2011 Laptop and Software DiscussionPlease share your thoughts about which notebook/table is best for Business School?
Please give us your suggestions/comments!!
I will try to update this first post and have all the reviews in one place.
You can always vote for you favorite configuration!
Example:Hardware configuration:
- Model: netbook, notebook, table, other
- Screen size: 11'' to 14''
- Hard disk space: 500GB min
- Ram: at least 4 GB
Accesories
- External hd/pendrive
- Big monitor/s at home
Online Applications/Programs
- Office 2010
- Dropbox account
Others
Laptops Suggestions13.3" screen size for a number of reasons:
1. Weight/size
2. Battery life (longer with smaller screen, assuming the same battery capacity)
3. Fits better on airplanes (may not be a factor for you)
4. I use a dual 24" monitor setup at work/home, so I am satisfying my need for large screens.
Toshiba Portege R800 series 13.3" screen
attractive price tag ($750-900-ish, depending on configuration).
Review:
https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2383651,00.aspDell Vostro v130
13.3" i5 4gb ram but short battery life
https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2373535,00.aspFor Mac users:
Jerz wrote:
The new office for Mac is definitely better than the last version (especially the support for VBA and macros), but you'll probably still need to run a Windows VM with Excel for PCs since not all the add-ins that you'll use for class (eg. @Risk, MeXL) work even with the newest Mac Excel. That said, plenty of my classmates use Macs (and I switched over when my PC laptop died) and have had no problems either with using it for classwork or using the network and shared drives at school. So if you're a Mac person, there's no need to get a PC for school.
As for which version of Windows to run on the VM, I'd check with your school's IT dept. They will be best able to tell you which version works with their infrastructure and may have student deals that are much cheaper than retail.
Last year's discussion: 2010-laptop-discussion-91450.html