<p>I have heard of some schools requiring that the students have apple computers, does BU do this? Also what do you think is easier to use at BU Windows or Apple?</p>
<p>If you run a laptop with Windows and wish to connect to the network, your laptop must undergo a two hour virus scan first. That’s what I hear, at least.</p>
<p>Doesn’t matter what operating system you use. The tech support is very good.</p>
<p>true, xx55xx, but only the first time you hook it up to ethernet.</p>
<p>The process for connecting to the network is painless, including wireless connection where that’s supported. The absolute worst I’ve seen is a dead ethernet jack that needed to be replaced and that was done quickly.</p>
<p>I was at the SMG open house this past weekend and they recommended Windows for SMG students since they tend to use more of Windows based products but Macs are still fine</p>
<p>Yeah I was in SMG and I had a mac. It suited me just fine. Occasionally, I’ve seen people powerpoints show up a little wonky with the graphics during presentations. But all you need to do to remedy this situation is pop the presentation on the podium <em>before</em> class and click through all the slides.</p>
<p>That’s a good tip for any SMG student. You will be doing lots of presentations on those podiums. It’s always smart to click through your slides one last time. You never know what could go wrong</p>
<p>You can run windows on a mac using vmware or parallels desktop or by installing windows on your mac as a separate partition and booting into that. In other words, if you buy a mac, for the cost of windows - assuming you buy it - you have both. There are two basic reasons to buy PC laptops: you can get cheaper ones and you can get gaming ones. Macs price the same as PC’s for similar specs but the PC marketplace is broader so there are lower priced, lower spec machines. Gamers have more options on a PC -but those are not the cheaper options. </p>
<p>So, to sum up, if you want a mac, you can have both. I sometimes tell people that if they have a PC, have windows and programs they can use on another windows machine, if they buy a mac then they get both a mac and a PC for the one price. </p>
<p>BTW, the world is moving toward virtual machines, meaning virtual operating systems. The typical computer in a network uses very little of its capacity. By virtualizing the OS, you can create multiple “instances” on one machine - or across machines (and that leads to cloud computing) - so the resources are more used more completely (and can be balanced for need, etc.). Using just windows because it’s “easier” - mostly for powerpoint import and export - is copping out on the way the world is moving. One can argue that learning to use a virtual instance of windows is more attuned to the future.</p>
<p>Should you purchase the laptop through the school or just purchase one on your own?</p>
<p>On your own is my suggestion because then you can play with it, run it enough to make sure the memory is ok, see if it’s what you need, etc. You can also set up your email account - you get info on how to do that - and you’ll then get email from professors before school.</p>
<p>Also, University Computers is closing down, so I don’t even think you can buy one from here anymore. I thought their prices were kind of ridiculous anyway.</p>
<p>The bundles they had for incoming students were competitive but not better than what you can get on the web. They’re rolling the support people from University Computers into the on-campus support. They say they’ll support sales but I’m not sure how. Computer retailing is a loser in general - witness the carcasses of companies deceased. If you need repair, the school will, I think, still offer that but the local repair shops are good - like the MacLoft in Allston - and charge the same.</p>