Needing guidance for my sister for computer

Hi all!

To briefly introduce myself, I'm a junior double majoring in English and Mass Communications at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. I'm coming to you all now to ask some questions because my younger sister will be entering as a freshman in the fall, and her heart is set on majoring in Christian Studies with a Psychology minor.

That being said, I know Logos is used by basically all of the CS majors here and that she won't need to get Logos until she enrolls in a course which requires it. However, she will be buying a laptop over this summer, and I want to know what she should get.

I know Logos can be used with either Mac or Windows, but I'm wondering how intensive it is on a computer's processor. If it isn't intensive, I'm hoping to get her the new Macbook or a worthy Windows alternative that uses Intel's Core M processor since she won't need a more powerful processor (she only really uses two or three applications at a time, like a web browser and Word, and streams Netflix only occasionally). However, if Logos is a very intensive application, I'll point her either to a more full-fledged Macbook (likely the Air) or to a Windows convertible with an i5 or i7 processor.

So how intensive is Logos? Should I advise her to get a Core M system, or should she take the power of i5 or i7?

Thanks!

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Mark Barnes

Hi, Matthew, and welcome!

So how intensive is Logos? Should I advise her to get a Core M system, or should she take the power of i5 or i7?

It can be intensive, particularly when indexing. Indexing only happens when you add new resources, or when old resources get updated. Your sister probably won't be doing that often enough for you to worry about that too much.

Much more important is RAM and disk speed. Personally, I'd recommend 8GB RAM (or more), and an SSD if you want to get the most out of Logos. Those two specs matter much more than processor speed.

Is a Core M enough? They're sufficiently new that few people on here have them. I'd like to know the answer, too!

Rosie Perera

Logos is pretty intensive and the faster processor she can afford, the better. A very fast hard disk or SSD would also be a must. And the more memory the better. I would aim for at least 8GB. Logos might run (or should I say "limp along") with less, but its performance will be much better with more memory. And don't skimp on disk space to save money. In the long run, disk space is one of the cheapest components of a computer. Logos needs to have all its resources on an internal disk drive. It won't run very well with them on an external drive, so plan for expansion from the beginning. She might buy a base package to get her started but will surely eventually want to add more resources to it. I can't remember what the disk space requirements are for some of the common base packages, but perhaps someone else can chime in on that or point to a listing of them on the wiki or Logos's website. But in addition to that you also need to keep about 50% more than that free for the index. So say you have a Logos installation that takes 30 GB on disk. You'll need 45 GB actually (30 plus the 15 GB for the index), and should probably leave well above that for future expansion of your library. My library (which is rather on the large size) takes up 73.5 GB on disk.

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/720293#Comment_720293

Much more important is RAM and disk speed. Personally, I'd recommend 8GB RAM (or more), and an SSD if you want to get the most out of Logos.

I agree... Also, you need to be thinking about 4 years. If she treats it right, she should be able to get a laptop and graduate with it... but that would mean making sure you purchase appropriately. I would add to Mark's comment: Make sure the hard drive (preferably an SSD!) is large enough. Logos itself will require some room and room to breathe... but I would guess that she may want to have photos, videos, etc. too. I think a 256 GB drive should be a minimum target.

Lee

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/720302#Comment_720302

Hello

I would say looking at using the computer as some have said. She should get 16gb ram, 256 or 512gb SSD, and a i7 Cpu.

The new 2015 MacBook Pro 13" would give her all of that. 3.1Ghz i7 16gb ram, and 512gb SSD.

If she used the Apple Store for Education program she could get it for $2,049 the new SSD access speed is about 1,400 / 1350 from the reviews I have seen on youtube about the new 2015 MacBook Pro.

That is what I may be upgrading to soon..

Gary Butner, Th.D.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/720293#Comment_720293

I agree with Mark Barnes, but I would add the SSD should be at least 256 GB. I made the mistake of going with 100 GB less tha a year ago..

I spent a considerable amount of time investigating various laptops the second time, and finally settled on the Samsung NP940EG-K04US, with i7, 8 GB, 256 GB SSD, and the resolution far exceeds any of the Macs. I couldn't be more satisfied.

Gary Butner, Th.D.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/720430#Comment_720430

The Samsung I described above sells for $1,399.

Anthony Keating

Hi Matthew,

I am using the Surface Pro 3 and find it to be the best experience I have had with Logos (10 years using). It is extremely quick and can be used as a touch pad as well as a laptop/desktop. It is expensive but you do get what you pay for.

Tony

Gary Butner, Th.D.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/720476#Comment_720476

The Samsung is a touch screen.

Matthew Ablon

Thank you all for the advice! My sister has said she would prefer a Windows laptop because she's familiar with the system, specifically stating she wants a touchscreen of some sort. Based on your responses, I'm looking at the HP Spectre x360, the Surface Pro 3, and pretty much anything else I can find that she may like. We'll be shopping this summer after I return from a study-abroad trip for three weeks to Europe, so she'll have plenty of time to think on this!

Again, thank you all for this advice and guidance for her. She's excited about starting in the fall, and I know she'll be well-equipped for whatever God has planned for her!

-Matthew

Matthew Ablon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/720888#Comment_720888

Also, from what I have seen in reviews from CNET and other tech outlets, Core M is very low-power, meant for quick bursts of online activity and doing one or two things simultaneously. Based on your responses, I would avoid Core M computers since they aren't meant to handle the heavier processes Logos requires!

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/720888#Comment_720888

My sister has said she would prefer a Windows laptop because she's familiar with the system, specifically stating she wants a touchscreen of some sort.

Curious about Windows version for familiarity? Windows 8.1 dual user interface feels substantially different than Windows 7 for a number of tasks.

Based on your responses, I would avoid Core M computers since they aren't meant to handle the heavier processes Logos requires!

MacBook has a benchmark of 2315 => http://browser.primatelabs.com/mac-benchmarks that is faster than a number of 2nd generation i5 and i7 CPUs. Geekbench score of 2500 is an Intel Core i5-2520M @ 2.50 GHz.

MacBook comparison with MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models => http://barefeats.com/rmb12i4.html and => http://barefeats.com/rmb12i2.html

OS X includes Boot Camp => https://www.apple.com/osx/what-is/compatibility/ so can boot an Apple model using Windows. Also can run Windows in a Virtual Machine on OS X: Oracle's VIrtualBox is open source while Parallels and VMWare Fusion are commercial alternatives.

Keep Smiling [:)]

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