Computer recommendation

[Divine]

Hey everyone,

 

I'm going to be starting at U of T in the fall. Can anyone who is computer savvy (since I'm so not) please recommend what I should look for in a computer? (I.e. Is there anything that I should look for or avoid?) Actually specific recommendations computer-wise would be great. If anyone has researched what's out there and what is a good value, your info would be very helpful!

 

Thanks!

 

I look forward to meeting you all soon!

[ontariostudent]

If you're not computer savvy, just get whatever is a good deal. You won't need anything fancy for med school, so choose based on size, weight, aesthetics and price. Buy something from a reputable company with a decent warranty. Also, I know you're not computer savvy but there are about 100 threads like this one on pm101. If you search for "laptop" or "computer" you will find many. Inevitably this will turn into a Mac vs. PC debate if it gets enough attention, but just buy whatever you're comfortable with. You don't need anything fancy.

 

See you in O-week!

[1234]

I know that our Brain and Behaviour central learning client is not compatible with Mac. So, if you are not tech saavy, I would stick with a PC. NOTE: This is not a flaming against Mac.

[Divine]

How useful would it be to have one of those laptops where you can write on the screen?

 

Has anyone bought a laptop recently and is really happy with it? Specific recommendations brand-wise would great!

[xi88]

How useful would it be to have one of those laptops where you can write on the screen?

 

Has anyone bought a laptop recently and is really happy with it? Specific recommendations brand-wise would great!

 

I used to have a tablet. Once the novelty it wore off, it was just a laptop. I think I only used the tablet capabilities in the first month or two. I found it wasnt as easy or convienient as taking notes on paper. Also, if you need repairs, its horribly more expensive and takes much longer.

 

I also wouldnt reccoment getting a 64-bit computer either. Many programs tend not to be compatable with 64-bit processors

[ontariostudent]

How useful would it be to have one of those laptops where you can write on the screen?

 

Has anyone bought a laptop recently and is really happy with it? Specific recommendations brand-wise would great!

 

From what I've heard, U of T notes are all printed for you and given to you, so unless you have an aversion to writing it will probably be easiest to just take notes on what you're given. Other schools have their notes online in which case a tablet would be of more use.

[1234]

From what I've heard, U of T notes are all printed for you and given to you, so unless you have an aversion to writing it will probably be easiest to just take notes on what you're given. Other schools have their notes online in which case a tablet would be of more use.

 

UofT provides both printed and online notes. There are a few that take notes on a tablet. Although it seems cool, I would get annoyed with having to look at a computer for 8 hours of lecture and then have to study off a computer screeen for hours on end. I would stick to using plain old fashioned paper.

[skye]

I know that our Brain and Behaviour central learning client is not compatible with Mac. So, if you are not tech saavy, I would stick with a PC. NOTE: This is not a flaming against Mac.

 

Shoot. what did the students with Mac do to get around this?

[ontariostudent]

My guess is that they either run Windows on their Macs (via boot camp or a parallel) or use a school PC. I'd imagine there are workarounds...

[Cnussey]

Honestly: Something with a portable mouse (they can be bought separately). Laptop pads can become defective and many are annoyingly touchy.

[1234]

My guess is that they either run Windows on their Macs (via boot camp or a parallel) or use a school PC. I'd imagine there are workarounds...

 

yup 10 characters

[KennethToronto]

Hey everyone,

 

I'm going to be starting at U of T in the fall. Can anyone who is computer savvy (since I'm so not) please recommend what I should look for in a computer? (I.e. Is there anything that I should look for or avoid?) Actually specific recommendations computer-wise would be great. If anyone has researched what's out there and what is a good value, your info would be very helpful!

 

Thanks!

 

I look forward to meeting you all soon!

 

My advice: wait.

 

Windows 7 comes out in September/October. It's a big improvement over Vista.

 

SSDs are superior to traditional hard drives. By the time October rolls around, they'll be even more affordable than they are now and will be a must have.

[ontariostudent]

My advice: wait.

 

Windows 7 comes out in September/October. It's a big improvement over Vista.

 

SSDs are superior to traditional hard drives. By the time October rolls around, they'll be even more affordable than they are now and will be a must have.

 

Sound advice. I fully agree.

