Comments for Student Buying Guide http://www.studentbuyingguide.com Tech product reviews and deals for students Thu, 17 May 2012 15:57:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Lenovo Y480 Review – A Powerful Portable Laptop for Students by AJ http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2012/05/lenovo-y480-review-a-powerful-portable-laptop-for-students/comment-page-1/#comment-20396 AJ Thu, 17 May 2012 15:57:48 +0000 http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/?p=6569#comment-20396 thanks for the feedback! So the applications you use are pretty much all dependent on the CPU for performance and since this is the latest Intel Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) you're definitely going to get some sweet performance. The graphics card actually doesn't matter so much for those Adobe programs. Also, the 2GB of VRAM isn't entirely necessary, the graphics card really doesn't have the bandwidth to even need that amount, but it certainly won't hurt performance either. Good luck with the Y480! thanks for the feedback! So the applications you use are pretty much all dependent on the CPU for performance and since this is the latest Intel Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) you’re definitely going to get some sweet performance. The graphics card actually doesn’t matter so much for those Adobe programs. Also, the 2GB of VRAM isn’t entirely necessary, the graphics card really doesn’t have the bandwidth to even need that amount, but it certainly won’t hurt performance either. Good luck with the Y480!

]]> Comment on Lenovo Y480 Review – A Powerful Portable Laptop for Students by The Swee http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2012/05/lenovo-y480-review-a-powerful-portable-laptop-for-students/comment-page-1/#comment-20394 The Swee Thu, 17 May 2012 13:12:20 +0000 http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/?p=6569#comment-20394 Hey man - great review. I took the plunge and bought the 1TB + 32GB SSD model. Hope it's good! My main concern with the graphics card used to be about gaming, but since I'm 10 years older and I also have an Xbox, my main concern is now Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, etc. You think this computer will run those smoothly given the i7 Ivy Bridge and 2GB GPU? That's what I'm gambling on....LMK what you think. My ship date is May 24th and I'm getting all antsy with anticipation... Hey man – great review. I took the plunge and bought the 1TB + 32GB SSD model. Hope it’s good!

My main concern with the graphics card used to be about gaming, but since I’m 10 years older and I also have an Xbox, my main concern is now Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, etc. You think this computer will run those smoothly given the i7 Ivy Bridge and 2GB GPU? That’s what I’m gambling on….LMK what you think. My ship date is May 24th and I’m getting all antsy with anticipation…

]]> Comment on Lenovo Y480 Review – A Powerful Portable Laptop for Students by 600$-1100$ Gaming laptop recommendations and why I don’t update more | Gaming Laptops Junky http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2012/05/lenovo-y480-review-a-powerful-portable-laptop-for-students/comment-page-1/#comment-20384 600$-1100$ Gaming laptop recommendations and why I don’t update more | Gaming Laptops Junky Thu, 17 May 2012 05:39:05 +0000 http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/?p=6569#comment-20384 [...] Lenovo IdaaPad Y480 review [...] [...] Lenovo IdaaPad Y480 review [...]

]]> Comment on Dell Vostro 3450 Review by merc http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2011/07/dell-vostro-3450-review/comment-page-1/#comment-20323 merc Mon, 07 May 2012 05:55:04 +0000 http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/?p=3437#comment-20323 vostro 3450 is really bulky, heavier than vostro 3400. AMD graphics as an option is a poor choice by Dell's developer since i believed the features it has is too immature. They should instalI nvidia optimus instead. the choice made by the developer shows the lack of understanding in users applications and convenience. I would prefer to have 3400 but i cannot find any 3400 in the market in this days. 3400 has better presentation, light, and tough and sophisticated look. Do you know where can i get a new vostro3400 since dell hasnot produce this laptop. Thanks vostro 3450 is really bulky, heavier than vostro 3400. AMD graphics as an option is a poor choice by Dell’s developer since i believed the features it has is too immature. They should instalI nvidia optimus instead. the choice made by the developer shows the lack of understanding in users applications and convenience. I would prefer to have 3400 but i cannot find any 3400 in the market in this days. 3400 has better presentation, light, and tough and sophisticated look.
Do you know where can i get a new vostro3400 since dell hasnot produce this laptop. Thanks

