Seeking Laptop Buying Tips for College Life: Recommendations? Mac-XP Networking?

November 11, 2004 12:03 AM

First, a follow-up. I'm going back to school this spring! Thanks for the words of wisdom and encouragement, guys! I'm probably going to be studying either history (with the goal of teaching) or photojournalism, but I haven't decided for sure yet.

Secondly, I'm contemplating getting a laptop for my return to collegiate life. Are they as useful and omnipresent in college life as they seem to be? If so, what laptop do you recommend? I must admit, I have become iCurious. Will I have problems networking with my XP machine if I go the Mac route? If I don't, what manufacturer do you recommend? My budget is $1000 or below, but I could go up to $1500 if you give me a really compelling reason.
posted by keswick to computers & internet (20 comments total)

I am no expert on Apple computers but it seemed to work great with this old imac at my friends house using Netbios. I mainly streamed Mp3s through Itunes onto a stereo for kicks. It was amazingly slow and shitty but I find personality in computers so bad they can barely do one thing you need it for.

I had this Pentium 75 with spray painted flames across it in red and blue with a Sound Blaster AWE 64. It had 3 2.5 gig hard drives and I used it at a friends house to play back music on Winamp through an amplifier. The hard drives were dying so we had to delete songs one by one when it froze the computer. If I remember correctly it made patches out of my NOFX collection. :)
posted by Keyser Soze at 12:13 AM on November 11, 2004

For the first part of your question, a lot of it depends on where and what you're going for? As a science major, nobody ever uses them (ever tried writing out physics problems or the Kreb's cycle on a laptop? NOT my idea of a good time). Even in more writing-style classes, nobody used them here (University of Georgia). However, I think it is part of the culture down and also because classrooms here aren't equipped for laptop use. Switch to someplace like Harvard where all the desks are outfitted for laptops and more people use them. A lot of it is personal preferance, such as do you want to tote it to class or use it down at the local coffee shop to do your homework on? Is it for gaming, or do you already have a desktop for all your burning and gaming goods? I think a lot of it comes down to is it your primary/only computer (my laptop is) or an extra for use of convenience? If it is the later, you can easily get under $1000. Otherwise, you're looking at right around $1300-1600.
For your budget, first figure out what you want and STAY FIRM with that. Next, do NOT buy one asap. Check out prices on your ideal machine. Figure out what a normal price is it for it, and then wait for a sale- they WILL happen. Shop, shop, shop and learn learn learn untill you find exactly want you want...you'll thank yourself down the line for waiting that extra time.
Oh, and I got a good Sony Vaio with good video card, DVD-burner, 15' screen, all the gooodies for $1500 (well, it was free, but that's because of warranty). The other factor on your price range is a warranty, which typically runs around $200-300. and GET IT, GET IT, GET IT. I have literally saved thousands of dollars and got a free laptop out of a $300 investment- and from Best Buy nonetheless.
Sorry if rambled on for a bit...just got done writing a science paper (take asprin, kiddies! It really does reduce the risk of cancer!!!) at 3am and my brain's fried.
posted by jmd82 at 12:21 AM on November 11, 2004

Just as a note to help you decide between Mac and Windows, I think if you want to take tests on your computer, you're stuck using a Windows machine. I would double-check before making a final decision. See if your school has recommendations as to what type of machine students should get.

As for manufacturers, if you do go with Windows, IBM and Fujitsu are your safest bets. Toshiba's OK. Dell is hit or miss. Definitely not HP or Compaq.
posted by EatenByAGrue at 12:24 AM on November 11, 2004

I became iCurious about a year ago and pretty much just plunged into the switch. I haven't had any problems with compatibility in any regard, connecting my PowerBook, an iBook and two XP machines through a $50 router and sharing a DSL connection among the four. I also take my tests, access the school UNIX server (since OS X is basically UNIX) through the terminal window, and use Fugu for transferring the files I need to update my school website project. This semester I'm taking a computer science class and have been able to do everything (assembly language programming, gates, etc) everyone else has. I would also see using a Mac as an advantage if you go for photojournalism. If you want to make budget though, you probably want to stick with XP, you can get a pretty good setup from Dell for under a grand, or the lowest-end setup on a 12" iBook. Check to see if you can get a student discount through school. The Apple store for education or whatever manufacturer you decide on will probably give you a couple hundred bucks break (at least) for your student status. Whatever you decide, congratulations and good luck Keswick!
posted by tetsuo at 12:44 AM on November 11, 2004

Congrats Keswick!

