<p>Any advice on laptop for engineering student ? Also, where to buy?</p>
<p>Ask your engineering department.</p>
<p>All I know from our limited tours of engineering programs is that they use PCs and not Macs. I know that in general, it’s not recommended to take a very expensive computer to college (college computers travel and they take a beating… you don’t want a computer you could never hope to replace if something were to happen to it.) </p>
<p>All in all though, I agree with above that you should ask your engineering department.</p>
<p>And there might be a discount through your department or school. My daughter is getting a laptop as a gift, and we’re waiting until she gets the school recommendation. The school often sends me ads/discounts (because I bought some things through the bookstore) but I’m not sure which one she should get so we’re waiting.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>
In general…</p>
<p>Your university might surprise you! My engineering department uses PCs, MACs, and Linux. The computer programmers use a mix between PC and MAC with Linux being a rarity. </p>
<p>Ask your engineering department. Best thing you should do. Listen to them first. My engineering department has a laptop requirement that they push for their students to have. </p>
<p>Check out the discounts. Some universities hand out nice discounts that can make buying from them a big plus. Also check to see if they have program bundles and the like. </p>
<p>The SEAS students at Columbia use a mix of PCs and Macs, so I don’t think it’s automatic that you have to bring a Mac.</p>
<p>I agree that you shouldn’t buy an overpriced machine, but “very expensive” is subjective. Also, if you have appropriate insurance (perhaps renters or maybe under your homeowners’ plan) you can get assistance replacing it if something happens. I’m not saying buy a $3,000 machine, but getting a MacBook can be feasible with insurance and AppleCare.</p>
<p>I also agree - check out if your university has discounts. Many universities have agreements with both Apple and Dell, and sometimes with other vendors.</p>
<p>As others have said, check with the department or school. I know that VT has very strict requirements. Also, check to see whether the engineering department has computer labs available. They may have banks of PCs and/or Macs, which have the required engineering software. If the computer lab is easily accessible, then the student can get by with a smaller, less powerful laptop to do word processing, spreadsheets and presentations and use the school’s computers for more complicated homework.</p>
<p>At Clemson, Mac’s and PC’s are fine for engineering. There is some software that only works on Windows, but Mac’s can dual boot via boot camp. (I had a Mac and I was fine)</p>
<p>Thank you all for your input! Very helpful and RIT did have recommendations!</p>