<p>Completely agree with LAPeru, invest in a very good laptop backpack to last you all four years(!). In my opinion, Brenthaven makes the best backpacks that are specifically designed for the MBPs/MBs. They protect the laptop incredibly well, are built to withstand 24-hour college use/abuse, and literally has a ton of storage space despite it's "small" look on photos. However, Brenthaven sells another more-expensive model(s) too, but this is what I use everyday at school:</p>
<p>Though I don't have this one (see previous link), this features the "Premium Core", and as LAPeru said, is essentially guaranteed to protect your laptop in a serious fall. However, mine has fallen from a bicycle and off the top of a bunk-bed and defintitely padded my MBP safely.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you get a laptop, definitely buy a Kensington laptop-lock (get a number one, not one w/ a seperate key). Thefts are all too-common nowadays even in college dorms, unfortunately.</p>
<p>I have a desktop PC and it actually is a good thing. My friends with laptops never take them out of their room anyway. I have a huge-a monitor that i use to watch movies on, so it works out. and...if anything goes wrong, I can fix it.</p>
<p>now what are you compromising running the windows softward on the macs does it take up a whole bunch of space or really compromise the ovrall performance?</p>
<p>I have a desktop for my room, and a 12 inch macbook that I use for taking notes in class/using in the library... I'd say choose a laptop over a desktop for sure though because you'll want to be doing work in the library and having a laptop makes it easier (to procrastinate)</p>
<p>Can any one suggest HP or Dell model number I should buy for the next 4 years in college. If not what configuration should I have on my laptop. Please write those in detail. I am not a computer person.
Thanks</p>
<p>I completely agree with laurstar07 (and practically everyone else in thread): I swear get a Mac and you absolutely will not regret it. It will last you well beyond four years, they are that well built and "fun" to use. </p>
<p>I'd strongly recommend you checking out Apple Store online because that will probably answer all of your questions and you can compare the various models. Remember, college students and faculty get rougly 10% off (it varies per product) Mac products through the education discount, and the link below links directly to Cornell's specified Apple Store:</p>
<p>So if you're looking at laptops exclusively, there's the less-expensive MacBook and top-of-the-line MacBook Pros. For most needs, the MacBook is more than enough (I got the MBP just because I love the design and larger screen size). However, I STRONGLY DO NOT RECOMMEND GETTING THE MACBOOK/MACBOOK PROS yet because they almost DEFINITELY going to (drastically) update their entire lines in January after the holiday shopping season is over. The rumors have basically been confirmed, so unless you desperately need a laptop within the next month, please wait.</p>
<p>gregcroom4, assuming you get a MacBook Pro, the only thing to consider is that you'd be partitioning your hard-drive, so I'd probably upgrade the size if you plan to run Windows natively. Remember, the MacBook Pro (as of 10/25/07) was declared the fastest Windows Vista notebook by PC World. </p>
<p>Fair-use exerpt:
"...the MacBook Pro outperformed the rest of the notebooks we tested, all of which claim Windows as their primary--nay, their only--operating system. We loaded Windows Vista Home Premium on the Apple notebook, and it snagged a WorldBench 6 Beta 2 score of 88. In games it achieved a blazing frame rate of 141 frames per second in Far Cry (with antialiasing turned off)." PC</a> World - Apple MacBook Pro Review</p>
<p>I am looking at a BlackMacbook, when you say they are getting update, the mac books just recently got a small update and according to the macrumors site wont be getting another one at least for 4 months minimum, however the pro will be getting one, i dont want anything as big as the Pro however,looking for compact and power...I am wondering if I shoudl wait and if you have any info on how fast these will be updated, thanks</p>
<p>Members of macrumors.com have noticed this too. A few days ago, credible rumors have pointed to new 13.3" LED screens being ordered by Apple, presumably to replace the current LCD display for the MacBook (MacBook Pros already have LED backlighting). </p>
<p>Fair use excerpt:
Apple has been rumored to be launching a new "ultra-portable" laptop at Macworld San Francisco in January. Early specs described by Appleinsider suggested the new sub-notebook would carry a 13" screen with aluminum enclosure that is described to be 50% lighter and "strikingly slimmer" than the existing 15" MacBook Pros. Apple recently adopted the environmentally friendly LED backlit screens in its MacBook Pro models.</p>
<p>It supposedly going to be extremely "aggresively priced"; in other words, unless you need a laptop (MB or MBP) badly for the next 3-4 weeks, I would really consider waiting. Apple is going to release a bunch of crazy stuff at MCSF and I'd wait if I were you.</p>
<p>Historically, they're avaliable for purchase (online) almost immediately after; some retail Apple Stores might get a few, though stock should increase significantly as each day progresses. If you do get it online, be mindful of when shipping will actually begin, which might take some time. Is your current computer on the verge of dying?</p>
<p>I gave my laptop to my brother to take, as I planned to purchase a new one. I just need one I'd say by Mid-Jan Latest when school starts up again</p>
<p>You would actuallly do better to wait until the new line of Macs have been revised. One only just needs to look at the history of the release of the first model of macs</p>
<p>Back in 2006, when the Macbook and its pro counterpart were released, there were issues with it:</p>
<p>The Macbooks had heating issues, and some actually caught fire, and the magsafe adapters actually burning people</p>
<p>The imacs that were released this summer had keyboard freezing problems.</p>
<p>Apple normally refreshes their lines of computer macs at least once every 7 months. I'd say wait and let othes discover the kinks and imperfections so that they refreshments will be worth the price.</p>
<p>If at all possible, find a copy of XP SP2 and use that instead of Vista. Vista is an unmitigated disaster. I got it only to "downgrade" back to XP.</p>