<p>Hey guys,
Ill be going to college in a year and I want to know how you guys use your laptops...Im really asking this to find out what size laptop is good for me.
Im looking into Macbookpros but im not limiting my options...
I dont want it to be a battle between 13vs15vs17, but feel free to list your opinions on each of the laptops...</p>
<p>THANKS!!!!</p>
<p>I have a macbook 15-inch pro and I adore it. It runs very quickly, very durable, easy to convert files from Mac to PC and the minimal virus risk is always helpful. </p>
<p>It was expensive (graduation present from my parents) - that's been the only downside.</p>
<p>great!!! first reply finally!</p>
<p>Yeah i get that alot from people that use the mac. But what do you do with it in terms of entertainment, productivity (like school work), and general portability?</p>
<p>I usually watch videos online (Hulu, Youtube), listen to music (iTunes), and watch DVDs for entertainment. I had some trouble with videos loading, but that was my school's internet, it works absolutely fine at home. </p>
<p>For productivity, I'm a humanities/social science major, so I mostly just used the word processing software (Pages - it's very easy to convert to a Word document, some formatting does get messed up (margins, etc.), but it's always been easy to fix), the internet (Safari, no problems), and Keynote (equivalent of powerpoint, similar formatting problems, but no big deal). Keynote can open Powerpoints, there's a Text Editor that can open Word documents. I think you can buy Word for Mac or use Open Office if formatting is a serious concern. </p>
<p>Transport - I bought a sleeve from Apple and would put it in my backpack. It kept the computer fine, but the zipper on the sleeve broke during my last week of school, I'm trying a hard case next year.</p>
<p>thanks!!! great answer...</p>
<p>i think ill be doing something of your sort in college next year...im thinking of going into premed and major in biology or history (depends on which i prefer by that time next year) so i dont think ill be needing a really powerful computer...but its nice to have one</p>
<p>i really like to know how people use it you know...so i can decided on more portability or more powerful hardware...</p>
<p>its a significant investment so i dont think a certain whim should dictate my answer...</p>
<p>keep on!</p>
<p>I've an Asus UL30A 13" w/ Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, Intel Integrated 4500 graphics, and 32GB SSD (self-installed).</p>
<p>I use my laptop everyday for note-taking and school use. For note taking, I use Office 2007 OneNote and export all my notes as PDF for future reference. For school work, I'm usually on Microsoft Word 2007 (essays, lab reports) and Microsoft Excel 2007 (bio and chem labs). Of course, I also am using Google Chrome constantly along with a Trillian client for AIM and GTalk on the side. Occasionally, I'd do some light photoshopping or will watch videos either online or through my external HDD. On average I get about ten hours of battery life a day without any issues.</p>
<p>For more intensive tasks, like gaming and most of my photoshopping, I also have a desktop equipped with a Core 2 Quad and a GTX 260, and for extended work periods (assignments that are 2 hours+), I'd rather use my 24" monitor. But beyond those three tasks: gaming, photoshopping, and long work periods, I use my laptop for almost everything. In fact, when I was in the process of upgrading my desktop, I had to use my laptop exclusively for all my work for two weeks and it handled everything perfectly.</p>
<p>If anything, I'd go with a light laptop with lots of battery life. I'd recommend the Asus UL30A (same laptop I have, Core 2 Duo w/ 10 hours actual battery life) or the Asus U30JC (better Intel i3 CPU, but with less actual battery life at ~7 hours). If you need more power, it's more worthwhile in my opinion to invest in a desktop for power rather than a laptop. Generally with desktops they have better cooling, much easier to upgrade and modify, and come with a bigger monitor than even high-end laptops. </p>
<p>If it helps, I'm a Molecular and Cellular Biologist with hobbies in digital photography and computer hardware/gaming, if it helps you gauge your needs versus mine.</p>
<p>I will be majoring in microbiology so I was wondering how often you use your computer to take notes in class? Because Science classes involve lots of diagrams and formulas I thought using good old pen and paper would work better?</p>
<p>I have also decided to buy the 15inch macbook pro with anti-glare screen. I think it would be great to have 2 computer (desktop and laptop) like you; however, the dorms at UMiami are very, very small... I don't want to have to transfer files and keep 2 computers running either and I am from PA so for my needs a light and powerful laptop works the best (even if it is expensive).</p>
<p>I use my notebook literally every class period. For diagrams, I have a spare notebook on hand where I can draw it out then later transfer to my digital notes via a tablet. </p>
<p>The issue with pen and paper I have is that I type much faster than I can write, and because of the sheer volume of information given to me in lectures I simply cannot write legibly fast enough.</p>
<p>If youre interested in doing this, all you really need is a spare notebook on hand to hand draw diagrams in class and a cheap tablet to transfer your drawings over digitally (of course, you could scan it, but the second time drawing better commits it to memory). I use a cheap 8"x10" tablet I found used online for $12 and it works wonderfully.</p>
<p>As for the PC, have you considered using a small form factor computer? With them, you can fit desktop components into a very small space. If you're interested and know how to build your own PCs, I'd recommend a Silverstone Sugo SG05 case with a LGA 1156 mini ITX motherboard, i5 750/i7 860, and a Corsair H50 mounted on the front 120mm slot. The PSU on the case has been reviewed to be capable of running an HD 5770, so if you're also interested in a strong graphics card, that's a good place to look.</p>
<p>What about a LiveScribe pen? I like that it is designed to record all of the lectures and if you use the grid paper it recalls whatever was being recorded when you write in a certain area. After you are through you can use the USB to digitize your writing and keep the audio with it. Also lighter than a laptop or netbook. Just a thought...</p>
<p>I find that I learn and retain better when I use old fashioned pen and paper to take notes in science and math classes. Having notes right next to the diagrams definitely helps. But for stuff that's all writing and no pictures? Laptop is fine.</p>
<p>THANKS!!!!</p>
<p>i can start visualizing how people use their computers!!! great!!!
looks like 13s are great for notetaking and mobility
while the 15 are better multi-purpose with weaker mobility...
the question what will i be doing more in college?!?!?!</p>
<p>KEEP THE POSTS coming!!!! 13vs15!!!</p>
<p>How about a happy medium? I'm looking at the 14.5" HPs.</p>
<p>yeah but not every company have 14" laptops...</p>
<p>I agree. But if screen size is an issue, choose a company with the size you want.</p>
<p>I dont know...i mean some people have narrowed down to few companies that produce 13 or 15 inch laptops with no 14 inch variation...</p>
<p>im not talking about apple alone here but like sony, dell with actual optical drives...</p>
<p>For 14" screens, the main companies to look at are HP, Lenovo, and Asus.</p>
<p>is the general consensus that 14" is the ideal size for portability and something you'd want to look at a lot and something you can afford?</p>
<p>it seems 13" stuff get insanely expensive if you want similar specs to a 14". although maybe the i5/i7 ULVs will change stuff.</p>
<p>personally im not all that crazy for 14" laptops...somehow im not...</p>
<p>i just want to either go with a 13" awesome portability or a 15" power...not really in the middle guy...hence the reasons for asking college peeps what they do with their laptops...regardless of screen size...</p>