]]> Comment on Custom Textbooks are a Rip off for Students by Peter http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2008/07/custom-text-books-are-a-rip-off-for-students/comment-page-1/#comment-20317 Peter Fri, 04 May 2012 23:29:31 +0000 http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2008/07/custom-text-books-are-a-rip-off-for-students/#comment-20317 Here's an example of Camden County College in Blackwood, NJ for MTH-107. The book is "Thinking Mathematically" with the special ISBN code 9780321720627. A new book + access card from the bookstore is $156.25. A used book re-bundled with a new access card is $117.20. A new access card without the book is $92.50. So a new book by itself (they don't sell them separately) must be worth $156.25 - $92.50 = $63.75. Amazon sells the current edition of the book with ISBN code 9780321645855 for $117.55 (MSRP $158.00). They sell the book + access card with ISBN code 9780321744446 for $126.40 (MSRP $168.00). Therefore the access card must really be worth around $10. So why is the college selling you the access card for more than 9 times that (but selling the book cheaper)? That makes the price of the book a much smaller part of the total package price. If you trade it in, you won't get very much for it. You can't trade the access card in since it's registered to one user and can't be transferred. That's assuming they'll take the book at all. They reprint the books often and give them new ISBN codes to avoid buying back books from students. Although they advertise used books, you'll be lucky if you can find one. Almost everyone has to buy a new bundle and nobody gets any money back. So far, more than half of my courses have custom printed books. One full time semester at this college will cost you around $2,000 but you'll spend at least another $700 on books. Then there's the "online course" rip off. The courses are the same price as on-campus classes. Since you don't have the same support structure you get from going to class, all the required books will have access cards. Most of this may just be an onine version of the book with some video tutorials that you may not need. However, professors may use the publishers website to manage assignments, etc. So you have to pay for the access card whether you like it or not. That means online courses can end up costing more than the same on-campus classes where assignments could have been handed in or simply emailed. Why not just charge more per credit and give you all the books you need at the first class (which are yours to keep)? At least then you'd know exactly how much college is going to cost you. I have classes where the book has cost almost as much as the tuition. So much that my student loan wasn't enough to cover the cost. Here’s an example of Camden County College in Blackwood, NJ for MTH-107. The book is “Thinking Mathematically” with the special ISBN code 9780321720627. A new book + access card from the bookstore is $156.25. A used book re-bundled with a new access card is $117.20. A new access card without the book is $92.50. So a new book by itself (they don’t sell them separately) must be worth $156.25 – $92.50 = $63.75. Amazon sells the current edition of the book with ISBN code 9780321645855 for $117.55 (MSRP $158.00). They sell the book + access card with ISBN code 9780321744446 for $126.40 (MSRP $168.00). Therefore the access card must really be worth around $10. So why is the college selling you the access card for more than 9 times that (but selling the book cheaper)? That makes the price of the book a much smaller part of the total package price. If you trade it in, you won’t get very much for it. You can’t trade the access card in since it’s registered to one user and can’t be transferred. That’s assuming they’ll take the book at all. They reprint the books often and give them new ISBN codes to avoid buying back books from students. Although they advertise used books, you’ll be lucky if you can find one. Almost everyone has to buy a new bundle and nobody gets any money back. So far, more than half of my courses have custom printed books. One full time semester at this college will cost you around $2,000 but you’ll spend at least another $700 on books. Then there’s the “online course” rip off. The courses are the same price as on-campus classes. Since you don’t have the same support structure you get from going to class, all the required books will have access cards. Most of this may just be an onine version of the book with some video tutorials that you may not need. However, professors may use the publishers website to manage assignments, etc. So you have to pay for the access card whether you like it or not. That means online courses can end up costing more than the same on-campus classes where assignments could have been handed in or simply emailed. Why not just charge more per credit and give you all the books you need at the first class (which are yours to keep)? At least then you’d know exactly how much college is going to cost you. I have classes where the book has cost almost as much as the tuition. So much that my student loan wasn’t enough to cover the cost.

