Computer advice?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>Not sure if this goes here, but hopefully it won't bother anyone. </p>

<p>I will attending Harvard this fall, and as a graduation/college gift my uncle will be buying a new computer for me. I want to buy a Mac and he is being very generous. I was considering getting a 15 inch macbook pro as I could see the added screen size coming in handy when my eyes become strained from work and making it easier for me because I have very poor vision. Also, it would be fast I've heard (not a computer wiz, never owned a computer of my own). I've been looking online, however, and people have stated that in terms of college need, the 13 inch macbook air would be more than capable, cheaper, and more portable. Can anyone be of assistance, especially current students? I think that if the air is capable of everything I will be expected of at harvard then I could deal with the smaller screen size.</p>

2

<p>Many students, my son included, are keeping their computers in their rooms, and using an ipad (with a portable keyboard) to take notes in class. So, if you have poor vision, go with the 15 inch mac and if you find it too heavy, buy an ipad later in the year. Harvard’s computer store often has some great deals: <a href=“Tools and Services | Harvard University Information Technology”>http://huit.harvard.edu/pages/computers-software&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>^^ That will work or a cheaper option would be to get a 13" MacBook Air. It is more than capable of handling anything you will be doing even if you are a CS major and doing a lot of coding. It is rumored that a lighter/slimmer/faster 13" MacBook Air with retina display will be announced sometime this year (didn’t happen this week at the developers conference though). </p>

<p>Eye strain should not be a problem at all, especially since Apple makes it so easy to blow up the screen using just two fingers . If, however, you have a problem you could a) get a $5 pair of reading glasses or b) get up to a 27" monitor for your room but I’m fairly certain you won’t need either one. The IPad has 9.7" screen and you would have to share files back and forth with your laptop. If you want to work in a library instead of your room, you would still have bring your laptop since IPad’s are not useful for many tasks (coding, spreadsheet analysis etc.)</p>

<p>Unless you plan on doing a lot of gaming, I would say to get the MacBook Air. My daughter has one and loves it. She is a STEM major and doesn’t find it inconvenient to carry around because it is so thin and light (she also has an IPad that she got as a graduation gift from a relative which she uses mainly for reading books). </p>

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<p>Most people on campus have the 13" macbook pro. That’s what I have, and it’s worked very well; it’s large enough to make working on it extremely enjoyable, but small enough to be portable. </p>

<p>If you’re concerned about eye strain, you could get the 13" and also purchase a larger desktop monitor for use in your room. A lot of people have this setup, and it works pretty well; you still have the portability of the 13" most of the time, but you have the option of a larger screen when you really want to do some heavy-duty work.</p>

<p>Good luck! :slight_smile: </p>

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<p>Thank you guys for all the suggestions. I actually have an ipad. I’ve been using it for a while to get me through senior year since my well off friend gave it to me when he got the new ipad air. I wanted to ask if anyone uses an imac at harvard? This would give me a lot of room to do work in my dorm, and I would be able to use the wireless keynoard that comes with it to take notes in class with my ipad as recommended. It would be the 21 inch one as the 27 inch one would be pretty big for a dorm I would think, assuming the 21 inch isn’t. </p>