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unhedged
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2010 Laptop discussion 22 Jul 2010, 10:28
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I just ordered the x201 as well. Got it with the 3yr warranty, ultrabase and 9 cell battery for 940+tax. Removing my upgrades, could have had it for 765 + tax
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dzark25
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2010 Laptop discussion 24 Jul 2010, 06:10
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unhedged
I just ordered the x201 as well. Got it with the 3yr warranty, ultrabase and 9 cell battery for 940+tax. Removing my upgrades, could have had it for 765 + tax
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Hey, what were the specs for your laptop build? I plan on purchasing the x201 but am having trouble getting it priced at under $1000. Is there a deal/coupon you used? Please let me know when you have a chance.

Thanks.
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masscool
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2010 Laptop discussion 24 Jul 2010, 06:37
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Before you buy any consumer electronic retail/new, always google "the brand coupon" i.e. "lenovo coupon". You'll probably find a lot of codes.

This got me some points at work, since I instantly saved my boss 15% on his new laptop. Unfortunately, I didn't get to pocket the difference!
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2010 Laptop discussion 24 Jul 2010, 12:05
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I ordered through the lenovo.com/spp website, which is free to register for. From inside, they had a 10% off coupon as well.
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dzark25
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2010 Laptop discussion 24 Jul 2010, 15:29
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thanks for the help...
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shadow
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2010 Laptop discussion 29 Jul 2010, 22:02
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vino
The following are my criteria for a windows laptop that I will practically live with throughtout school:

Features listed in priority:
  1. 12-13.3 inch (11.6 is too small, 14 is too big)
  2. < 4 lbs weight (~3 lbs would be awesome)
  3. battery life > 5 hrs
  4. core i3 (or i5 if possible. SU7300 and SU9400 would be OK for now, but will feel slow in a couple years)
  5. 3 or 4 GB ram
  6. $600 - $850 price range
  7. HDMI out
  8. webcam
  9. inbuilt DVD drive
  10. Dedicated graphics card

The only ones that I can find given these are:
  1. Thinkpad X201 Recent Deals(compromises on 6,7,9,10)
    12.1", i5/i7, 9+ hrs, 4 GB, ($900-$1100)
  2. Acer 3820T Amazon Link (compromises on 9, 10)
    13.3", i3, 8 hrs, 4 GB, $700, HDMI, webcam
  3. Acer 3820GT (yet to be released)
    13.3", i5/i7, 8 hrs, 4 GB, ~$850, HDMI, webcam, graphics card
  4. Asus UL30JT (yet to be released)
    13.3", i7, 12 hrs, 4 GB, ~$900, HDMI, webcam, graphics card

Any other suggestions? I am gonna wait it out for a couple weeks and order it mid-July. In addition to this, I am carrying a very powerful desktop with a 25" Samsung 2570HD LCD/TV for all my home entertainment needs
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my favorite of this bunch is the Acer 3820T. the gf is also looking for a new laptop for school, and that's the one i'm recommending she get. i dont expect the lack of a dvd drive to be an issue; at worst just buy an external one and keep it in the bag
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2010 Laptop discussion 31 Oct 2010, 01:25
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I've gotten 3/4th the way through MBA with Dell XPS. I use Ubuntu OS
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PKV
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2010 Laptop discussion 31 Oct 2010, 22:16
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shadowsjc
vino
The following are my criteria for a windows laptop that I will practically live with throughtout school:

Features listed in priority:
  1. 12-13.3 inch (11.6 is too small, 14 is too big)
  2. < 4 lbs weight (~3 lbs would be awesome)
  3. battery life > 5 hrs
  4. core i3 (or i5 if possible. SU7300 and SU9400 would be OK for now, but will feel slow in a couple years)
  5. 3 or 4 GB ram
  6. $600 - $850 price range
  7. HDMI out
  8. webcam
  9. inbuilt DVD drive
  10. Dedicated graphics card

The only ones that I can find given these are:
  1. Thinkpad X201 Recent Deals(compromises on 6,7,9,10)
    12.1", i5/i7, 9+ hrs, 4 GB, ($900-$1100)
  2. Acer 3820T Amazon Link (compromises on 9, 10)
    13.3", i3, 8 hrs, 4 GB, $700, HDMI, webcam
  3. Acer 3820GT (yet to be released)
    13.3", i5/i7, 8 hrs, 4 GB, ~$850, HDMI, webcam, graphics card
  4. Asus UL30JT (yet to be released)
    13.3", i7, 12 hrs, 4 GB, ~$900, HDMI, webcam, graphics card

