<p>yea lowofo i jus meant getting something good enough esp in memory/video card so that u can later change ur OS to windows vista... at least the basic version. if u google vista ready laptops and u'll find out more. =] i kno mine will work.</p>
<p>The latest from slashdot--</p>
<p>The MacBook turns yellow. No, really! Some users report the palm rest of their otherwise white MacBooks turning yellow.</p>
<p>omar:
What video card are you getting? How's the expandability on a tablet?</p>
<p>well, here are the specs of the tablet I'm getting</p>
<p>Brand: Gateway (direct.gateway.com)
Wireless Network: Integrated Intel 802.11 a/b/g wireless networking
OS: Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005
Display: 14.0"(1280x768)
Processor: Intel Core Duo T2500 (2.00 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 2MV L2 Cache)
Memory: 1 GB (1 module)
Hard Drive: 100 GB 5400 rpm
Optical Drive: DVD+/- RW DL
Chassis w/ ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 64MB Graphics (up to 128 MB HyperMemory) 945GM Chipset</p>
<p>I guess that's all, it has everything I want and with Office 2003 for students, the backpack, a second battery and I don't know what else I added, it costs about 2000 $$</p>
<p>I say you get a MacBook, because I like Macs in general. But if you are interested in doing computer science, I would go with the Mac for sure because it's based on UNIX, and ssh'ing (basically logging in) to athena is so much fatser than on a PC.</p>
<p>rite now toshiba is featuring a 1.83Ghz intel core duo, 2GB RAM laptop for 1300 bucks. it was released 6/27/06. i thought it was a pretty sweet deal. =]</p>
<p>I'm coming into MIT with my tried and true iBook...does anyone know whether you can run the programs needed for science and math classes? Like, mathematica or maple, or whatever is used in classes?</p>
<p>I am debating between dell and sony vaio. Does anyone know which is more compatible with MIT computing services.</p>
<p>the laptops recommended on MIT's site (esp non-Mac ones) seem still too pricy!</p>
<p>Try toshiba laptops. =D I've recommended it to 3 friends already and they're loving it (less money, but better CPU speed, twice as large RAM (2GB!), and space...).</p>
<p>tropicalisland:</p>
<p>Since both run Windows XP, both will be equally compatible.</p>
<p>My suggestion:</p>
<p>If you've waited this long, wait till September when all the Intel Core 2 Duo laptops come out. They'll last you four years no problemo. I hear the new IBM tablet is gonna be released when Core 2 Duo arrives.</p>
<p>I got a IBM X60s Core (1) Duo off of MIT GovConnection. It it is so tiny.</p>
<p>If anyone knows the answer to somethingnew's question, I would also like to hear if my iBook can run all the software and whatnot.</p>
<p>I know Mathematica has a Mac version that works very well, I've used it myself. I don't know about Maple, but I have a hunch that the use of Mathematica would make Maple pretty much superfluous.</p>
<p>About the laptop vs tablet pc topic, I would choose the laptop because it serves your entertainment needs a lot better. You're not going to be working all the time, and a laptop is better when you need some kind of break. Also, a laptop just seems to be more capable of many more things because it generally has better specs. As for being able to take notes easily like a tablet, check out the Adesso Cyberpad. It's a notepad (8.5" by 11") that saves whatever you write to its internal memory card. You can then transfer the notes to your laptop via USB to manage and edit 'em. It only weighs 1.5 lb, which is significantly lighter than a tablet pc, making it very easy to carry anywhere, and you don't get that awkward feeling of writing on a screen because it uses everyday paper. So I recommend getting a laptop and a cyberpad. The cyberpad sells for around ~$130; I think that's a really great deal.</p>
<p>Dell had a 35%-off discount; I'm not sure if they still have it. You can get an awesome laptop with accessories for very cheap when compared to other laptops with similar specs.</p>
<p>E1505 Dual Core basic specs:
Intel Core Duo T2500 Processor (2GHz/667MHz/2 X 1MB L2 Cache)
15.4 inch UltraSharp Wide Screen SXGA+ Display with TrueLife (1680x1050 native resolution)
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHZ, 2 DIMM
256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 TurboCache
100GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 Internal Wireless and Bluetooth
8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
9-cell lithium ion primary battery
Weighs about ~6.5 lbs which is good considering its parts, but decent overall.</p>
<p>The system comes with 4-yr warrant with on-site service and accidental damage coverage. All for ~$1600 (with the MIT discount), tax and shipping included.</p>
<p>I sound like a salesperson... Anyway, I'm just recommending it.</p>
<p>I got a tablet, it's great ;)</p>
<p>omar, did u get a slate or convertible? Do convertibles come with the pen? And what's the difference between a convertible and a hybrid?</p>
<p>Also, do all tablets have the speech recognition system built in them? Does that mean I don't need to bring a tape recorder to class to record the lectures?</p>
<p>record the lectures?
lol MIT stop admitting overachievers</p>
<p>MIT doesn't have Gateway as one of its "recommended" manufacturers. Does anyone know if there are problems with compatibility for gateway computers? Omar, you are doing Interphase right? Is your tablet at MIT with you? How is it doing? I am interested in buying the Gateway CX210X. It also comes with a cd/dvd drive.</p>
<p>I've never heard of anyone having compatibility problems from a "recommended" manufacturer. As I see them, the recommendations are good computers, at a good price, that do everything you'll need.</p>
<p>I had a convertible Tablet PC last year, (Toshiba Portege M200). Its a great little computer that does everything a normal laptop would (including <em>some</em> games!), but after it lost its "wow" factor, I didn't find the tablet functionality all that useful. I kept losing the stylus, and taking notes with it, although convenient, wasn't as easy as just good 'ol pen and paper. That said, I know a few people that use their tablet PC for everything.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think anything that runs the recommended operating systems will be fine at MIT -- "compatibility" should only be an issue with software distributed by MIT, which you don't have to have anyway.</p>