<p>I am the Apple Campus Representative. It is my job to encourage as many people as possible to switch to the Mac for college. If you are considering it, I highly recommend it. And of course you can ask me any questions you may have.</p>
<p>My dad mentioned this to me, but is it possible to load Windows XP on the new Macs? And... Since I'll be at Wharton, they don't recommend using Macs, because most of the software is for Windows, so do you know if in the near future they'll be making Macs that can support Windows based software? I love my PowerBook, but it conflicts with Wharton classes.</p>
<p>Yes, it is indeed possible to load Windows XP (and Windows Vista, should it ever actually be released) on the new Macs. They now use the same Intel processors that Windows computers do, so it will run at the same speed and catch viruses just a quickly as its Dell counterparts. </p>
<p>Additionally, a good amount of the Wharton software is available on Macs. The Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook--though Outlook is called Entourage) is available. The statistics software (JMP) is also compatible with Mac OS X.</p>
<p>And should you run into anything that in fact isn't compatible, Windows XP is there waiting for you.</p>
<p>I read somewhere that about the time we enroll in the fall (late August/early Spetember) Apple is going to release a new version of the MacBook Pro with a significantly better processor. Do you think it would be worth holding out, and possibly enrolling without a personal computer, or just buy one now and not worry about it? I don't want to spend over $2000 on something that will be obsolete a month after I buy it. Also, does buying through the school store benefit you in any way, i.e. discounts, extras, etc?</p>
<p>Ausome,</p>
<p>Definitely wait until closer to actually coming to Penn to get the MacBook. While I cannot say whether Apple will come out with newer computers by then, it's certainly more likely than the probability that they would do so, say, tomorrow.</p>
<p>You should also wait until you come to Penn in order to get the holy grail of college computing--the student discount. Apple has great discounts for students (iWork is $40 instead of $80, new versions of Mac OS are $70 instead of $130, and you get up to hundreds of dollars off a new Mac) AND they usually have a back-to-school promotion at the same time (last year it was free iPod mini with purchase of any new Mac).</p>
<p>So be sure to hit up the Penn Computer Connection (in the back of the Bookstore) when you get to campus. You may also hear from Penn, Apple, and the Computer Connection sometime during the summer giving you the ability to preorder your Mac so you know it won't be out of stock (and I'm doing my best to make sure they will be!).</p>
<p>Whenever you buy it, don't ever start enrollment without a computer. Ideally don't even start NSO without one, as you'll be missing out on critical networking (the people kind) opportunities.</p>
<p>So I am and have always been a Windows person but the whole "Boot Camp" thing intrigues me. I think Apple computers look much better and I don't hate the software.
(a) Do you know when Boot Camp is coming out?
(b) I know that Wharton for instance prefers Macs (i am going to be in SAS) and that PCs are more universal, why should i use a Mac at Penn? Like what are the pluses and minuses of using Macs at Penn?
(c) What is really the best comp to use if I am an Econ major in SAS?</p>
<p>are there benefits/discounts for laptops (not from Apple) at Penn in the beginning of the school year as well?</p>
<p>benji06
(a) Boot Camp is available now, as a free download from Apple
(b) You have it backwards. Wharton prefers PCs, SAS supports both equally. The pluses of a Mac at Penn are myriad...
1. College networks are a hotbed of virus and hacking activity (on top of the already-intolerable Internet)...Macs are inherently more difficult to hack due to their UNIX core an
d there are a lot less people trying to attack them, if any. If you get a Mac you will spend less time worrying about viruses and hunting down spyware and more time getting stuff done.
2. Macs come with iLife
3. Macs DO run Microsoft Office
4. Macs screw up less and when they do they're easier to fix because Apple made everything and thus has to help you (no more calling Dell and Dell telling you to call MS and MS telling you to call Dell, and Dell says it's AOL's fault...)
5. It's absurdly easy to use most cameras, scanners, printers, etc with a Mac as it has built-in support for almost all of them. You just plug 'em in.