]]> Comment on Best Laptop for Computer Science Engineering Majors by Andrew http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2011/09/best-laptop-for-computer-science-engineering-majors/comment-page-1/#comment-20305 Andrew Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:34:04 +0000 http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2011/09/best-laptop-for-computer-science-engineering-majors/#comment-20305 Hi Glenn, yes the laptops recommended for science and engineering majors would certainly be good choices. I'm sorry, but I don't know enough about nuclear medicine to really know what software you'll be using! Hi Glenn, yes the laptops recommended for science and engineering majors would certainly be good choices. I’m sorry, but I don’t know enough about nuclear medicine to really know what software you’ll be using!

]]> Comment on Best Laptop for Computer Science Engineering Majors by Glenn http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2011/09/best-laptop-for-computer-science-engineering-majors/comment-page-1/#comment-20295 Glenn Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:47:32 +0000 http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2011/09/best-laptop-for-computer-science-engineering-majors/#comment-20295 Which laptops do you suggest for collage studies in neclear medicine? Are your reviews about science & engineering laptops applicable. Do you have suggestions for useful software related to neclear medicine? Which laptops do you suggest for collage studies in neclear medicine? Are your reviews about science & engineering laptops applicable. Do you have suggestions for useful software related to neclear medicine?

]]> Comment on Dell Studio 14z Review by Jack Rendel http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2009/07/dell-studio-14z-review/comment-page-1/#comment-20288 Jack Rendel Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:35:38 +0000 http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/?p=1289#comment-20288 I have just installed a 4GB ram chip in our Dell Inspiron 14z 1440 in place of the GB chip and now the computer only recognizes the 1GB on board. When I remove the 4GBs and replace it with the 2GBs we bought it with it does recognize 3GBs. How can I get it to recognize the 4GBs new chip, total of 5GBs? Thanks I have just installed a 4GB ram chip in our Dell Inspiron 14z 1440 in place of the GB chip and now the computer only recognizes the 1GB on board. When I remove the 4GBs and replace it with the 2GBs we bought it with it does recognize 3GBs. How can I get it to recognize the 4GBs new chip, total of 5GBs?

Thanks

]]> Comment on Does the New Apple iPad 3 have a Student Discount? by The Student Wallet http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2012/03/does-the-new-apple-ipad-3-have-a-student-discount/comment-page-1/#comment-20282 The Student Wallet Sat, 07 Apr 2012 18:46:29 +0000 http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/?p=6507#comment-20282 There are a few ways to get a deal on the new third generation iPad, even without a student discount. You can purchase a refurbished iPad from Apple. You can buy a discounted gift card from a retailer like Best Buy. Or, you can buy an iPad through a shopping portal and get cash back, For more information, you can read this article http://www.thestudentwallet.com/is-there-a-student-discount-for-the-ipad-3/ There are a few ways to get a deal on the new third generation iPad, even without a student discount. You can purchase a refurbished iPad from Apple. You can buy a discounted gift card from a retailer like Best Buy. Or, you can buy an iPad through a shopping portal and get cash back, For more information, you can read this article
http://www.thestudentwallet.com/is-there-a-student-discount-for-the-ipad-3/

]]> Comment on Dell Inspiron 15 Review by Tan Tan http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2008/09/dell-inspiron-15-review/comment-page-1/#comment-20261 Tan Tan Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:32:11 +0000 http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2008/01/dell-inspiron-1525-review/#comment-20261 I FIND THIS POST VERY USEFUL, AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND. I've scanned thru the comments as well. And I made my choices. I'm getting Inspiron 15. Thanks to all commentors, and most importanly, Amanda! I FIND THIS POST VERY USEFUL, AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND. I’ve scanned thru the comments as well. And I made my choices. I’m getting Inspiron 15. Thanks to all commentors, and most importanly, Amanda!

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