<p>Personally I prefer Windows and will probably be getting a Windows based PC when i attend Colgate next year (Windows XP Professional). That isn't to say that it wouldn't be just as easy to get by with a Mac, the only drawback is games if that's what you're into, and I am really getting to like Firefox, which i don't think is available on Mac...</p>
<p>Firefox IS available for OSX.</p>
<p>Screw mac os and windows....
buy a laptop with windows(the x86 architecture is better IMO). send the cd key and software back to make or microsfot and they well refund you the money for windows. Then install Gentoo linux, which will do more then windows and mac os and tis free :)</p>
<p>I'm still not sure where I'm going yet (darn wl) but I was also leaning towards an apple...until a salesman told me at bestbuy that under no circumstances should I consider getting a mac. He said that windows and IBM-compatible machines were far better (...) far cheaper (yes, of course) and more stable (what?) but I have been waiting for over a year and a half to choose a pc for university. Anyway, I'll wait until June/July, when apple should drop their prices and release a new line of pbs or ibooks, then decide.</p>
<p>Is it true about the great compatibilty form mac ----> windows? This will be very important at university for all students, I'm sure.
If only it was more affordable.</p>
<p>Compatibility? Well sure, but only from big name companies like Microsoft and Adobe.</p>
<p>never ever listen to the best buy employees....they dont know what they are talking about. I know what it takes to get a floor job in any section there and they are simply spewing whatever personal preference they have (and the fact that best buy doesnt sell macs)</p>
<p>Either will be fine. Any college will be able to support a Mac or a PC. Play around with the laptops. I enjoy mac laptops and PC desktops. Just check them out. Borrow a friend's laptop or something. If you're into science//math you'll probably just need an emulator like X11 to run programs like MATLAB, but it shouldn't be much of a problem.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice guys.</p>
<p>as for firefox on OSX, you don't need it. OSX has Safari which runs nicely.</p>
<p>Buy an ibook and put the extra money into a warranty. Also wait until you get to school to buy your software, there are always huge discounts. As to pc having better compatibility, thats not even close to being true. You can buy a program called virtual pc, that will run almost all windows software on an apple, problem solved.</p>
<h2>I find these comments interesting b/c the people on my floor at school(I go to Georgetown) don't go to crap websites or install crap programs, etc., yet they "magically" get spyware/adware.</h2>
<p>That's becuase they have no protection and probaly know nothing about computers....</p>
<p>I haven't had spyware for months, others have it up the yin yang..
I know how to work computers and taking measures to not get spyware is rediculously easy</p>
<p>Get mozilla fire fox
Get Adware Se
Get Spybot SD, followed by immunizing the system and updating regulary, turn on active protection</p>
<p>Get the spyware free versions of popular programs that have spyware(such as as kazaa lite ressurection which has no spyware like the normal version or real alternative).</p>
<p>As for PC and MAC....I would go PC for price reasons, MAC cost to damn much IMO....</p>
<p>Windows is better than Mac because of one reason for college students its cheaper,</p>
<p>If you want to buy a replacement part for a Mac what are your choices
Mac and Mac </p>
<p>If you want to buy a part for your PC what are your choices
too many to name</p>
<p>just dont use IE, firefox rules, and you have more entertainment choices on a PC</p>
<p>"I find these comments interesting b/c the people on my floor at school(I go to Georgetown) don't go to crap websites or install crap programs, etc., yet they "magically" get spyware/adware."</p>
<p>wow thats amazing that you could monitor your whole floors internet use, im sure your violating peoples privacy.Im sure they tell you when they visit a dubious site.</p>
<p>regarding stabilty there both just as stable but the reason that you hear windows being less stable is because there are less capabilities in OS and linux(there more self contained but if that is what youre looking get a palm pilot) joe average hacker isnt going to care about linux there just is no one using it. If everyone used OS or Linux they would be worse than windows.</p>
<p>on a side note I know a few IOI gold medalist and can you guess what they run (windows).
if you dont know what IOI is its a international programming competition</p>
<p>Thats not really a great example because most of the dev tools and compilation in a competition like that needs to be done on windows.</p>
<p>And when you want to replace something on a mac, mac is not your only choice.</p>
<p>Most of the replaceable components are identical to PC counterparts (RAM, video, harddrive) while the other ones are so incredibly rare to have fail...</p>
<p>
[quote]
on a side note I know a few IOI gold medalist and can you guess what they run (windows).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well yeah they run Windows if they program stuff for the Windows platform haha. If they programmed stuff for the Mac OS platform then they would run Mac.</p>
<p>Considering the fact that you're going to use quite a few Windows-based software for physics/math, I would advise against a Mac. You should also look into linux due to the fact that programming will follow you through these two majors.</p>
<p>"Well yeah they run Windows if they program stuff for the Windows platform haha. If they programmed stuff for the Mac OS platform then they would run Mac." </p>
<p>These are for their personal computers which they use for entertainment etc not exclusively programming, there life doesnt consists of programming 24/7 in fact i havent seen them in action there usually doing other things</p>
<p>"and when you want to replace something on a mac, mac is not your only choice.</p>
<p>Most of the replaceable components are identical to PC counterparts (RAM, video, harddrive) while the other ones are so incredibly rare to have fail..." </p>
<p>suppose I want to replace my printer cable what brand would I have to buy?(given i dont want to pay extra for an adaptor)</p>