I recently switched to an iBook from a ThinkPad. While no one can touch the quality of a ThinkPad keyboard, the overall build quality of the iBook is much sturdier. The case is tough, the screen is bright, the battery lasts over 4 hours, and OS X is at a level of sophistication that Windows might reach in 5 years if they're lucky. Compatibility has never been an issue. In fact, I've found OS X to be more compatible with Windows networks than many Windows machines.

And if you're unlucky enough to take a class which requires Windows for test-taking, there is always VirtualPC.
posted by 4easypayments at 1:03 AM on November 11, 2004

My vicarious experiences with iBooks is that they are not particularly well-built, and (all generations) frequently have problems with power. My friend's iBook lost Airport functionality (the antenna running from the bottom into the screen was frayed by the opening and closing of the computer) and all screen functionality (you had to squeeze the lower left corner of the computer to get a picture to show up, I have no idea about this one) within 3 years. I know a couple other people who had to have their power plug replaced (lengthy repair times) but still had problems.

I'm convinced the whole Apple thing is a scam. Using them at work, I can't understand the appeal, and I feel like the most expensive G5's are required to provide the same smooth GUI feel under OS X I get on my 4-year-old PII under Win2000. Especially if you're not looking to drop more than $1000, an Apple seems like a foolish thing to buy.

Your best bet for a solid notebook under $1000: Become a frequent reader of Fatwallet's Hot Deals Forum and wait around (shouldn't be any longer than a month or two) for one of Dell's fabulous promotions. Every few weeks there's a 24-hour window where you can snag a really solid Dell laptop for $1000 or so. Someone will post all the necessary details- you just have to read that page every time you're online and wait for that deal to appear. Though it's rarer, maybe something similar will pop up for a Thinkpad too.
posted by rxrfrx at 3:08 AM on November 11, 2004

About networking: Connecting anything to a Windows network is easier than connecting a Windows PC to a Mac network, yes. This is simply due to the popularity of Windows and therefore Windows fileshares; everyone wants a utility to connect to them. Connecting a Windows PC to a Mac network requires add-on software.


However: Mac (appletalk) networks are largely a thing of the past. If you go to pretty much any university, you will not encounter them. Locally shared files (say, for a class) will be provided on websites accessible only on campus, or on a website that requires you to login, or in some other straightforward manner. I'd say the only place you might still encounter Appleshares is when you're looking to download mp3 from the Apple user across the hall. (And even then, probably not, thanks to iTunes-based music sharing).


About using a computer for work, as a science student: I have to use computers all the time, very often for spreadsheet and plotting purposes. Sure, it's tedious to type out physics equations on a computer, but it's a lot more tedious to calculate and graph 100 data points by hand. MS Excel is one of my best tools. I would imagine that any photojournalist would want a convenient way of accessing, viewing, and storing digital images.



Oh, and the most important word of advice on laptops: Never get a "department store" brand like Compaq, HP, or Toshiba. You'll regret it sooner or later.
posted by rxrfrx at 3:18 AM on November 11, 2004

Firstly, congrats, Keswick!

Secondly, laptops are becoming ubiquitous in my experience mainly because everyone else is using one. Does that make sense? That said, I just got one myself. As jmd82 said, the key thing is what you want it for. Mine is now my primary computer, and as a grad student I have a work room (er, three days a week) which has wireless access, and so having the laptop makes doing work much easier. I brought it to class last night though, and hated taking notes on it. So, don't let all the kiddies intimidate you - if you think you'll use it to work away from home, buy one, but otherwise, if you already have a good computer, no need. (And don't forget that having a laptop open in class makes it really easy to play games, surf the net, or be distracted...)

