Community Newsletter: Q&A forum: MacBook or PC laptop for college?

It would be useful to inquire regarding what computer operating systems are supported by your college campus's IT department. If they don't support Macintosh, then your decision has already been made for you.

If you already have a Windows desktop computer running Windows-XP and have purchased good application software with which you're happy and comfortable you may find that many of those licenses will allow you to install it on a second computer. Notebook computers are still available with Windows-XP pre-installed.

If you make the transition to a Macintosh notebook computer you'll need to buy all new software to handle applications that are not included with the Mac OS. Outside college campuses about 90% of the business world is using Windows. There are some business Websites and many applications that do not support the Macintosh operating system. If you can accept that you may, at times, be isolated with your files and applications because you've chosen an operating system that is not used by most businesses and you can get Mac support on the campus the learning curve to make the transition from one operating system to the other is no big deal.

Please dont take the previous post seriously. These are the words of someone that either has never used a Mac or hasn't used one in 10 years. The only thing you need to be concerned with is IF the classes and school program you take supports Mac. Most schools these days have their materials online, therefore compatible with any computer. In the unlikely event that there is a need for Windows you can easily install windows on your Mac. If you have an old computer with windows XP or Vista on it then you need to buy nothing, just run bootcamp and follow the simple instructions.

As far as the business world is concerned Macs run Microsoft Office just like a Windows PC, so Word , Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook (called Entourage) are all the same, no learning curve. Mac's can run the Firefox web browser and the complete Adobe suite as well as most mainstream programs. You wont be entering the business world for another 4 years and even then it wont matter what computer you use in your personal life as they will issue you a computer. If you must use windows at work thats ok, in 4 years vista will be gone and windows 7, or whatever its final name will be, will be out. Besides if you really wanted to you can sell your now 4 year old Mac for 1/2 what you paid as they retain value unlike a Windows based computer.

You can rest assured that having a Mac on a College campus will not leave you lonely or isolated (lol) in most cases you will be in the Majority as most college students prefer the stability and ease of use of a Mac. This is a changing of the guard period right now as far as Computer Operating Systems go, and I suspect Lewisedge might be out of a job if there are no broken Windows computers to fix.

You are the classic example of what I was writing about. I'm flattered you choose to copy my words instead of think of your own, also thanks for making it clear that you haven't used a mac on over 10 years. OS X is light years beyond what Apple originally developed, kinda how windows vista is different then windows 3.1 .

As far as the "Macs are only useful for the arts" debate, are you serious? This is 2008, Apple is a major player in the personal computer game. They are stealing market share from windows as well as Dell, HP etc. I believe they are now the number 3 computer maufacturer, a far cry from being built in a garage eh? Everyone , including your grandchildren, have an Apple ipod, and if they dont they sure wish they did. Your argument may have been valid 10 years ago, but so far your just showing your age. Macs are used on all walks of life now including science as well as the arts. Sure there are some companies the invested in software many many years ago that cant or wont upgrade but even then you can run windows on a mac!

Part for Part Macs are no more expensive then a windows based PC (Dell, HP etc.) . Let me make it clear, you cannot compare a Macbook to a garbage bargain computer. They are different breeds altogether. The sub $600 notebook is a throw away computer. Its may work great for email and web surfing but thats about it. It will not last you your 4 year stay at college, 1 maybe 2 years tops, and you'll be complaining and fixing it the whole time. You are buying old slow technology. The old adage "you get what you pay for" rings very true here. Macs hold their value, search ebay or craigslist, see for yourself. I'm sorry WDBINTX could not afford a decent computer for his/her granddaughter, I'm sure if he/she had the money he/she would have not forced her to learn windows after being raised on Macs, especially when stating college. Regardless of the cost of the institution you choose to go to, shouldn't you do what you must to ensure that your child/grandchild has the best tools and opportunities? Not saying you needed to buy a mac, but a nice quality sony or hp would certainly give the stability and longevity that a college student needs to survive.

Your entire post says nothing about the quality or performance of a Macbook, all its says is that you cant afford anything better then a bargain low end laptop. You state no facts or reason to choose PC over Mac at all beside perceived price. Although you make your finacial insecurities obvious you contribute nothing to this thread. I think you've make it clear why you stand where you do. Please re-read the original question, its wasn't about money. Also you might want to re-read my post as a reference on how to contribute and make a point.

On a final note I highly suggest you stop by an Apple store and check out the macs on display. Test drive it, kick the tires it doesn't cost anything to look. This way in the future when you decide to chime in on a mac/pc debate you will save yourself the embarrassment of posting Old outdated information out of ignorance.

