Law Students

Should I get a new laptop for the bar?

By Athar Khan

These days, a lot of my friends are asking me whether they should purchase a new laptop specifically to take the bar exam. I think that is a valid question — there are enough stress factors on this exam that worrying about one’s computer probably shouldn’t be one of them. And, given the average cost of a legal education, a new computer would add less than 1% to the total amount spent already. So, for most people, it would make sense to get one.

The next logical question is “what type of specs should this computer have?” In my opinion, the focus should be on comfort and reliability rather than the system’s performance. In other words, rather than getting the fastest CPU and highest amount of RAM and Disk Space, it would be more beneficial to focus on screen size and brightness, the size of the keyboard, heat dissipation (you don’t want the computer getting unbearably hot under the palm rests) and of course, battery life (many people have horror stories about the power going out during a bar exam). Now, if you don’t have any price constraints, then go ahead and buy a system that will give you all of the above.

I would like to hear your thoughts on this too. Have you purchased a new computer for the bar exam? What made you do it? How did it work out for you?

-Athar.

Full post as published by Atharkhan on January 29, 2008 (boomark / email).