Laptop

<p><a href="http://cci.unc.edu/incoming_students/minimum_specifications.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://cci.unc.edu/incoming_students/minimum_specifications.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>So does this link mean at UNC you can't have a MAcBook Laptop?</p>

<p>im sure a macbook meets or exceeds those requirements so its cool</p>

<p>well it doesnt have a Windows operating system so it doesnt.</p>

<p>If you look on the forum of the UNC admitted website, it has a post from a guy who has used a mac all 4 years. He says it’s not a big deal to have a mac, but certain programs that you need for class won;t work on a mac, so you’ll have to use a school computer or Boot Camp.</p>

<p>I personally have heard that it doesn’t really matter if you get a Mac laptop or a CCI laptop; however, I have heard that it is not a good idea to get a non-CCI Windows laptop, as the tech support staff has little to no experience with it.</p>

<p>Don’t know if this helps or not but in the student stores I noticed they sell mac accessories and parts, etc.</p>

<p>and u can operate windows on macbook.</p>

<p>While the IT department will not work on a Mac, there is an Apple store at Southpoint Mall. If you have a car and don’t mind taking your computer there, then go with the Mac.</p>

<p>The plus of having the suggested laptop is if IT needed to keep it, they will provide you with a loner laptop. On the other hand, they have been know to keep laptops for repairs for over a week!</p>

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<p>That is the major reason to fight the urge to swim against the stream. Sometimes it seems like a MAC would be so great to own…But… </p>

<p>OTOH A loaner laptap must seem a Godsend when yours is down and out. For that reason the hardware the school supports seems like the way to go.</p>

<p>I have friends with Macs that swear by them but say that the wireless signal is a little hard to pick up sometimes. If you’re a Mac person, then go for it, if not, I’d suggest going with the model that UNC offers.</p>

<p>I’m attending UNC in the fall and have a good desktop. How important is it really to get a laptop that meets their qualifications? </p>

<p>Can I get by without it? </p>

<p>Do they offer you more FA to get it your first semester?</p>

<p>If you fill out the FAFSA and Profile chances are you will get a laptop grant especially if you are concerned about affording it…they give a LOT of grants for laptops so that should not be a concern. I think you will miss having a laptop bc you can use it ANYWHERE on campus. It is a very wired campus with few dead spots, consequently people use outside under trees, in the pit, in the classroom to take notes, some profs want you to bring them, some upper level courses or math/physics/compsci classes give you software (you download) to use and they use in class freq.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>wait and decide until you see if you get a grant for one. If you get a grant, of course jump at it. If you are a ncaa athlete you may not can receive a grant by law for laptops (i seem to remember reading that)</p></li>
<li><p>No grant, then parents must have enough rocks to help you invest in one…so consider buying theirs…you can get laptop, 4 year insurance against ANY LOSS or DAMAGE, immediate assistance 24/7, drop off & loaners, etc. Think about that over the 4 year life at carolina…probably a good deal.</p></li>
<li><p>Buy a different laptop…I got a nice sony vaio which i take to carolina on my visits and it works wonderfully, cheaper than the think pad but i had luxury of no specs to worry about. Oh yeah, last I heard they don’t want vista so getting a new laptop without is not easy. they may be set up now to support. Last summer the laptops were XP.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t buy laptop and bring your desktop. There are still plenty of computers areound campus to use–in the union, library etc. So much communication now between faculty/students and each other is email/blackboard/facebook etc. you will most likely want check it throughout the day.</p></li>
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<p>You can get Vista on the laptops now but not many people have actually updated.</p>

<p>I’ve been doing a little experiment where I haven’t been bringing my laptop to class and it’s been working out nicely. However, a laptop is nice to have when say, I want to do homework with a friend in the lounge or something. I’ve also heard of teachers requiring students to bring laptops to class.</p>

<p>whoa wait are you seroius? I’ll be goin to uncch this fall and i’ve been trying to figure out if unc would be alright with vista since pretty much 120129% of the laptops today come WITH vista… i kinda hope they do switch to the newer os for convenience sake… I’m planning on getting a sony vaio fz so you think they’d be able to downgrade it to XP without..breaking anything? Answer, anyone?</p>

<p>I know several of the computer companies will built your computer with XP instead of Vista if you want. Dell does for sure, and I have heard others do also. You just need to check with your manufacture and see what they can do for you. Don’t just assume you can not get XP because there isn’t one in the store!</p>

<p>UNC is in the process switching to Vista and Office 2007 for all the laptops they support. I don’t think this will be an issue by fall semester.</p>

<p>YES, thank you! (just out of curoiusity, how did you even find out about that? I’ve looked everywhere for any hints but to no avail..)</p>

<p>btw, unc-ch also requires that the laptop be able to read/write CDs and play DVDs… the configuration on the laptop that I’m set for has this: “DVD±R DL / DVD±RW / DVD-RAM Drive” I’m not exactly optical drive-savvy, so would anyone know if this would be able to burn CDs? Thanks again!</p>

<p>Someone raised the question at Scholarship Day last Friday.</p>