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About laptops...
This fall will be my first year going to SFU (directly from highschool) and I am thinking about getting myself a laptop... A lot of my teachers back in highschool told me that it is one of the "must have"s but I have also heard that some people got through fine without one? So I am very confused...
Well, I think I will be getting one anyhow and was just wondering just what kind of specs I should be looking for. I am going into my first year of bachelor of business admin program. I honestly don't know very much about computers and things like that and need help big time~
What kinds of programs will I be expected to use? Just simple Microsoft Office tools? How about gigs and ram and things like that...how about speed wise? I saw ones like "celeron" "centrino" and things like that for HP laptops....totally confused. Any little detail you can provide...will be appreciated greatly!!
Well, I think I will be getting one anyhow and was just wondering just what kind of specs I should be looking for. I am going into my first year of bachelor of business admin program. I honestly don't know very much about computers and things like that and need help big time~
What kinds of programs will I be expected to use? Just simple Microsoft Office tools? How about gigs and ram and things like that...how about speed wise? I saw ones like "celeron" "centrino" and things like that for HP laptops....totally confused. Any little detail you can provide...will be appreciated greatly!!
Comments
HP tx1220
AMD Turion 64 x2
2GB ram
12.1" screen
3.9lbs
It was pricey by my standards but I'll be using it for a long time, so it was worth it.
Oh and if the place where you will be buying your laptop offers you "the latest version of MS Office" say no. I still use Office XP and it works fine.
i don't believe you'll need a dualcore/2gb ram/12.1" expensive smaller screen
small is a definite, i'd suggest 14'1, it's a bit more common, lightweight, smaller screen means less energy expenditure
512mb - 1gb of ram is fine
BUT ULTIMATELY
getting a laptop in university can be described with two letters
AP or academic probation , cause you'll see students playing games and not focussing in lectures because of this, which is a reason why i don't bother spending money on a laptop.
and by the sounds of it, if you don't know Vista, you probably don't need a computer that's too complex. IVT just has high standards haha.
http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=83%2C84%2C85,4467&webid=706755&affixedcode=WW
something like that sounds like it'd be what you're expecting, and the price definitely makes it a lot more considerable.
If I were to go back to university I would get the IBM thinkpad x61 tablet series but they can be pricey. I think you're looking at $2500 and up but at least you can write on the screen when needed. And they're like 12 inches and about 3.2 lbs.
The laptop you've suggested up there looks pretty good to me (esp the price) but I just have a question...is "celeron" okay in speed wise? like someone told me about pentium 3 and 4 then they said celeron is pretty slow if you are multi-tasking....uhh not really sure what that is all about
the people that work at the computer stores can answer all your questions in person, provide further information + extended warranty if you need it etc, it's also better to see it in person and test the weight.
but again, i don't suggest a laptop period unless you don't have a home computer.
Hmmm, twiddle my thumbs or play games while in lecture....
i dont carry it to school that often (im a pen and paper kinda person for notes), but it was useful when i had classes last year with programming or power point pres and stuf
Its such a distraction. I've seen people in class sit on facebook the whole time, so whats the point of even coming to lecture.
The 499$ is a good deal, cheap with great parts for the price you're paying..
For me, my laptop has saved my ass so many times because I save just about everything on it. As for notetaking.. I'm a slow writer so my laptop saved me there as well haha.
I do use it at home alot. People who use laptop to play games during lectures are evil - they distract me so much =D !!!
As for the Microsoft Office-I don't even have it. Instead I use Open Office-it's free and it's good!
I've got a laptop that was purchased through the Chemistry Department since it's officially for my research work (I have to be able to connect remotely to a mainframe from SFU or from my house or from anywhere, so the laptop was deemed necessary by my supervisor); problem is, it's deuced heavy. It's not so bad if I've got it on a table or whatever, but if I'm lugging it from A to B - geesh!
If it wasn't for the fact that it was basically free I'd have long since taken it back during the initial warranty period and asked for a lighter laptop. :tongue:
I don't usually bring my laptop to school, at least not for lectures. It's Very distracting and I find I retain information much better if I'm writing notes down by hand. I only bring it if I really need to get work done at school.
But then again, I didn't buy my laptops mainly for educational reasons, more for work-related reasons.