<p>I posted a similar thread in the college life forums but there weren't too many engineers replying there.</p>
<p>I'm going to college this fall to major in computer engineering and I need some views from computer engineers and engineers in general.</p>
<p>I plan on purchasing a Macbook for college. I've played around with my friend's and have took a liking to it. The problem however is that I have heard from others that there are programs that are just incompatible with Macs, and I am better off getting a Windows.</p>
<p>So for you experienced engineering students, would you recommend a Macbook or Windows laptop? Does either one matter, or is it just personal preference? Were you ever given tasks that you know that cannot be performed on a Mac?</p>
<p>My brother is a programmer at Google and uses a Mac (at work and at home). It shouldn't really matter, especially now that you can use Parallels on a Mac for any Windows programs. It depends more on personal preference.</p>
<p>mac is good but overpriced. For starter, it's cheaper to buy a dell laptop and install it with linux + windows. I think linux allows the most flexibility for programming because it comes with many prog language installed. Also, learning linux would be useful because you'll get used with command line shell.</p>
<p>I know RPI suggests you buy Levono Thinkpads running Windows from them, and if you buy it from them they also give you all the software you need for engineering and architecture in your classes. I've always been a fan of the old IBM Thinkpads, you might want to look into them.</p>
<p>If your going into Media Arts, get a Mac. If engineering is your field, stick to the PC running windows.</p>
<p>Not entirely sure about computer engineers... I know a few EEs who have some sort of linux installed, though I don't know if that's just personal preference or if its helpful for their field. The professor of my required intro programming course also heavily favored Linux to Windows.</p>
<p>In civil and mechanical engineering though, software companies cater almost exclusively to the Windows community. There aren't any Mac versions of any of the programs I use (or none that I've seen anyway) so that's an inconvenience.</p>
<p>aw man that sucks....I love macs....I've never owned a windows in my entire life...so are you saying when i go to college I can't load up the same software on a mac? </p>
<p>FWIW: son is in his first year of engineering, bought a mac, also installed windows. He is usually very particular about all things technological. His verdict: "I haven't asked it to do a single thing it couldn't do." (BTW, he ran Solidworks on it)</p>
<p>He is not in computer engineering, though he has taken 2 engineering programming courses so far. Not the same, I know.</p>
<p>Elliot, I do not attend RPI, but I have 2 close friends there and have visited it many times being that I have family close by there. RPI is a great state-of-the-art school though, with immaculate facilities. Highly ranked in engineering for such a small school compared to the other powerhouses it is ranked next to. The only downside to RPI is really its location, in Troy NY.</p>
<p>Most colleges will specify if they want Windows or if you can have a Mac. Personally, i've never met an engineering student with a Mac, just because most software programs only run on PCs. However, there are ways to get around this if you're really bent on getting a Mac. But your best bet is to a) wait for your school to issue its requirements (some might require a tablet) b) be safe and go windows</p>
<p>Well I posted in the other thread but I'll post again..</p>
<p>I used to be computer engineering (now switched to electrical, but I've taken all computer engineering core courses except for one or two)</p>
<p>I agree there's nothing I've needed to do which my macbook has not been able to do. I thought I might need to run windows on it occasionally but that hasn't been required so far.</p>
<p>All software we've run for our Comp Sci/Comp Eng/Electrical engineering courses has run on Sun/Unix Workstations, which are fairly standard in industry for computer engineering. We can either work in the lab or connect remotely from home, in either case, personal computer type is irrelevant. Macs are about as equally popular as PC's.</p>
<p>Basically, your program may vary - contact your prospective computer engineering department, they would probably give you a clear answer.</p>
<p>Hey...Macs get really hot at times...and they whine a lot.....get a VAIO SZ one...you'll be very satisfied. I'd stay away from Dell....I've heard many horror customer-service stories. Sony's isnt outstanding either....but you'll get a a sturdier, stronger lappy.</p>
<p>Coming to Macs again.....you CAN run windows on it....but you'll have to install a software called Desktop Parallel.</p>
<p>If you're comfortable with that...go for the over-heated Mac....else take the VAIO.</p>
<p>You can check out this forum for more info and loads of help.</p>
<p>Mac laptops do run hotter...however this is a function of the cooling system used. Either the laptop runs hotter, or it must be thicker and the fans louder. It's a tradeoff.</p>
<p>The whine is not present on most Macs and is actually a free warranty repair. Only one mac I know of has the whine and it was bought the 1st week that the new macs were available last year (Wile they were still working out some kinks)</p>
<p>Macs can run windows either two ways - either dual boot (free) or use parallels and run both at the same time (costs money). You do not have to buy parallels or anything else to run windows (except you do have to buy a copy of windows)</p>