warriors
I am going to replace my desktop computer that i built with a laptop so i can save some space and be more portable. What laptops brands are good, and what do you recommend. I need something that i can do research (med student), listen to music and just have fun at top speed
Answer
Not sure what kinda med student you are, but most hospitals I've seen use Windows based software if that matters. From terminals to lifesign monitors to surgical imaging. Here are some details on laptops.
For Vista, look at the MS requirementsâ¦and double it at least and make sure it's certified. Triple if you can affordâ¦then Vista should rock your socks. If you learn how to use it, Vista features and technology blows XP awayâ¦when it works. ;) You want it to last so get 64-bit Vista Home Premium or Ultimate. Itâs mega-fast with 64-bit apps as well as lets you upgrade > 4GB TOTAL RAM (system RAM + graphics card + other devices).
But if you have old programs, they might not work (esp. with 64-bit version). Google âVista compatibility listâ. Knowing a bit about computers helps getting the old problematic ones to work (Internet has a lot of solutions that smart people share).
Ultimate is the best but if you donât think you need anything that fancy, Home Premium is good too. Get a good video card if you want Aero graphics (at least 256MB 128-bit in the newer cards). Better if you can afford.
Vista uses extra RAM to store commonly used files in a new activity known as âdisk cachingâ. The computer uses artificial intelligence to determine which files will be used most and copies it to RAM (where it is much faster than accessing your hard disk). This includes components of the programs you use on a regular basis. When you need more RAM for programs you launch, etc. the computer purges the âleast likely usedâ files from RAM to make room for the new program. Thatâs why if you look at the performance monitor, Vista always has near zero âfreeâ RAM. So in theory, the more RAM (for disk cache) you have, the faster your computer will operate. This can also be augmented (to a lesser effect) with a USB flash drive with a technology called ReadyBoost. Just stick it in and select âSpeed up my systemâ and leave it there.
Vista Home Premium and Ultimate has Windows Media Center, where with a TV card/USB adapter (if not integrated) of the type that fits your TV/Cable, acts similar to TiVo. You can play your videos, schedule recordings, etc. You can get a wireless keyboard / mouse or gyro-mouse and it will be sort of like remote control. If you do this, get a big Hard Disk.
Vista supports touch-screens and voice recognition if youâre into note-taking and dictation. A good program to use with this is OneNote, which is included in some Office editions.
Deals of America and Tech Bargains catch good deals on HP and Dellâs and sometimes you can get like $500 off! XPBargains has deals on Tablet PCâs!
â
Unless you are an artist, most Universities (and programs) as well as the rest of the world use Windows. WinMacs are popular but for the price, Macs donât run Windows as well as other brands, but sometimes it doesn't really matter that much to most users. In addition some just want it for fashion and like them to match their iPods.
Macs are durable because many have an accelerometer in there that can "increase the chance" of saving your hard drive when you drop it. Like those used in airbags. The power cord is also magnetically attached so it reduces the chance that you yank it off the table.
OSXMacs can exclusively install Final Cut Pro (which is good for media work). Adobe CS is also good and available for Windows but works better on OSX. The Windows version actually looks like an OSX port. Many OSX keepers are artists as usual. Emotion workers are generally not as good with computers as logic workers so OSX is good for them. Because itâs less complicated and harder to mess up, a lot of computer newbies also use Macs and you will see a lot of âGet a Mac! They are so awesome!â without any technical explanation to back up that opinion. ;)
Mac Pros:
OSX stability
OSX is easy to use
Dual-bootable to Windows
More durable than many brands
Trendy
Mac Cons:
Not as much peripheral support
Not as much software support
Windows doesnât run as good
Expensive
Minority
Windows PC Pros:
More customizable
More choices
More styles
Cheap hardware
Vista has best gaming capability (Direct3D 10)
Windows PC Cons:
Less stable (unless you are an IT pro)
Many are relatively not as fashionable
Not as user-friendly
Some extra features in Windows requires advanced knowledge to use
The extra features require better hardware despite your use of them or not
Details of features can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vista
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X
Some brand statistics: In terms of recent sales, the top 3 manufacturers are HP, Dell, and Acer (Gateway). Apple is #4 in USA.
http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2008/04/24/mac-q1-2008-market-share-3-26-percent-worldwide-6-26-percent-in-the-us.aspx
Pretty good deal on a powerful laptop: $900 - Gateway M-6851 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo T5550(1.83GHz) 15.4" Wide XGA 4GB Memory DDR2 667 250GB HDD 5400rpm Dual layer DVD Burner ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600(512MB GDDR3 Dedicated Memory)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834101154
Not sure what kinda med student you are, but most hospitals I've seen use Windows based software if that matters. From terminals to lifesign monitors to surgical imaging. Here are some details on laptops.
For Vista, look at the MS requirementsâ¦and double it at least and make sure it's certified. Triple if you can affordâ¦then Vista should rock your socks. If you learn how to use it, Vista features and technology blows XP awayâ¦when it works. ;) You want it to last so get 64-bit Vista Home Premium or Ultimate. Itâs mega-fast with 64-bit apps as well as lets you upgrade > 4GB TOTAL RAM (system RAM + graphics card + other devices).
