Laptop for Law School Forum

[dbalkaran]

I'll be starting school in August and I was debating whether or not to upgrade my laptop. I currently have a 12" MacBook and an iPad Pro 9.7" which I figured I could use for note taking. Is it worth it to upgrade? I was thinking about switching to Windows since that's what most enterprises use.

[blueapple]

It's not worth upgrading unless your computer doesn't work anymore. FWIW, in my experience most people had macbooks in law school.

[nunumaster]

Almost everyone uses macs in law school.

[do_me_a_favor]

.

[The_Pluviophile]

There's no disadvantage to having a PC, right? I currently have a macbook pro, but I'm in need of an update and was thinking of switching to the surface pro for note-taking possibilities.

[blueapple]

There's no disadvantage to having a PC, right? I currently have a macbook pro, but I'm in need of an update and was thinking of switching to the surface pro for note-taking possibilities.

No disadvantage to having a PC, but you'll want to make sure the surface pro is compatible with your school's exam software since it's technically a tablet from what I understand. I would wait until you know where you're going and then get in touch with the law school IT department to make sure it'll work.

[The_Pluviophile]

There's no disadvantage to having a PC, right? I currently have a macbook pro, but I'm in need of an update and was thinking of switching to the surface pro for note-taking possibilities.

No disadvantage to having a PC, but you'll want to make sure the surface pro is compatible with your school's exam software since it's technically a tablet from what I understand. I would wait until you know where you're going and then get in touch with the law school IT department to make sure it'll work.

Good point. Thanks!

[Nebby]

Almost everyone uses macs in law school.

Stellar endorsement of Mac clientele

[dbalkaran]

Well that settles it...I'll save my $1500 and just stick with my current laptop. I can't imagine any of the software I'd need to run will be all that demanding.

[Nebby]

Well that settles it...I'll save my $1500 and just stick with my current laptop. I can't imagine any of the software I'd need to run will be all that demanding.

Yeah, you'll be good. Save that money for more important stuff. Buy an Xbox One and join the tls club

[cavalier1138]

Well that settles it...I'll save my $1500 and just stick with my current laptop. I can't imagine any of the software I'd need to run will be all that demanding.

Yeah, you'll be good. Save that money for more important stuff. Buy a PS4 and join the cool kidz club

Fixed that for you.

[texanslimjim]

Jesus Christ. Yes, do not upgrade now. And when you do eventually "upgrade," do yourself a favor and yourself a Asus or Lenovo workhorse for $600 at most; spend the remaining $900 on a real gaming desktop, a console, a wardrobe upgrade or alcohol instead.

[Nebby]

Jesus Christ. Yes, do not upgrade now. And when you do eventually "upgrade," do yourself a favor and yourself a Asus or Lenovo workhorse for $600 at most; spend the remaining $900 on a real gaming desktop, a console, a wardrobe upgrade or alcohol instead.

[dbalkaran]

Well that settles it...I'll save my $1500 and just stick with my current laptop. I can't imagine any of the software I'd need to run will be all that demanding.

Yeah, you'll be good. Save that money for more important stuff. Buy a PS4 and join the cool kidz club

Fixed that for you.

I have a PS4 Pro sorry Nebby

I need to branch out from playing just Madden and 2K. Mafia III was the last game I played and I haven't found anything remotely as good since then.

[jader06]

Currently, my school is not allowing the new macbook with touch bar to be used for any exams.

[melmelcoolj]

Are people getting an extra monitor at home? I am wondering if I should get another monitor at home, since reading from my 13' screen gets tiring after a while.

Also my laptop will be two years old when I attend law school. And ideally I hope to put everything I do in law school on one computer. Do you think I should upgrade? I am leaning towards no, but looking for what others are doing.

[Nebby]

Well that settles it...I'll save my $1500 and just stick with my current laptop. I can't imagine any of the software I'd need to run will be all that demanding.

Yeah, you'll be good. Save that money for more important stuff. Buy a PS4 and join the cool kidz club

Fixed that for you.

I have a PS4 Pro sorry Nebby

I need to branch out from playing just Madden and 2K. Mafia III was the last game I played and I haven't found anything remotely as good since then.

Wooooow

[Mr_Chukes]

Currently, my school is not allowing the new macbook with touch bar to be used for any exams.

Which school is this?

[do_me_a_favor]

There's no disadvantage to having a PC, right? I currently have a macbook pro, but I'm in need of an update and was thinking of switching to the surface pro for note-taking possibilities.

no disadvantage. in fact, there were weird issues with macs and the exam software at my school last fall. idk anything about the surface pro though, i'm just talking ordinary PC laptops

Are people getting an extra monitor at home? I am wondering if I should get another monitor at home, since reading from my 13' screen gets tiring after a while.

Also my laptop will be two years old when I attend law school. And ideally I hope to put everything I do in law school on one computer. Do you think I should upgrade? I am leaning towards no, but looking for what others are doing.

big monitor is essential if you're like me. i'm very comfortable w/ computers and like to do most of my work on a home computer, with a big screen and a real full size keyboard. it really makes the difference when you write. you'll be able to have your browser open to look at your research and type in word at the same time, etc.

i take my laptop to the library/cafe to get myself out the house and outline a bit, but i generally do the heavy lifting at home on the desktop. if you do get a laptop and want to rely on that primarily, make sure you get a laptop with a great keyboard like lenovos

[melmelcoolj]

Are people getting an extra monitor at home? I am wondering if I should get another monitor at home, since reading from my 13' screen gets tiring after a while.

