<p>I know this is a redundant topic, but I want to make a wise purchase. I'm going to be a freshman in college next year as a computer engineering major and I want to have a laptop to get me through my college years. Since I'm going to be a computer engineering major, I know I'm going to be doing programming, but other than that I don't know what programs I'll need to use. I'm very seriously considering a Macbook Pro or Air because they have all of the features that I'm looking for; long battery life, fast, (those are the biggest two right there) they look good, aren't too small and they have many good reviews. The only thing that cautions me is the deal about how some programs only run on windows. Other than the Macs, I've been looking at a lot of Lenovos and a couple of other brands. My only problem with the Lenovo thinkpads, which seem to also be very popular, is that they look ugly and bulky. However I'd deal with that if they are really that great of computers. And an FYI, I was at the university last weekend and they said that the computer engineering students are split about 50-50 between Macs and PCs. However, they also said that they have computer labs that are very accessible and most of the time, if you're doing work on your laptop, you're "wired in" through their systems/programs. So in this case would the concern about the Macs even really be a concern? For instance, one student there said he never even had a laptop for the duration of his college years, he solely used the computer labs, so the computer labs seem to be more than accommodating.</p>
<p>You seem to have done your research on what the university has available, and it very much looks like it doesn’t matter what you pick, from an educational perspective. Either a Mac or PC will get the job done. There are fewer and fewer windows-only programs out there, and as they pointed out, the labs can fill in the gaps if you run into trouble.</p>
<p>So then it comes down to a matter of personal preference. If you’re looking for something to last all the way through college, Thinkpads and macs are the ones to look at. They are known for durability and build quality. For your concern about aesthetics, which ones were you looking at? The W series is bulky but powerful. The T series have slimmed down a lot and ones like the T440s are actually quite svelte. The X series and Yoga are slimmer and their aesthetic would probably appeal to you if you like the macs. Here’s something to keep in kind, though: it’s a trade-off. In buying a skinnier laptop, you are making sacrifices about the cooling capabilities, often the RAM (those with 1 slot can only hold 4 GB), the graphics (hard to fit a big card into something small), and he upgrade ability (parts like RAM may be permanently attached to the motherboard, for example). You also end up paying more for the same specs for all the technological maneuvering that has to go on to for it in there.
I’m not trying to entirely force you away from his line, but I just want to make you aware of all the factors at play. I don’t think you could go wrong with any of theses computers. </p>
<p>I’m a computer science student so I can only answer for the programming part but I will say a Mac will make your life easier. It’s a fully, certified UNIX OS in which you can use a lot of developer tools and have a proper bash terminal. You can install Linux programs and more through package management like homebrew.
I honestly shudder at the thought of programming on windows instead of OS X or Linux. Most of my professors agree. </p>
<p>For windows software you can get a virtual machine and install windows on it. Go with a Retina Pro. </p>
<p>The more programming you do, the more you will learn to hate Windows. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, both of you. However, speaking to my parents, they want to keep the price under $800. And every laptop i look at under this price has at least one feature that isn’t as good as I need it to be. Im still going to try to push for the Macbook Pro, but any recommendations for a laptop under $800?</p>
<p>Look for sales, decent specs, and good reviews. Remember that you can sometimes save a bit of money by upgrading the RAM yourself. Other than that, I can’t think of any specific models. You can still get a really nice laptop for $800 that will meet all your needs.</p>
<p>Apple recently lowered the price of the Air such that you can get a certified refurbished base model 2013 Air for $800 (new for $1000), but that is without tax. Otherwise, I don’t know.</p>