Thirdly, the laptop I bought was a 14" iBook, the new upgraded ones. I am in love with the Mac (my husband has a PowerBook) and it's very, very easy in terms of compatibility (and I'm not very computer-savvy.) Heck, I even bought MS Word (very $$$, by the way, something to keep in mind) because I wanted the easiest route possible given that the school is completely PC-centric, and it works better than it does on any PC I've used. I don't hate it as much as I usually do. (We'll see how I feel after I start footnoting). ;)

Finally, I've also used a ThinkPad in the past, and I must say, it was a damn fine computer. Weighed a ton, but worked even though I dropped it at least 4 times. Very reliable. It will set you back more, though, although I've always thought that once you've hit the $1K mark, you might as well get the best you can, rather than skimping on a few hundred bucks and getting something that will fall apart, imo.
posted by livii at 6:54 AM on November 11, 2004

Only nerds use them in class.

My University is set up for laptops in the library, which is usefull. In class - they can be a real pain in the ass. I tried it, and got a lot of staredowns because of the "click click click." I haven't used one in class since.
posted by Quartermass at 8:40 AM on November 11, 2004

I'm a grad student in the humanities, and personally speaking, a laptop is really helpful. As a literature student I spend all day in the library--having a laptop means that I can get all sorts of work done there. It isn't just about coffee shops--you'll want to be able to take your laptop into the reference room or the stacks, sit down with a huge stack of books, and write. If you spend a lot of time writing, you come to appreciate being able to do it in places other than your study.

As for Mac vs. PC, I would say go ahead and go Mac. Obviously you will read lots of pro and con advice about Macs and PCs on AskMe and elsewhere, but you will never encounter conclusive advice that means anything ultimately. I've used Macs and PCs extensively, and love my PowerBook; I've never had any trouble using it in a university context, and I love OS X--for me it's certainly not a 'scam.' In the very worst case, you will use your Mac for a couple years and then switch back, but if you're curious you might as well try it. I don't really see a downside, and you'll get to see for yourself what's up with the Mac.

If you are going to go Mac, the iBooks and PowerBooks are both really nice, though the PB has a better keyboard, which is why I went with it over the iBook. Get the 12" model, in any case; you'll want something you can carry easily on the days you decide to bring it.
posted by josh at 9:09 AM on November 11, 2004

keswick -- congrats! I had missed the first thread -- and after visiting there just now, I'm re-energized to continue my own quest. (Thanks MeFi!)

On topic -- I've been enjoying a big-screen Sony Vaio but it would be a lot to lug around between classes all day. Also, when it developed a motherboard problem 1 month out of warranty and would not boot up, we were charged a minimum fee of $700 to send it in for diagnosis & repair. Luckily that did cover most of the cost of the repair. Unluckily, they decided to replace the hard drive full of important work stuff while they were at it. Response to my resulting complaint was "Well, *snort*, didn't you back it up before you sent it in?" (No, it wouldn't BOOT.)

Friends with IBM Thinkpads report rugged reliability. I'd be tempted to look in that direction.
posted by Tubes at 9:26 AM on November 11, 2004

I'm a big Fujitsu fan.
posted by rushmc at 9:58 AM on November 11, 2004

I can't believe the baloney rxrfrx is spouting. There are, like, 12 things to dispute there. I don't have the time to do it (and a good googling will turn up proper refutations, anyway), but if Ask Metafilter had modding and I had points, I'd mod that post at -5 points.
posted by Mo Nickels at 10:27 AM on November 11, 2004

If you are going to go Mac, the iBooks and PowerBooks are both really nice, though the PB has a better keyboard, which is why I went with it over the iBook. Get the 12" model, in any case; you'll want something you can carry easily on the days you decide to bring it.

The PB does have a nicer keyboard - it's practically silent and the touch pad button is much quieter than on the iBook.