I have used a mac for nearly 20 years -- started with strictly business applications needs (exec level) and now edit 18 years of family video into iMovies, use iPhoto, etc. our son preferred PC (Dell) for his first laptop - came with me to apple store and ended up emptying his bank account to buy a MacBook Pro - used computer to do all kinds of school related video and power point presentations for projects - now thinks that "Macs rule!"

macs require some learning but they are soooooooooooo smooth!

check and see what on campus support is available for macs & pc's, get the best computer you can afford -- go to apple store to see what you'd be buying -- free printers and/or ipods available to college students -- also student pricing offered on office '08 for mac which is only software you will need to buy - GOOD LUCK!

*The sub $600 notebook is a throw away computer. Its may work great for email and web surfing but that's about it.*
I'm a graphic designer and have been for 9 years. I was trained on Macs. However, I just bought a $478 dell, and it's pretty decent. I use it for design, portable documents and video capture. Sure, I probably could have gotten a better one for more money, and don't get me wrong- I love Macs, but your statement that I quoted simply isn't true.

If you are in business for yourself and you're competing with others on bids and stuff, productivity is crucial. I have had two-year-old systems that I've built myself that have consistently outperformed brand-new $600 junk piles.

The battery from Dell is rated all of 300 cycles. The fans are using plain SLEEVE bearings and we see these fail in years 2 or 3.

Yes, I'm seeing today's machines are designed to last just beyond a year of heavy use.
Bob

Ah heck... I have to chip something in late. I have 2 Vaios (SZ & TZ), an HP tablet, an older Dell notebook (some things aren't compatible with USB serial ports) and yes... a macbook. I'm not counting any of the other equipment, just the notebooks. The HP is snazzy for the money, but stinks in the graphics department for games (barely plays mabinogi). The SZ rocks most games I want to play due to its cool video card switching technology (which is in the shop AGAIN due to spontaneously shutting down now). The TZ is worthless for games but man is it portable. And the macbook? I've found bootcamp is really kinda stupid for playing games. The x3100 graphics card is only slighly better than what my HP came with.

If you were going to ask me how to play games, then I would say Darwine. I've got guild wars working pretty much normally under Darwine and I get to stay in OSX. I can't play some games, but a lot of work is put in by our Linux cousins who want to play games and having a heart of gold (BSD) sure helps things along.

Am I a typical mac user? Probably not. But I can tell you right off that after using Vista and OSX 10.5, that I'd take OSX hands down if given a choice for only one. I've found that the only way to keep me from getting so ticked at UAC that I want to throw my HP tablet against the wall is to completely turn UAC off. Do I think that OSX has it completely right? Heck no. Given my druthers, I think there is a mixture of a sprinkle of Vista with two cups of XP and OSX that should be stirred vigorously to get the ideal operating system.

As for other peoples comments that you can't use it in the "real world". I can't use them where I work, but scientists and engineers from several NASA centers complain when I give them animation files in the WMV format, because they don't have a good way of using them. I guess some people wouldn't consider NASA the real world, but I sure do.

I don't have a $600 PC laptop, I have an $800 HP laptop. But, it's a dual core processor, 3 gigs ram, an upgraded video, and Remote Control! (very nice for music and videos) AND guess what? Lasted more than a year, lasted more than two years, now going on 3 years. If you buy a decent brand of Laptop, there is no reason to believe it will fail in a year. In fact, I'm quite sure it will be running for years to come. My company has issued Dell lap's for years now. we all travel extensively, and they take a beating, but we don't even get a new one for 36 months!! But they are all still working.

So, get a life you goofy high spending MAC Knuckleheads!

Now lets talk about software... If you go into your basic "Big Box" store you might find a half dozen isles of PC software to choose from, but if you are lucky, you might find a single end cap of software for the MAC. About 1000 to 1 ratio. I'm not a gamer, but don't even think about Mac if you want variety.

Or you might be interested in some NEW software that you read about on the net and want to download, but, as is usually the case, it will state that the MAC version is "currently unavailable" Or it may not ever be available.

You do NOT need to spend the kind of money they want for an equivalent MAC. It's just silly to spend more for the same power.

How about if you need help or advice? Since 90% of the your friends and colleagues have PC's, you will probably find a lot more folks that can help.

Finally, I will say that mac heads are just stubborn. They don't like Gates, Microsoft, or anything else PC. There was a time when Mac dominated the graphics world. They were ahead in running programs like PhotoShop, Corel,and other graphic or video intensive programs.

But no longer is true, since PC's have come a long way since the 90's they have caught up and surpassed Mac (from a price point) for equivalent processing power.

