Which computer to pick? Which did you get? Macbook pro or air

[Lya]

Slight thread-hijack: would I be able to get by with just a desktop and my iPad? I tried to stop lugging around my laptop in undergrad but then some of my classes decided to have all-Microsoft-Excel-based assignments, and my iPad sort of sat and gathered dust, since I needed the laptop on me at all times.

(If it matters, I currently have an iPad 2 but I'm going to a school that provides us with new iPads at orientation.)

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=849616


Some medical schools even suggest certain brands for laptop. I think you should be just fine though, but I am not really sure. I would check out that thread above.

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[synecdoche]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=849616


Some medical schools even suggest certain brands for laptop. I think you should be just fine though, but I am not really sure. I would check out that thread above.

Thanks for the link! I'd certainly hang onto my current laptop, which I assume would satisfy a school's requirement to own one. But my main question is, could I plan on leaving it at home most days, and relying solely on my iPad on campus? If so, I'd spend on a new desktop rather than a new laptop, which is why I'm curious.

 

[red doctober]

Slight thread-hijack: would I be able to get by with just a desktop and my iPad? I tried to stop lugging around my laptop in undergrad but then some of my classes decided to have all-Microsoft-Excel-based assignments, and my iPad sort of sat and gathered dust, since I needed the laptop on me at all times.

(If it matters, I currently have an iPad 2 but I'm going to a school that provides us with new iPads at orientation.)

I was pondering this exact question. My buddy just finished M1, and his '07 MBP's battery pretty much exploded rendering it a desktop (he still hasn't replaced the battery.) He just brings his iPad2 to class and uses a stylus to write notes. He claims that there's nothing in class that requires a laptop over an iPad. I think if I were to go this route, I would get a wireless keyboard for the iPad as I personally hate writing on a tablet.

 

[synecdoche]

I was pondering this exact question. My buddy just finished M1, and his '07 MBP's battery pretty much exploded rendering it a desktop (he still hasn't replaced the battery.) He just brings his iPad2 to class and uses a stylus to write notes. He claims that there's nothing in class that requires a laptop over an iPad. I think if I were to go this route, I would get a wireless keyboard for the iPad as I personally hate writing on a tablet.

I got a wireless keyboard and it's fantastic. I was bummed I didn't get a chance to use it much last year though, since so much of my schoolwork was Excel/PowerPoint and I needed the laptop so much. I was hoping that wouldn't be the case for med school, and per your friend's experience it sounds like it isn't! 👍

My original plan was to get a new laptop and an extra monitor to hook it up at home to for extra screen real estate, but I realized that if my iPad were up to the job, it would be more cost effective to get a desktop with a large monitor and just carry the iPad around all the time at school. For some reason it makes me nervous to ditch the laptop entirely though!

 

[Lya]

Hmm.. That's a good question. I doubt there will be a heavy usage of Excel/PowerPoint in class per se, but maybe for your med school research and study organizing purposes?

Whatever you decide to do, some med students prefer to have double screens, so that they can open multiple windows at once and study. If you are going to study at home mostly using your desktop, I think you should be fine. If you plan to study on campus mostly but you don't mind studying from your tablets and/or written notes, you should be fine as well.

There must be threads about this in med student forum. I would try to search there.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

OP already purchased the Air, so I wouldn't comment further about retina at this point.

However, yes, some websites say retina is not worth the price unless you do professional photoshop or graphic design work. I agree with you to some extent.

Like I said above, though, you can still get retina under $2000 so I wouldn't say it is not worth the price that easily. Some pre-med students are into serious photography and graphic work, so they might have different priorities from typical pre-meds'. I wouldn't say something is not worth the price without inquiring into someone's main purpose of its usage.


Edit: Never mind! I just realized that OP specifically said above it's for general stuff. My fault.

Honestly, once you use retina, everything looks beautiful. From reading ebooks on it to doing other things....

 

[Lya]

Honestly, once you use retina, everything looks beautiful. From reading ebooks on it to doing other things....

I am glad that I am not the only one thinking the same way. =)

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I am glad that I am not the only one thinking the same way. =)

🙂

 

[Ellie Arroway]

Related question: Should you consider more RAM if your school requires you to encrypt your hard drive? Does Filevault slow things down much?

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Related question: Should you consider more RAM if your school requires you to encrypt your hard drive? Does Filevault slow things down much?

