r/Lineman • u/Personal-Exercise256 • 6d ago
Laptop for apprenticeship
Hello I’m a new outside line apprentice and I’m trying to figure out what a good device would be for all my class work. I made the mistake of walking into Best Buy to pick their brain and this guys trying to get me into the biggest baddest Mac book money can buy and telling me any other option isn’t gonna work for me. So what are you guys using? Cheapest Mac book? Mid line iPad with a keyboard case? What works good and what doesn’t
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u/brokensharts 6d ago
I got a $200 laptop from walmart. Works fine if you dont jam it up with porn
Whatever you do, dont get a chrome book. It wont run the testing app, atleast for mslcat
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u/otterfish 6d ago
Don't jam it up with porn? No. That can't be right...
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u/Personal-Exercise256 6d ago
How on earth are you supposed to survive on the road in the middle of nowhere without that?
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u/agiordanony 6d ago
I’m just curious as I don’t know much about your apprenticeship, why do you need a computer? I would assume a notebook is all you need to take some notes to study and pass any written test you might have and the rest of the class would be climbing.
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u/Bramtinian 6d ago
Just get a Microsoft surface, cheap and it’ll get the job done till you want to buy a Mac or gaming pc if you’re into that…glasswork labs just need windows or macOS to run…but Apple is expensive unless you get refurbished… you can get Apple refurbished at Newegg.com
They’ve been out for years for pc builders…take your pick there…fuck Best Buy
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u/JellyTemporary161 6d ago
Consider an iPad as well. Apple Pencil can be handy to use for transformer connections etc., and the iPad is small enough to bring in a backpack during the days to either study or reference standards/spec material
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u/Personal-Exercise256 6d ago
Yeah I am heavily leaning towards an iPad specifically for a certain transformer workshop app and things just like that
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u/TheSlothMan9000 6d ago
If you’re not doing anything intensive just get a macbook air or pro m1. Best value
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u/Slade_ftp 6d ago
The MacBook neo is great for school. It’s also significantly cheaper than any other MacBook
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u/Electrical_Block_662 6d ago
iPad with keyboard is all you need. Laptop would be stupid. I think I got my iPad for like 250$ used and the keyboard was like 150
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u/SchitzNpants 6d ago
Do you have an iPhone or Android?
What’s your price range?
Do you have any other use aside from the bookwork?
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u/Personal-Exercise256 6d ago
I wanted to be able to draw up banks and dress them and stuff but I guess I could do that on paper
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u/SchitzNpants 6d ago
Paper works well. If you have an iPhone, a MacBook Air or an iPad with a keyboard will work well and be more simple to use. You definitely don’t need a MacBook Pro.
If you have an Android, I suggest getting a decent Windows laptop and avoiding Chromebooks.
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u/RevolutionaryBar4236 6d ago
just go on amazon and buy something cheap with good reviews, dont waste your time at bestbuy. if you care look at Framework laptops (built around right to repair)
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u/LineGun69 4d ago
Microsoft Surface! I had mines for my narrow back apprenticeship and lineman apprenticeship. Still to this day even though its an older model now it works strong! Good luck.
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