I think Macs are good too, but if you are going to get a mac (which is also over priced given specs) you might as well get a lenovo laptop. The only difference is if you like windows or mac better. And Vista is not bad if you have 3-4GB of RAM. Which you can upgrade by buying ram from the internet.

 

[Concubine]

Yeah I know well of the lures of this tablet (I shopped around for 2 months before finally buying my lenovo w/ the factory discounts). However the thing that turned me off was the reviews about this laptop having high heat and low battery life due to the AMD chip. My last laptop had the heat problem and my lap just can't take another 4 years of being slow roasted

Yeah, I've read that as well. However, if you buy a four-year warranty and the 8 cell battery, you will still end up spending a lot less than the lenovo.

 

[JackInTheBox]

I feel bad for side tracking so much. So, I think Macs are good too, but if you are going to get a mac (which is also over priced given specs) you might as well get a lenovo laptop. The only difference is if you like windows or mac better. And Vista is not bad if you have 3-4GB of RAM. Which you can upgrade by buying ram from the internet.

I agree. Most people who complain about Vista sucking usually have crappy computers that they skimped on when they bought it. Vista runs great on 2 gigs or RAM. I regularly have a billion windows and tabs open, and I never use more than half of my 2 gigs. Plus, 32-bit versions of Vista can't realistically address more than 3 gigs. I think having a decent video card is important too. The weaksauce integrated Intel chips just aren't cut out for Vista.

However, if you buy a four-year warranty and the 8 cell battery, you will still end up spending a lot less than the lenovo.

The Thinkpad X200 on the 9-cell battery has a runtime of up to 9 hrs =O

 

[Handy388]

Like too many girls I knew in college: great looks with not a lot inside to back it up, and it only has one port that you can use 😉

what kind of prude were you dating?

 

[sweetbunny]

what kind of prude were you dating?

he just bought a cheap laptop😉 cheap laptops only come with one jack.
but $$$ ones, like mine macbook air, for instnce, has TWO.😉

 

[FenixTx]

ds

 

[NickNaylor]

As a Lenovo fanboy, I think Lenovo's are very well-built, functional laptops. Sure, they're not as "cute" as others, but I have no complaints about my T60.

...plus getting the IBM employee discount of 25%+ helps.

 

[TheRealMD]

2nd gen MacBook Pro. The nice thing about Mac laptops is that you can take them to any Apple store for on-site servicing. No need to ship it out unless it absolutely must be done (and usually at much larger stores, they have the highest level Apple techs there for dedicated servicing).

 

[TupacalipseT96]

I might whip out my old, dusty IBM Lenovo Thinkpad just to be doubly sure I'm not temped to play video games in medical school. ($2700 in '05)

The beast of a 'top I'm using right now (2GB RAM, 512MB dedicated GeForce 8600M GS, Core Duo) would probably be too tempting to resist. ($699 five months ago)