Buying a Notebook Computer for Law School? The Q and A thread

[Special Agent Dana Scully]

thanks pipster!

i was looking at this one in particular:

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/pdet.to?seg=HHO&poid=359961

[stjobs]

IMHO the LED display is the only thing worth the wait. Santa Rosa is overrated. I do agree however that waiting doesn't hurt as Apple rarely, if ever lately, changes their prices.

Even if there was no LED upgrade or even Santa Rosa, the spec boost would be worth it, IMO. Unless the laptop is required *now* why not wait and get slightly more disk space and perhaps a marginally faster processor for the same price? It's been over half a year since an update to the MacBook Pro, I believe. I never understand why people are so eager to buy right before an update...

[pinkisthenewlawschool]

I just got a MacBook, the "middle" edition.  They did update some stuff two or three weeks ago, I think they made it faster. I am clearly really computer illiterate! Anyway, I'm sure if you waited until August they would update it again...

I don't know as much about the MacBook Pro, but I love my new MacBook already, and I think it would be adequate to suit anyone's law school needs. Plus, even with the education discount with the warranty it was about $1500, which is what my school "suggested" you spend on a laptop computer.

[stjobs]

The MacBook was updated recently. The MacBook Pro has not been updated in months.

[.zone.]

BOO for the new Macbook.  The old one I was watching (the better of the two 13" white ones) was around $1380...now it's over $1500.  I only want the cheaper white one with upgraded RAM, but you have no option to add a DVD burner to it.    I wish you could downgrade options like you can with other manufacturers...

[OingoBoingo]

IMHO the LED display is the only thing worth the wait. Santa Rosa is overrated. I do agree however that waiting doesn't hurt as Apple rarely, if ever lately, changes their prices.

Even if there was no LED upgrade or even Santa Rosa, the spec boost would be worth it, IMO. Unless the laptop is required *now* why not wait and get slightly more disk space and perhaps a marginally faster processor for the same price? It's been over half a year since an update to the MacBook Pro, I believe. I never understand why people are so eager to buy right before an update...

I don't know that I am disagreeing with you necessarily - most people just want to know whether the computer will meet their needs. I think it is fair to say that most people will not care whether Santa Rosa or an LED display is there before they purchase. Nor should they really - the Macbook Pro is already an impressive machine to begin with. Your point about getting marginally better specs is taken but really, this means even less to your average computer buyer.

Oingo

[pinkisthenewlawschool]

zone-the new one that I got, the more expensive of the white ones was a little over $1400 with the applecare. It has a DVD burner.  I used my education discount.

[.zone.]

zone-the new one that I got, the more expensive of the white ones was a little over $1400 with the applecare. It has a DVD burner.  I used my education discount.

You got the one just a few weeks ago right before they changed them, right?  They switched up the options now so that the one with the DVD burner comes out to almost $1600 with 2GB ram & Applecare after the discount!  I want the one you just bought!  (My shipping address is:... )

[parischic]

Zone, ask at the store if they have any of the last edition left (new, not refurbished) in the storeroom.  I did this in Jan when I bought a new MBP for my mom.  I got the exact model that we wanted (for the very basic user the updates really don't make that much of a difference) and I ended up getting an additional 10% off!

[skeeball]

I noticed that the Mac Stores have classes...has anyone done one of these? I've only ever used PCs, and I need someone to show me how to do the different commands. I'd like to take a class so that I don't have to ask my b/f every time I don't know how to do something.

Or is that a waste of time?