What type of laptop should I get?

Miss-kate · Nov 29, 2014

It won't allow me to as I don't have enough points or something along the lines of that.

But anyway I just wanted to know did you have to buy any additional program's for nursing school and are the apple versions of Microsoft you mentioned before are they compatible with windows programs?

akulahawkRN, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 29, 2014

Hi everyone,
I am wondering what sort of laptop would be sufficient for nursing school? I am thinking about MacBook Air or MacBook Pro so could anyone who owns them give me some pros and cons of each? I'm also open to suggestions of different types of laptops if you guys have any suggestions. Thanks :-)

My own personal laptop is a Toshiba satellite with a 15 inch screen and an extended keyboard. I got in 2011, just before I started nursing school and it has served me very well during school. My only complaint with this particular laptop is that the battery does not last very long so if you expect to be in class for a few hours and not be able to plug into a power source, make sure that the battery in your laptop will last at least as long as you will be in class. Several of my classmates have used Mac products and they really do like them a lot. With very few exceptions, there was nothing that my classmates using Macintosh products were unable to do with their computers that those of us with Microsoft-based products could do. There was always a workaround.

That included people using the Apple iPads for their class work notes. With that, the hardest thing they have to deal with was the lack of the traditional keyboard.

ETA: I wrote the above using voice dictation software. If your typing skills are marginal, consider using this kind of software to help you write papers and do care plans.

Miss-kate · Nov 29, 2014

My own personal laptop is a Toshiba satellite with a 15 inch screen and an extended keyboard. I got in 2011, just before I started nursing school and it has served me very well during school. My only complaint with this particular laptop is that the battery does not last very long so if you expect to be in class for a few hours and not be able to plug into a power source, make sure that the battery in your laptop will last at least as long as you will be in class. Several of my classmates have used Mac products and they really do like them a lot. With very few exceptions, there was nothing that my classmates using Macintosh products were unable to do with their computers that those of us with Microsoft-based products could do. There was always a workaround.
That included people using the Apple iPads for their class work notes. With that, the hardest thing they have to deal with was the lack of the traditional keyboard.

Thank you so much, you are all so helpful! That is very good and interesting to know.

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Nov 29, 2014

It won't allow me to as I don't have enough points or something along the lines of that.
But anyway I just wanted to know did you have to buy any additional program's for nursing school and are the apple versions of Microsoft you mentioned before are they compatible with windows programs?

I'm still going through pre-nursing so I don't have any tips to give on nursing school programs. Also, I'm not sure if I'm understanding correctly but if you try to open a Pages document in a Windows program it'll be incompatible. You would have to export the Pages document to .docx or .pdf to be able to open it in a Windows program, etc. You could also always buy Microsoft Office Suite for Mac if you find it doesn't work out for you but Pages and Keynote come with Mac and I'm not sure if Office comes with Windows computers. Either way you wouldn't incur any losses.

Miss-kate · Nov 29, 2014

I'm still going through pre-nursing so I don't have any tips to give on nursing school programs. Also, I'm not sure if I'm understanding correctly but if you try to open a Pages document in a Windows program it'll be incompatible. You would have to export the Pages document to .docx or .pdf to be able to open it in a Windows program, etc. You could also always buy Microsoft Office Suite for Mac if you find it doesn't work out for you but Pages and Keynote come with Mac and I'm not sure if Office comes with Windows computers. Either way you wouldn't incur any losses.

Thank you for your response. Sorry I am unaware of what pre-nursing is as we don't have it in Australia we just go straight into nursing.. I'm assuming you're from the US? Can you please explain what it is..

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Nov 29, 2014

Thank you for your response. Sorry I am unaware of what pre-nursing is as we don't have it in Australia we just go straight into nursing.. I'm assuming you're from the US? Can you please explain what it is..