Processor speed is the most important for encrypting. Ram can help but not as much as processor power (CPU). I can tell you the retinas processor can do crazy intense things like edit full 1080p with live streaming from 9 angles. So it's amazing in power

 

[hunterjumper14]

I was wondering the exact same thing, OP. After reading this thread, the MBA is sounding better and better.👍 Last time I bought a macbook they came out with a new one soon after and that was a bit of a downer, so the new and shiny MBA is looking pretty nice right about now!

 

[NickNaylor]

This whole thread screams #firstworldproblems. Check with your school and make sure that there isn't a specific computer requirement. After doing that, get whatever you want. It's not going to matter one way or another apart from the corresponding rise or fall or your coolness depending upon the size of your screen.

Sent from my SGH-M919

 

[DR MOM]

My sister warned me NOT to buy a new computer before starting because the school requires everyone to buy one of two options when school starts. The computers come preloaded with a software that they use for school. I'm not sure how common it is, but I just restored my comp to give it the extra year, rather than risk having to sell and rebuy a comp when school starts.

 

[armybound]

My sister warned me NOT to buy a new computer before starting because the school requires everyone to buy one of two options when school starts. The computers come preloaded with a software that they use for school. I'm not sure how common it is, but I just restored my comp to give it the extra year, rather than risk having to sell and rebuy a comp when school starts.

I haven't heard of this, but I'm sure it could exist at some schools.

 

[sinombre]

My sister warned me NOT to buy a new computer before starting because the school requires everyone to buy one of two options when school starts. The computers come preloaded with a software that they use for school. I'm not sure how common it is, but I just restored my comp to give it the extra year, rather than risk having to sell and rebuy a comp when school starts.

My girlfriend had to deal with this. It's a giant scam. A school requiring you to buy a $2000 computer when you'll only ever utilize the computational power of something you could buy for a quarter of the price... ridiculous.

Edit: she's not in medical school, I have no idea what medical schools do this.

 

[deleted303591]

For laptops I think it's 14 days with a 10% restocking fee... unless you buy it used/previously opened.

That is correct.

(Former BBY employee-computer repair technician.)

 

[sinombre]

That is correct.

(Former BBY employee-computer repair technician.)

Same... haha

It's been about 5 years though so I wasn't sure if the policy was still the same.

 

[deleted303591]

Related question: Should you consider more RAM if your school requires you to encrypt your hard drive? Does Filevault slow things down much?

I would consider getting a solid state drive (SSD) instead of a hard drive. This makes the process significantly faster.

The processors are fast enough, in general, relative to the amount of data on an individual's drive.

(I am a CompTIA A+ certified computer repair technician.)

 

[deleted303591]

Same... haha

It's been about 5 years though so I wasn't sure if the policy was still the same.

+1

😎

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

total noob question: is 256gb worth an extra $200 over 128gb?

 

[Dallasmavs]

total noob question: is 256gb worth an extra $200 over 128gb?

Check your current laptop and see how much you currently have filled up. Neither of those options are a lot but for me at least 128gb is not enough but 256gb is. However still not too much room left. All of the pros start at 256gb or more so that's normally not a problem with them.

 

[Lya]

Check your current laptop and see how much you currently have filled up. Neither of those options are a lot but for me at least 128gb is not enough but 256gb is. However still not too much room left. All of the pros start at 256gb or more so that's normally not a problem with them.

Along with the poster above: When I was researching for weeks before purchasing my current MBP retina, I came across quite a few commenters, if not numerous, complaining about 128 GB being insufficient. It depends on people and how they use laptops, I agree, but if you have no idea if 128 GB is enough, I would safely go with 256 GB. It might not be necessary, but it's purely from what I've seen online. So it's up to you.

I believe it is one of reasons why people don't recommend getting 13" retina 128 GB and rather spend that money on 15" retina with 256 GB instead of upgrading that 13" retina to 256 GB.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Along with the poster above: When I was researching for weeks before purchasing my current MBP retina, I came across quite a few commenters, if not numerous, complaining about 128 GB being insufficient. It depends on people and how they use laptops, I agree, but if you have no idea if 128 GB is enough, I would safely go with 256 GB. It might not be necessary, but it's purely from what I've seen online. So it's up to you.

