Laptop advice

Giligan · 02-03-2009, 04:01 PM

Hey, guys. I need some input. The college I'm going to be attending has a program where a new laptop is provided for every new student. Students can choose between a Windows PC and a Mac.

My question is, which is better for a student's needs? I won't be using the laptop for gaming, just for web browsing, communicating, and typing word documents. (And after reading the agreement you have to sign before you recieve a laptop, I'm not even sure I want to do that much

)

So, opinions? Any help here is much appreciated.

Squinky · 02-03-2009, 04:13 PM

I'd definitely go for the Mac, especially if it's just for internet and word processing. Is cost an issue, or are both laptops equivalently priced, or given to you for free?

Giligan · 02-03-2009, 04:29 PM

I haven't gotten the paperwork yet, but I understand it's given (or loaned, more accurately, until I graduate) to a student for free.

rlpw · 02-03-2009, 05:28 PM

You should have put an "other" button

Squinky · 02-03-2009, 05:30 PM

For what it's worth, I'd prefer a Mac laptop over a Linux one, too.

tsa · 02-03-2009, 06:01 PM

Listen to Squinky, Giligan. OSX is so much better than whatever MS comes up with. And the new Apple laptops are very good.

rlpw · 02-03-2009, 07:57 PM

You can get gOS and basically have Mac for less than half the price of a macbook.

Squinky · 02-03-2009, 08:19 PM

Since it appears price isn't an issue in this particular situation, I'd still go for the real Mac. There's more support for it. The hardware's most likely a lot better, too.

tsa · 02-03-2009, 11:53 PM

Yeah, what she said. And don't forget that you can always choose to run something else than OSX on a Mac. If you want to play a good adventure game on your MacBook you can install Windows using Boot Camp, and have both OSes on the same machine.

RLacey · 02-04-2009, 03:38 AM

Do you have system specs for the various PCs? I'd be tempted to go with whatever gives you the most bang for your buck (which in this case is free, but the point still stands). So long as it doesn't eat into battery life, of course.

Giligan · 02-04-2009, 08:21 AM

Thanks for the input, guys. Personally, I'd just be happy with whatever one is more reliable and less of a headache to fix.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLacey

Do you have system specs for the various PCs? I'd be tempted to go with whatever gives you the most bang for your buck (which in this case is free, but the point still stands). So long as it doesn't eat into battery life, of course.

None whatsoever. "Mac laptop" and "PC laptop" are as technical as the college will get. That'll change when I sign up for the program, but not before, unfortunately.

rlpw · 02-04-2009, 04:57 PM

Well, if that is as much info as you get I would also go for the Mac. That way you are at least sure of the quality of the components in it.

kuze · 02-04-2009, 05:18 PM

Mac, that's not even a question. Now that they switched to the Intel platform there would be no reason to say "no" to a Mac. I myself have had quite a headache with my Powerbook in the past as I needed some very specific Windows development applications, but as a browsing/typing machine it is unbeatable.

tsa · 02-04-2009, 08:03 PM

Yesterday I tried VirtualBox on my Mac. It is an Open Source virtual machine made by Sun. You can use it to create a virtual Windows machine on your Mac. In some respects it's even better than Parallels which costs US$ 80.- For instance, it ran 64 bit Windows 7 beta with no problems at all, while Parallels 3.6 can't handle 64 bit OS's (I don't know about Parallels 4.0 because I don't want to pay 80 dollars again for Parallels). I guess you will be disappointed if you try to run applications that rely heavily on DirectX, but for most office work it seems perfect.

tsa · 02-11-2009, 10:42 PM

So waht did you choose Giligan?

Giligan · 02-12-2009, 08:13 AM

I haven't had to make the choice yet. Although I probably will go for a Mac.

Squinky · 02-12-2009, 10:04 AM

Considering that most of us who commented said Mac, I wonder who's voting Windows.

Lady Kestrel · 02-12-2009, 01:53 PM

I'd go for the Mac, too, Gilligan.

View Poll Results: Which is better for a college student?
Mac notebook	5	50.00%
Windows PC notebook	5	50.00%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll

02-03-2009, 04:01 PM	#1
Giligan The Greater Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 6,541	Laptop advice Hey, guys. I need some input. The college I'm going to be attending has a program where a new laptop is provided for every new student. Students can choose between a Windows PC and a Mac. My question is, which is better for a student's needs? I won't be using the laptop for gaming, just for web browsing, communicating, and typing word documents. (And after reading the agreement you have to sign before you recieve a laptop, I'm not even sure I want to do that much ) So, opinions? Any help here is much appreciated. Share Share this post on Twitter

02-03-2009, 04:13 PM	#2
Squinky Unreliable Narrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Le Canada Posts: 9,873	I'd definitely go for the Mac, especially if it's just for internet and word processing. Is cost an issue, or are both laptops equivalently priced, or given to you for free? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Squinky is always right, but only for certain values of "always" and "right".

