Currently shopping for a college Laptop. Any Advice (Mac vs PC)?

[Major Chord]

As I'll be going off to College in a few months, and will need a computer, I'm looking into Laptops. My aunt has already told me she intends to get me one, it's just up to me to find which one I want. Right now, I'm at a bit of a crossroads. When we've gone through and customized PCs on manufacturers or store's websites, to get everything I want, the cost has been around $1000. Of course, she tells me I need to add in a high end graphics card...should I want to game with it (I won't). All I need is for it to play DVDs, edit pictures and videos (simple stuff too, nothing fancy), store music, write papers, and surf the web.

Looking at Macs...they can do all that, and from my limited use of them, they do it well. A Macbook starts at $999, which with everything I'll need to get it to my level (like Microsoft office for Mac), will end up being around $1,100. Still not a whole lot more than the PCs ended up being, but with good customer support, and a longer life span, from what I've heard.

I've also heard that they offer some pretty sweet deals around the late spring/early summer, throwing things like rebates, iPods, and printers into the package. My only concern at this point is whether or not I'll be able to work with the Mac's User Interface, being a PC person my whole life. I've heard it's not terribly hard, but since it's a $1000 + investment...I want to be sure. On the same note, I'm no computer expert, so if Macs do indeed seem to have fewer problems, that cost less to fix, it may be worth it.

Any thoughts or advice?

(Mods, if you feel this is better suited for Sci-tech, feel free to move it- figured I'd get more replies from the Misc. crowd)

 

[Kestra]

I have very limited knowledge of macs. I know my brother started using one after using PCs his whole life, and he had no problem adapting.

I dunno which particular model it is, but my husband got some sort of macbook that has an awful design flaws where I swear it's designed to slit your wrists or something. The edges are incredibly sharp and uncomfortable! Just something to look at that you might not even think of otherwise.

As far as PCs, I'm known to destroy laptops and I've had a great experience with the Asus notebook I got off newegg.com. When I destroy it they're really good about sending out RMA stuff and the turnaround has been awesome. This is already my favorite laptop and I've been through far too many of them.

 

[Lindley]

Keep in mind that MacBooks can run Windows via Boot Camp if you like, so if you have any trouble learning OSX, you can always just get a copy of Win7 or XP and load that on.

 

[Stiletto]

Get the best and longest warranty you can. Laptops break, and they're not really something that an untrained person should tinker with. Also, make sure you use it... if a key falls off or stops working, call them up. If your screen flickers when it is open to this stop, call them up and send it to get repaired. Make sure you get your money out of the warranty.

 

[Danny99]

I held out on getting a Mac for a long time, a position I now regret (though I don't worship at the alter of Steve Jobs, like some)

From what you described, a Mac is actually a good idea.

 

[The Fatman]

from what you're describing, the Macbook would probably be your best bet, although do NOT order the extra software like Office pre-installed from Apple. Most colleges offer student software for free or damn near free, which includes things like Windows, Office, and all your class specific applications. Spend that money and buy the Apple Care plan extended warranty.

and yes, if you wait til summer, the Apple back to school program starts and you get the PC, a free printer, a $200 credit towards an iPod (not sure if iPad is included in this, but I don't see why it wouldn't), and with a student ID or acceptance letter, they take 10% off your total purchase price.

 

[StolenThunder]

Whatever your choice, don't feel that a different interface will be a problem. Computing environments are similar enough that adapting is usually very easy.

 

[gturner]

I had a friend who went with Apple and he got a nasty leg infection that became an open sore and got infested with maggots!

I'm not saying that'll happen to you.

I'm just sayin'.

 

[scottydog]

I use a mac and a pc every day in my job, and I can't imagine not getting a mac if I had a choice between the two. Macs are just that much better IMHO.

 

[Candlelight]

Get a Macbook with Windows XP/7 Boot Camp (or invest in something like Parallels or VMware Fusion and go virtual).

