<p>Should I buy a laptop now or wait until I graduate from high school in May? I was thinking of either buying a Dell XPS 14z or a Macbook Pro. The Dell XPS 14z is $100 cheaper. If anyboy owns a Dell XPS 14z, is it a good laptop?</p>
<p>Unless you really need one now, wait. Technology moves fast enough that today’s top of the line will be good but not best in 6-7 months. Also, many (most) schools have programs to purchase laptops (PC, often Dell, or Mac), a suite of software, and some amount of on-campus tech support. Depending on your shopping skills, needs, and ability to self-support, this could be a good deal (or not). For $100 difference, however, I’d look again at the Mac, assuming comparable computing ability.</p>
<p>I told my S & D to plan on getting several year’s use from their systems. Since laptops are harder to upgrade than a desktop system, I went for top or next-to-top CPU speed, as much RAM as they’d hold (or checked on upgradability) and a decent hard drive. Display size was a balance of quality vs weight and cost - you can connect a large external LCD for dekstop use. </p>
<p>Mac vs PC is a matter of personal preference, unless you are in a major that requires or strongly leans one way or the other, usually because of specialized software. My S has a Dell laptop that has held up well enough (other than the time he killed the harddrive by dropping it!), D switched from a Windows desktop for HS to a Macbook Pro. The Mac is better-built, but you pay a premium for the Apple brand. In general, I think of Dell as a mid-range PC brand - Ok, but neither stellar or junk.</p>
<p>Definitely wait. Apple will put out a sale in the summer, you might have a student discount from the college you attend, and Apple might also throw in an Ipod/Itunes card when you buy a computer. </p>
<p>I don’t own the Dell XPS, but from my experiences with Dell, I would not get it. They are good for a year or so, then they slowly die/break apart.HP is the same. Just my 2 cents, get a Mac. You won’t go back! If you can afford it, get the 15" MB Pro. I know that’s a lot of money to shell out, but that extra screen space is worth it.</p>
<p>Everything gets better and cheaper. Wait if you can.</p>
<p>Dell makes great computers but you should buy from a higher line than the Inspiron line which are designed as cheap, home machines. Buy from the Lattitude line with them.</p>