<p>Yeah, all this Mac V.S. Windows arguing is getting a tad obnoxious, only because there are several other threads that discuss that very issue.</p>
<p>Let's move on!</p>
<p>Now this is just my personal opinion, I do agree with whoever said that XP is stable if you know what your doing. All you need a spyware/anti-virus program which is mainly available from schools for college students. </p>
<p>On the other hand, we have to face reality and realize that Windows Vista is not a revolutionary platform. First, there are sounds card problems after Windows decided to not support EAX. Second, Vista will probably not be stable until some later service packs (just like Windows XP). Lastly, the majority of PC games out there meant for Windows Vista (DX10) aren't even supported yet. </p>
<p>The problem with Vista is that it is being forced down our throats. The major PC selling chains (Dells, Gateways etc...) don't even give the option of choosing Windows XP on a computer when it is clear that Windows XP SP 2 is currently the better platform. </p>
<p>For students like me who use the computer to surf the web, watch movies and listen to music. Mac OS X is definitly the better choice because everything you need is already integrated. You don't have to download tons of program that slow down your computer!</p>
<p>This is an interesting topic, and very helpful. I do have one bone to pick, however. The op mentions that Mac OS X is used for most design programs (engineering etc.). As a design student, I definitely don't agree. Most programs used today in design, especially the big programs (ever heard of AutoCAD) run only on Windows. I do agree that the Macbook Pro running parallels is a great system. But Windows is still necessary to run these programs.</p>
<p>Great thread though</p>
<p>@bwang34</p>
<p>Umm...Dell lets you choose if you want Xp on your computer.</p>
<p>va bene:</p>
<p>Yeah, that's one thing I hate about Autodesk. All of their original software(not aquired from Alias) is Windows only. They REALLLY need to go cross-platform. I'm a 3d Studio Max user, and it's one of the reasons why I'm still running windows.</p>
<p>I shouldn't have said engineering. I should have limited it to design(Adobe Products, Maya, Lightwave, etc), sorry.</p>
<p>Cheers,
Alex</p>
<p>@AlexGFX</p>
<p>All of those programs you listed are available for windows.......</p>
<p>i seriously don't get this whole "mac is for artists" argument when windows has the same programs plus many extras.</p>
<p>@afruff23:</p>
<p>I am certain (I just looked) that Dell's line of home computer only offers different versions of vista.</p>
<p>Afruff, of course they are avaliable for Windows. What's your point? I said the Mac was an industry standard for Designers, and it is. I never said "The Mac is an industry standard for Designers and the programs are Mac Exclusive."</p>
<p>Seriously, enough with the whole Mac vs Windows, it's over. Move on to other topics actually helpful to someone trying to pick a computer.</p>
<p>Cheers,
Alex</p>
<p>DELL offers XP as an option on its home systems. Why anyone still buys DELL is beyond me though...might as well throw your money down the toilet.</p>
<p>Whatever you're thinking of buying, look at reviews first.</p>
<p>I notice like 90% of the students here have laptops, and about 90% of those laptops never move off the desk. Makes me wonder why they spent the money and gave up the performance, for a laptop that moves no more than a desktop.</p>
<p>Because people like having the option.</p>
<p>assdfsdgfsdg JUST SO YOU KNOW, LINUX IS THE GREATEST FOR ANYTHING! FOR PROGRAMMING, GAMIN, ANYTHING YOU PLEASE, LINUZ IS THE GRESTEST. THERE ARE NO VIRUSES ON LINUX AND IT IS FREE. WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT...UHH? NOTHING...GO WITH LINUX, IT WILL HELP YOU OUT A LOT IN THE WORLD,.</p>
<p>
[quote]
assdfsdgfsdg JUST SO YOU KNOW, LINUX IS THE GREATEST FOR ANYTHING! FOR PROGRAMMING, GAMIN, ANYTHING YOU PLEASE, LINUZ IS THE GRESTEST. THERE ARE NO VIRUSES ON LINUX AND IT IS FREE. WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT...UHH? NOTHING...GO WITH LINUX, IT WILL HELP YOU OUT A LOT IN THE WORLD,.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>... heh ...</p>
<p>yea, it's just how i feel about the world :)</p>
<p>I wonder what pot are you smoking?</p>
<p>building your own comp isn't a bad idea either, I mean look at all these cool cases!</p>
<p>Great post. I was wondering if you all could list the most useful software (non-OS) for the college student besides Microsoft Office.</p>
<p>Linux...abi-word and k-word...</p>
<p>I'd like to point out that the statement that windows is <em>obviously</em> the better choice for programming is wrong.</p>
<p>MacOS is based on Linux, and you've got the terminal, so you can pretend you're running Linux completely :-p</p>
<p>The computer science department at my school uses entirely macs. I have a windows machine and a mac, and I do the majority of my programming on the mac (Java, Lisp, Prolog) while the only stuff I still do on the PC is C++ simply because I like the bloodshed.org developer application.</p>