<p>hi-
I was wondering if I could get through 4 years of comp sci on an Apple PowerBook? I'll have access to tons of computer labs, as well as (in case of emergencies) my mother's Dell/boat anchor. I'm aware that 99% of the population hates macs, no one in the "real world" uses them, yadda yadda, but I would seriously consider switching majors if I have to buy a PC. Any (helpful) advice? Thanks!</p>
<p>There's nothing wrong with Apple at all...Any good programmer will tell you OSX is a pretty kickass environment.</p>
<p>I think for CS, everything you use is easier to run on a Mac. At least at MIT this is the case, because our workstations in the lab are Linux.</p>
<p>Most of the CS professors at MIT like Apples more than PCs, from what I have seen.</p>
<p>When I visited CMU, we went through the 'Apple Orchard' - so yes, programming and Apples go together.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>wow, that's awesome! thanks guys, you made my day!</p>
<p>You shouldn't really have a problem. After all, Mac OS X is based upon Darwin (basically a ppc port of the freebsd kernel)</p>
<p>I think in most CS programs Linux on PCs is usually the majority though</p>
<p>As a Computer Science major and a laptop owner, yes, you can get by with an Apple PowerBook. In the Computer Science world, all compilers, language interpreters and programming frameworks are UNIX-compatible, and none are Windows-specific. Have fun. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>awesome, I was really hoping that the Unix-based-goodness of osx would save me in the end! Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>If you are looking at buying a computer don't do so until after you are admitted and have chosen your college. Reasons: (a) once admitted you may be able to buy through the school under a discount program the school has with one or more makers of computers which is cheaper than buying retail and colleges with such programs usually have on-campus service available for those particular computers; (b) some colleges for engineering, e.g., Rose-Hulman, require you to purchase a new computer through them so that freshman all have the same systems; (c) some engineering schools require a PC because they make certain engineering programs available only in PC format.</p>
<p>^^(d) the longer you wait the better system you get for the price.</p>
<p>e) if you go with on campus service and get their warranty... its amazing. Ive already walked into IT going Oops and had my laptop be magically fixed. My Wireless went bonkers one day. My Keyboard broke thanks to having a model dropped on it. Our IT department is wonderful, and they deal well with the Oops of the engineering school.</p>
<p>I guess there is merit in waiting, but I'm going to Penn State, which has, as far as I'm heard, never required a specific type of computer. I just happen to like my Mac, and don't want to end up with a laptop I hate for 4 years. Oh, and I've been buying computers with a faculty/student discount since I was 6, my father teaches there and I've been a nondegree since I was a jr in HS. :)
Thanks for the replies!</p>
<p><em>is another Apple-loving CS major</em>
I've got a 12" iBook and it's good for all my CS courses.</p>