<p>I wanted an apple for my laptop, but my dad argued that it wouldn't be compatible with accounting/other software. He's a pretty stubborn man and wouldn't listen on how an apple can use windows too. Chances are I won't be getting an apple, but...is what he's saying even true? Do a lot of business majors have apples that can easily give presentations compared to a ordinary laptop?</p>
<p>So...any other good laptops out there?</p>
<p>Yeah, there were/are a ton of people in Marshall/Leventhal with Macs; I was a business major and definitely had no problems whatsoever using my MacBook Pro. And Macs are great for presentation, especially when loaded with Keynote (instead of PowerPoint).</p>
<p>If he still won't let you buy one, then I'd highly recommend IBM/Lenovo ThinkPads, especially for business majors. They are diehards that are built to last, have great styling, and have the best keyboards on any laptop period.</p>
<p>Agree that Thinkpads are THE best PC laptops, we have them at work and I have never had one fail except when I dropped it or hit it with something. Keyboard has stayed in place and is just as springy as new, the body is stiff and rigid and holds up very well against my habit of lifting the computer by the edges, the screen hinges are rock-solid and NEVER creak or wobble... overall a beautiful piece of engineering. The price with academic discount is extremely attractive too. The styling is a whole different story. Boxy and completely devoid of imagination, like anything with the IBM logo on it... my D likened it to a toaster, don't ask me why, I am yet to see a toaster that boxy or black.</p>
<p>Macs are exactly the opposite --- gorgeous design but questionable reliability. The regular Macbooks feel downright cheap. The screen wobbles, the hinges are flimsy, the body flexes. Ended up getting D a MacBook Pro, which FEELS better built, but a key fell off the keyboard within two weeks.</p>
<p>If you want to convince your old man, let him behold the truth. Borrow a friend's Mac with bootcamp, take it home, and start it up with Windows in front of his eyes. You need to understand whether your dad's opposition may be based on price. Apple may or may not be correct in asserting that a similarly equipped PC would cost the same, but the fact is that the MacBook Pro is loaded with quite a few superfluous gadgets that are irrelevant but add a few hundred bucks to the cost. You may pose the question differently. If you had only $1000 to spend, which computer would be more functional: a bare-bones stripped down MacBook Pro, or a very nicely equipped Thinkpad? Me thinks the latter. I still love the Mac, but for us the difference in cost is not particularly consequential.</p>
<p>GroovyGeek: Where do you get an academic discount for a Thinkpad? Do you know anything about discounts for the Lenovo?</p>
<p>i'm also a business student and i am using a mac.
i might also end up attending Marshall.
anyway, i have an iBook and it's the older mac laptop.
i've never had a problem with it.
i didn't even install microsoft office in it or any other microsoft products.
if you don't end up getting a mac,
just make sure to consider the weight of the laptop when you purchase other brands.
my laptop weighs less than most of my books and you'll find out that business books can be quite heavy.</p>
<p>If you want an ultraportable, do NOT get a MacBook Air. The ThinkPad X series is so much better. Add a USB hub, external CD drive, and an external hard drive and you'll have a hard time fitting that thing in the envelope.</p>
<p>Macs are good computers for everday use. When it comes to power or portability, however, you must get a high-end PC.</p>
<p>
[quote]
GroovyGeek: Where do you get an academic discount for a Thinkpad? Do you know anything about discounts for the Lenovo?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>lenovo.com -> solutions for education -> students: university of southern california</p>
<p>Lenovo</a> - University of Southern California - University of Southern California</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you want an ultraportable, do NOT get a MacBook Air.
[/quote]
Couldn't agree more. The MacBook air is stripped of so many essentials (ports, DVD drive, etc) to the point of being a glorified PDA. A sexy PDA, but not more useful than your average PDA either.</p>
<p>Thanks so much Groovy Geek. I'll show your discount sheet to my son when he comes home from his summer travel trip.</p>
<p>I've checked out the Lenovo site and it seems like a good deal.
Thanks for the link.</p>
<p>:edit:
read the Consumer</a> Complaints about Lenovo Computers</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the Complaints link. Service sounds terrible for the Lenovo. Perhaps the Apple Mac is better? We have an Apple Mac without any problems.</p>
<p>Try ordering for small business. With Dell, the customer support for small business is in America and they actually know about the machine. Never order for home use if you get a Dell.</p>
<p>I'm not sure about Lenovo, though.</p>
<p>Mdcissp, I believe that customer service standards-- though still good compared to Dell/HP--- has become worse when IBM sold the division off to Lenovo. Apple's service is exceptional (I love how you can take your Mac anytime to the Genius Bar inside each Apple Store for any problems). Though I'd strongly recommend purchasing AppleCare (a must-have for students).</p>
<p>Does anyone know about the higher level service plan for Lenovo? Anyone know about the new Lenovo tablet PC (not sure exactly when the new model comes out-sometime between late August-December). Dell is very difficult to service via telephone to India and I don't want to go through that again with a Lenovo. If servicing Lenovo is difficult, then we need to re-think the Apple PC. I love our Apple Mac. Thank you for your feedback.</p>
<p>I'm not too familiar with the upgraded service plan for Lenovo, and I definitely agree that it's best to avoid Dell's customer service. I do remember, however, that she had a problem at home with her ThinkPad and Lenovo actually sent someone out to her house to resolve the issue. I however, have had fantastic service from Apple, and whever I have a problem I just take the whole machine to the Genius Bar which is inside every Apple Store. If they can't fix it right then and there, provided the machine is still under warrantee (which is why I definitely recommend getting extended AppleCare), they'll take it in to do a full service. It's definitely nice to be able to fix and resolve the problem right in front of you, instead of having to deal with someone on the telephone from India. Turnaround times at the Apple Store for servicing is remarkably fast too.</p>
<p>FYI mdcissp: Apple manufacturers the "Mac/Macintosh" and are usually just referred to as "an Apple" or "a Mac", and the term "PC" generally refers to Windows-operating machines (so just make sure you don't go up to a diehard Mac fan and say "Apple PC" :) )</p>
<p>are there any other laptops out there that look decent and do their job? Anything like the sony vaio, dell...?</p>
<p>I'd go for a Lenovo ThinkPad or Dell.</p>
<p>I'm a Computer Engineering major and use many different computers regularly. I used to have an iBook and currently have a recent model iMac. Unfortunately, it has had a host of problems (logic board died once, optical drive died twice) despite being less than a year old.</p>
<p>Even if it worked perfectly, I'm actually quite happy on Windows Vista and slightly prefer it over OS X. Yes, I know how to use OS X.</p>
<p>Apple is a fine company: I'm a happy iPhone owner. However, unless you really want Mac specific applications, or really find Windows unusable to you, I do not recommend getting a Mac.</p>
<p>why do you that the Lenovo is the better computer for business applications?</p>
<p>^^ As this post you pulled up is from 5 years ago (that = a century in computer years), you probably want to rethink the current state of the art and solicit comments on what’s out there/most appropriate now.</p>