<p>Because I have no computer knowledge whatsoever, (>.<) I was wondering which laptop is better for college (like Mac, Dell, Toshiba, HP, etc.) I have no idea what brand I want for college and some input would be VERY helpful. Thanx.</p>
<p>*I know that it depends on the major, but I just want to know how the different brands stack up against each other (their pros/cons).</p>
<p>toshiba would be the best of windows based laptops.... other than that, mac... stay away from dell...</p>
<p>You forgot one: Shun Acers like the plague.</p>
<p>"stay away from dell..."</p>
<p>This person obviously doesnt know what they are talkin about. Dell provides very nice products for an affordable price.</p>
<p>Dell has about the worst customer service known to man kind, and their computers do not hold up very well. A lot of people I know have Dells. Nearly every single one of them has had some major computer problems.
I have an HP. My dad swears by them, so that's what he bought me. Thus far, he has never had a problem with his HP laptops, and he's been buying them (and Compaq) for years. I'm very happy with mine</p>
<p>I mainly use IBMs but I also have a Dell and haven't had any problems with this one. I broke my old Dell, but that was my own fault for using a bad power adapter. I don't blame them for that.</p>
<p>I'd suggest contacting the college you're going to attend & ask them. They often have special deals that are very good for their students. That way, you'll also have classmates with similar computers, which is especially helpful if you have problems with yours, so they can help you. We're not planning on purchasing any computer for our kid until he knows which school he'll be attending & what they recommend.</p>
<p>That's funny, because I group dell in the same catagory as HP and Compaq. That being bottom of the barrell low quality budget computers.</p>
<p>(Get a mac! ;) )</p>
<p>i know nothing about computers. What is the difference between macs and window computers? are the macs better? are they worse?</p>
<p>^bump </p>
<p>I have absolutely no idea what macs are like, because I have never used one.
Are they easy to use?(for a first time user, i mean)
Do they have any cons?</p>
<p>As for PCs, are Windows really easily hacked into in college?</p>
<p>I'm partial obviously, but in simple terms (at least in my experience), macs just work, while it's questionable if PCs are going to. The PC I used to use was great for the first ~4 months, but after that it needed constant babying to protect it form spyware, random programs installing themselves, etc. The mac I have now just basically does what I want it to do, when I want it to do it (and it's about 2 1/2 years old). The main area macs lag behind PCs in is gaming, so if that's your thing, then a mac probably isn't for you. For a first time user, macs are the epitome of "plug and play" simplicity--you'd be fine with it.</p>
<p>Like I said, if you want help from friendly souls on campus, be sure to check with your college BEFORE purchasing anything. You'll be much more likely to get help from folks if you buy what the college recommends. In general, MACs cost substantially more than similar PCs & most folks are good at one type of system or the other. The folks I know generally aren't good at fixing both types of systems, so it's important to KNOW which one your school prefers (most other students will tend to get that type of system as well).</p>
<p>Macs are easier to use if your not already a windows person. If you are starting from scratch macs are ten time easier to learn than windows. I don't know to much about macs, I grew up with linux dos, and windows; when I recently started toying with macs they are complretely different, but much simpler and would be easier to learn from scratch.</p>
<p>Theiir only cons I know of are price, they don't use low quality parts like dell, HP, and compaq do, plus there isn't and comptetion so they are pricey.</p>
<p>The other con is a lack of available software. Now there is a lot more available on mac and depending on what you do you could easily find the software you need for a mac. In the old days there was hardly anything that you could use on a mac, but that has changed. There are still many more options for windows users though</p>
<p>I currently have a powerbook and its easier to use and more efficient than a PC, and it doesnt have spyware, viruses, etc. And I havent once had a problem with it. Don't fear the mac.</p>
<p>"i know nothing about computers. What is the difference between macs and window computers? are the macs better? are they worse?"</p>
<p>It depends on what you mean by better. They are different.</p>
<p>Macs are mroe stable and have better hardware. They were origannly designed better and the operating system is so much much better and more stable. I'M A PC USER SO DON'T THINK I'm JUST SOME MAC NUTHUGGER BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A MAC OR EVEN LIKE THEM.</p>
<p>Back when gates was starting microsoft and JOBs was starting apple, gates a a better businesssman that is they PC's became dominant.</p>
<p>while jobs was busy making a good product and perfecting it, gates was out making business deals, getting companies to write software and manufacturers to make hardware for his operating system. </p>
<p>Jobs was busy perfecting his computers, but didn't have anybody else making oftware or equipent.</p>
<p>The results were PC's much lower quality and buggy as **** operating system, with hardware made by hundreds of different companies which caused compatability isues at times, but there was tons of software available to use on the computers</p>
<p>MAcs or apples at the time were much better computers built solid with better operating system, but there was no software available to use on them.</p>
<p>So when people went to the store for a computer (speciality store back in those days) there was one tiny little section of apple software and about 10 times more IBM (PC) sofware. So obvously people bought the PC's and that is how microsoft won and PC's became the dominant personal computer.</p>
<p>Again I want to enphasise that I am not some tree hugging mac user giving biased info. I am typing this from a computer I built myself with windows XP (and Linux with a LILO boot). So if anything my information would be biased towards PC even though I was rather negative about them.</p>
<p>I don't like macs and would never buy one and would sell it if I won it in a raffle.</p>
<p>My D. has MAC laptop and loves it! My son's school furnishes IBM thinkpads and he hates it. He has a Dell desktop that he likes very well. Don't know about the other IBM products, but certainly not impressed with the thinkpad model. MACs are extremely easy to use, but sometimes depending on your school, programs may not work with them if school is set up for PC use only.</p>
<p>Well, here's another input. A lot of the issues regarding viruses, malware, etc. is a result of "user error."</p>
<p>Some causes include using illegitimately obtained software, visiting malicious or off color websites, and opening email attachments or downloading files without discretion. Or they happen because of people you know who can't keep their systems clean or they're just messing with you. Therefore it's always a good idea to have protection (anitvirus, firewall, malware removal). :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Computer buying decisions really don't have much to do with your major either unless it happens to be computer science or the likes. I would stick with whatever you're using now unless you have the time to tinker around with stuff.</p>
<p>And umm.. to anyone that says that Macs are easier to use, please provide an example. I could never see how that is the case.</p>
<p>Well, of course most viruses are a result of ignorance. I have never had a virus that I didn't intentionally put there (I was a nerdy little kid who thought it was fun to infect my own computer with a virus just to fix it, i did that several times as a child). Anyway all you need is common sense and you will never get a virus, I went for years without even having a virus scanner, and at the time did more downloading than most people ever will, never got a virus, it's common sense.</p>
<p>Of course some things have changed and I do have a virus scanner in the background now, but have never needed it once</p>
<p>Don't get a dell. You see, from experience (not isolated cases either), dells just suck. And for one main reason, their customer service is crap. I've heard really good things about Toshiba. Personally, I'm making the switch to Mac for college (either a macbook pro or a powerbook), but if you stick with windows, make sure the company isn't just going to leave you out to dry. Dell just seems to have the attitude, you bought it, it's your own freaking problem.</p>
<p>Just to add:</p>
<p>Macs really are easier to use. But if your a windows user, and have only used windows, it takes an adjustment. But as one of my friend's says, Once you go mac, you won't go back</p>