Published Feb 14, 2017
VampyrSlayer, CNA
546 Posts
Hi!
I am starting an LPN program in the fall and I need a new laptop. I am a Mac person but I need a PC. There are few requirements and I'm not in a rush, but I thought I would love to hear from people who have been there done that. Any recommendations?
Thank you!
Windows 7 or higher (8, 8.1, or 10) (needed for installation of Safe Exam Browser)
ï‚· MS Office 2013 or higher
ï‚· 4 GB of Memory
ï‚· 160 Gig Hard Drive (bigger is better)
ï‚· Accidental coverage warranty is recommended as an option when purchasing a laptop
LessValuableNinja
754 Posts
Regardless of what you get, make sure the OS drive is SSD. Makes a world of difference.
Thank you! I'm not entirely sure what SSD is, but I will look into it!
Solid state drive. Much faster. You can actually have more than one drive with the secondary one for file storage being an old fashioned hard drive that spins. Just make sure the one with the OS and programs you use a lot are on the SSD. Since SSDs are more expensive, if you're going to store a ton of data, it's cheaper to have a second drive for storage that isn't SSD. Most people can get by with a 200 GB SSD though. You can also save money by storing files you don't use much in the cloud. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription it comes with a terabyte of cloud storage.
Thank you! I was looking at computers with SSD and wow are they expensive! I only plan on using that computer for nursing school. Can I get by with another kind since I am still going to be using my MacBook recreationally?Thanks!
Doesn't have to be expensive. I paid about $550 for the one I use.
Oh, great! May I ask which one you use?
Thanks!
Double-Helix, BSN, RN
3,377 Posts
Those are really basic requirements. Pretty much any new model laptop will have at least that amount of storage. You'll probably have to purchase MS Office separately. Just get any basic model. If you'll be carrying this around school and you already have a Mac, you don't want to spend a lot and they will all perform the basic functions you'll need them to. You should be able to find a decent HP, Lenovo, etc. for around $300. Look at refurbished models and you can get an even better deal.
TheCommuter, BSN, RN
102 Articles; 27,612 Posts
Duplicate threads have been merged.
dbuy3, LPN
32 Posts
Pretty much any of these will work for what you need. I've always had good success with ASUS machines and as a bonus most ASUS laptops come with a 1 year accidental damage warranty included with their standard warranty.
Personally I would stay away from any AMD processors and stick with Intel I5's or if you need to save money go with an Intel Core I3 processor. Every AMD laptop processor I've had just doesn't last.
Amazon.com: asus laptop - Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i3 / Windows 1 / Traditional Laptops ...: Electronics
Oh, great! May I ask which one you use?Thanks!
Amazon.com: Acer Aspire E5-575G-53VG Laptop, 15.6-Inch Full HD (Intel Core i5, NVIDIA 94