[cal4ever]

Hey Everyone,

I wasn't sure if I should have put this on the software forum, or if I should put it here. I figured, this forum is more all-encompassing, so here I am.

Anyway, I'm starting law school this fall and I don't want to part with my 12'' pb, but there seems to be a lot of software out there that are suppose to aid law students--unfortunately, many of these softwares (i.e. storelaw) are not compatible with my pb. Should I just bye VirtuaPC or sell my pb and *gulp* purchase a thinkpad?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[gorickey]

VPC.

[f1000]

I run some legal software on VPC, and they work fast enough for me. Virtual lawyers usually aren't computationally intensive, except, of course, when they're calculating a bill.

[cal4ever]

f1000,
which VPC do you currently use? I'm only planning to use some outlining softwares, that's about it. So, I would imagine it wouldn't run THAT slow. At least, that's what I'm hoping.

[turtle777]

I thought most people use illegal software on PC's
Is it even possible to run legal software on PC's ???

-t

[f1000]

Originally posted by cal4ever:
f1000,
which VPC do you currently use? I'm only planning to use some outlining softwares, that's about it. So, I would imagine it wouldn't run THAT slow. At least, that's what I'm hoping.

I used VPC 5 with Windows XP Professional on a 12" PowerBook rev A. VPC 5/XP WAS slow, but that's because I ran it with almost all the pretty graphics turned on. Turn off the eye-candy, and VPC will run faster. It also helps if you leave programs open and have VPC save the state of the PC; that way, you don't have to start up the programs every time you open VPC. Finally, many people say that Win 2000 runs faster on VPC than Win XP does, but I've only been able to test the latter.

Unfortunately, VPC 5 rarely seems to work with Panther on my new rev B. PowerBook, and so I've abandoned it for Microsoft's MUCH faster RDC client. At some point, I'll probably upgrade to MS Office 2004 Pro (w/VPC 6).

[StephanieA]

If you want to use your laptop on the writing portion of the California Baby Bar or the Bar, be forewarned. The software they use to administer the exam, SofTest by ExamSoft, is currently not Mac compatible and will not work on VirtualPC. I'm not sure what the policy is in other states.

Laptop policy for first year law students' Bar exam
Laptop policy for general Bar Exam

Strangely, laptops are required to have floppy disk drives.

[brachiator]

I wouldn't buy a PC just so that you can take the Bar on computer. I think that my illegible handscrawl in conjunction with readable and brilliant essay headings was the only reason I passed! The bar exam prep people will teach you this in 3 years...

You may not need to take the "Baby Bar" (1st year student exam), depending on where you are going. Just be sure to register as a law student with the Bar in your first year and save yourself a bunch of 3d-year heartache.

Anyway, are you going to Boalt? Reasonably good Mac support, except for the software that some classes used for laptop final exams. Never made a difference to me, since I handwrote all of my exams. My Lombard got me through 3 years of law school, in style, and I don't see any reason why your vastly superior 12" shouldn't do the same. Regardless of where you are going, it's worth calling the school to ask about what computer set up they'd recommend... (which you can then ignore and use your Mac...)

best of luck

[cal4ever]

Brachlator,

Actually, I am going to Boalt Hall I'm not planning to use my mac for finals b/c I know examsoft can't run on a Mac (and they won't let you use it w/ VPC). So, no worries there. I'll probably use my dad's PC laptop during finals *shudder* if I really want to type my exam. From what I've been told and from what I've seen, there aren't a lot of large lecture halls in Boalt that can accomodate exams on laptops (since most of the lecture halls don't have an electrical outlet for each student). I also went to Berkeley for undergrad, so I'm familiar with Boalt's facilities.

Anyway, I just wanted to be able to use some outlining software. Brachlator, do you have any advice before I start Boalt? I'm a bit intimiated, everyone seems to have a Masters or a PhD, or has done something for a human rights group somewhere in Africa...and all I've done is graduate from undergrad. Anyway, thanks for all suggestions!

And, as for taking the bar in 3 years, I hope they have a Mac version out by then!

[sideus]

Originally posted by f1000:
...Virtual lawyers usually aren't computationally intensive, except, of course, when they're calculating a bill.

NICE!

[lawgeek]

I've never had a problem using my Mac in law school. I bought an old PC laptop to take exams on. I'm actually thinking of writing my own law student-oriented package for the Mac (although I'd first have to learn Cocoa + Objective C first )

[Captain Obvious]

So long as you have access to a PC laptop for exams you should be fine. If you really need to run a program at home, there is a computer lab somewhere in your law library, then buy an old P2 tower for $50

[brachiator]

Originally posted by cal4ever:
I'm a bit intimiated, everyone seems to have a Masters or a PhD, or has done something for a human rights group somewhere in Africa...

Well, no reason to be intimidated. It's just a variety of people, and Admissions tries to get that mix for everyone's benefit. They did their things, you did yours, and in my experience no one really tries to lord it over others with their PhDs or MDs or advanced age (my sole claim to superiority when I was there )... And anyone who has attitude should rightfully (and likely will) get the Dick Cheney F-bomb treatment. So you should just enjoy and take advantage of it all. Just like any Cal program, really. If you want to correspond more about it please feel free to e-mail me at brachiator at yahoo dot com.

The funniest thing that ever arose due to a student's previous academic/career history during my time in law school was during a large class discussion of rape and rapists' mind set (the rapists' intent, mens rea) was when one guy piped up that "in my experience with rape..." and then proceeded to talk about whata rapist really thought... Everyone turned to stare at him in horror except for those of us in this guy's small module who knew that he had been a cop for years...

[MacGorilla]

I am required to use WordPerfect in my law courses. I run the old Mac version on my tangerine ibook running 9.2.

[buffalolee]

Originally posted by cal4ever:
Brachlator,

Actually, I am going to Boalt Hall I'm not planning to use my mac for finals b/c I know examsoft can't run on a Mac (and they won't let you use it w/ VPC). So, no worries there. I'll probably use my dad's PC laptop during finals *shudder* if I really want to type my exam.

Just use VPC in full screen mode. They won't tell the difference.

[f1000]

Originally posted by buffalolee:
Just use VPC in full screen mode. They won't tell the difference.

Yeah, that'll hide the BIG GLOWING APPLE on the lid.