02-03-2009, 04:29 PM	#3
Giligan The Greater Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 6,541	I haven't gotten the paperwork yet, but I understand it's given (or loaned, more accurately, until I graduate) to a student for free. Share Share this post on Twitter

02-03-2009, 05:28 PM	#4
rlpw Creepy Father Figure Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Dammit! Posts: 5,107	You should have put an "other" button Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ The Nature Conservancy www.soulpancake.com www.ted.com Twitter

02-03-2009, 05:30 PM	#5
Squinky Unreliable Narrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Le Canada Posts: 9,873	For what it's worth, I'd prefer a Mac laptop over a Linux one, too. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Squinky is always right, but only for certain values of "always" and "right".

02-03-2009, 06:01 PM	#6
tsa Playing character Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 7,472	Listen to Squinky, Giligan. OSX is so much better than whatever MS comes up with. And the new Apple laptops are very good. Share Share this post on Twitter

02-03-2009, 07:57 PM	#7
rlpw Creepy Father Figure Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Dammit! Posts: 5,107	You can get gOS and basically have Mac for less than half the price of a macbook. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ The Nature Conservancy www.soulpancake.com www.ted.com Twitter

02-03-2009, 08:19 PM	#8
Squinky Unreliable Narrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Le Canada Posts: 9,873	Since it appears price isn't an issue in this particular situation, I'd still go for the real Mac. There's more support for it. The hardware's most likely a lot better, too. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Squinky is always right, but only for certain values of "always" and "right".

02-03-2009, 11:53 PM	#9
tsa Playing character Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 7,472	Yeah, what she said. And don't forget that you can always choose to run something else than OSX on a Mac. If you want to play a good adventure game on your MacBook you can install Windows using Boot Camp, and have both OSes on the same machine. Share Share this post on Twitter

02-04-2009, 03:38 AM	#10
RLacey The Thread™ will die. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 22,542	Do you have system specs for the various PCs? I'd be tempted to go with whatever gives you the most bang for your buck (which in this case is free, but the point still stands). So long as it doesn't eat into battery life, of course. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ RLacey \| Killer of the Thread™ I do not change to be perfect. Perfect changes to be me.

02-04-2009, 04:57 PM	#12
rlpw Creepy Father Figure Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Dammit! Posts: 5,107	Well, if that is as much info as you get I would also go for the Mac. That way you are at least sure of the quality of the components in it. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ The Nature Conservancy www.soulpancake.com www.ted.com Twitter

02-04-2009, 05:18 PM	#13
kuze In an evening of July... Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 1,215	Mac, that's not even a question. Now that they switched to the Intel platform there would be no reason to say "no" to a Mac. I myself have had quite a headache with my Powerbook in the past as I needed some very specific Windows development applications, but as a browsing/typing machine it is unbeatable. Share Share this post on Twitter

02-04-2009, 08:03 PM	#14
tsa Playing character Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 7,472	Yesterday I tried VirtualBox on my Mac. It is an Open Source virtual machine made by Sun. You can use it to create a virtual Windows machine on your Mac. In some respects it's even better than Parallels which costs US$ 80.- For instance, it ran 64 bit Windows 7 beta with no problems at all, while Parallels 3.6 can't handle 64 bit OS's (I don't know about Parallels 4.0 because I don't want to pay 80 dollars again for Parallels). I guess you will be disappointed if you try to run applications that rely heavily on DirectX, but for most office work it seems perfect. Share Share this post on Twitter

02-11-2009, 10:42 PM	#15
tsa Playing character Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 7,472	So waht did you choose Giligan? Share Share this post on Twitter

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02-12-2009, 01:53 PM	#18
Lady Kestrel Flower bower bird Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 529	I'd go for the Mac, too, Gilligan. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "Earth laughs in flowers." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

02-12-2009, 08:13 AM	#16
Giligan The Greater Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 6,541	I haven't had to make the choice yet. Although I probably will go for a Mac. Share Share this post on Twitter

02-12-2009, 10:04 AM	#17
Squinky Unreliable Narrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Le Canada Posts: 9,873	Considering that most of us who commented said Mac, I wonder who's voting Windows. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Squinky is always right, but only for certain values of "always" and "right".