[peachy]

My advice these days (for someone self-describing as not computer-savvy) is to spend as little as possible on something that will get you on the internet and let you use Word. Don't let yourself be convinced to spend a lot on something on the premise that it'll last a long time, etc. You're really unlikely to notice the difference between various models in terms of processing, memory, etc, as a casual user who mostly wants to edit documents, send email, and use the web. For me personally, if I were buying a computer now, I'd probably look for a laptop that cost under $600 and didn't weigh a ton. Anything else is more than you need. Whatever you buy will eventually be obsolete and/or break in a few years anyways.

 

For school, you'll need the internet and to edit documents. Having a laser printer is handy if you like reading things on paper. Everything else is for entertainment only.

 

Re: Tablets, I had one when I started medical school. It was completely useless for me, other than the fun and novelty of it. Get one if you really think you'd enjoy it, and really hate paper notes, but you are unlikely to find it a huge advantage at U of T.

[wootloops]

How useful would it be to have one of those laptops where you can write on the screen?

 

Has anyone bought a laptop recently and is really happy with it? Specific recommendations brand-wise would great!

 

Seems like there aren't too many positive remarks about tablet PC's so far...

 

I think that anybody looking for a new laptop should seriously consider getting one of these, especially students. Having used a tablet PC for all my classes in the past 3 years, I don't think I will ever go back to a regular laptop.

 

For most classes, I handwrite my notes. If the lectures go too fast, write directly on the Prof's powerpoint or PDF slides. Maybe it's because I like to handwrite more than typing , but I think even being able to draw a simple picture on top of type written notes beats both old-fashioned paper and regular laptops anyday!

 

While I agree that staring at a screen while studying can be annoying sometimes, you can easily print off your notes. Better yet, if you take messy notes, you can 'clean up' your writing before printing them off.

 

I've had the chance to talk to many people in and out of class who have used tablet PC's and I think choosing the right one really plays a factor in how much you're going to enjoy it. Don't go for the tablets with touchscreens, the ones with a technology called active digitizers are much more accurate and responsive when you write.

 

I personally use the Fujitsu T4210. The computers that Fujitsu make are a little more expensive than the major companies like HP or Dell, I think the quality and durability of their products make it well worth the extra cost. http://www.tabletpcreview.com/ for some of the latest info and reviews on Tablet PCs out there!

 

Cheers! Looking forward to O-week!

[Microbiodude]

My advice: wait.

 

Windows 7 comes out in September/October. It's a big improvement over Vista.

 

SSDs are superior to traditional hard drives. By the time October rolls around, they'll be even more affordable than they are now and will be a must have.

 

Or if you buy a Dell, they come with free upgrades to Windows 7. They just mail you the CD once the OS is released.

[skye]

I was intending to buy a MacBook this year for $1049 plus a free ipod touch.

But no one here is recommending a Mac. How come?

[Cnussey]

Bill Gates just destroyed some of my work. Buy Mac.

 

Seriously though, don't buy the cheapest laptop: you're going to med school, you have a LOC...get something durable, with lots of power and room. Also get a good hand-held thingy (blackberry, whatever).

 

BestBuy actually mails laptops to you

[estairella]

SSDs are superior to traditional hard drives. By the time October rolls around, they'll be even more affordable than they are now and will be a must have.

 

I'll have to disagree on this way. SSDs are THEORETICALLY superior to traditional hard drives, but the fact is, traditional operating systems were never designed to work with SSDs. If you're not techsavvy (and I'll assume the OP isn't, or they wouldn't need computer buying advice), then you probably don't want to finetune your OS to make it SSD-friendly, such as:

- making a RAM disk & transferring all sorts of temp folders there

- using a second or USB key to store document settings or a paging file system

- or NOT having a paging file system

- customizing caching, turn off prefetching, turn off indexing, etc.

 

And I speak from the experience of owning a laptop with an SSD drive.

 

Admittedly, Windows 7 is supposedly more SSD-friendly, but if you're looking at a low-cost laptop (<$500), running Windows 7 will be a pain whether you use SSD drives or not.