I believe it is one of reasons why people don't recommend getting 13" retina 128 GB and rather spend that money on 15" retina with 256 GB instead of upgrading that 13" retina to 256 GB.

And because the 13" retina is a serious performance loser. All those pixels would do better to have a discrete gpu

 

[GopherMD]

And because the 13" retina is a serious performance loser. All those pixels would do better to have a discrete gpu

This. One is better off either getting a 13" MBA or the 15" rMBP, depending on your needs/wants and your budget.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

This. One is better off either getting a 13" MBA or the 15" rMBP, depending on your needs/wants and your budget.

Yep. +1

 

[IgA]

...

 

[DAPI]

While I think that an extra 128gb of the ssd ram is worth $200, it was not necessary for me so I didn't get it. Also consider that if you're getting the 13 inch air, there is an sd card slot. Therefore, if you went with the 128gb, you could pop in let's say a 64gb sd card and keep it in there for additional storage.

Please don't do this. You go from read/write speeds of like 400/250 MB/s clear down to 20/15 MB/s completely destroying the purpose of the SSD.

 

[IgA]

Please don't do this. You go from read/write speeds of like 400/250 MB/s clear down to 20/15 MB/s completely destroying the purpose of the SSD.

Well I wouldn't do this if I needed the hard drive space for things I actually used, but I don't see the harm in storing old pictures or something on an additional sd card.

 

[AllDay24]

retina is both a blessing and a curse...imagine staring at an old monitor at a prometric center for 6-7 hrs that seems blurry. even using a 1280x800 screen at the time i thought my mcat monitor was kinda blurry

^ one reason i got the 13mba instead of 15mbp-r

 

[TexasSurgeon]

retina is both a blessing and a curse...imagine staring at an old monitor at a prometric center for 6-7 hrs that seems blurry. even using a 1280x800 screen at the time i thought my mcat monitor was kinda blurry

^ one reason i got the 13mba instead of 15mbp-r

????

Worst reason ever.

 

[deleted303591]

????

Worst reason ever.

No.

There is proof that the more pixels per inch on a screen, the faster you can read on a computer.

There has been research proving this.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

No.

There is proof that the more pixels per inch on a screen, the faster you can read on a computer.

There has been research proving this.

So then why didn't Allday buy a retina?

 

[deleted303591]

So then why didn't Allday buy a retina?

Because the higher the resolution, the smaller the images and the text are on the screen.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Because the higher the resolution, the smaller the images and the text are on the screen.

Exactly. So more pixels per inch. So why didn't Allday get a retina?

Also you're wrong, the Regina's 2880x1800 resolution does not make things smaller because it up regulates it to 1440x900

 

[Pons Asinorum]

I doubt there will be a heavy usage of Excel/PowerPoint in class per se, ...

Class is 2-4 hours of ppt, 5 days a week. Yes, there is heavy ppt usage. I convert all to PDF, annotate on iPad using goodreader. Lots of different ppt digestion strategies successfully employed though by different folks.

 

[deleted303591]

Exactly. So more pixels per inch. So why didn't Allday get a retina?

Also you're wrong, the Regina's 2880x1800 resolution does not make things smaller because it up regulates it to 1440x900

It scales. This is just a feature of the operating system.

No I am not wrong. We are talking about native resolution.

 

[deleted303591]

Class is 2-4 hours of ppt, 5 days a week. Yes, there is heavy ppt usage. I convert all to PDF, annotate on iPad using goodreader. Lots of different ppt digestion strategies successfully employed though by different folks.

I use Notability on my iPad, which is amazing, at least for me. Testing out set ups prior to breaking out technology in the lecture hall is always advisable.

If I cannot get a book in PDF, I:

1. Buy the textbook as brand new
2. Go to Kinko's and get the spine of the book cut for a dollar.
3. Watch movie(s) while scanning the book, page by page in color, 600 DPI images,
4. Convert the book in to PDf
5. Put the PDF on my devices

 

[TexasSurgeon]

It scales. This is just a feature of the operating system.

No I am not wrong. We are talking about native resolution.

Lol native will never matter on the retina. It's just a pretty screen

 

[Lya]

Class is 2-4 hours of ppt, 5 days a week. Yes, there is heavy ppt usage. I convert all to PDF, annotate on iPad using goodreader. Lots of different ppt digestion strategies successfully employed though by different folks.

I didn't know about that. Thanks for sharing that experience.