But if you have old programs, they might not work (esp. with 64-bit version). Google âVista compatibility listâ. Knowing a bit about computers helps getting the old problematic ones to work (Internet has a lot of solutions that smart people share).
Ultimate is the best but if you donât think you need anything that fancy, Home Premium is good too. Get a good video card if you want Aero graphics (at least 256MB 128-bit in the newer cards). Better if you can afford.
Vista uses extra RAM to store commonly used files in a new activity known as âdisk cachingâ. The computer uses artificial intelligence to determine which files will be used most and copies it to RAM (where it is much faster than accessing your hard disk). This includes components of the programs you use on a regular basis. When you need more RAM for programs you launch, etc. the computer purges the âleast likely usedâ files from RAM to make room for the new program. Thatâs why if you look at the performance monitor, Vista always has near zero âfreeâ RAM. So in theory, the more RAM (for disk cache) you have, the faster your computer will operate. This can also be augmented (to a lesser effect) with a USB flash drive with a technology called ReadyBoost. Just stick it in and select âSpeed up my systemâ and leave it there.
Vista Home Premium and Ultimate has Windows Media Center, where with a TV card/USB adapter (if not integrated) of the type that fits your TV/Cable, acts similar to TiVo. You can play your videos, schedule recordings, etc. You can get a wireless keyboard / mouse or gyro-mouse and it will be sort of like remote control. If you do this, get a big Hard Disk.
Vista supports touch-screens and voice recognition if youâre into note-taking and dictation. A good program to use with this is OneNote, which is included in some Office editions.
Deals of America and Tech Bargains catch good deals on HP and Dellâs and sometimes you can get like $500 off! XPBargains has deals on Tablet PCâs!
â
Unless you are an artist, most Universities (and programs) as well as the rest of the world use Windows. WinMacs are popular but for the price, Macs donât run Windows as well as other brands, but sometimes it doesn't really matter that much to most users. In addition some just want it for fashion and like them to match their iPods.
Macs are durable because many have an accelerometer in there that can "increase the chance" of saving your hard drive when you drop it. Like those used in airbags. The power cord is also magnetically attached so it reduces the chance that you yank it off the table.
OSXMacs can exclusively install Final Cut Pro (which is good for media work). Adobe CS is also good and available for Windows but works better on OSX. The Windows version actually looks like an OSX port. Many OSX keepers are artists as usual. Emotion workers are generally not as good with computers as logic workers so OSX is good for them. Because itâs less complicated and harder to mess up, a lot of computer newbies also use Macs and you will see a lot of âGet a Mac! They are so awesome!â without any technical explanation to back up that opinion. ;)
Mac Pros:
OSX stability
OSX is easy to use
Dual-bootable to Windows
More durable than many brands
Trendy
Mac Cons:
Not as much peripheral support
Not as much software support
Windows doesnât run as good
Expensive
Minority
Windows PC Pros:
More customizable
More choices
More styles
Cheap hardware
Vista has best gaming capability (Direct3D 10)
Windows PC Cons:
Less stable (unless you are an IT pro)
Many are relatively not as fashionable
Not as user-friendly
Some extra features in Windows requires advanced knowledge to use
The extra features require better hardware despite your use of them or not
Details of features can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vista
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X
Some brand statistics: In terms of recent sales, the top 3 manufacturers are HP, Dell, and Acer (Gateway). Apple is #4 in USA.
http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2008/04/24/mac-q1-2008-market-share-3-26-percent-worldwide-6-26-percent-in-the-us.aspx
Pretty good deal on a powerful laptop: $900 - Gateway M-6851 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo T5550(1.83GHz) 15.4" Wide XGA 4GB Memory DDR2 667 250GB HDD 5400rpm Dual layer DVD Burner ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600(512MB GDDR3 Dedicated Memory)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834101154
Which laptop is best for a pre-med student?
Cool Chick
The University I'm going to next year says it doesn't matter between a PC or a Mac. I feel like a PC would be better for me because it's easier for me to use. But I want a reliable laptop that'll last me all 4 years. And what about GB and other memory? How much do i really need if I won't be gaming on it or using other art/3D programs? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks! :)
And if anyone has a specific model in mind, that'd be even better and I'll look into it.
Answer
Don't limit it on things you claim you won't be doing.
Golden rule is to buy the best your budget will allow. Then you'll never have regrets about what you've done.
If the laptop can't do what you need it to, it's simply out of your control - you initially did everything you could. But by buying the best you could afford, you will be reducing the possibility of this happening.
Don't limit it on things you claim you won't be doing.
Golden rule is to buy the best your budget will allow. Then you'll never have regrets about what you've done.
If the laptop can't do what you need it to, it's simply out of your control - you initially did everything you could. But by buying the best you could afford, you will be reducing the possibility of this happening.
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