Bottom line is: if you want to pay more, get less, have fewer options in both hardware and software, buy a Mac.

ps Mac lovers, I can appreciate why you hate Windows, and why you think Mac is best, but it's time to realize that it's just not the best anymore. So quit pushing it on us. I'm glad you like it, but we don't need any more Mac hype. Your turning into the dreaded bible thumpers out there, the kind that just won't leave folks alone. If your happy that is fine, but we don't need a lecture about your precious Mac's. If Apple ever gets more than lets say 20% market share, (more than double than it is now) Then maybe we will take a look. Do you remember VHS vs Beta?

Have a nice day!
M

Sorry, I just had to jump in for a moment...
Though you correctly say the argument can go back and forth (and then give some pro-Mac advice, but that's OK,) you did give some incorrect info - you said to see how long a mouse takes to "install" on a PC, whereas it "just works" on a Mac...
It would take all of ten seconds, while Windows recognizes the mouse.
I don't think that's even mentionable.

I bought my wife a MacBook Pro which I also use and I have a high end HP DV9000t loaded. I will be buying a new MacBook Pro for myself when the new OS comes out next year. I must admit that I like both systems. Yes I have the dreaded Vista; but I have found that when you by it loaded it is a joy and very fast. I like the Apple better for two reasons only. First no viruses. That will change if Apple continues to gain market share. Second I love having the hardware and software integrated. It is a great experience. The one thing I hate is the attitude of most Mac users. You are not going to change minds by attacking the competition so personally. Mac users need to acknowledge that there are some very good PCs. I also agree that if you buy a PC you need to spend a minimum of $1,000; I spent about $2,000 on my HP and am very pleased with it. Anything under that is a throw away. I spent about $3,000 on my wife's MacBook Pro and will probably spend a little more on mine.

I was looking for a new decent laptop (not for games because gaming laptops are such a rip of). At one point I was looking at Macbook when I saw that the cheapest one doesn't even BURN A DVD!!! What's wrong with Apple? It's 2008 and they are still selling such a thing. I like OS X more than Vista (I use XP for games) So I found the TX2000 and it works great with Photoshop CS3 since I do some graphic designs often, and it comes with Corel painter X essentials. The answer for the question "Mac or PC" lies in your pocket

My wife and I told our son last year that we were giving him a computer to take to college, and he chose a Macbook against my better judgment, as knew that you get a "bigger bang for your buck" buying a PC, and I knew that Macbooks were more expensive than comparable PC laptops, but have you ever known a college freshman today using common sense? His logic was "you get a free iPod with the Macbook". Naturally, he won as my wife reminded me that I told him it was his choice. Since then, he broke his iPod, spilled liquid on his keyboard and heat-warped the plastic case of his Macbook enough that the CD drive won't accept a disc and needs to be replaced. OK, so that can happen with even a PC notebook. However, it doesn't cost "an arm and a leg" to replace those things on a PC laptop like it does with a Macbook. Apple wanted $800 to take care of the liquid spill (PC insurance covered that but not the heat warped case), and Apple wanted another $900 to replace the case. The Macbook and free iPod initally cost $1,000. So, forget about the stupid argument about which is better for a college student, Macbook or PC. Cheaper is better. People, we are talking about 18 year-olds--not responsible, practical adults earning a living

totally agree. your son needs some growing up to do to understand how hard is to earn money and respect what he is given compared to a lot of kids out there. from my end, when i was doing undergrad and post graduate degrees in math, comp science and business, pc laptop worked well for me and didn't need mac. I don't really need the latest and greatest, just what works well so that i can deliver my work on time.
I had my share of misfortune with mac due to my poor knowledge of the system since i am in essence a pc user. my non power apple users asked me numerous times for help with itunes playlists and synhronization when you have more than one apple machine, replacing an existing apple with a new one, printer setup, linux dual boot etc... so i learned a few things about mac setup and definitely there are some great features if you know what to do with them.
there is also an issue of customer support when you get stuck and i have found out through experience that dell, compaq and even mac support is not great ( a lot of times i knew more than support staff and on the phone it is harder to troubleshoot someone's machine).
i would definitely ask second or third years in your program what they found sufficient for their work before you shell money for anything.

Hey, uh, pegreenb, you can get a Mac Mini for $599. Yeah, it's not a laptop, but you said to "find me a place where I can buy a Mac Desktop let alone a laptop for under $600." And that place is the apple store. I'd go for the Macbook because it's hassle-free. You could call me a Mac "fanbboy" or whatever, but after dealing with windows, Macs are 20X better at being maintenance-free...

Oh, and just reading through this thread, GROW UP, EVERYONE! You guys are fighting like obnoxious 5th graders. Honestly.