Buying a Mac from BROWN!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>Hi everyone, I was recently accepted to Brown.</p>

<p>I have a dated HP laptop as of right now, and I was planning on getting a Macbook or Macbook Pro come this September. First question is do you all recommend a Mac vs. an HP? My HP is big, bulky, and the webcam is broken, so it’d be hard for me to chat w/ family once I’m away at college.</p>

<p>Second question is, is it more affordable to buy a laptop directly through the bookstore at Brown? I checked the online prices; I think it’s about 100 dollars less. But I’ve also heard that you can get the same discounts as long as you should proof of college enrollment at an Apple Store? I just want to but it soon, so that I can get used to it over the summer! I also heard that Apple gives away free Itouch’s/printers! Is this true?</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

2

<p>Wait until this summer. You’ll get the education discount with or without buying at Brown, however, every summer for the past few Apple has given education discounts + a free iPod (touch last year) for buying qualifying systems in the summer. Last year the Brown Bookstore threw in a free printer too.</p>

<p>Also, buying through the bookstore gives you 4 years of on-site support.</p>

<p>Also, Apple almost always updates once between this time of the year and September.</p>

<p>Also, just buy a Thinkpad.</p>

3

<p>Definitely buy a Mac. Throw out your HP with no regrets. Never look back.
Not only are Macs sleeker and sexier, the anti-virus feature and overall absence of malfunctions and bugs is a definite bonus. </p>

<p>I think Apple has discontinued its college promotion giving a free iPod. The discount for education is only about $50. A negligible amount when you consider you will be shelling out about $1 000, but it would seem that purchasing at the Brown bookstore would be slightly advantageous.</p>

4

<p>They only do fre iPods in the summer. They did it this last summer.</p>

5

<p>thank you!! would it be better to get a macbook or macbook pro? i’m mostly using the mac for papers, presentations, entertainment</p>

6

<p>You’d probably be fine with a Macbook. If you decide to get a Macbook Pro though, definitely wait until they’re updated. The current models are waaaaay outdated. Over the past nine years, on average, MacBook Pros have been updated every 200 days. It’s been 300 since the last update. Rumors are pointing strongly to an update between now and June at the latest. Also, there was a [rumor</a> today](<a href=“http://www.macrumors.com/2010/04/05/new-macbook-macbook-pro-and-macbook-air-models-scheduled-for-launch-this-month/]rumor”>New MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air Models Scheduled for Launch This Month? - MacRumors) suggesting that the regular Macbooks might also get an update soon even though they’re not as dated.</p>

<p>Last year the Back-to-School promotion started June 3rd, so I’d expect it not long after the new models are released.</p>

7

<p>Just buy a Thinkpad: probably the best advice you’ll get. I bought a Dell, and while it’s nice that it’s a little lighter than a similar Thinkpad, it’s not as durable or spill-resistant. Nor does it get (quite) as good of battery life as my friends’ Thinkpads (though better than almost everyone’s non-macs). However, it does have a better graphics card, so I’m pretty happy. But Dells this year seem to be downgraded.</p>

<p>What do you mean by entertainment? If you mean gaming, GET A GOOD VIDEOCARD! And consider investing in a monitor. Or bring your desktop and buy a netbook. I believe if you plan on real gaming, you’ll be dissatisfied with much less than a 15-inch macbook pro (or similar PC), but if you don’t game, then a 13-incher is nice for how light it is, and as all macs have, as a minimum, nVidea 9400M integrated cards, they’re fine for pretty much anything short of intense gaming.</p>