Good Laptop for Nursing school

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2010

I had a HP notebook, as did most of my classmates who used laptops. I love my laptop and it's going to be hard to pry it from my cold hands.

If you do not wish to spend the money on a HP, an Acer notebook is a more affordable option. Virtually all of my instructors had Acer laptops.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 21, 2010

Depends what you want to do with it really. Is it a complete replacement for a desktop and you are needing something with some guts to it, or do you just need a note taking, email doing laptop. Screen size/budget/Winblows or apple is all things you need to look at.

stelarRN · Apr 21, 2010

i switched from an HP to a Macbook 2 years ago and haven't looked back.

Happified. · Apr 21, 2010

MacBook Pro! They're great. Kinda expensive but worth it.

NGeorgia · Apr 21, 2010

I am not a fan of dell's or hp's quality. I love my new MacBook and had a very nice Sony Vaio I'd also recommend.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 21, 2010

I have an MSI Netbook which was a lifesaver during nursing school. It's small and compact but has a full keyboard. You'll need an extended battery though which weighs almost as much as the laptop itself... The battery it came with only lasts 1-2 hours.

Guest 360983 · Apr 21, 2010

My fiance and I both have Toshiba laptops. I've had mine for almost 2 years and haven't had a single problem with it (knock on wood!). The only downside is that it's a bit bulky to drag around. I'm going to get a Toshiba netbook to bring with me to class to take notes.

If your program requires you to use specific software, I would be wary about getting a Mac unless you are comfortable with things like having 2 operating systems on your computer. I'm not a big Apple fan though--they're good for professional graphics, that's the only positive thing I have to say about them.

If you want more specific suggestions, what do you plan on doing with it? Do you plan on bringing it to class with you? What is your budget? What do you expect from it (good battery life, being able to play DVDs, being small enough to throw in your backpack)? Are you interested in desktops, laptops or both?

newbiepnp, MSN, RN, NP, CNS · Apr 21, 2010

Be aware that netbooks generally do not have a CD/DVD drive, so installing software is tricky. I returned mine after I was unable to install PhotoShop.

Nurse-One · Apr 21, 2010

Try HP Pavilion dv4. I'm not sure what size screen I have, maybe it's a 15". Not too

big not too small. It cost just under $600 bucks. I have the off-white on.

Had it since christmas, so far so good. Good for nursing school and for even when your

done:)

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2010

If you don't mind the price, get a Macbook or Macbook Pro. The Macbook, which is the plastic one, is the cheapest.

Essie Marie · Apr 21, 2010

Just bought a MacBook Pro in January when my old HP laptop stopped working right. Haven't regretted the change since. With the HP laptop, the battery life lasted maybe 2 hrs if I was lucky while the MacBook Pro battery last ~7 hrs. Of course there are many other reasons why I love the new laptop, but as a student who uses the laptop in class, this is the main reason why I adore it because I don't have to compete w/ other students for an outlet. Yes, they are expensive, but the performance is much better/faster.

Some students use the little netbooks for taking notes which has the convenience of small size. I don't know, I guess there are pros and cons to Macs/Windows/laptops/netbooks, so I guess one would have to decide what's a priority and what one is willing to compromise. I suggest looking at the manufacturer's websites, narrowing down what features appeal to you, and then going to YouTube to find video reviews of the particular models that interest you. I find the manufacturer's websites are informative (but biased naturally) and the YouTube reviews offer a more objective, "regular person's" POV.