Hi guys,
I’ll be entering McCormick this fall and am trying to decide on which laptop to get. If it helps, my intended major was biomedical engineering on the premed track, but I’m 90% sure I’m going to switch to industrial engineering or another engineering major (still premed). Between the pro and the air, which laptop do you recommend? Also what storage space, RAM, etc. should I be looking at? I’m completely clueless when it comes to laptops, so thank you for your help!
I suggest you to take a look at this http://www.it.northwestern.edu/hardware/mac/mac-laptop.html
Since you plan to be an engineering student, you should probably look at the “power user” info
You actually can get by with just an iPad mini. The programs fit pretty well and as always if they don’t, “there’s an app for that”
Not sure how much my word matters since I don’t even attend NU, just a hopeful deferred applicant, but I do speak computer and have a Retina MacBook Pro. IMO, the RMBP is well worth the price over the Air. The complete clarity of the screen makes a world of a difference, every model comes with 16GB of RAM by default so it will be future proofed for the next 6+ years, and you’ll really be able to run anything you throw at it. It’s very light and portable while still having a 15" screen (well, there is the 13" RMBP, but that’s too small for me). For a device that you’ll be using for potentially your entire college career, it’s worth the money. I wouldn’t feel the need to buy anything above the base model unless you plan on video/audio editing as a side hobby, and you can always get a cheap external hard drive if you find the 256GB hard drive isn’t large enough for you. Before making any decision though, you should go to an Apple Store or Best Buy where you can try them in person.
If you’re anxious to buy one now, you can get the base model for $1,889 here with free shipping and no tax: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1072688-REG/apple_mgxa2ll_a_15_4_macbook_pro_notebook.html
Although they will be updating it with newer specs sometime this summer, so I’d recommend waiting until then.
Hey, I’m a current McCormick student and I’ve seen students get by with tablets however I have a Pro and it honestly comes in handy. I would say that most engineers with Mac’s have Pros. I use my laptop for everything, including television and games, so having the memory and the definition makes a huge difference for me personally. You should wait to buy your computer in the summer and I’d recommend going to an Apple Store to try them out.