Yes I'm from the US. Pre nursing is just when you know you want to go into nursing so you take the prerequisites needed for the program and once you apply and go through the hoops you are then accepted or declined into the nursing program and will then be considered a nursing student.

daniellehorses · Nov 29, 2014

Miss-Kate

I highly suggest the Mac BookPro! I have been a Mac fan for a long time now (my dad is a big Mac geek) but it is so nice to be able to connect to and easily transfer info to you iPhone and iPad. This is my second Macbook pro and I recently upgraded from my original that I bought when I went to college my first time around out of high-school. My first one lasted me 2006 until 2014 with no problems! You should be able to use pages and keynote that comes with the Mac but you can also upgrade to the Microsoft software as well. I use the preview program a lot too since you can edit pdf's through it and had to use it to enter text on some of recent biology stuff. I love my Mac and you couldn't pay me enough to switch to something different :up:

caliotter3 · Nov 29, 2014

BTW, you will be able to send a PM when you have posted at least 15 meaningful posts, just around the corner.

Miss-kate · Nov 29, 2014

Miss-Kate
I highly suggest the Mac BookPro! I have been a Mac fan for a long time now (my dad is a big Mac geek) but it is so nice to be able to connect to and easily transfer info to you iPhone and iPad. This is my second Macbook pro and I recently upgraded from my original that I bought when I went to college my first time around out of high-school. My first one lasted me 2006 until 2014 with no problems! You should be able to use pages and keynote that comes with the Mac but you can also upgrade to the Microsoft software as well. I use the preview program a lot too since you can edit pdf's through it and had to use it to enter text on some of recent biology stuff. I love my Mac and you couldn't pay me enough to switch to something different

Hey thanks so much Danielle! That is very good to know, I am leaning towards the MacBook Air though due to it being lighter and longer battery life. What is the battery like on your MacBook Pro? Does your dad ever talk much about the air or know much about them?

Miss-kate · Nov 29, 2014

BTW, you will be able to send a PM when you have posted at least 15 meaningful posts, just around the corner.

Haha thanks for that. :-)

daniellehorses · Nov 29, 2014

Hey thanks so much Danielle! That is very good to know, I am leaning towards the MacBook Air though due to it being lighter and longer battery life. What is the battery like on your MacBook Pro? Does your dad ever talk much about the air or know much about them?

If you aren't looking to store a lot on the air then it would be perfect for you. The air you can not update the hard drive to add more space and that is why I went with the MacBook Pro for the more hard drive room. My dad uses his Mac's to run his business so he personally uses the Pro's on a daily basis and added a larger hard drive on my current MacBook Pro for me. Both are awesome products just depends what all you are going to have on it. With the air you could always keep your stuff on icloud too. If you just plan on doing documents and keeping your notes on it my Dad said you should be fine for storage. The Air's battery life and how light it is are awesome! Only reason I did not go with it is a enjoy doing photography as a hobby and wanted to easily be able to download my camera's big memory card without having to worry about space. The battery life of the pro is right under 11 hours where the air is right under 13 hours.

Miss-kate · Nov 29, 2014

If you aren't looking to store a lot on the air then it would be perfect for you. The air you can not update the hard drive to add more space and that is why I went with the MacBook Pro for the more hard drive room. My dad uses his Mac's to run his business so he personally uses the Pro's on a daily basis and added a larger hard drive on my current MacBook Pro for me. Both are awesome products just depends what all you are going to have on it. With the air you could always keep your stuff on icloud too. If you just plan on doing documents and keeping your notes on it my Dad said you should be fine for storage. The Air's battery life and how light it is are awesome! Only reason I did not go with it is a enjoy doing photography as a hobby and wanted to easily be able to download my camera's big memory card without having to worry about space. The battery life of the pro is right under 11 hours where the air is right under 13 hours.

Thanks so much that is a great help. :-) thank your dad as well!

I don't really plan on using it for much other then documents and notes like you said and to do class work, but I always have the option of USB sticks. Cost isn't an issue I'm just curious about what other people think and their experiences.

Pros don't have a cd slot anymore do they?