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Notebook for college
- Thread starter nikeballa09
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Are laptops really essential for college? For the same amount of money as a well equipped laptop you can get a dual 1.8G5...any thoughts on this for college?
crowdaddy said:
Laptops are essential for college. You can take them with you to class, to the library etc... that sort of portability in an educational setting can be invaluable.
laptops aren't essential in college, but desktops are practically useless. around here, they have lots of computer labs, but you still end up waiting in line for an hour and a half towards the end of the semester. the problem with a desktop at home is that it's noisy at home--roommates, music, tv, etc. it's a lot better if you can go the library where it's quiet and have the comfort of using your own computer and not a lab machine.
ok....
would maxing out on a 14"Ibook (1.2 GHZ, 1.25 ram, superdrive) be worth it (opposed to a PB) for someone heading into the medical sciences? This means I will not be doing any professional multimedia work, just surfing, MS office, and a game here or there. Can the ibook handle what I want to do with it?
would maxing out on a 14"Ibook (1.2 GHZ, 1.25 ram, superdrive) be worth it (opposed to a PB) for someone heading into the medical sciences? This means I will not be doing any professional multimedia work, just surfing, MS office, and a game here or there. Can the ibook handle what I want to do with it?
Depends what you mean by "a game here or there", but everything you say you want can be handled by that machine. Everything you say you want can be handled by the 12", too. Why waste money on the 1 Gig memory upgrade? Buy 512 now and wait for prices to fall.crowdaddy said:
No computer currently on the market, Mac or otherwise, will fail to accomplish the tasks of "surfing, MS office, and a game here or there." You can get all that in a Pocket PC these days.
I suggest one of those neat 5 subject notebooks with the pockets. For text input you have your choice of a plethora of pens or pencils, you can even color code your notes if you are so inclined. Plus there are lots of free-ware games, like tic-tac-toe, dots, mazes, etc. Not to mention you can use your pen or pencil to do the crossword in the daily paper.
Plus the only time you have to worry about data corruption is if you spill coffee on it or something.
Plus the only time you have to worry about data corruption is if you spill coffee on it or something.
crowdaddy said:
Hehe, yeah, a laptop from 1997 can handle what you do.
I'm in the medical sciences (Medical Radiation Physics), and either system will work great. No more of this "Is this system suitable for what I do?" crap, especially when most people who ask this question, like most people who use computers, use MS Office, surf the web, play Solitaire. and maybe do some light Photoshop work. No, I'm not saying that an iBook will be "suitable". Its superfluous for what you do. Geez, most "switchers" who ask questions really seem hesitant that a new Mac isn't powerful. Macs are powerful at almost everything you'll ever do with a computer. Don't doubt the power of an iBook just because it doesn't have "Intel Inside." The iBook you're going to buy is a brand spankin' new computer, and it'll definitely feel like a new computer: speed, build, and otherwise. If it had an Intel Centrino 1.4 Ghz chip inside it, you wouldn't even be asking these questions. They're fair questions, but if you're not confident in the computer you buy, then don't buy it and get something you know, trust, and feel comfortable with.
The Gateway 200X is an absolute gem, as is the IBM T40.
Well, you must understand where I am coming from. I am not confident because I am a windows user. I don't know how the specs match up versus today's PC front runners, so please have a little bit of patience. As far as gaming, I would like to play call of duty, battlefield 1942, would the ibook be able to play those smoothly? See, as a windows user i know off the bat by looking at the specs of a PC if a game can be run or not, but im not in my element right now so that is why I am asking questions. Thanks for your time...
I would just like to add that using an external monitor with the PowerBooks works just great. The OS will automatically detect the new monitor. Adjusting the settings to your likings is a one time thing. The next time you plug the monitor in, your settings get restored. I use an external 17" LCD @ 1280x1024. It's nice to get some extra screen space and it's particulary nice to see how easily OSX switches to use the external monitor as the main screen.
The iBooks uses display-mirroring, which isn't quite as useful. I don't have an iBook, so I don't know if this also limits the screen resolution to 1024x768 on the external monitor, but it seems likely. If you plan to use an external monitor you should take this into consideration.
The iBooks uses display-mirroring, which isn't quite as useful. I don't have an iBook, so I don't know if this also limits the screen resolution to 1024x768 on the external monitor, but it seems likely. If you plan to use an external monitor you should take this into consideration.
Well I was planning on having a one of those VGA switchboard things so that at my desk I could either view a G5 1.6, or a plugged in ibook, so I can consolidate monitors. I believe I am going to be using a CRT...
If you were me would you (for college)....
Have a vgs swtichboard (so i can use one monitor) for:
a)1.6G5 1GB ram + ibook combo 14" 768ram
or
b)1.6G5 1GB ram + Powerbook combo 12" 768 ram?
Have a vgs swtichboard (so i can use one monitor) for:
a)1.6G5 1GB ram + ibook combo 14" 768ram
or
b)1.6G5 1GB ram + Powerbook combo 12" 768 ram?
What kind of backpack or case would you guys recommend for college. I would like one that would fit the 12in ibook without too much slack. I would also like it to be able to fit essential college stuff like a notepad pens/pencils. CD's that I can back my stuff up, etc.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
^Crowdaddy: I was a Windows user until a few months ago. Again, its a brand new computer. I'm sure you'll type documents, use Excel, and brows the web just fine.
