<p>My college gives me 1300 dollars for a computer because of a scholarship I received. I know I want a 13'' screen because I really do want something smaller than what I have had in the past. I think I have narrowed it down to a MacBook or an hp, but I really don't know what to do from here. I know that I will have to pay some extra money to get a Mac, but I don't know if this will end up benefiting me or not. Basically, I just want to get other people's opinion on what computer I should get. Any help is really appreciated.</p>
<p>Normally I am not a Mac fan but the HP Pavilion dv3t is terrible. Go with the Mac if this is your only two options.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about the HP, but I don’t think you could go wrong with a MacBook. (Assuming you’re not an Engineer or anything else that may be heavily Windows-dependent)</p>
<p>If you buy a MacBook, you can always run Windows - if you have a copy of some form of Windows. A Mac runs Windows natively - meaning you can set it up to boot as a Windows machine - or in emulation, using either Parallels or VMWare, both very good and cheap products that allow you move data and switch between the OS’s. A Mac is a very good Windows computer.</p>
<p>The only negative of a MacBook is that it is not strong for shoot-em-up games. That HP is not either.</p>
<p>I think the best set-up for school is a laptop with an external monitor, keyboard & mouse. You can get these for a few hundred total and I’d wait to see if you feel the need. </p>
<p>I also suggest an insurance policy. We have a policy with NSSI and it replaced a laptop screen. Cost is under $150 a year. And get AppleCare or whatever HP sells as a warranty. You don’t have to buy those right away either; you have until the end of the basic warranty period to decide. </p>
<p>Small piece of advice: customize your computer. Stickers on the outside, for example, make your computer less attractive to a thief.</p>
<p>Eh Roxlo, care to substantiate that claim considering that the dv3t has been out all of one month?</p>
<p>Possibly was referencing [this</a> review.](<a href=“http://www.engadget.com/tag/dv3]this”>dv3 News, Reviews and Information | Engadget)</p>