Also my laptop will be two years old when I attend law school. And ideally I hope to put everything I do in law school on one computer. Do you think I should upgrade? I am leaning towards no, but looking for what others are doing.

big monitor is essential if you're like me. i'm very comfortable w/ computers and like to do most of my work on a home computer, with a big screen and a real full size keyboard. it really makes the difference when you write. you'll be able to have your browser open to look at your research and type in word at the same time, etc.

i take my laptop to the library/cafe to get myself out the house and outline a bit, but i generally do the heavy lifting at home on the desktop. if you do get a laptop and want to rely on that primarily, make sure you get a laptop with a great keyboard like lenovos[/quote]

Yeah, that sounds great. I used a laptop in college, but I think I will need an extra monitor at home to do the heavy lifting work. So I can have a screen for reading/researching, and another for taking notes or writing my paper. Do you have recommended monitors or key boards?

I already have a MAC, so I am sort of leaning towards not buying another computer. Maybe a mechanical keyboard would do?

[blueapple]

Yeah, that sounds great. I used a laptop in college, but I think I will need an extra monitor at home to do the heavy lifting work. So I can have a screen for reading/researching, and another for taking notes or writing my paper. Do you have recommended monitors or key boards?

I already have a MAC, so I am sort of leaning towards not buying another computer. Maybe a mechanical keyboard would do?

just go to Best Buy or something and get a cheap monitor in a size you like (or order one from Amazon). I have one of the small macbook airs from a few years back and I just hook my laptop up to the monitor through the thunderbolt port. In terms of keyboard, I use this bluetooth one and it's fine, but I'm not picky so there may be better ones https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0096 ... UTF8&psc=1

I recommend a bluetooth mouse also. I turn both the keyboard and mouse off whenever I'm not at my desk so I don't waste the batteries.

[melmelcoolj]

Yeah, that sounds great. I used a laptop in college, but I think I will need an extra monitor at home to do the heavy lifting work. So I can have a screen for reading/researching, and another for taking notes or writing my paper. Do you have recommended monitors or key boards?

I already have a MAC, so I am sort of leaning towards not buying another computer. Maybe a mechanical keyboard would do?

just go to Best Buy or something and get a cheap monitor in a size you like (or order one from Amazon). I have one of the small macbook airs from a few years back and I just hook my laptop up to the monitor through the thunderbolt port. In terms of keyboard, I use this bluetooth one and it's fine, but I'm not picky so there may be better ones https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0096 ... UTF8&psc=1

I recommend a bluetooth mouse also. I turn both the keyboard and mouse off whenever I'm not at my desk so I don't waste the batteries.

The bluetooth keyboard you recommended seem really legit! I will either bring one from home, or buy the one you recommended. I will just go with a cheap monitor then, since I probably won't use it for movies and stuff. At least, I should be studying and not tempting myself to a movie.

[blueapple]

Yeah, that sounds great. I used a laptop in college, but I think I will need an extra monitor at home to do the heavy lifting work. So I can have a screen for reading/researching, and another for taking notes or writing my paper. Do you have recommended monitors or key boards?

I already have a MAC, so I am sort of leaning towards not buying another computer. Maybe a mechanical keyboard would do?

just go to Best Buy or something and get a cheap monitor in a size you like (or order one from Amazon). I have one of the small macbook airs from a few years back and I just hook my laptop up to the monitor through the thunderbolt port. In terms of keyboard, I use this bluetooth one and it's fine, but I'm not picky so there may be better ones https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0096 ... UTF8&psc=1

I recommend a bluetooth mouse also. I turn both the keyboard and mouse off whenever I'm not at my desk so I don't waste the batteries.

The bluetooth keyboard you recommended seem really legit! I will either bring one from home, or buy the one you recommended. I will just go with a cheap monitor then, since I probably won't use it for movies and stuff. At least, I should be studying and not tempting myself to a movie.

I promise you will have time to watch movies in law school! But honestly I think all monitors are pretty much the same for what you'll be using it for - unless you need something with great graphics for video games or something like that, something cheap with good reviews will do just fine.

[Mr_Chukes]

Everyone had a MacBook in my class visit lol.

[stoopkid13]

big monitor is essential if you're like me. i'm very comfortable w/ computers and like to do most of my work on a home computer, with a big screen and a real full size keyboard. it really makes the difference when you write. you'll be able to have your browser open to look at your research and type in word at the same time, etc.

i take my laptop to the library/cafe to get myself out the house and outline a bit, but i generally do the heavy lifting at home on the desktop. if you do get a laptop and want to rely on that primarily, make sure you get a laptop with a great keyboard like lenovos

Yeah, that sounds great. I used a laptop in college, but I think I will need an extra monitor at home to do the heavy lifting work. So I can have a screen for reading/researching, and another for taking notes or writing my paper. Do you have recommended monitors or key boards?

I already have a MAC, so I am sort of leaning towards not buying another computer. Maybe a mechanical keyboard would do?

If you go mechanical, see if you can find keyboards at a local computer parts store, or try out a friends if you know someone who has one. There are several different types of switches, so you will want to see what kind you prefer. Personally, I have Cherry Reds but I prefer Blues for typing (I bought my keyboard before LS, when I used it more for gaming).