Any other suggestions? I am gonna wait it out for a couple weeks and order it mid-July. In addition to this, I am carrying a very powerful desktop with a 25" Samsung 2570HD LCD/TV for all my home entertainment needs

my favorite of this bunch is the Acer 3820T. the gf is also looking for a new laptop for school, and that's the one i'm recommending she get. i dont expect the lack of a dvd drive to be an issue; at worst just buy an external one and keep it in the bag
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Have to agree on the 3820T. It's without a doubt my next purchase unless Acer comes out with a better model in the near future. They can be had for US$650 these days, though I can't find an i5 model for the life of me. Negligible business application performance difference, and at that price you can't argue at all.
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2010 Laptop discussion 02 Nov 2010, 10:53
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i would wait till xmas season where there will be tons of laptops on slickdeals... i got my Lenovo Ideapad 550 last Dec with great specs for 1/4 of the cost. Laptop is really not that expensive unless you start wanting great graphics cards and bluray..
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2010 Laptop discussion 30 Nov 2010, 05:15
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slickdeals has a core i7 Lenovo X201 for $877 right now.
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frenzy757
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2010 Laptop discussion 01 Dec 2010, 21:34
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is an optical drive even needed for Bschool?
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cpaswitcher
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2010 Laptop discussion 14 Dec 2010, 16:42
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just picked up Toshiba r705. this thing is really light.
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2010 Laptop discussion 30 Dec 2010, 09:26
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I am starting an MBA program at the end of january and needed a laptop. Since I paid for tuition out of pocket, im going to try and save where i can... so i decided to use my work laptop - a lenovo x200s - for school. it's a generation old and came with a 160gb drive which i swapped out for an intel 80gb ssd drive. this machine boots to the desktop and is ready to use in 24 seconds, goes to sleep in 5 seconds and resumes from sleep in about the same amount of time. i can run from one class to another and be up and running pretty quickly with this setup. i also plan on getting a security cable so i can attach it to my bag in case i have to run out of the class or something. added security...

additionally, i bought a sony digital recorder so i can record lectures. this is the model https://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICD-PX820-Di ... 575&sr=8-1

it has great reviews and records in mp3 format. although it comes with software, you dont really need it. simply plug in the recorder to your machine, transfer the mp3s over and you're done. it works just like a usb drive.
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2010 Laptop discussion 21 Feb 2011, 07:18
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I did not receive any admit or dings yet, but I am already thinking on which laptop I would buy for BSchool. The Lenovo X220 will come out in the next months, but I just saw the MacBook Air 11" and got amazed by it !

For those who are already in the BSchool or that just got admitted, do you believe that a MacBook is not a ideal tool during the MBA ?
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2010 Laptop discussion 21 Feb 2011, 16:29
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I am planning to grab a netbook or MacBook air and use my existing desktop. That coupled with a smartphone, and you are pretty much set. Ipad, although sexy, isn't a must have at this point.

Posted from my mobile device
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2010 Laptop discussion 25 Feb 2011, 15:35
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time to update the thread for 2011?
did anyone buy a new computer recently?
I think most of the schools have good discount at the beginning of the class, right?
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2010 Laptop discussion 07 Apr 2011, 08:48
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Quick question: for those in bschool, do you guys carry around your laptops all the time and work outside of your room most of the time?

I'm still deciding between a 12" and a 14" and I'm wondering if it's best to buy an ultraportable with a dock and an external monitor. But that won't help if I'll be in the library all the time.
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2010 Laptop discussion 07 Apr 2011, 08:56
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Vapor
Quick question: for those in bschool, do you guys carry around your laptops all the time and work outside of your room most of the time?

I'm still deciding between a 12" and a 14" and I'm wondering if it's best to buy an ultraportable with a dock and an external monitor. But that won't help if I'll be in the library all the time.
Show more

That really depends on the student. Most people I know at least carry a laptop, iPad, or netbook to class. Most bschools also have lockers for students to keep stuff at school.

I originally went to school with Vaio TT series and then after it broke down, I switched to Thinkpad X series. It's not like we are in engineering or math phd program. Most laptops will do fine. I do recommend "ultra-portable + long battery life" oriented laptops. (Unless you want to rip up the textbook and carry them by chapter by chapter basis like I do.....be warned that paper cuts are common when ripping up the textbook.... :( )
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2010 Laptop discussion 07 Apr 2011, 09:17
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nink
Vapor
Quick question: for those in bschool, do you guys carry around your laptops all the time and work outside of your room most of the time?

I'm still deciding between a 12" and a 14" and I'm wondering if it's best to buy an ultraportable with a dock and an external monitor. But that won't help if I'll be in the library all the time.

That really depends on the student. Most people I know at least carry a laptop, iPad, or netbook to class. Most bschools also have lockers for students to keep stuff at school.

I originally went to school with Vaio TT series and then after it broke down, I switched to Thinkpad X series. It's not like we are in engineering or math phd program. Most laptops will do fine. I do recommend "ultra-portable + long battery life" oriented laptops. (Unless you want to rip up the textbook and carry them by chapter by chapter basis like I do.....be warned that paper cuts are common when ripping up the textbook.... :( )
Show more

Wow... I never even thought about ripping up the text book... But maybe I'll end up doing that too :p

So the X series isn't too small for you when working with spreadsheets? I understand the processor requirement isn't very high for bschool, but it's the screen size that I'm not sure about.
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2010 Laptop discussion 11 Apr 2011, 06:58
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Oh, thank for your comments
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