<p>i was wondering what the popular laptops are like on campus.
-are there any particularly popular brands eg dell, HP or lenovo?
-also, what brands have the nearest service centers (within berkeley, for eg) for these laptops?
-do students use tablet PCs a lot to record lecture notes, or is it more convinient to use paper and pen? or would a regular laptop suffice?
-finally, given the distance between lecture halls, is it more convinient to use a back-pack carry case or a brief-case style one?</p>
<p>
[quote]
-finally, given the distance between lecture halls, is it more convinient to use a back-pack carry case or a brief-case style one?
[/quote]
You should use a generic bag, backpack, etc. (not a laptop case--briefcase style, etc.) so that no one knows there is a laptop in it.</p>
<p>(1) A lot of students use either Dell or Apple.
(2) <a href="http://tsw.berkeley.edu/ccrs/%5B/url%5D">http://tsw.berkeley.edu/ccrs/</a>
(3) I have tablet PC. It works great. (Not a lot of people have one, though.)
(4) I carry a brief-case with an attachable strap. A backpack is probably a better idea, but it's all on preference.</p>
<p>Good luck,
TTG</p>
<p>what is a tablet PC?</p>
<p>A Tablet PC has the capability of rotating one's laptop monitor around and resting it on the keyboard, allowing you to write directly on the screen via a stylus as one would with a notepad. I don't have the following computer, but it will give you a good demonstration of what one looks like:</p>
<p>Click on "Product Tour" under "Learn More," and when the page loads, click on "Features."</p>
<p>This should give you a good idea of what a Tablet is.</p>
<p>Best of luck,
TTG</p>
<p>thanks a lot TTG!! Do you find a tablet very useful? Are they worth the cost?</p>
<p>Supposedly tablets are about the same price (possibly $100 more). </p>
<p>Personally if it's notes, I prefer being able to flip through pages through a spiral notebook (not laptop).</p>
<p>POSTING A QUESTION I RECEIVED VIA PM</p>
<p>< Tablet PC</p>
<p>I heard on one thread that u have a tablet PC. I was wondering, (if you use it) does it work well for taking notes in like a math or physics course, where u are usually writing equations (something a convential laptop wouldn't be able to do easily). I was thinking of getting a tablet for that reason, but am wondering if it helps or is just a pain.</p>
<p>Thanks> </p>
<p>I am a humanities major, so I have not used my tablet in a course that would entail writing equations or the like. But I would imagine that would be one of the plusses in using a tablet, just for the very courses you are thinking of. Just to play out a scenario, if I were in your position, I would use the Windows Journal program to draw out the equations, then screen clip the page onto Microsoft OneNote where it becomes a jpeg image. If I want to keep it like this, i can, or I can copy and paste it in Windows Picture Manager and save it as a standalone image from there. The bonus with being able to save images is that I can transpose this onto a Microsoft Word document, so if your class requires you to type everything out, it will be relatively easily. Take note that if you use your pen (screenclipped images OK) to annotate notes in your Word program, then it cannot be opened by another party who does not have the program. Also, all the programs I mentioned above comes standard with a Tablet PC, so you don't have to worry about getting programs. Some laptops give you the Microsoft Office Tablet XP for free, others will allow you to buy with your laptop for a reduced price. I believe all of them give you a two-months trial edition. Also note that because these are all specialized programs, the computing centers won't allow you to open these documents (therefore, you cannot print them, so you'd have to bring your own printer). </p>
<p>Best of luck,
TTG</p>
<p>In response to GoldenBear10, I love my tablet, totally worth the price (if you're serious about school, and just keep in mind that tablets are more for work/school functions than gaming and fun), and I cannot imagine my year without it. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.</p>
<p>Here to answer Qs,
TTG</p>
<p>how about macbooks, i really want one, do you think that is a good lappy to get, it looks sooo cool. does it run most of the applications you would typically need?</p>
<p>you can install windows on the macbook.</p>
<p>i know, but the windows cost extra money, and it doesnt run as fast as typically windows runs on pcs</p>
<p>"and it doesnt run as fast as typically windows runs on pcs"</p>
<p>Source to back up this information?</p>
<p>ohhhhhhhhhhhh mannnn, Pulkit proved every point that has been made on here in the past about why PCs are better than Macs...</p>
<p>
[quote]
it looks sooo cool.
[/quote]
For those who are deceived into thinking a computer CAN look cool, make them cool or is a FASHION STATEMENT, get a Mac. For sane people, get a PC!</p>
<p>ya well, i guess im one of those insane people. plus macbooks have some great stuff, intel duo, 13.3, nice and small, fairly light, aweome design, ilife, isight web cam, ya, its pretty awesome...</p>
<p>hey g1a, you're saying its crazy to want to buy a computer for looks, well i dun think its that out of the ordinary. first of all, a mac isnt just looks. but still, the fact that it has better looks does appeal to a lot of people. its the same thing as the ipod. by claiming that you shouldnt get a technological item for its looks means that getting an ipod is dumb, and you just CROSS THE LINE when you say that...lol</p>
<p>Pulkit, you're making the Mac users look bad.</p>
<p>"You should use a generic bag, backpack, etc. (not a laptop case--briefcase style, etc.) so that no one knows there is a laptop in it."</p>
<p>Officer Tejada taught you well. :D</p>
<p>Apple sells to people who want to be cool, like they're still in middle school (just look at those new ridiculous "cool guy vs. old nerd" ads).</p>