What laptop do you plan on getting?
I personally am getting a Thinkpad x220 and install 16gb RAM, 500GB SSD and change the screen to an IPS display later on in the year. Thinkpads are cheap, built like tanks and have a fingerprint scanner! Recommend them to anyone, although they do look quite old and boring.
I’m using a Thinkpad too. But from the schools I’ve visited/revisited so far, all of the students use mac
I think most schools can handle both the PC and Mac camps. ChoatieKid was a Mac proponent in BS, has multiple PCs in college. It pays to be ambitechtrous.
I’m probably going to use the one I have right now, since I just got it last year for school anyways.
Be sure to check your school’s technology requirements to see what recommendations or requirements they may have.
Have to give credit to @ChoatieMom and her use of “ambitechtrous.”
Which one? I plan on hackintoshing the Thinkpad because I just like the ‘smoothness’ of OSX but still dual booting Windows and maybe Kali Linux for any arduino projects.
We were a mac family from early on (I had one of the all-in-one SE30s back in the day…not quite the original beige one, but close)…and generally have MBP’d. But last year we made the choice for 7D1 to try a Yoga 910. Great value and gorgeous display/form factor…but has not been the most reliable from an OS/hardware POV. When I get 7D2 a new machine for college this summer, it will most likely be another 13" MBP.
@SevenDad Try and wait for Apple’s new release around Q2; a new cheaper MBA and every new Mac is coming out and will affect prices if you do decide to buy refurb/used. Pre-Retina MBP are the best in my opinion, you can easily upgrade it without Apple’s proprietary ways.
I bought a 12-inch MacBook back in 2016, and it works pretty well. However, I assume you are a big gamer 
. I am not much of a gamer, and the games I do run don’t require much ram. Your computer is STACKED though!
Also, about hackintoshing: is it easy? Does it work smoothly?
I got a Macbook back in 6th grade, and I’m going to keep using it. I’ll probably only buy a new one in the middle of college.
Like @KnightsDude mention it seems like you’re a gamer.
Maybe invest in a Mac, I know that it’s not hardcore gaming material but it can still handle the games suited to it as long as you keep it plugged in. Plus, it’s pretty nice to use too.
Some schools, such as Hotchkiss, actually issue laptops so everyone has the same one. Be sure to check with your school before you buy anything.
im not a gamer at all! if i was, id be blowing my money on a whole pc setup. hackintoshing depends on what device; the x220 is very easy with a great support system on reddit. 16gb because a) rendering for cad and sketchup is faster b) why not
if i were to get apple, id need ports other than usb c. only mac id use would be the preretina macbook pros
macs are easy to carry and use, so I’d recommend a mac. They’re commonly used in different states and countries, and that probably means something. As @HMom16 said, you should check with ur school though. Although a Thinkpad could be good, it’s safest to get what everyone usually gets. It’s really your choice though
The older MacBook Air has ports and is still being sold. Will absolutely support BS needs for 4 years. SwimKid chose it over a pro…even when I tried to convince him otherwise. He loves that thing, but wished he had my MBP retina screen for watching movies.
Macs seldom have issues. I don’t want my kiddo having hardware issues. Too hard to deal with from far away. I’m Team Mac all the way!
What ports do you believe you need? Going forward USB-C will likely be replacing just about everything else, and during the “transition” period you can get adapters from USB-C to just about anything (USB-A, HDMI, etc). I have a MacBook Pro with only USB-C, and I while I have a bunch of those adapters I rarely even use them…
Same. I have a 2015 12-inch MacBook, and it only has one USB-C port. However, I bought all the adapters I need, and I have no regrets. Best of all, the computer is wicked light!
FWIW, I think the pre-retina MBPs are HEAVY. I had one and my younger kid still has hers. I definitely appreciated all the ports and media drive, but man those things weigh a ton.
I’m currently running a Retina MBP (build 12,1…also called "MBP Retina, 13-inch, early 2015) and I like the number of ports it has. 2 USBs, a HDMI, a SD card reader, two Thunderbolt ports. I’ve learned to live without a media drive and stream most things or use an external drive if needed. It doesn’t have the upgradable memory of the pre-Retina series, but I just ponied up and go the 16 GB from the factory. Good enough for my needs.
It is starting to show it’s age, though. That said, I hate that the new MBPs only have one (well, 2, but the same type) stinking port…so you have to get an adaptor or hub to use legacy peripherals. But I’ll probably upgrade eventually to the new MBP…will probably not get Touch Bar unless I need to get get upgraded chip/graphics/memory.
My wife has an Air that I think is fine for what most high school students will use a computer for…but the screen is definitely a notch down on a Retina. If you don’t currently use a Mac or don’t care, I would definitely check out the Lenovo Yogas or the Dell XPS.