Laptop Recommendations

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Hey guys :)</p>

<p>I'm an International Incoming Freshman for Fall 2013 and my intended major is Computer Science at the College of Letters and Sciences. I was hoping some current CS students at Cal could recommend a few laptops that I should consider bringing.</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

2

<p>Macbook Air (wait for the new one in June). </p>

<p>Pros:

  • Light. You will carry it around all the time.
  • Mac OS X. Almost all assignments will require you to use unix-based tools or software. OS X gives you the best of both words, great UI/UX + power of unix. With any kind of PC you would need to fiddle around with dual boot or VMs, which becomes annoying really quickly.
  • 90%+ of professors and graduate students do their work and create the assignments on Macs. Makes it a lot easier if you need to get help, and you won’t run into platform-based problems with the assignments.
  • Not as expensive as the retina Macbooks, especially after the university discount.</p>

<p>Cons:

  • Can’t play games (if you’re into that). In that case, get a Macbook Pro, or another cheap desktop.
  • There will occasionally be classes (not in the CS department, but some humanities) that require some kind of Windows-only software. Use Virtualbox in that case.
  • More expensive than cheaper Windows laptops</p>

<p>FYI, I graduated with a degree in EECS, was a teaching assistant, and have worked at the university. Me and my colleagues cringe every time we have to help someone who has a Windows machine. If for nothing else, please get one to make the faculty happy.</p>

3

<p>Samsung Series 7 Chronos 15.6" - I got mine from Bestbuy in Emeryville. paid $900.
What i like:
Fast i7 processor.
ExpressCache, getting into windows is almost SSD fast:)
Slim, light, quiet, and excellent design all around.
Keyboard is pleasant o use.
Capable graphics
Decent battery life.
Screen brightness is awsome and the 1600x900 resolution suits the 15.6 size
High quality build.
Owes nothing to a MBP.</p>

<p>Don’t like:
Windows 8 OS, so i made it like Windows7.</p>

<p>Overall couldn’t be happier with this machine.</p>

4

<p>In my opinion, the Thinkpad T530 is the best you can get for the money.</p>

<p>You should be able to find well-equipped NIB (new in box) ones online for about $850.
Well-equipped meaning i7 processor, 4GB of RAM, 1600x900 resolution or a slightly larger resolution for a bit more…
Screen size is 15.6", ahah.</p>

5

<p>i am also looking for a new laptop and i am killing myself over deciding between a macbook pro 13" or the samsung series 7. </p>

<p>(i was just going to run bootcamp on the mac). have a 15% off at apple store, so i am leaning toward that, but i still can’t decide!!!</p>