<p>i'm in the process of buying a new computer for next year--i was thinking a dell but then the other day was in the apple store where they told me i could get a student discount. is it worth it to get an apple? how compatable is uchicago, and will i encounter problems?</p>
<p>Caveat: I work for [NSIT[/url</a>] and used to work for [url=<a href="http://rescom.uchicago.edu%5DRescom%5B/url">http://rescom.uchicago.edu]Rescom[/url</a>].</p>
<p>Short answer: Buy an Apple.
Long answer: You'll have no trouble using any semi-recent computer on campus. The University makes no requirements about what software one must use unless you're on Windows, in which case you have to run a University copy of ZoneAlarm Personal Firewall which is preconfigured to filter certain things. Having worked for Rescom, the people who fix computers in dorms, I'll say that 100% of the serious computer problems (i.e., they required a reformat) were with Windows machines. Although Apples cost more money they really are worth it, unless there's some piece of Windows-only software you must absolutely have. Barring that, get an Apple.</p>
<p>As for discounts, you get one both from Dell and from Apple, as far as I know. Check out the [url=<a href="http://ccs.uchicago.edu%5DCampus">http://ccs.uchicago.edu]Campus</a> Computer Store](<a href="http://nsit.uchicago.edu%5DNSIT%5B/url">http://nsit.uchicago.edu) for more details. I'm a graduating fourth-year and just bought myself a MacBook Pro to replace my non-Apple desktop. It rocks.</p>
<p>Diocletian, I want get an Apple, but I'm scared I'll need that Dell absolute accident/abuse insurance. My sister (who goes to a school that gives all the kids Dell computers) is going into her junior year and has already needed her computer replaced twice, due to freak incident type events which seem to happen pretty often at college. Do you see a lot of stuff like that (like drinks being spilled into computers)?</p>
<p>Accidents happen, although if you're careful I don't think they happen any more at college than anywhere else you'd be using your computer regularly. Apples come with a one-year warranty which you can extend by buying the AppleCare package.</p>
<p>Nobody I know of here has regretted buying an Apple for this reason, though.</p>
<p>I know much less about computers than some folks, but I've had Mac PowerBook here for two years and had no problems of any kind. I don't really know of anyone who's unhappy with a Mac, though I'm probably rather biased.</p>
<p>Dell complete care saved me big bucks this past year.</p>
<p>At my D's apartment, someone walked by the coffee table where D was working, managed to bang the screen and break it. No cost and 3 days to repair, thanks to NSIT.</p>
<p>Yea, MACs are more trouble free cuz you can't download and install junk from the internet. But you pay for the priv., when you buy the machine, when you buy software and when you find that hot new program you want won't run on a MAC .</p>
<p>Yea, tell me about Boot Camp. Then tell me how much that extra copy of Windows XP will run you. Dio, does the U have a good XP deal for students to use with Boot Camp?</p>
<p>If you want to play it legit an extra copy of Windows XP will run you $25 if you're a student at Chicago. See [url=<a href="https://ccs.uchicago.edu/prices/pricelist.phtml?id=4#49%5Dthis%5B/url">https://ccs.uchicago.edu/prices/pricelist.phtml?id=4#49]this[/url</a>] for details.</p>
<p>If you don't care about playing it legit there's nothing stopping you from using the Windows XP CD that came with your original computer, or borrowing a copy from your friend. If the product doesn't activate you can call MS and tell them any old story ("I'm installing it on my new computer and throwing out my old one") and they'll give you a new activation code.</p>
<p>I'm probably going to get a Dell, simply because even if I run Windows type programs (i.e. Word, Excel, Publisher, etc.) on Macs, I still manage to confuse myself. Macs and I just don't get along, but I have a friend that sold his desktop and printer for a Mac, and he loves it. Someone who isn't Mac-illiterate like me, would probably do well with a Mac.</p>
<p>I'm keeping my big old gateway laptop, which I recently reinstalled and is now running just as well as when I first got it about two years ago.</p>
<p>Just a note about accidents, thefts etc. It is often overlooked that as long as one keeps residence with a parent, the parents' household insurance is likely to cover most personal items. Also, many credit cards carry this as well. My S lost a camera, palm device, and phone, and the insurance (home & credit card) covered most of the cost of replacement. I discovered the credit card insurance on a standard visa, that I did not use to buy any of the products, completely by accident. It pays to read the benefits section.</p>
<p>pretty cool credit card insurance thingy...I'm still not sure which one I should get for the fall-</p>
<p>Grandparents are buying me a Macbook Pro for graduation, I'm passing on my perfectly awesome 14 inch ibook to my mother, who wants her own computer and can now afford to have one. It was a total suprise, because I planned on keeping what I have. We've always bought Macs; our first home computer was a Mac like 12 years ago or so. I'm not militant about it though. My best friend is getting a Macbook for graduation, she currently has a 4 year old Dell desktop that has been problematic since day-one. For non-computer people, so to speak (like my friend and me), Macs are easy to navigate. I had an original imac for six years before getting my laptop.</p>
<p>Macs are better for power-users, too, since it has a UNIX underbelly. I scare other Mac users with I open up Terminal.app and bust out my command line voodoo.</p>
<p>Anyways, I'll just reiterate: Macs will save you many headaches. When I worked for Rescom almost all the real problems, i.e., more than just not knowing how to configure your computer to use the dorm printers and such, were with Windows machines. They're good for beginners and advanced users. The only people they're <em>not</em> good for are serious gamers.</p>
<p>Why not serious gamers?</p>
<p>Not because the machines can't handle it, but because the selection of games is less comprehensive than on Windows and many that are ported don't run as well (i.e., those designed to use DirectX).</p>
<p>Of course, using BootCamp is always an option.</p>
<p>what, pray tell, is boot camp???</p>
<p>Boot camp is a free application from Apple that allows one to install and run Windows XP or Vista natively on an Intel Mac. Upon start-up the user is given a choice of operating systems, OS X or Windows. Games designed only for Windows can then be played on the machine. The Mac is the only computer that allows one to do this.</p>
<p>BootCamp is a piece of software which allows you to select at boot time which operating system, Windows or OS X, you would like to boot into. This allows multiple operating systems to be installed on your computer at once.</p>
<p>A new article from Business Week on computers for college.
<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2006/tc20060614_650605.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2006/tc20060614_650605.htm</a></p>