 

[TheGodBen]

Linux! You never know when you'll want to mess around with your OS's kernel, it's very hip with the college kids these days.

 

[Major Chord]

Linux! You never know when you'll want to mess around with your OS's kernel, it's very hip with the college kids these days.

They make pop corn now?

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll definitely look to see if the school I'm going to offers a discount on the software. It would knock $150 off the purchase price. Is the standard Word processing program that comes with a Mac that much different than MS Word? Is it worth getting the MS Office for Mac, or should the programs that come standard work fine?

 

[gturner]

Or you could check eBay

Hrmm... Apple PowerBook G4 15.2 inch, 4 bids, still at $56.00

Probably from that guy who had the maggot infested leg.

 

[Bears Discover Fire]

I would recommend the Mac, then load it up with software you can get with a student discount at places like JourneyEd.

Mac OS is no sweat to learn, in fact IMO the interface and many of the prepackaged software is more intuitive and and easy to use than PC's equivalent, and the ability to cross platforms between PC and Mac will definitely be an asset when you're looking for employment.

I used the Macs in school and maintain a PC at home, although my next computer will be a Mac.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I would recommend a netbook, in fact I recommend one to all the people I know who are getting laptops, unless they plan on using the machine for a lot of gaming. I wish I had had my netbook in college, it would have made bringing my laptop to class about a billion times easier. I used a laptop for seven years as my primary computer and am now using a netbook and I've noticed no decline in quality. You get used to the smaller screen and keyboard very quickly. A netbook does all of the things that a regular laptop can do except more conveniently and cheaply. There's no need to spend $1000 on a laptop when you can get a good one for so much less. The only thing a netbook doesn't have is an optical drive, but I use an external drive when I need to install things or when I want to play a game I've bought.

 

[Lindley]

Is the standard Word processing program that comes with a Mac that much different than MS Word?

I haven't actually tried Pages, but it doesn't come standard (it's part of iLife). If you want something free that's not too much different than Word, you could try OpenOffice or NeoOffice (they're two branches of the same codebase), or something like AbiWord, or another one.

TextEdit is the only thing which comes standard on Macs, and while it can read lots of formats (including .doc), I would not recommend using it as a word processor; think of it like WordPad.

Is it worth getting the MS Office for Mac

Try what you can get for free first, but if you don't like it, then sure, why not.

 

[Candlelight]

Is it worth getting the MS Office for Mac

Try what you can get for free first, but if you don't like it, then sure, why not.

Or just trial it:

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/Office2008/trial-download.mspx

 

[Crusher Disciple]

Get a Macbook with Windows XP/7 Boot Camp (or invest in something like Parallels or VMware Fusion and go virtual).

How do you go about doing that? Do you just buy Windows 7 and then stick it in the CD drive on the Mac?

And can you then go to web sites that just use Internet Explorer? I ran into that problem twice while trying to register for licensing courses.

 

[Hermiod]

^There are three main ways.

Boot Camp is the most reliable solution. You buy a copy of Windows, you run the Boot Camp tool on your Mac (you'll also need your Mac OS X DVD that came with your Mac for this), you choose how much hard disk space you want to give over to Windows and then you can install Windows on your Mac. When you start the computer it will ask you whether you want to start Mac OS or Windows.

Once Windows is installed, you'll need some drivers from your Mac OS DVD but then that's it. You can run Windows as if it was any other computer.

The next option is Parallels or VMware. These create a virtual machine on your Mac. Again, you will need to buy a copy of Windows. It basically runs Windows on an emulator. See the screen shots to get an idea of what I mean. You won't get the same performance but it does mean that you don't need to reboot each time you need to switch between Windows and Mac applications.

Oh, and yes, both will allow you to run Internet Explorer. (You know you work for a technology company when you have web based tools that don't support Internet Explorer...)

 

[Crusher Disciple]

Oh, and yes, both will allow you to run Internet Explorer. (You know you work for a technology company when you have web based tools that don't support Internet Explorer...)

Ok, thanks Hermy. Long time no see.