<p>Hey so this may be a stupid question, but it's worth a shot. My parents have offered to get me a laptop for going to college next year and I was just wondering what to get.
Is it more convenient to have a Windows based system or would a Mac work just as well or should I opt to order a laptop from Carolina?
Also would it be good to take it to class? or is that just a waste of energy?</p>
<p>THanks!! :)</p>
<p>Plenty of people have Macs here. They have started offering macs as via CCI.</p>
<p>Ok! Awesome, thanks!</p>
<p>If you are getting a new laptop I recommend getting from Carolina via CCI as they provide great 4 year warranty and priority service. My DD bought a laptop in Junior year and place to take it with her to college else we would have bought from CCI</p>
<p>I would definitely suggest a Mac from CCI if money is not an issue. Mine was quite expensive…13" with the maximun storage was approximately $1700. Of course that includes the 4 year warranty (one year longer than regular Mac warranties), and if you have to take it into IT for something, they will give you a loaner laptop for however long your computer is being fixed.</p>
<p>I personally like my Mac so much better than PCs, but if you don’t get a laptop grant and money is a little more tight, UNC has good PCs through CCI as well.</p>
<p>Ok so what I’m getting is it’s definitely good to get a laptop through CCI. I guess I will just have to talk it over with my parents. Thanks for the info :)</p>
<p>CCI Macs are ridiculously overpriced. Since the Apple Store thing is a short bus ride from campus, I wouldn’t recommend getting a mac through CCI.</p>
<p>Has CCI even published pricing yet for the incoming class of 2016? I keep checking the website but haven’t seen updated pricing yet.</p>
<p>Nope, not yet. Should be any day now.</p>
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<p>I do not agree with “blue_box” comment regarding Mac pricing. Apple so closely controls pricing that it is rare to find a discount. The CCI price is the computer at retail (same as the Apple Store), preloaded with needed software applications plus the extended warranty. It is not cheap but is reasonable. </p>
<p>If you are looking for a Windows based PC/laptop, then you should shop elsewhere for good pricing. From experience (and I am a PC who had to replace a laptop and chose a Mac), the Mac WILL last longer and have fewer performance issues.</p>
<p>I’m hoping that they are waiting to pick laptops that will have Intel’s new Ivy Bridge processors, which should be launched on April 23rd. There is rumored to be a new 15" MacBook Pro model that will have these, but nothing has been announced.</p>
<p>I hope something is announced soon so CCI has a chance to offer the latest and greatest.</p>
<p>Also, I will probably buy through CCI because I should get some sort of laptop grant. That should make those Mac prices a little more affordable.</p>
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<p>The software is free. iLife comes with non-CCI macbooks too, and anyone (even those with non-CCIs) can get free installs of MS Office. You’re paying several hundred dollars for the CCI warranty and a 1 year extension of AppleCare. Their brochure is misleading.</p>
<p>On the other hand, with non-Macs the premium may be worth it, since you’ll most likely need CCI’s service in your 4 years.</p>
<p>EDIT: I’m aware that some people are willing to pay a lot for the convenience of a CCI warranty. If you don’t mind the price difference, then go with CCI.</p>
<p>EDIT2: The CCI warranty allows you to get hardware repairs and loaners. They’ll still do software maintenance with non-CCI macs. So if you were hit by this: <a href=“http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2012/04/mac_virus_0417[/url]”>Mac computer virus has hit 200 students in the last week -; , for example, ITS would still fix your non-CCI macbook.</p>
<p>Just to be clear:</p>
<p>MacBook Pro 13" base = $1,200 (Apple online)
3 Year Apple Care = $250 (Apple online)
Legal Copy of MS Office for Mac = $100 (Amazon)
Security Cable (?? Value) = $15 (Amazon)</p>
<p>Total = $1,565 so the $1,613 offered last year with an extra year of warranty does not look out of line.</p>
<p>^ Wait can’t you still pay the CCI software fee ($30?) and get office etc that way, even if you don’t get a CCI laptop? Paying for a word processor is a waste of money, anyway. Are you including the 10% student discount in your Apple online prices?</p>
<p>Personally, I think a mac laptop is a huge waste of money for a college student. Except for a few classes, you’re probably better off with a $300 PC desktop.</p>
<p>Whenever I walk around Davis, all I see is my fellow students with their $1500 facebook machines, distracted from studying.</p>
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<p>The Apple website gives you a $100 student discount if you purchase with a .edu email. MS Office is free for non-CCI laptops. And the price difference increases with the 15 inch macbooks too.</p>
<p>Best Buy honored the Apple educational discount last year for us on a new Mac. We just had to bring her letter of acceptance from UNC. CCI will put any software on the computer and I don’t remember there being any charge for that. We never purchase extended warranties on any products so for us, Best Buy and 12 months free financing was the way to go.</p>
<p>Getting a computer from CCI (without a grant) is like buying your books at students stores: it may be convenient, but you pay a lot more.</p>
<p>I think if I were starting college today, I might not buy a computer. There are loads of public computers you can use in the libraries. I think for a lot of people they’re more of a distraction than a help.</p>
<p>^
Carolina requires that you have a computer that meets their minimum specifications.</p>
<p>^ I know and that’s stupid.</p>
<p>But I went for 5-6 months without a computer of my own last year, and it was fine. My old one broke, and I never got around to replacing it. I used the library computers to write the odd paper and check my email, but other than that I didn’t really miss it. It certainly didn’t impact my grades (I got a 4.0 that semester).</p>
<p>^
Carolina requires that you have a computer that meets their minimum specifications.</p>