Decided to just go for it with a new laptop

[Shibby]

The old Mac Magda has been using for school finally died. This computer is "shit" apparently :D. So I just went for it instead of trying to tweak and do minor updates constantly with something simple. It's a lot but I plan to use it on this current project at work that should seal my promotion (doing well on the project should seal it) and she will use it with her RN work to line herself up to get accepted into one of the toughest CRNA programs in the country at Pitt.

[decadecadeca]

Every Dell laptop I've ever owned, both personal and work issued have been great.....for about three years and then they completely go to shit.

Bad display, bad drive, bad battery, etc....

I just think of laptops as disposable now, takes some of the sting out.

[Shibby]

I'm looking at it as about a 5 year investment. Until she is done with her CRNA program. She gets her RN next summer, has to work ICU for about a year, then can start the CRNA program which is about 2 years.

[decadecadeca]

For casual school use it will probably be fine.

Our laptops get beat to hell honestly.

[Bouncer]

plenty of power there, should do anything you want it to very easily.

[Shibby]

That was the key when picking it out. There may be a little bit not used, but we are tired of just getting something to get by and a year or two later doing it again.

[Bouncer]

That was the key when picking it out. There may be a little bit not used, but we are tired of just getting something to get by and a year or two later doing it again.

yea i hear ya.

saving money is a good thing but sometimes its good to spend a bit more.

[Bouncer]

Core i5 is basically a 5 core processor correct?

crazy shit, i remember when Dual Core was top of the line.

[Shibby]

I can kind of understand it enough to know I would be fine with the i5 instead of the i7, but I really couldn't explain it since it was a subjective understanding.

This video is pretty cool

Viddler.com - Intel demoes Core i5 vs Core 2 Duo - Uploaded by engadget

[Bouncer]

I use an atom processor lol.

[buell]

somewhere up in the attic resides a vic commodor circa 1980 along with my first video game the atari pong ..man we have came along way since the buell was a wee ladd. the cumpruter i talk on now is a I5 HP intel core laptop that i have had for a year or so and with the exception of having to replace the battery charger(90 bucks)it has been great.

[hitmansb]

I'm looking at it as about a 5 year investment.

Not gonna happen, Shib: even if you buy the baddest-ass DESKTOP on the market, it's gonna be a dinosaur that barely functions in 4 years tops. You bought a good, but not top-of-the-line laptop...so it will get 'dated' sooner. Not to mention that laptops tend to die faster because of the higher heat the chips are subjected to (not nearly as much airflow around the chips in a laptop compared to a well-cooled desktop). Three years is far more realistic.

[Shibby]

Well 4 years max from the beginning of summer is when she will be done with school. There is an accelerated CRNA program that is 1.5 years. She will do that if she can. Maybe 5 years is to hopeful, but in the big picture we won't feel like looking for something new right after we get this one (it's being built right now and should have it no later than Mar. 24).

[Timma]

If I were you don't go with a dell. Get a lenovo or something similar if you want it to last. Dell's wont last you more than 3 years. With heavy use they start to go bad after a year.

[Bouncer]

I have an old ass Dell laptop from 2004. I don't use it anymore but it still works, just has no bat, have to plug it in to use.

It's not fast but it will still load a site like this one in a few seconds, check email etc.. Just fine.

I used it every day for 4 years.