It scales. This is just a feature of the operating system.

No I am not wrong. We are talking about native resolution.

Also you're wrong, the Regina's 2880x1800 resolution does not make things smaller because it up regulates it to 1440x900

I think you guys are referring to the same thing. =) Yes, the true native resolution of 2880 x 1800 makes the fonts and everything else smaller. But with bare naked eyes, I don't think people can tell the differences in quality of pictures between those two resolutions.

Using SetResX, I currently have the native resolution on my screen, instead of typical 1440 x 900. Sure, things are smaller and sometimes hard to read. But I have more free work space in my screen to work with. I also have a zoom feature to read details or smaller texts, so that I don't have to move my face up closer to the screen all the time. After using it this way for 6 months now, I became accustomed to it and wouldn't want to go back to 1440 x 900. It's just from my personal experience, so other users might have different experiences!

 

[AllDay24]

the retina does not make anything smaller, it basically uses 1200 x 800 but has four pixels making up every single pixel, so things are unbelievably clear.

TexasSurgeon: the prometric sites wont even use lcd monitors. theyll use those clunky old blurry crt monitors. your first two years are about your step 1---that's pretty much it. people get headaches from step 1 just because its 6-7 hrs and challenging. then add the fact that your screen is blurry. but....you havent even taken the mcat yet

 

[synecdoche]

Class is 2-4 hours of ppt, 5 days a week. Yes, there is heavy ppt usage. I convert all to PDF, annotate on iPad using goodreader. Lots of different ppt digestion strategies successfully employed though by different folks.

By Excel/Powerpoint usage, I moreso meant do we need to be generating/editing such documents, as opposed to reading and annotating them. It sounds like the latter in your case - out of curiosity, do you ever feel the need to bring a laptop to campus or is the iPad always enough?

 

[Pons Asinorum]

By Excel/Powerpoint usage, I moreso meant do we need to be generating/editing such documents, as opposed to reading and annotating them. It sounds like the latter in your case - out of curiosity, do you ever feel the need to bring a laptop to campus or is the iPad always enough?

Never needed to bring the laptop. If I needed to type something that badly, and I couldn't just go home and do it, I would use one of the multiple places where students have access to desktop computers that are free to use and work from (med library, student study areas, etc.) I never needed my laptop for work.

 

[catzzz88]

I use Notability on my iPad, which is amazing, at least for me. Testing out set ups prior to breaking out technology in the lecture hall is always advisable.

If I cannot get a book in PDF, I:

1. Buy the textbook as brand new
2. Go to Kinko's and get the spine of the book cut for a dollar.
3. Watch movie(s) while scanning the book, page by page in color, 600 DPI images,
4. Convert the book in to PDf
5. Put the PDF on my devices

wow, seriously? That is true dedication!

What scanner do you use? I am assuming you have autofeeder?

When searching, I also found this site. For anyone interested in paying to have it done, I think this is feasible!

 

[synecdoche]

Never needed to bring the laptop. If I needed to type something that badly, and I couldn't just go home and do it, I would use one of the multiple places where students have access to desktop computers that are free to use and work from (med library, student study areas, etc.) I never needed my laptop for work.

Cool, thanks!

 

[Temerit]

Wait until they update the retina line with the Haswell processors and next generation SSDs and get one of those.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Wait until they update the retina line with the Haswell processors and next generation SSDs and get one of those.

Yeah I really wanted to wait a year as well for the haswells. But I had to have a laptop last year and went with retina in 2012. A great decision though

 

[Mavs88]

Getting the new MacBook Air 13.3! So damn excited. Going to keep my acer for hdmi/dvd purposes, but good riddance am I done with the unreliable windows world. Not to mention Windows 8 is absolutely horrible.

 

[sbEMT33]

i vote the 13" macbook pro, i have the new one and its great. A friend of mine recently bought the air as well and he's always complaining about it.

 

[ES2]

I just dropped 2.5k on the new 15" retina, but I'm loving how fast and beautiful the display is.

 

[BABSstudent]

I just dropped 2.5k on the new 15" retina, but I'm loving how fast and beautiful the display is.

I dropped $1000 on a 15 in, high def laptop with 8 gigs of ram, 10 hour battery life, windows computer. Every aspect of my laptop is better or equal to the Mac. However, what should I do with the extra $1500?