dzirob33

Can we compare these two? I want to pay between $2,000 and 3,000 for a laptop in a business major.

Innovative

why that much?! I use a Thinkpad...and it's working fine w/ me..no major problem so far.

kyledavid80

ThinkPads are awesome. But $2,000-3,000? That's ridiculous. You can get a top-of-the-line ThinkPad for $1300 or less (there's an awesome 25%-off sale right now, so check it out).

Chipmoney

For that price you can get the highest end macbook pro for $2500, for the 15 incher and $2800 for the 17 incher, For thinkpads you can completely max out the specs of the T61p (they sure have catchy names) for $2200

the macbook pros would have the edge in terms of graphics, but the thinkpads have higher specs for everything else.

Meugenio

Yeah, I too am looking for a Lenovo vs. Macbook Pro 15" comparison. I am considering the T61p, and to some extent, the tablet. Money is not a factor (as with the OP).

I personally would use it for mostly research/reading, downloading, Internet functions, media playback, word processing, video/photo-editing etc. The biggest problem I have with my aging desktop is its inability to multi-task and that video-editing takes forever. I would also consider getting into fooling around with making electronic music in my spare time.

Also, If I will only be attending a school for two years, and then will continue to a four year school, would it behove me to get one over the other? I want this laptop to last at least my four years of undergraduate studies (and will do all the upgrades myself to help make it work [ex. 4GB ram]). Is there one more universal option that would allow me to be prepared for whatever institution I go on to? Or does that not even really matter?

Meugenio

If I am going to be in seminar based classes, would the tablet make that much more sense? Pretty much ALL of my classes will be seminar based, with reading and essays constituting most of my outside work.

tomtom6

There have been deals going around of late with the Lenovo R61's for around ~750 with core 2 duo t8100. Try this: http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthr...ghlight=lenovo
I got it configured to 700 shipped including tax, but I'm probably gonna wait until the back 2 school sales start kicking in.

ilovebagels

Meugenio, given your plans for use (generic internet and word processing, plus video-editing) a Mac sounds great for you.

The lack of viruses and such make regular internet use a breeze, and the Mac's strength in video editing is widely known. It ships with iMovie and there are great academic discounts for Final Cut Express and Final Cut Studio.

Meugenio

Hmm, I also have never used a tablet. Would this help me out in seminar classes? I have never really had extensive classes of that sort, and being able to diagram/search your notes sounds pretty nifty, especially considering how unorganized I am. Or would this just be a pipe dream and I should just stick with the ol' standard laptop.

Now the question also is: If I DO get a macbook pro, buy now or in late june? My school starts July 3rd.

srunni

Since, you're a business major, you'll definitely be using Excel macros. These aren't supported in the Mac version of Microsoft Office, so unless you want to run Office 2007 (for Windows) in Parallels or Boot Camp, I'd strongly suggest the Thinkpad. Getting a Mac for business is like getting a Windows laptop for art/music.

cowbell666

my rule is, if you're fine with windows, stick with it. but if you have a real problem with it, and its not good for your high blood pressure , then consider going to mac. don't waste $1000 because you just want to try a mac. if you just cant stand windows anymore, then get a mac. my experience is that thinkpads are really great machines (although i think that was while IBM still made them). Macs are also really nice.

dzirob33

hmmm... ok so I know i won't need to spend a whole lot for a thinkpad but if I use a mac with their programs how difficult is it to transfer those files to a windows computer at school?

dzirob33

oh yeah and one more thing.... I'm really into that sal mac is going to have for students in the summer where you get a student and discount and a free ipod nano (i don't know which generation, hopefullly that new little one) but would it be a good deal to go for that student package and does Leveno (they make the thinkpad not IBM right?) have a similar student package???

Coopjust

They don't offer any student offerings other than a student discount (most universities are registered for the student purchasing discount) and a 10% discount for IBM stockholders (even though Lenovo makes the ThinkPads now, they are continuing the discounts). Occasionally sales, coupons, the student discount and stockholder discount can stack for tremendous savings, so sign up for their catalog and keep an eye out.

dzirob33

I suppose most people prefer Thinkpads then??? I heard they last a very long time and I'm not sure how much I would have to pay to get Windows through Bootcamp on a mac although they also sound very appealing. I also heard that Thinkpads do a decent job of running Vista, is that true? Or should I go with XP since that's what a lot of people are saying???