X or T series for Law School?

[DonkeySmiler]

Cardozo (here in new york city) has a dual JD/LLM program (7 semesters) where you end with your LLM in Intellectual Property law. Coupled with a master's in comp sci (which I'm beginning either this summer or next summer)....

What was your motivation?

That is a great combo! The school I am going has a few dual programs, but there isn't really anything of interest.

My motivation lies in my desire to one day work for the FBI. Computers and Law are two "methods" for entry. (The others are accounting, launguage, and diversity ie. experience). I'd love to one day work towards a masters.... but first things first

[Confused]

Unless casebooks have gotten much smaller and lighter in recent years, if you're going to be lugging your laptop to class to take notes, get the X series. It's lower weight and smaller size will be a real plus for you.

When I was in law school there were no portable computers, but if there had been I would have wanted the smallest and lightest one possible. (The dinosaurs were nearly extinct then, and we didn't have to throw heavy objects like casebooks or big Dells at them very often.)

When I was in law school computers filled whole rooms and had tubes. The "wet copy machine" was a new invention. How times have changed . If money were no object - I'd get the lightest most portable machine to lug to class - and get a mouse/keyboard/monitor and other necessary externals for use when I got home. And I'd get a dock to plug in the externals - so I could just pop out the laptop when I was late to class (which was rather often). You have no idea how much reading/writing/typing you'll do - and I think that even the best laptop isn't any competition for a decent keyboard/monitor combination. Robyn (Confused)

[Nabeel]

^ haha

I'm starting at University at Buffalo in the fall, majoring in Biomedical Sciences (pre-med). I got my T42 since it's the only comp I'll be taking, and I figure it'd be nice to take it down to the library and things, and campus has alot of hotspots, so the wireless is nice.

[geekman686]

Don't forget the computer security cable if you are planning to live in the dorms. I've seen too many laptops suddenly sprout legs and walk off in college.

[admsteiner]

Mentioned in another thread (do a search for homeowner's insurance), you might be able to add theft coverage for rather cheap.

I've never had a problem, I've always left my laptop in public places in school and have left my room unlocked. Then again, only my friends know about it and none of them would mess with me. The swords and other martial arts weapons in my room help

That and theft isn't such a big problem where I went to school.

[Guest]

Theft is a problem everywhere with laptops. At college if it is not theft, it is drunk friends. Drunk friends could lift your laptop hide it in their room and you will be sorry. Some people even need to protect their laptops from themselves. They get so stoned they dont know what is going on?

[admsteiner]

I can attest to that last part, but not from being drunk (I don't drink) or stoned (I don't do anything of that sort either). My last laptop went through 3 keyboards. The first succumbed to 20 ounces of cherry coke (I can still see my hand, in slow motion, knocking the big tall cup over) and the second fell prey to a 1,400 page Tom Clancy hard cover book, which I accidently knocked off a shelf. When it hit the keyboard, five feet below...well, it turned the keyboard into two

Sorry for the OT post
--adam

[Guest]

I don't drink or smoke but people in my dorm did. Two roommates both messed up their computers. One a dell and another Mac. More importantly both expensive machinery. It was over drinks. I spilled hand sanitizer in mine. I popped some sanitizer on one hand above my laptop. And when I brought my two hands together the sanitizer slipped through my hands and landed right on my tab and number one key. Worst thing. I did it again right after thinking it was carelessness the first time. I blinked and half of it dissolved and the rest just slipped right through like water. It was a new sanitizer that was not as thick as the one I was using. That is why it happened. Also I guess I was not paying attention too. It sucks to not have a tab key. But luckily this was on my four year old Toshiba. This will not happen on my T42. Definitely though get accidental coverage or insurance if you can.

[jeremyas9999]

Another incoming 1L here. I'll be at Fordham...

[UclaWill]

Yet another incoming 1L here. Moving to SF to attend UC Hastings in a month!

[doylnea]

so now that we're all a week or more into 1L, who's enjoying themeslves?

I'm 3 weeks in and am really enjoying the cases and the coursework.

[lvlolvlo]

Personally, for Law School I would prefer a TabletPC, which is why in a couple of years I will be getting myslef the IBM TabletPC and venturing of to Law School

[doylnea]

I'd recommend skipping the TabletPC and finding a deal on M$ OneNote. It's a new software that allows you click anywhere on the page and type, just as you would in a notebook. It came bundled with the Office software from my law school and is simply awesome.

[lvlolvlo]

I have OneNote, and I use it but it's great when you use it with the Tablet. A Doctor I work for has it and I played around with it the first couple of days she got it, and it ROCKS! Hers is a Toshiba Tablet. The things you can do with MS OneNote in a tablet is alot more than with a regular notebook. Personally, since I have really messy handwriting I like the converting feature it has. What it does is you write like how you normally would, and then it converts your handwriting into actual text. The only annoying that I found was that seeing that it had a small (12.1") screen there was only two input lines. Yes you could change that option to the "write anywhere" option, but then you can't click anywhere to type.

I love the part where if you make a mistake you can flip the pen over and erase...it niiice

Bewarned though, if you use the eraser fast (like how she did) the screen scratches badly. Bo worries though seeing that she had complete care on hers so she just got it taken care of.

[Leon]

if it's primarily stylus based, how is it useful on a laptop then??

[doylnea]

if it's primarily stylus based, how is it useful on a laptop then??

OneNote is not stylus based. It apparently can be used with a Stylus. I use it like I would use Word, except it allows, among other things, the option to type anywhere on the page.

I think there's a 30 day demo for download on MS's website.

[lvlolvlo]

Well, now here's the thing right, you can totally use MS OneNote with a regular notebook, I just like the fact that with a Tablet you get the pen allowing you to actually write in OneNote as opposed to typing and then it converts my handwriting into text. The second feature is that if I were say to draw a diagram, it be much easier to draw it in the Tablet as oppsed to a regular notebook. But remember the Toshiba Tablet that I used can be used as both a regular notebook, as well as a Tablet (the screen swivels around and comes to a rest on th keyboard). Although I must say if there is one thing that still needs much improving is the heat issues related to the Tablet as it does get quite warm, and then extremley hot on the lower border of the screen when used for a longer period of time.