[Cnussey]

My advice these days (for someone self-describing as not computer-savvy) is to spend as little as possible on something that will get you on the internet and let you use Word. Don't let yourself be convinced to spend a lot on something on the premise that it'll last a long time, etc. You're really unlikely to notice the difference between various models in terms of processing, memory, etc, as a casual user who mostly wants to edit documents, send email, and use the web. For me personally, if I were buying a computer now, I'd probably look for a laptop that cost under $600 and didn't weigh a ton. Anything else is more than you need. Whatever you buy will eventually be obsolete and/or break in a few years anyways.

 

For school, you'll need the internet and to edit documents. Having a laser printer is handy if you like reading things on paper. Everything else is for entertainment only.

 

Re: Tablets, I had one when I started medical school. It was completely useless for me, other than the fun and novelty of it. Get one if you really think you'd enjoy it, and really hate paper notes, but you are unlikely to find it a huge advantage at U of T.

 

 

Generally, I would agree about the cheaper versions. But I've bought a total of three so called "good enough" laptops in the past two years. One wouldn't travel without dying. One didn't even travel and died. The new one, is a mid-range that seems to be okay...not as a good as *this* desktop though (which is over 6 years old--just has been maxed out with memory!).

 

Don't buy the **** that Staples has for sale. Just don't. A $399 computer looks very appealing, especially when you test it out in the store, but it won't last. I don't mean it won't last years--I mean it might not even last the first year.

[ontariostudent]

I was intending to buy a MacBook this year for $1049 plus a free ipod touch.

But no one here is recommending a Mac. How come?

 

I just purchased a new Macbook Pro and am extremely excited that it shipped to me last night (won't arrive until next Wed, though... it's coming from Shanghai). I specifically didn't recommend a Mac to the OP because:

 

The OP said s/he is NOT tech savvy. I therefore see NO reason for s/he to switch to a new operating system that will not be compatible with all programs. Macs might be good machines, but they are NOT "superior" in a way that means one should never purchase a PC over a Mac. There are many excellent PCs out there, and with Windows 7 coming out soon I think the gap between PCs and Macs will be getting smaller. If someone is used to PCs, they shouldn't switch to Macs just because pop culture has dictated that Macs are super cool machines and therefore you will not be cool if you don't buy one (absolutely not true).

 

Everyone should buy what is best for them. I bought a Mac because I like the hardware and prefer the operating system (I've used Macs for 3 years now). Many of the people I know who bought Macs did so because of the hype, and have no clue what to do with them. They are still struggling to do things that would be easy for them on a PC, but they don't know how/are not willing to learn the ins and outs of Mac OSX (its operating system, which is currently Vista in a PC). In my opinion, if you're not going to learn the new OS well, it's not worth the switch. You will forever be struggling to do things that would have been much easier for you with a PC.

 

For the average computer user who does mostly web surfing and some word processing, any reputable PC is fine. If you want something small and don't care about power, buy a netbook. These are also considerably cheaper. If you want a gaming machine, buy something big and powerful. If you're into aesthetics, spend your money on whatever pleases your eyes. DON'T switch to a new operating system just because it's cool or because everyone is telling you to.

 

Macs are relatively expensive machines (the entry level MacBook Pro 13" is coming out to almost $1600 including the 3 yr warranty and tax, once I sell off the free iPod, which I still had to pay tax on. You can buy 2 decent PC laptops for that price) and are foreign to most people. If you have tried a Mac before and KNOW you'll love it, go buy one like I just did. If you are wary about switching to a new operating system (many of you might not even realize what that means, which means you definitely should try it out before even thinking of switching), Macs are probably not for you. If you're not tech savvy, I would also not recommend it. That's because you will have to learn how to do everything over again, and there will be certain programs and tasks that will be impossible or difficult to do on your new machine (for example, you might have to run Windows using a parallel or boot camp. This can be complicated and expensive).

 

One other issue with Macs is that if something does go wrong, you're at the mercy of Apple. In my experience, that's often not a good thing. I hate Microsoft but Macs can have a LOT of problems too.