I will sort of disagree about the 12" thing - the 14" is only one lb. heavier and I don't find it heavy to carry around at all (unless it goes over one shoulder, but that's un-ergonomic anyway). Plus, if you are going to do a lot of writing on it (if you're in the humanities, etc.) then the big screen is great. My husband has the 12" PB and I find it small to sit and type on for long periods. Of course, YMMV.
posted by livii at 12:31 PM on November 11, 2004

Yay school!

The majority of people in my class use laptops for notetaking -- they bring them to class everyday. I have a four year old Titanium PowerBook with an airport card in it and have no problems connecting to the wireless network at school or to the home network, which involves Windows XP. Actually, I have considerably fewer problems connecting to the school network than most of my classmates. Dells seem to be the worst for dropping connections, but that's purely anecdotal. I have also made some friends based on a shared love of Macs.

If I were to get another laptop, I'd get a 12-inch iBook. They are durable, cheap(ish), light and have more than enough power for my needs. Definitely take advantage of Apple's educational discount if you go that route.

The HUGE downside to having a Mac is that if your school allows you to type your exams on a laptop, they will probably use Examsoft and that doesn't work on a Mac, or under a Windows emulator.
posted by jennyb at 9:24 PM on November 11, 2004

Exams on the computer? They didn't have this the last time I was in school. What's this all about, anyone?
posted by keswick at 10:31 PM on November 11, 2004

The biggest advantage to a laptop is portability - not so much to the library or the classroom, but across the country or the world. I did just fine for years in undergrad with a desktop - but after beginning grad school, a laptop has become a god send. It's useful in the library (also lets me check my email obsessively), but most of all I don't have to loose my computer every summer when I am researching elsewhere.

My roommate is extremely happy with her 12" iBook - very long battery life (5+ hours). Best price for processing power and HD capacity of any of the big companies. She paid much less than my fiance did for a comparable (but much heavier) Dell, and her HD capacity kicks both of our computers. I've never actually heard of computerised exams, except for disabled students, so I don't think that should be too much of a worry.

I am not a Mac person, so I went for a discount Averatec - about $1000 for the new model, which looks pretty sweet (I have the 3150). I've only had it about 6 months, and have had one problem with the hard drive, but a reinstall fixed that. It scratches easily, has some other cosmetic problems, but is the cheapest of any computers, got very good reviews and has been very working well for me. I only get about 1-2 hours on battery though (used to be 3, but my external wireless is always plugged in now).

Dealtime is also a good place to do comparison shopping.
posted by jb at 10:44 PM on November 11, 2004

Oh - and I should add, just as I've tripped over my computer's power cord and ripped it out of the socket, I'm a good test of durability in computers : )
posted by jb at 10:47 PM on November 11, 2004

Exams on the computer (sorry for not coming back sooner):

The magic of technology allows students who use Windows laptops and who attend schools with wireless networks to type those dreadful, long essay exams on their laptops. The student downloads a program (like Examsoft, linked in my last post) that functions like a feature-limited word processor that blocks access to all other aps on the laptop, to prevent cheating. At the same time, the student registers an ID number. Once the exam is done, the student sends his or her work over the wirelessness for grading. The grades are associated with the registration number and then the student's ID number or anonymous exam number or whatever system the school uses to keep things fair.

Or I think. My explanation gets theoretical after the downloading part, because I don't have a Windows laptop and didn't taunt myself by staying at the meetings about how to use Examsoft.

If your school has campus-wide wireless networking, they might offer this. I suppose it also depends on the types of exams you'll be taking. One of my exams is mostly multiple choice and short answer and must be taken on paper. The rest are those long, dreadful essay types. My rough estimate is that about 2/3 of the students will use their laptops for exams.

I'll be suffering hand craps and fits of illegibility with my other Mac brethren. Such martyrs to the cause are we!
posted by jennyb at 8:40 PM on November 12, 2004

OH also, the last school I attended didn't have wireless access, but you could take your exams in a monitored computer room. I imagine you needed a reason for doing so beyond "Writing too much gives me hand cramps" but I never really looked into it.
posted by jennyb at 8:45 PM on November 12, 2004