<p>My dad is going to save to buy me a mac laptop as a graduation present. I have no idea where to start really. I can't exactly get some like 4,000 dollar computer, but still something nice and good for a college student. By "nice" I mean $1000-$2000. I prefer the 12-inch size oe 14-15 inch at the most. I was thinking an ibook or powerbook? My family is inexpeirenced with buying apple computers, we've always had windows, but I much prefer apples. Any help?</p>
<p>If you want 12", the 12" iBook is the best value going right now. Very nice computer, and only $999 stock, less with a student discount. For the 15" profile, go with the new MacBook Pro. The Intel processor gives great performance, and overall it's a great computer in a very small package.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, I advise that you NOT get the 14" iBook. The screen is the same resolution as the 12" iBook, so while you have more screen 'area', the pixels are physically larger so you can't see any more than you can on the 12"--it's just all bigger.</p>
<p>dont get an apple. they are trash.</p>
<p>The Dell 6000 is awesome, very fast and dependable. You can "build" one on the Dell website and get a price for what you selected. They have frequent sales via coupon deals, so you get alot for your money.</p>
<p>dell computers are better than macs, and much cheaper</p>
<p>they lack the aesthetically pleasing style of the i-book, but if you can get over that, your going to get a better value</p>
<p>Maybe you dont realize, but you can get so much more with less money in Windows laptops. Apple's are more fashionable, and some may like their os more, but Windows laptops are cheaper and thus you can get more features.</p>
<p>If your just going to be instant messaging, surfing the web, emailing, and word processing definitely go with a mac if you can afford it. For everything else get a Windows based computer you'll be glad you did. They definitely are cheaper and you can do so much more with them. As far as brand, I'd say go with Toshiba, or HP. My roommate got a $3000 laptop from Dell and dropped it today, basically the whole thing is ****ed. He was on hold with Dell tech support for over 2 hours before he finally hung up. I've dropped my Toshiba computer many times and nothing has gone wrong with it. My model is the "Satellite M55-S3292" which I got a really good deal on at Office Depot.</p>
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<p>You might want to check with the college you ultimately plan to attend. See if they have any suggestions/preferences. Pitt gave out a form with three suggested levels of computers and sofware. We found that students with windows had a much easier time than those with mac os.</p>
<p>Get a 12-inch iBook!! I know several people who have the current gen 12-inchers, and they all adore them!!</p>
<p>If you want a mac, get a mac. I know that I've haven't had any problems using my mac for stuff as a commuter student, and I have friends that have macs in their dorms and they don't have any problems, either (other than the girl that dropped her 12-inch powerbook off of her loft bed..). If you look at the features you get standard on a Mac laptop vs. a PC laptop, you really do get more bang for your buck on a Mac. Plus you get American tech support without paying extra!!</p>
<p>lkf has given you good advice, If you're not a computer maven, it's a good idea to go with whatever your campus suggests, especially if certain computers are supported on-campus by the bookstore or IT department should you run into any problems, from viruses to hardware crashes. Also, you should be aware that various schools or departments require computers to have certain configurations, so don't leap to quicly--wait to see where you will be attending and see what the college advises.</p>
<p>I agree with jjjames...Macs cost more but do so much more. If you plan to do anything with photos, music, design, you're better off with the mac.</p>
<p>college students primarily use a computer for writing, AIM, internet surfing, and of course porn. for anything else... paying the extra price of a mac isnt worth it for a typical college student.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, Macs hold their value a lot better than do PCs. As soon as you buy a PC laptop, don't expect to be able to sell it off for anything meaningful.</p>
<p>If you're in a college setting, Macs are a lot more low-maintenance. Basic things like network services work right off the bat, with little to no configuration. You'll be spared from viruses and trojans.</p>
<p>Being able to use the iLife/iWork suite, you can more easily create movies, websites, DVDs, and even mixes. When you get the kind of assignments that require those things, you won't be forced to go to the lab to launch iMovie or Final Cut Pro, as your needs dictate.</p>
<p>If you want to save a few hundred bucks at first (which is understandable), then go with the PC. But if you plan on having a pain-free computing experience, with a few extra years of life, go with a Mac.</p>
<p>Also, don't neglect to look at the education prices, as they're a couple hundred dollars cheaper.</p>
<p>Exactly...and if you have MS Office for your Mac, you'll have no problem doing anything that anyone else is doing class-wise on their PC.</p>
<p>If your a graphic design student or film definitely go with a mac, in fact at my school they require you to get one. Always always check with your school first to see what they recommend and in a lot of cases you can just buy a laptop through the school. My school sells HP laptops and 3 different apple laptop from the 12 inch, 15, and 17. They all come with a usb key, backpack, and other junk. As far as apple computers depreciating less thats really all BS. The brand new computer you pick up at Best Buy today is already outdated. Non apple computer depreciate a little faster because they come out with so many new technologys everyday. Apple is just coming out with computers using Intel chips, so what do you think your apple you bought 3 months ago is now worth? </p>
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<p>I love how the topic of this thread was not PC or mac but which mac to get.</p>
<p>Check online every few weeks at places like dealsea. You can find really awesome 40% off Dell laptop computers which make those laptops probably the best deal available.</p>
<p>Whatever you end up getting, deffinetly go small, and if you can, get the extra battery upgrade if it's offered. I will say that whatever you do get, DO NOT get a presario. I got one summer before senior year, and 1/2 way through my frosh year at college I had to replace it. Macs are supposed to be excellently built, and virtually virus proof. If you can, a powerbook is supposedly the better computer. my roommate has the 15" powerbook, and I've never heard her curse at it, and it's never made any noises.</p>
<p>Geez I'm not getting a dell. And I know plenty about computers, and I know what I want. I've had dells forever. But I really prefer macs. I'm not asking your opinion on this matter- this is my graduation present from my parents, and that part of deciding is done. I know they're more expensive- but again, it's value. There is so much more they can do.</p>
<p>well if you know what you want, what are you asking us for? I believe the selection of mac's is relatively limited, you just pick the model you want. If you know what you want...then get it, I don't see the point in this thread/</p>