Which laptop is best for a Pre-Nursing student??

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Specializes in RN Student/ER Tech.

I am starting my courses in the fall but I want to get my new laptop now. Getting a new laptop is long overdue since my current one is a gateway from like 2007 and its falling apart. Im stuck between the macbook pro and the macbook air.

I'm leaning more towards the air because people say its lighter that the pro. I heard the pro is better but its so heavy and its difficult to walk around campus with it...

Which one should I get?

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Honestly, as someone who is typing this from a Macbook Pro, I'm not sure I'd recommend either as a good college laptop (except for those going into graphic design/art since the colors are great). While I like the operating system and the software doesn't fail me too much, I've had several issues with the hardware on two Macbooks, particularly with whatever stuff keeps the battery charging and my touchpads. The chargers are also wimpy, and when you are moving the laptop around a lot and moving the cord, the end that connects to the laptop frays like mad. I was buying a new charger (like $80 a pop) every year. You also have to consider that there's going to be some programs that you won't be able to run at all because they are Windows only. This may include software included with your courses.

Maybe some of that stuff has changed since I got mine, but I have heard several other complain about similar things.

You can probably spend just as much on a Windows laptop as you would an Apple one and get more features and way better RAM. Features like a touch screen, the ability to annotate and write notes directly on slides or documents, and such would be more useful for school, and I haven't seen those included in Macbooks.

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The newer MacBook pros are a lot slimmer and lighter than the generation from a couple years ago. I have the newer MacBook Pro, and I'm happy with it. But I will say that for school, the laptop is only as good as your efficiency in using it to take notes and study from. I do my best to take notes and format them in a way that is conducive to my studying style, but you either have to be incredibly fast if you're formatting on the fly, or you need to take time to go back later after class and do that. I still question if taking notes on paper wouldn't still be better.. Another option to throw into the mix is either the iPad Pro, or the touchscreen PCs mentioned in the last comment. I've watched a couple students with their iPad pros attached to a keyboard and their Apple Pencil, typing away notes and then using the pencil to draw and adding notations like you would in a notebook. That's something I think could be really useful.

Between the two you mentioned though, I do personally like the MacBook Pro. The MacBook air seems to be phasing out anyway.

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Specializes in L&D, OBED, NICU, Lactation.

My reply to a poster a few weeks ago:

TLDR: *The Air is light but small, the Pro is a beast and is great, it just hasn't been updated in a while in any meaningful way.*

15" is going to be recommended, in fact search for 15" ultrabook to find light ones in that size. You do not want to lug around a 17" laptop. In fact, if you are planning on taking it to class or anywhere, consider a 14". My wife has a VERY heavy brand new Alienware that doesn't leave the desk (15"), I have a VERY light MSI that I travel with constantly (also a 15"). If you are getting close to 6lbs in weight from the laptop, it's going to get heavy.

Recommendations:

CPU- Core i5

RAM - 8GB ABSOLUTE MINIMUM (16GB recommended)

Graphics - unless you are also doing photo/video editing or hardcore gaming, this doesn't matter

Storage - SSD (Solid state drive) preferred with minimum of 256GB storage. Hybrid setups also worthwhile...you might see 64GB+1TB or something like that listed.

CD drive - don't worry about it. You can save on weight if you don't get one. I haven't used one in two years, but I have a $20 external one if I need it.

Screen size: 15/15.6" or 14" if you are worried about weight.

Software: Windows 10, most schools will register their students with Microsoft and you can get the Pro or Education version for free. Students get discounts on MS Office (if the school doesn't just give it to you), Adobe products, etc. 4 years of Office 2016 Student should run you $79.99-$99.99.

Consider refurbished machines. Apple does sell refurbs and they offer a student discount, typically around $200 based on the model.

This isn't a terrible machine for $468: Amazon.com: DELL INSPIRON I3567-5664BLK-PUS 15.6″ TOUCH-SCREEN LAPTOP (INTEL CORE I5-72U, 8GB RAM, 2TB HDD, BLACK): Computers & Accessories

I'm a fan of Dell for low-medium end consumer products, Apple for med-high end. I hate HP products. Lenovo products are fine, the YogaBook is nice. Acer and ASUS are pretty decent as well.

Everyone's mileage may vary but here's where I'm coming from...other than being a nurse: MS in IT, also work as a cyber security analyst, have built and repaired computers for almost 30 years.

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I was looking at the MacBook Pro myself, but my husband kept telling me I should try the iPad Pro. I like to write my notes more than type although I could easily do both. After multiple visits to the Apple store to play with both and many YouTube videos comparing both, I ended up with the iPad Pro and I love it. It is so convenient. I bought the Smart Keyboard should I want to type and it's pretty comfortable. But I find I prefer handwriting my notes while recording the lecture.l love that I can import the PowerPoints and take notes right on them and if my professor refers to an image online - I can quickly find it and import it into my notes. I like to use the different colored "ink" for drawing sometimes and highlighting options are helpful too. Being in A&P courses - these features have been a lifesaver. I was pretty adamant that I wanted a laptop but I'm glad my husband continued to push me towards the iPad Pro. But if I were to get a laptop - it was going to be the MacbookPro.

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Hi! Im looking into getting a ipad pro for school when I start in the fall. I was wondering if you thought it is good for clinicals too to carry with you? Thanks!!

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MacBook Pro ALL THE WAY! They make them SO light now that there isn't much of a weight difference. Also, they both have the same hard drive. Honestly, you probably couldn't even tell the difference in weight if you held a Pro in one hand and an Air in the other. I just checked Apple and the 13 inch Air weighs 2.96lbs and the 13 inch Pro weighs 3.02lbs. However, the 13 inch Air comes with a 1.8GHz i5 processor, and the Pro comes with a 2.3GHz 7th generation processor. So for weighing only 0.06lbs more the Pro will run much faster and have a lot more storage.

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