Get the 12" PB if you're going to use an external monitor. The iBook only mirrors, meaning the resolution won't go beyond what the iBook is capable, which is only 1024 x 768. The PB allows you to get much more, depending on your monitor.
And I wouldn't even get a 1.6 GHz G5 with 1GB of RAM. I don't see why you'd need it. If you're concerned about speed, I'd just get a 15" PB. Seriously, they're not that big, and always seem much smaller than a 15" Windows laptop. For some reason, it carries an aura of smallness in every respect. I can't explain it.
Heck, a 12" PB will do it. You don't even need a 15". My 12" PB is my main system, and is the only computer I own. Plus, I don't own an external monitor. Get an external monitor if you wish, but I don't think a separate 1.6GHz G5 is worth it. A 15 inch 1.5GHz G4 PB would definitely challenge it in terms of speed, anyway, so what's the point.
^Nike:
http://www.sfbags.com/
http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/me...Code=TB0300&Category_Code=TBP&Product_Count=6
http://homepage.mac.com/sweetcocoa/lapcop.html
http://www.crucial.com/store/listpa...PowerBook+G4+1GHz+(12-inch+Display)&submit=Go
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449
http://versiontracker.com/
http://insidemacgames.com/
http://fire.sourceforge.net/
Hope these websites help. The top 2 links are good for bags for Macs.
Get the 12" PB if you're going to use an external monitor. The iBook only mirrors, meaning the resolution won't go beyond what the iBook is capable, which is only 1024 x 768. The PB allows you to get much more, depending on your monitor.
And I wouldn't even get a 1.6 GHz G5 with 1GB of RAM. I don't see why you'd need it. If you're concerned about speed, I'd just get a 15" PB. Seriously, they're not that big, and always seem much smaller than a 15" Windows laptop. For some reason, it carries an aura of smallness in every respect. I can't explain it.
Heck, a 12" PB will do it. You don't even need a 15". My 12" PB is my main system, and is the only computer I own. Plus, I don't own an external monitor. Get an external monitor if you wish, but I don't think a separate 1.6GHz G5 is worth it. A 15 inch 1.5GHz G4 PB would definitely challenge it in terms of speed, anyway, so what's the point.
^Nike:
http://www.sfbags.com/
http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/me...Code=TB0300&Category_Code=TBP&Product_Count=6
http://homepage.mac.com/sweetcocoa/lapcop.html
http://www.crucial.com/store/listpa...PowerBook+G4+1GHz+(12-inch+Display)&submit=Go
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449
http://versiontracker.com/
http://insidemacgames.com/
http://fire.sourceforge.net/
Hope these websites help. The top 2 links are good for bags for Macs.
so having both a maxed 12"pb and a G5 1.6 for college is overkill? What sort of setup would you reccomend then with a 12"PB at college? A 23 HD monitor? or is that overkill too? I just want to have all bases covered and be able to have entertainment like movies and TV on my comp. Entertaining myself is the major concern here.
crowdaddy said:
Umm, Crowdaddy, I think I can solve all your problems for you. Put all your money in a bag and send it to me. You obviously have way too much of it if you can afford to have both a top of the line laptop and a top of the line desktop to keep yourself "entertained" while you're at school. Goodness with all that technology when will you ever get time for the stuff that's really important at school - drinking beer and shooting pool??
m
nikeballa09 said:
Well, I had pretty much the exact same criteria when I was looking for a bag for my 12" PB, and I decided on the Roll-O-Notes by Crumpler. It pretty much just fits in exactly the stuff you've mentioned, so it's by no means a big hefty bag to carry around. Sure, at times you wish there was a little more room (when you wanna take a jumper or something), but in general I find it's perfect for my needs!
You might too!
crowdaddy said:
15" all the way. Better performance, better graphics card, better screen--if you can afford a better computer, just get it. Anyway, Apple LCDs are really overpriced. You can get a just as good 19 inch LCD for 500 dollars. Check www.cnet.com and check out the reviews of the LCDs.
No, i don't have *that* much money, i have set a savings celing of 4700$ CDN and with the student developer purchase plan, i save like 1000$-1500$, So i could afford a G5 1.6 and a lappy. But I agree, its over kill; I just want portability but not sacrificing a game like Call of Duty once in a while. I also want to be able to take it to class for lectures and stuff. Has anyone used a LCD TV before? I could get one of those and a lappy so I can consolidate everything into one: i could play my xbox off the screen i use for my comp, watch dvds, use that as my monitor for my laptop at my desk, etc.
crowdaddy said:
Sorry for getting pi$$$$y with you, I had just realized that the loud noise I heard at 9:30 last Thursday morning wasn't thunder or the oil refinery blowing up, it was the prices of PowerBooks falling - right after I made a "no returns" deal on a discontinued model!
This morning I stopped at Staples to look for a sleeve of some kind to carry it in (I just throw it in the car, don't need a briefcase or anything) and found a decent one laying there with no tags or anything. They salesguy couldn't find a price so he gave it to me for $10. While he was looking for a price, I found tags that had been torn off a fairly high price bag shoved in behind the displays - somebody before me got a good deal!!
Hope you are happy with whatever you decide on...
Take care, M