Law School Laptops - Before You Buy

Law School Laptops - Before You Buy In the past several years, a laptop for law school has become less a luxury and more a must-have. In law schools across the country, students are using laptops to do everything from taking notes to studying in the library to taking exams. Here is a list of things you should consider before you buy a laptop for law school. Law School Laptop Requirements Some law schools have laptop or other computer/software requirements, so the first thing you should do is check those before you buy anything; keep in mind that some law schools still arent Mac-friendly for taking exams. For more on Macs in law schools, visit Erik Schmidts comprehensive resource,  Mac Law Students. Laptops Through Your Law School Many schools offer laptops through their own stores, but don’t automatically assume thats where youll get the best price or the one thats best for your needs; some schools do, though, offer to increase financial aid packages in you purchase through their store. Accordingly, be sure to consider all costs when buying a laptop for law school, and be sure to check the prices in the bookstore. If you don’t purchase your computer through your school, be on the lookout for back to school deals from major retailers like Best Buy. The Apple Store also has specials that throw in something extra if you buy a Mac for school. Weight of the Laptop If you plan on using your laptop in class, remember youll be carrying it around every day along with many heavy books. Try to buy a laptop that is as lightweight as possible for your needs, but as thinner laptops can cost considerably more, be sure to balance cost as well,  i.e., carrying around an extra half pound may be preferable to spending an extra $500. If you’re not going to invest in an â€Å"Ultrabook,† you might want to consider a good and comfortable laptop bag to carry your computer in. Screen Size Keeping in mind the weight, also consider that youll be looking at your laptop a lot over the next three years, so a tiny screen probably isnt to your advantage. We don’t recommend anything under 13 inches, and anything nearing 17 inches gets heavy and more expensive. Most screens are 1080p nowadays, but something 720p will do. Buying a laptop with touchscreen functionality comes down to personal preference, but really consider whether or not you’d use this feature considering those laptops are usually more expensive. Try to find a happy middle ground between the size of screen you want and the weight youre willing and able to lug around. Remember RAM Most computers come with at least a gigabyte of RAM, which should be plenty for you during law school. That said, if you can afford to go more than a few gigabytes, your computer will run faster, and you wont have to worry about upgrading the RAM over the next three years. Hard Drive Space Youll want at least 40GB for law school, but if you also plan on storing music, games, or other entertainment as well, think about going higher. Keep in mind that given the growth of fast online storage options, local storage space has become less of a concern. If you are going to go for a more expensive computer, make the upgrade for weight or RAM rather than hard drive space. Multi-Year Warranty or Protection Plan Stuff happens. Get a warranty or protection plan for your laptop so if something goes wrong during law school, you wont have the added stress of having to pay for repairs. Getting a warranty doesn’t make not getting a case ok! Extras As we mentioned earlier, a laptop case or bag of some sort is a fantastic investment. Don’t forget about the software you need to buy, and don’t buy it without checking with your schools store. You can often get computer software, like Microsoft Office, at a large discount (or even for free) as a student. Also, consider getting an external hard drive and/or USB drive to backup your work or a subscription to an online storage site like Dropbox. If you prefer a physical mouse, you can get a good wireless one for a reasonable price.

How to Manage and ID Southern Waxmyrtle

How to Manage and ID Southern Waxmyrtle Southern waxmyrtle has multiple, twisted trunks with smooth, light gray bark. Wax myrtle is aromatic with olive green leaves and clusters of grey-blue, waxy berries on female plants which attract wildlife. Waxmyrtle is a popular landscape plant, ideal for use as a small tree if the lower limbs are removed to display its form. Waxmyrtle can stand impossible soil conditions, is rapid-growing and a striking evergreen. Without pruning, it will grow as wide as it is tall, usually 10 to 20. Specifics Scientific name: Myrica ceriferaPronunciation: MEER-ih-kuh ser-IF-er-uhCommon name(s): Southern Waxmyrtle, Southern BayberryFamily: MyricaceaeOrigin: native to North AmericaUSDA hardiness zones: 7b through 11Origin: native to North AmericaUses: Bonsai; container or above-ground planter; hedge; large parking lot islands Cultivars The cultivar Pumila is a dwarf form, less than three feet high. Myrica pensylvanica, Northern Bayberry, is a more cold-hardy species and the source of wax for bayberry candles. Propagation is by seeds, which germinate easily and rapidly, tip cuttings, division of the stolons or transplanting wild plants. Pruning Waxmyrtle is a very forgiving tree when pruned. Dr. Michael Dirr says in his book  Trees and Shrubs  that the tree withstands the endless pruning required to keep it in check. Wax myrtle will need pruning to keep it specimen beautiful. Removing excess shoot growth two times each year eliminates the tall, lanky branches and reduces the tendency for branches to droop. Some landscape managers hedge the crown into a multi-stemmed, dome-shaped topiary. Description Height: 15 to 25 feetSpread: 20 to 25 feetCrown uniformity: Irregular outline or silhouetteCrown shape: Round; vase shapeCrown density: ModerateGrowth rate: Fast Trunk and Branches Trunk/bark/branches: Bark is thin and easily damaged from mechanical impact; limbs droop as the tree grows, and may require pruning; routinely grown with, or trainable to be grown with, multiple trunks; showy trunkPruning requirement: Requires pruning to develop a strong structureBreakage: Susceptible to breakage either at the crotch due to poor collar formation, or the wood itself is weak and tends to breakCurrent year twig color: Brown; grayCurrent year twig thickness: Thin Foliage Leaf arrangement: AlternateLeaf type: SimpleLeaf margin: Entire; serrateLeaf shape: Oblong; oblanceolate; spatulateLeaf venation: PinnateLeaf type and persistence: Evergreen; fragrantLeaf blade length: 2 to 4 inchesLeaf color: GreenFall color: No fall color changeFall characteristic: Not showy Interesting Notes Waxmyrtle can be planted within 100 miles of the U.S. border, from Washington state to Southern New Jersey and south. It withstands endless pruning. Waxmyrtle fixes nitrogen in poor soils and transplants well from containers. Culture Light requirement: Tree grows in part shade/part sun; tree grows in the shade; tree grows in full sunSoil tolerances: Clay; loam; sand; acidic; alkaline; extended flooding; well-drainedDrought tolerance: ModerateAerosol salt tolerance: HighSoil salt tolerance: Moderate In Depth Southern Waxmyrtle is very tough and easily grown and can tolerate a variety of landscape settings from full sun to partial shade, wet swamplands or high, dry and alkaline areas. Growth is thin in total shade. It is also very salt-tolerant (soil and aerosol), making it suitable for seaside applications. It adapts well to parking lot and street tree planting, especially beneath power lines, but branches tend to droop toward the ground, possibly hindering the flow of vehicular traffic if not properly trained and pruned. Set them back from the road if used as a street tree so drooping branches will not hinder traffic. Removing excess shoot growth two times each year eliminates the tall, lanky branches and reduces the tendency for branches to droop. Some landscape managers hedge the crown into a multistemmed dome-shaped topiary. Plants spaced 10 feet apart, maintained in this manner, can create a nice canopy of shade for pedestrian traffic. Plants should be watered well until established and will then require no further care. The only drawback to the plant is its tendency to sprout from the roots. This can be a nuisance as they need to be removed several times each year to keep the tree looking sharp. However, in a naturalized garden this thick growth could be an advantage  since it would provide good nesting cover for wildlife. Only female trees produce fruit provided there is a male nearby, but seeds do not appear to become a weed problem in the landscape.