 

If you're sure you'll love a Mac, go ahead and buy a gorgeous new machine, and be willing to pay the price. If you're not sure, stick with what you're comfortable with or try one out before thinking of buying one. Macs are NOT "better" than PCs. They are merely different. Some people prefer chocolate ice cream and some vanilla. There is no one machine that is best for everyone. Buy whatever is best for you. If you buy a budget PC it will probably have more problems than a better model. Just do some research and find the reliable models and companies before you make a decision. Look at websites like Epinions, CNET and gizmodo. Don't rely on anecdotal evidence from users of a med school forum. Each person has a unique experience. The best is to go somewhere with MANY user reviews and to choose based on MANY good experiences, not just one.

 

Oh, and one more reason why people haven't recommended Macs is because if you search through PM101 you will find TONS of other threads just like this one that have turned into Mac vs. PC debates. Just do what is best for you and don't wait for someone to tell you what that is. Mac lovers will recommend Macs, PC lovers (yes there are PC lovers) will recommend those. Just choose what works for you.

[Carefree]

Here's a smoking hot deal:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4615140&Sku=T70-14199&SRCCODE=LSCAN&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=CAqD7bLWUPI-GtN0usXGhlmH_OcB4FouPw

 

It's $1000 for a very fast processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 160GB HD and might even be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7. Lenovo laptops are known for their superior build quality. I do a lot of video editing so I'm sticking with my combo of Desktop + Netbook, but if I was going for a primary laptop I'd jump on this deal before it's over.

[ontariostudent]

Here's a smoking hot deal:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4615140&Sku=T70-14199&SRCCODE=LSCAN&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=CAqD7bLWUPI-GtN0usXGhlmH_OcB4FouPw

 

It's $1000 for a very fast processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 160GB HD and might even be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7. Lenovo laptops are known for their superior build quality. I do a lot of video editing so I'm sticking with my combo of Desktop + Netbook, but if I was going for a primary laptop I'd jump on this deal before it's over.

 

Lenovos are pretty solid machines. Definitely a good deal for what you'd be getting (as long as you don't mind the utilitarian style).

[KennethToronto]

I'll have to disagree on this way. SSDs are THEORETICALLY superior to traditional hard drives, but the fact is, traditional operating systems were never designed to work with SSDs. If you're not techsavvy (and I'll assume the OP isn't, or they wouldn't need computer buying advice), then you probably don't want to finetune your OS to make it SSD-friendly, such as:

- making a RAM disk & transferring all sorts of temp folders there

- using a second or USB key to store document settings or a paging file system

- or NOT having a paging file system

- customizing caching, turn off prefetching, turn off indexing, etc.

 

And I speak from the experience of owning a laptop with an SSD drive.

 

Admittedly, Windows 7 is supposedly more SSD-friendly, but if you're looking at a low-cost laptop (<$500), running Windows 7 will be a pain whether you use SSD drives or not.

 

Sorry estairella, your facts are outdated. SSDs aren't "theoretically" superior to traditional hard drives, they *are* superior.

 

I don't blame you for having the opinion they aren't a better option: most 1st generation SSDs (like the one you likely have in your laptop) had performance issues and faulty controllers (i.e. JMicron controllers and data stutter), decreased performance when the drive filled up etc. However, things have changed, including (1) native support for TRIM command in Win7, (2) improved controllers, (3) and incredible price drops like Intel's recently announced switch to 32nm resulting in 60% price drops.

 

Moreover, there really is zero argument in the community regarding whether or not SSDs outperform platter hard drives. Notwithstanding the increased durability and safety that SSDs offer because there are no moving parts, SSDs routinely outperform 10k RPM and 15k RPM platter drives by incredible margins in all relevant performance metrics (random seek times, read/write speeds, application load times, OS boot times etc).

[Cnussey]

I just purchased a new Macbook Pro and am extremely excited that it shipped to me last night (won't arrive until next Wed, though... it's coming from Shanghai). I specifically didn't recommend a Mac to the OP because:

 

Oh, and one more reason why people haven't recommended Macs is because if you search through PM101 you will find TONS of other threads just like this one that have turned into Mac vs. PC debates. Just do what is best for you and don't wait for someone to tell you what that is. Mac lovers will recommend Macs, PC lovers (yes there are PC lovers) will recommend those. Just choose what works for you.

 

I'm worried about all the difficulties it would cause if I had a Mac wired into my husband's PC (our computers are connected). I don't know much about Mac, but I tend to be a quick learner with computers. If I can get a lovely expensive hand-held device I'll prob. choose a cheap pc.