<p>I want a Macbook Pro, but I was wondering about how wireless the Cornell Campus truly is. I have been accepted and I really want a computer that will be functional and not just attractive. The IBM computer I am looking at currently has about 7 hours of battery life with extended battery, and the Macbook only has a little more than three hours. Also, apparently there is no modem on the Macbook Pro...will this be an issue when I'm in my dorm? Any advice would truly be appreciated, for I want to be able to take my computer to class with me so that I may take notes on the laptop itself instead of writing (how archaic! ;)!) Anyway. Advice, please!</p>
<p>"no modem" shouldn't be a problem since the network is based on ethernet. However, since I'm not familiar with Macs, I can't tell if you mean to say it doesn't have an ethernet slot. If, the macbook doesn't have an ethernet slot (it DEFINITELY should have an ethernet slot) don't get it since its hard to deal with that.</p>
<p>And people have told me that Macs are functional and attractive -- as long as you're not an engineer. Engineers have to deal with "special" software thats usually only available on Linux/UNIX or Windows. You have less viruses/security problems with Macs and thats of course an awesome plus. Battery shouldn't usually be a problem. Most areas where you'll use your computer will have a power connection and so 3 hours should be more than enough.</p>
<p>DO NOT get the new macbook. It is of a lesser quality of macs than what one should be used to. Even hard-core Mac afficiandos don't recommend it.</p>
<p>Macbooks also heat up to a toasty 140 degrees F while just surfing the web. I hope you don't plan on having children anytime soon. I'll be getting the Dell XPS M1210 with the EPP discount of 12% on the Dell site by using my student ID. A cheaper (monetarily) pre-assembled m1210 is also available on the Costco site : <a href="http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11136776%5B/url%5D">http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11136776</a> . It's a 12'' laptop that weighs 4.3 lbs, meaning that it is very portable and will be easy to carry around. It also has an amazing battery life as well. Check out the Cnet review for more information.</p>
<p>IBM Thinkpads (technically, they're Lenovo Thinkpads though) are the best-built notebooks in existence right now.</p>
<p>I'd choose a thinkpad over a macbook anyday unless I needed the Mac OS or if I was an appearance whore who fell in love with the attractive Macs and denied the IMO kinda ugly thinkpads.</p>
<p>And ACornellA had some pretty good advice... the XPSM1210 is an awesome system... a little thicker than most 12" notebooks but with all the juice that baby has, you'll overlook that fact.</p>
<p>I have a mac powerbook and it's been a blessing since day one, especially on campus. It worked with the ethernet at the dorm and i didn't have to touch a single button for it to connect to the wireless at the libraries. There hasn't been any uncompatibility complaints that i've heard about from any students (including engineers) so don't worry about it. Dont worry about batter life either, everybody brings a charger to the library regardless of their laptop. I have the wireless apple mouse that i bring along too. </p>
<p>I've had my powerbook for about a year and a half now and it has never crashed or needed service and to my memory has only froze twice. In the same amount of time, my girlfriend's HP has crashed and my PC at home had to have windows installed all over again. Sure glad those days are over with...</p>
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my girlfriend's HP has crashed
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<p>That's because it's an HP :P</p>
<p>Haha... actually, I bet it was one of those home-user HPs which aren't exactly the best computers around</p>
<p>You think writing is archaic? lol Wouldn't it be a little cumbersome to walk with you laptop all over campus?</p>
<p>Anyway, when I went to Cornell days, I decided to sit in on a class, and I didn't see anyone with their laptop taking notes. One girl was playing solitare, but any occassional notes she took was written in a notebook- go figure.</p>
<p>"Haha... actually, I bet it was one of those home-user HPs which aren't exactly the best computers around"</p>
<p>believe it or not, my dad gave it to her. It used to be his work laptop (really high end model), but he opted for a mac as well after I got one.</p>
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believe it or not, my dad gave it to her. It used to be his work laptop (really high end model), but he opted for a mac as well after I got one.
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<p>Oh, I see... :o</p>
<p>Haha well, I'm biased against HP, emachines, compaq, and vaio...</p>
<p>Even though I know that Dell makes solid laptops (at a very nice price after coupons!), I just can't get over the "cheap Dell" feel unless I decide I want to save several hundred bucks...</p>
<p>ASUS and Thinkpads are the way to go!!! (especially ASUS :D )</p>
<p>Yeah... basically my laptop biases :P</p>
<p>replying to post #6:</p>
<p>As an FYI: Even if everyone has chargers at the libraries, that doesn't mean they can find places to plug them in. A lot of the older parts of the libes don't have any outlets, or only have ungrounded outlets, which are somewhat problematic for most computer-related plugs.</p>
<p>Personally, I kept my laptop (with a broken battery) at home, took notes on paper in class, and checked out a laptop at the libe when I needed it - and occasionally carried it elsewhere around campus. I kept certain files I needed to work on in both places on a flash drive.</p>
<p>"As an FYI: Even if everyone has chargers at the libraries, that doesn't mean they can find places to plug them in."</p>
<p>well if you go to places where plugs don't exist, you probably will have a problem. Solution: don't go there if you have a laptop! At the ILR library, there are 2 plugs at every desk.</p>
<p>Or attach a 9-cell battery to an ultraportable :D</p>
<p>Edit to my above post:</p>
<p>Attach a 9-cell battery to an undervolted ultraportable, that might get you a ridiculously long battery life!</p>
<p>Hey, </p>
<p>ACornellA, how do you get to the 12% EPP discount page?</p>