Thinking about getting myself a computer for college… any recommendations? I’ve been eyeing a MacBook Air but Idk yet… because they are rather expensive.
Also, is it possible that the college I will (eventually choose to) attend will finance/ buy a computer for me…? Not very clear on this idea, looking for clarification.
Thanks!
Some colleges offer some very large scholarships where they will purchase a computer for you. By now, I would think you would know if you were a finalist or being considered for a scholarship like that. Otherwise, most colleges will not buy a computer for you - but they may offer discounts through partnerships with certain retailers/manufacturers, and/or they may have specific systems or configurations that they recommend to students.
For that reason, I’d wait until you’ve chosen a college and paid a deposit before you seriously start eyeing computers. And you should probably wait to buy until closer to July/August, because that’s when all the back-to-school deals hit!
MacBook vs. a Windows PC is really a personal preference based on which operating system you like better. In most majors for 99% of tasks, there really won’t be a functional difference between them. If you already own an iPhone and/or an iPad, sticking within the Apple ecosystem may make sense for you because they make it easy to seamlessly move between those devices. If you have an Android phone, it’s really a toss-up, although personally I have found my Android phone plays nicer with Windows PCs than MacBooks.
There are also more third-party accessories - like cases, bags, stands, etc. - that are made specifically for MacBooks. Most standard 13" laptop bags will fit any laptop, but Speck makes a whole line of translucent colored cases for MacBooks, and Twelve South makes beautiful covers and other accessories for MacBooks and other Apple products (I still wish they made their BookBook covers for Android phones. Alas.)
@juillet thank you for your response! Could you please elaborate on the scholarships you mentioned?
I really hope Apple does come out with a new, cheaper macbook air this year… [-O<
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/03/more-affordable-13-inch-macbook-air/
Campus bookstores will offer student discounts for computers so if you are not lucky enough to get scholarship money towards a purchase, you can still get a good deal through your school.
@Gumbymom Thanks for your response!
What about Apple’s education discount/ back to school deals…?
I would compare costs using the Apple education discounts, the back to school deals and also the campus bookstore deals.
My son purchased his MacBook using the Apple education discounts and just ordered a Dell computer using his employers Dell computer discounts. His campus bookstore only had a deal on HP computers for the moment.
Just do some research and I am sure you could come up some good deals especially if you are willing to wait awhile.
@Gumbymom Good to know. Thanks!