<p>Hmm.. I just want a computer which can work very well for 4 years, and possibly be virus free (impossible?), great for a potential physics/engineering/math major..</p>
<p>I am a Windows user my whole life.. and what pulls me to get an Apple is that free Ipod and printer, and an Apple looks cooler than a Dell.. But then I really don't feel the need to switch to a Mac..</p>
<p>Should I make use of this opportunity to learn to use a Mac? Or should I don't take the risk and get a Dell instead?</p>
<p>i am not terribly sure
but i think most people doing engineering use a PC, not a Mac (something about the softwares maybe? i dont know)
and also an Apple is much more expensive than a Mac so if u dont feel the need to switch to Mac, dont</p>
<p>definitely get a notebook with a powerful graphics card if u'll do engineering</p>
<p>i wouldn't recommend a dell.
since you are actually comparing it to a mac, and the cheapest mac laptop is around $1000 (even with school discount)
i would like to assume that you have the money to get a higher quality brand.</p>
<p>i've had my mac for almost four years now and YES, it has been virus free and the only other thing that I needed for it is a wireless mouse.</p>
<p>Macs are terribly overpriced for what they offer (like any other Apple product). You could get a much better PC for the same price of the ****tiest and cheapest Mac. A PC would do you much better since the applications used by math related majors are often PC-Only. You can also be virus free..just don't go around downloading random crap from sites you don't even know o_o.</p>
<p>The thing is my college supports only both Dell and Apple. And 50-50 engineers use Apple-Dell.. so program support may not be such a huge factor..</p>
<p>Brands do not play a major role in whether or not a computer is supported. It's the hardware and software that matters. So, don't limit your brands.</p>
<p>Mac OS X's design makes it very secure against viruses, while Dell's systems with Windows may be prone to a few problems.</p>
<p>As for defending against viruses - that just means using it securely. This may be difficult. If a virus takes over, back up your files and reinstall.</p>
<p>mac vs pc is totally your decision, but i wouldn't recommend buying a dell if you want to use a pc. i've been using a dell latitude d630 for almost a year, and i can't tell you how miserable it was. its battery failed twice, adapter failed once and the hard disk died once--all in the most critical times of my semester. luckily their care service wasn't that bad, but i'm going to upgrade to a macbook as soon as my fall semester begins. buy an ibm, hp or asus if you want a pc, but not a dell, in my opinion.</p>
<p>I think the main reason Mac's don't really get viruses is more due to the fact that nobody writes viruses for them than the OS's inherent security. As their market share increases, though, I think it's more likely that viruses will be made for Mac.</p>
<p>However, I really don't think viruses are a concern if you browse the web at all intelligently. Make sure that you have anti-virus, anti-spyware, and a firewall installed and don't go around downloading every single thing you see online. Just use decent judgment and odds are you won't get a virus.</p>
<p>I got a macbook pro because I've had horrible experiences with PCs for my entire life and my dad paid for it. </p>
<p>Dell is cheap. You get what you pay for. </p>
<p>Im architecture, we don't use computers heavily until our second year. The upperclassmen suggest that we buy a dell or something similar as a 'throw away' for our freshman year for email or something and then upgrade to something better later.</p>
<p>Even though your school is 'dell' friendly, get something else if you want a pc. Let me rephrase, if you want a PC that will last you for a while.</p>
<p>(lots of comp. sites offer free printers, by the way)</p>
<p>You should go ask the engineering people what they use.</p>
<p>well, if you do that that would be a waste because you can buy an xp laptop with the same specifications as a mac for $800-900 at most, whereas you'll pay around $1200 to buy a decent macbook. so, i'd say try the mac osx before you decide on buying a mac. i've already tried using it and loved it, so i'm pretty sure i'll buy myself a mac.</p>