Question:
laptop for lawschool
INSTRUCTIONS: New laptop buyers, please copy and paste the below questions into a new thread with as many answers as you can give, this way others can help you to find a laptop that fits your needs.
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General Questions
1) Are you looking for an Ultraportable (12" screen or less), Thin-and-Light (13" - 14" screen), Mainstream (15" - 16" screen) or Desktop Replacement (17"+ screen) style notebook?
THIN AND LIGHT, THOUGH MAINSTREAM IS POSSIBLE
2) Where are you going to be using this notebook (home, office, campus, library, outside etc.)?
MOSTLY ON CAMPUS, COMMUTING TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY
3) Will you be playing games on it (yes, no)? If yes, which ones?
YES, BUT NOTHING OVERLY COMPETATIVE
4) How many applications will you be running at one time (1-4, 5-10, 10+)?
1-6 I GUESS
5) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
IT SEEMS I HAVE BEEN EYEING DELLS, BUT I AM OPEN TO ANYTHING...NEEDS TO BE RELIABLE, CAUSE I DONT KNOW MUCH
6) How much battery life do you need (in hours)?
I WILL BE AT SCHOOL ALL DAY, TIME TO RECHARGE, BUT BATTERY LIFE IS IMPORTANT
7) How much are you willing to pay for this laptop and do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
I AM HOPING TO SPEND AROUND 1000, 1500 MAX...LOOKING FOR VALUE, NOT PEAK PERFORMANCE
Screen Specifics
8) What resolution screen do you like -- XGA, SXGA or UXGA (XGA is standard, SXGA gives smaller text and icons, UXGA is very small text and icons)?
NOT REAL IMPORTANT TO ME
9) Do you prefer widescreen format or standard screen format display?
EITHER
10) Do you want a glossy (reflective and bright) type screen or regular matte (no reflection and anti-glare) type screen finish?
EITHER
Build Quality and Design
11) Do you need the notebook to be extra durable (good idea for carrying about) or just regular strength (fine for a fairly stationary notebook)?
FAIRLY DURABLE, COMMUTING AND I HAVE AN ALMOST 2 YEAR OLD
12) Do you want the notebook to look nice or do looks not matter?
LETS JUST SAY I DONT WANT TO LOOK TO BAD
13) How long do you want this laptop to last you?
I WOULD LOVE IT TO LAST THROUGH LAW SCHOOL...3-4 YRS
Notebook Components
14) How much hard drive (disk) space do you need (in MB) and do you care about hard drive speed (yes, no)? If you care about speed, what do you want (4200 RPM / 5400 RPM / 7200 RPM)?
I THINK 40-60 WOULD WORK, SPEED DOESNT MATTER
15) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, what do you want (DVD, DVD-CDRW, DVD Burner)?
YES, CD BURNER IS FINE
16) State if you prefer a processor brand (Intel or AMD) and the speed you want (don't care / mid-range / fast / fastest possible)?
IM NOT SURE, I HAVE HEARD I SHOULD TRY TO GET 64 BIT CHIP (AMD) SPEED WISE I WOULD LIKE MID RANGE
Other
17) Do you plan to upgrade this laptop at some point (typically people might want to upgrade memory, hard drive or the optical drive)?
PROBABLY NOT
OTHER
I AM NOT MUCH OF A COMPUTER PERSON, BUT I HAVE SOME FRIENDS WHO ARE. THEY CAN HELP WITH SOME ISSUES, BUT I CAN ONLY CONVINCE MY WIFE ONCE, THIS LAPTOP NEEDS TO BE RELIABLE :)
Answer:
Re: laptop for lawschool
For the best value, try the HP dv1000 series or the Compaq V2000Z series. It's powerful enough for what you're doing.
The Fujitsu S2110 is more expensive, but still under your budget. It offers a smaller size and better screen/build quality than the HP's.
Acer TravelMate 3002 is worth checking out as well.
Answer:
Re: laptop for lawschool
I'm thinking ThinkPad for you. They are the best built notebooks and have the best keyboards for all that typing you'll be doing. 64 bit is overrated. The Pentium M is the best notebook at this point. Asus Z63a and Fujitsu S are a couple other good choices. Good Luck.
Answer:
Re: laptop for lawschool
The HP DV1000 has my vote for you :) Very nice, budget computer.
Answer:
Re: laptop for lawschool
Of course I would recommend IBM as I own one, but also like Asus and Sony too.
Does anyone have any experience with the HP nc6230 or Dell Latitude series ? Although business notebooks, are they available to everyone ?
Answer:
Re: laptop for lawschool
Yes - Latitudes are cheifly aimed at Business, but if you order from the Small Business site, all you have to do is put down a name for your 'business' - pretty much anything but 'Home Office'. ;)
I love Dell Latitudes - at my office, we are entirely a Dell Shop (I stick out like a sore thumb :p), and we have many of the new Latitudes. The D610 is the best balanced Latitude in my opinion - 14" is small enough for travel, but you can pack all the high powered components into it, such as a Pentium M and a Radeon X300.
Answer:
Re: laptop for lawschool
is the fujitsu available only by ordering from japan? where are there computers serviced?
Answer:
Re: laptop for lawschool
You can get Fujitsu laptops from them - here.
You can also get them at PortableOne - they are an excellent reseller.
Answer:
Re: laptop for lawschool
Your law school probably has a deal with Dell that gets you a percentage discount off of those Dell Latitudes, too.
Answer:
Re: laptop for lawschool
On the front page, in today's Tech Deals, there is a 15% off coupon for Latitudes. :D That's a deal you don't often get, especially on the business line.