6. Your professors will secretly like you more ;-)
7. You don't need to buy antivirus or antispyware stuff for a Mac
Bottom line, if you want a computer that just works and works wonderfully, you want a Mac.</p>
<p>(c) The best comp is an Apple. It's not even close.</p>
<p>rccys
Yes there are discounts for Levono and Dell laptops. Doesn't make 'em suck any less, though.</p>
<p>How much are the discounts for those non-Mac laptops versus the ones for the Mac? Performance wise, do they match up buck for buck, as I've heard Macs are waaaay too much for their hardware.</p>
<p>No idea what the academic discounts are for the other laptops. That's not my department. As for the price/performance ratio of Apple products, I can assure you that they are not only competitive, but more competitive than they have ever been.</p>
<p>Apple uses top-end components in their products (for example, the audio-in and out jacks are digital optical, not just standard analog. The camera is built in. The hard drive is not only fast, but quiet.</p>
<p>And every Mac comes with digital creativity software that would cost hundreds to acquire on a Windows system (iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand) and every Mac has Front Row, like Windows Media Center edition (which also costs extra) but better.</p>
<p>What's Front Row? What's iLife? And how are Mac with gaming? Also, is there any way for you to find out about the PC discounts? Because at this point I'm leaning towards getting a PC but if the Mac is actually a better deal, then I might just go Mac for college and PC at home...</p>
<p>You can't find out PC discounts until you either have a PennKey or until you visit the Computer Connection in person.</p>
<p>Front Row = <a href="http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/frontrow.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/frontrow.html</a>
Think Windows XP Media Center Edition. And yes, it comes with handy-dandy remote control.</p>
<p>iLife = iPhoto (photo album/editor), iMovie HD (video editor), iDVD (DVD authoring software), iWeb (web authoring software). Apple's software is famously well-designed, easy to use, and integrated with other iLife applications. It's a breeze for iMovie to fetch pictures from the iPhoto library and music from iTunes and plop 'em in your movie.</p>
<p>In addition to coming with bundled software that would cost you hundreds of dollars to get for a Windows PC, you also don't need to buy antivirus or antispyware software/service for your Mac. This saved money adds up.</p>
<p>As for gaming, there are Mac games. Most of the popular titles (Sims, Doom 3, MoH, Quake, etc) are available on Mac, and for those that aren't, you can now easily install Windows on your Mac and run the games there.</p>
<p>An Apple gives you the best of both worlds, and that's the best value of all.</p>
<p>Johnny-- you said wait until you get to campus to buy a computer, but later, that we shouldn't start NSO without one? </p>
<p>Also, my family bought an iMac last weekend, and it's already stalling and running slowly at times. On top of that, the pointer always seems to take on random icons from different applications, and keep them. For example, sometimes the color wheel will stay and we have to use it as a clicker. Any advice?</p>
<p>Do you think the new MacBook 17" will be better? Either way, i'm getting it :)</p>
<p>These MacBook Pro's with the Duo-Core Intel Processor's seem amazingly fast, but pricey as well. </p>
<p>I want a nice 17" screen, but on apple.com it says the price is $2,799. How much do you think it would cost with the discount?</p>
<p>Also, I can definetly put Windows XP (or vista when it comes out) on my MacBook Pro? I'm too used to Windows to use anything different.</p>
<p>I understand that JohnnyK works for apple, but all things aside, does anyone have advice for future science majors and pre-med students in the mac/pc choice? I am planning on buying soon, so any advice would be great.</p>
<p>logged in with the penn institutional discount:</p>
<p>the 17-inch macbook pro: $2,599
15.4-inch 2 ghz: $2,299
15.4-inch 1.83 ghz: $1,799</p>
<p>so it's only like a $200 discount. I was hoping for like 25% or something haha stupid me</p>
<p>thanx for doing that t-fire</p>
<p>I'm thinking that getting a Mac and then putting windows on it makes it more expensive than just getting a PC in the first place...so what would make the Mac better?</p>
<p>Macs are generally known to be computers that require less maintenace</p>