<p>I know this question has been asked SO MANY times but I have not yet found the "right" answer so to speak.</p>
<p>I am going to be an Economics and Communication major and I was wondering what the best laptop would be out of the two, OR what PC you recommend.</p>
<p>My school is giving me $2033 for books and supplies so I may have to get a lower end model if I want to buy my books without a loan.</p>
<p>So the question: What laptop is best for portability and will take care of web browsing, word processing, music downloading. I don't think I will use any intense graphics so I am not sure if I should get the 15" Macbook Pro. </p>
<p>SORRY FOR THIS LONG QUESTION: Another factor is that I would have to buy the extended warranty for the 15" AFTER my first semester. So that being said, PLEASE HELP!</p>
<p>Or, if you feel a netbook is too small, most generic 13" and 15" laptops would do fine. I’d get a 13" if you want portability+small size+light without having to go as small as a netbook, or 15" if you want a general use desktop replacement.</p>
<p>Why not go for a non-Apple product? It doesn’t sound like you really need high-specs, so I wouldn’t go for a Macbook/Macbook Pro due to the price.</p>
<p>I like the operating system on a Mac and they have the best battery life from what I have seen. I also like the aesthetics of the Mac. I am open to suggestions though. My parents do get corporate discounts with HP and Dell but I couldn’t really find something, especially with Dell.</p>
<p>I just got a MacBook Pro 13" and I really love it. It takes a bit of getting used to it after working on windows for a while, but it really is nice. It is also really portable which is a nice touch. Even though it is pricy, with the student discount, the free iPod Touch, and free printer deals, it makes this laptop a bit more “affordable” (if that word can be used in the same sentence with any Apple product).</p>
<p>Yep, Mac OSX does has better power management than Windows 7. But consider this: The baseline macbook costs $1000, yet you can find a similarily spec’d PC for around $400-$600. Netbooks have also long battery life mainly due to low end hardware… you should get a netbook because they’re very affordable and you don’t seem to need a performance laptop.</p>
<p>MBP 13" should satisfy all your needs, I suppose. One could make a case for netbooks. However, you mentioned you’ll be doing some writing, web browsing etc. and I guess 10" netbooks could be a little to small for that in a long run. You can easily get tired of using such a small screen. 13" is still very portable (it fits into a backpack without any problems), it’s well-made and it will be good enough for all four years of college.</p>
<p>Do you recommend getting more RAM on the macbook pro 13" or sticking to the 4GB. Also, did you guys buy Apple Care right away? I hear you can buy Apple Care up to year from the date of purchase.</p>
<p>Macbooks & Macbook Pros have a great power:portability:battery ratio. Not many PC’s can match macs. The Macbook and the Pro version or almost identical. The Pro just has an aluminum body and an SD card slot for your camera. Keep that in mind.</p>
<p>I’d go for 4GB of RAM since it’s standard now (I think). It futureproofs your laptop anyway.</p>
<p>If you / your friends are tech savvy then don’t get Apple care. If your school offers computer help for free then dont get it. Apple care is mainly for people who don’t know much about computers/viruses/ and cleaning. If you’re prone to dropping things then get the warranty.</p>
<p>If you ever do get Apple care, buy it from Ebay for like $100 cheaper.</p>
<p>Don’t upgrade the RAM you most likely will not be using it, 4G is plenty. Buy the base model and if anything upgrade the HDD yourself after you get it. I chose not to get apple care, but yes I’m pretty sure you can still get it up to a year after purchasing your laptop</p>
<p>I’d have to argue with you power and portability claim. Many PC’s will surpass MB’s in computing power and are just as portable. The only valid claim you have in that sentence is the battery life on a MB. The battery life absolutely amazing on a MB - upwards of 8hours vs. up to 5hrs. But that being said, do you really see yourself being away from an outlet for more than 5hrs?</p>
<p>Please do some research before making false claims.</p>
<p>^ I only saw one claim. They are saying that for the power a Mac has, it gets beyond amazing battery life. They are insinuating that you won’t find a pc with the same amount of power with the same battery life. Why don’t you fully comprehend the post before you criticize. :D</p>
<p>Depends on which MB/P you’re looking at. The Core 2 Duo machines can last up to 7 hours actual, while the i7s last up to 5 hours actual. So, really, both people are right (and vague).</p>
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<p>The Asus U35JC/U45JC series or the HP Envy series w/ slice battery.</p>
<p>Oh cmon Trip7. I’m only making general statements and trying to help. I’m not jumping to conclusions. I was referring to the 3-way ratio as a whole which you cut into 2. A Dell Studio has very good in power and portability but it only gets 2-4 hours tops. And there are countless stories (anecdotal I know) of Dells breaking like plastic. And a 9-cell battery would bulk up the laptop and make it less portable.</p>
<p>PC’s that match macs:
HP Envy 14- around $999+ dollars
Those Asus U series- just came out in the US
Sony Vaio Z- $1800+
Acer Timeline X series- just came out in US. It’s said to be flimsy and not as well built.</p>
<p>Think what you’re trying to say is that there are no “mainstream” laptops that can beat the MBs. The new Asus U35JC/U45JC and the HP Envys, IMO, knock out the MBPs, but are a bit obscure in the general market. If anything, when your average user thinks of a laptop, they either think of the MBs, Dell Studios, or HP Pavilions.</p>