<p>People who own macs will tell you to get a mac, and those who own PC's will... tell you either or, but more likely than not a PC. </p>
<p>My 2 cents: Get Windows... Unless you already use a mac and are used to the operating system, don't switch. Just stick with Windows. Get Vista.</p>
<p>
[quote]
We get it. You hate apple products. Fine. Go take your money somewhere else and get over it.
[/quote]
We also get that you love macs... Its almost getting to the point of being arrogant and exasperating. You love apple products, fine. Don't need to comment that on every laptop thread.</p>
<p>I've owned both, and nothing compares to a mac with parallels. Nothing.</p>
<p>I personally dislike Macs, I'm a PC guy. With that being said I would recommend a thinkpad, I've had one for my first two years at college and it holds up amazingly well. The one thing I will definitely say is DO NOT GET A DELL. Awful customer service, I have a friend who had to wait two months before they gave him a new computer after his inexplicably died on him (his new one died a year later, causing the same problems it had before too).</p>
<p>So don't get a Dell.</p>
<p>If you ask people who know how to use computer, they will tell you to build your own and load Linux + WINE (or not) on it.
If you ask people who know how to use computer, they will tell you to get a PC and go for maximum compatibility.
If you ask people who think they know how to use a computer, they will tell you to get a Mac.</p>
<p>The truth is, if you need to to media editing, out of the box, Macs are better because all of them come with pretty expensive hardware and lots of RAM , which Macs need to run well. PCs on the other hand are more dependent on CPU speed, and since there are too many models to count, you will find more low-end ones. A $2500 PC will be just as competitive as a $2500 Mac, though, even for media editing (the rumor that Macs are better for media editing again stems from the fact that Apple only releases high-end hardware, guaranteeing that all their users will be using that which seems powerful compared to the competition).</p>
<p>If you want to spend $1500+, go get a Mac. If you aren’t an engineering, computer science, or architecture major who has to run demanding simulation, build, or CAD programs, then don’t waste your money. Buy a nice $800 ~ $1000 PC and put the extra cash towards a car or something.</p>
<p>SQL,</p>
<p>I know how to use a computer. Very well. I use a Mac for a number of reasons. I don't believe that your OS choice necessarily determines how well you can use a computer, whether the stereotypes say so or not.</p>
<p>The (fairly unfounded) argument that Macs suffer from a dearth of available software is silly. I use some pretty odd programs (Stata, some SPSS, and some other stats stuff) as well as Office, occasional games, and some other productivity stuff, and I have no problem getting by on the Mac.</p>
<p>Your OS does not define you. It's just a consumer choice. It's no different from driving a Corolla over a Civic. One doesn't make you any more or less intelligent or capable of a driver.</p>
<p>Let me end this discussion:</p>
<p>Which computer is better for the LAN parties you're so looking forward to in college?</p>
<p>Yeah, I thought so.</p>
<p>(it's a joke, sensitive Macpeople)</p>
<p>Ray192,</p>
<p>Depends on the game. :)</p>
<p>Besides, I can just boot over to Windows, and join in any LAN party.</p>
<p>macs and OSX suck if you're like most people.</p>
<p>don't let the loud minority of apple worshippers brainwash you! :)</p>
<p>i'll be getting apc/laptop running vista when i go to college.</p>
<p>I plan on buying an IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad for college. I do think that macbook pros are overpriced for what they offer, but they look nice, so if people are willing to shell out extra for looks, that's their prerogative.</p>
<p>The Brian,</p>
<p>Why?</p>
<p>cbf88,</p>
<p>You should actually do the comparison. Considering the entire package, the Macbook Pros aren't really "overpriced," unless you only look at pure specs-- which is not the be-all-end-all of computing.</p>
<p>However, if I were to buy a Wintel book tomorrow, I'd definitely go with a Lenovo. Hands down.</p>
<p>Do you guys know which laptops are given to students at Bentley and Babson?</p>
<p>I recently purchased a MacBook for when I go off to college next year. Honestly, I thought I would never get a Mac, I was almost entirely set on getting a Lenovo Thinkpad X60, but I did tons of research on the alternative, toyed around with it at the Apple store for hours, and ended up walking out with one.</p>
<p>I've been a PC user for pretty much my whole life with the exception of having worked with Macs in middle school quite extensively for Yearbook... this was when OS X had recently come out and I ended up moving at least half the school to OS X because Apple gave away free upgrades to schools, and well lets just say OS 9 sucked in comparison. At this time, however, the software selection for OS X was not very extensive, and the classic environment was needed quite often, and performance somewhat sucked. I didn't dislike the Mac, but lets say it wasn't the most wonderful experience.</p>
<p>However, after getting my MacBook, I have absolutely no regrets. In fact, while I had planned to set it to dual boot with XP or Vista right after getting it, I have yet to have any motivation to do so.... OS X is actually quite nice and software is abundant. However, if you need some windows apps and you are planning on running Windows within OS X with Parallels, I would highly suggest you get 2gigs of ram, otherwise 1gig is fine. The only program I personally miss from Windows is Outlook which I use extensively, that would be the only reason I would setup parallels, everything else pretty much has a mac equivalent. I was expecting the amount of free software/opensource for OS X to be limited compared to Windows, but I have found a lot of very nice software. One annoyance though is that you'll need a separate license for like Office and such. I'm actually loving working with OS X... my desktop runs Vista and theres honestly nothing Vista has more unless you're into gaming.</p>
<p>So, if you don't mind change, if you like discovering, I would recommend the MacBook- you can always install Windows too. However, if you prefer sticking with what you know, Windows, and have no inclination to use OS X, I would highly recommend a ThinkPad. Also, MacBooks are not more expensive than nice laptops with equivalent specs. If you want something cheaper, theres some pretty decent Dell Inspiron/XPS models, but I would say you won't necessarily find the same quality-- it really depends on how long you want to keep your laptop. I would say don't get a Dell if you want it through college, invest in something better.</p>
<p>Oh and just so you have a clue what type of computer usage my recommendations are based on- I use my laptop extensively for homework (of course) and web application development. I would consider myself a very advanced user, and I constantly find myself on the Unix shell in OS X (another bonus for you tech savvy folk). I have extensive experience in managing both Windows and Linux servers and my computer is my life. Oh, and I am majoring in Computer Science.</p>
<p>My personal opinion: get a Lenovo ThinkPad
Macs are just not easy to use, especially if you are used to PC.</p>
<p>If you are just going to use it for word processing or surfing the internet, go buy a notebook. If you are going to use it for gaming, get a desktop pc.</p>
<p>All my brothers say that, in college, you can't live without a notebook. You gotta have a laptop. So i'm for sure getting a laptop when I go. I think it'll make life so much easier.</p>
<p>I'm a PC person, but I think i'll get a Mac when i leave for college. A few things tip me that way. </p>
<p>Mostly, windows sucks. Especially now that all the PCs come with Vista (a horrible OS). </p>
<p>I'm going to bring my desktop, which is a PC, and my new Mac.</p>
<p>absolutely true, notebooks are the way to go. If only for the fact that when you do go back home to visit your parents you'll be able to easily transport all of you work and other stuff back home. At least, that's what I found helpful.</p>
<p>Also it helps when you're working on stuff with friends, you can work absolutely anywhere you want to.</p>
<p>PCs are much better for college... A lot of the software used in classes can only run on windows.</p>
<p>paulfoerster,</p>
<p>Such as? I have not experienced any such software.</p>