<p>What kind of laptops does everyone have/going to get for next year? I'm trying to figure out which laptop would be a good one to get, specifically the size of the screen.</p>
<p>I believe it may depend on the courses that will be taken. My daughter is going into the Business School and they have very specific recommendations. One of the preferred brands is Dell. If you go to dell.com, click on laptops for educational purposes, select USC as your school, and enter a USC email address (ending in .edu), you'll see preferred bundles that the school endorses and that you can buy at a discount. I have been told that USC is working to make its system "Vista" friendly by the Fall (it is not now - security-wise), so I have been advised to get the Windows XP operating system.</p>
<p>I am glad that you brought up this subject. My daughter is majoring in biology. She has been asking for a mac book. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated. We have only had dell in the past, and we have always been please, but that is not what she is requesting.</p>
<p>If your D wants a MAC. Go for it. What most people don't know is the application software, such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, are completely transferable between operating systems. I have used a MAC in windows centric environment for 20 years without much in the way of problems (other than IT not liking you because it never has anything to fix to ensure its power position). </p>
<p>If you acquire a new MAC, one option to cover all bases is to acquire BootCamp from Apple (free), then to install Windows XP Sp2 on the MAC (either free through USC IT or inexpensive to purchase through USC book store). Then your D would have both worlds. She can operate in MAC OSX for most of her computing and she could reboot into Windows if needed for special programs for specific courses such as the b-school.</p>
<p>Here are some suggestions for software for MacBook. If you get MacBook Pro, then you don't need the listed adapter, it comes with it.</p>
<p>*Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adapter $17.10 (Ed price)
*Quicktime Pro 7 $29.99 (Ed Price)
*Essential musts to have. Adapter allows connection to in-class LCD projectors or large screen in the desktop set up. QuickTime Pro allows you to save QuickTime files from the Internet, do basic editing, and file export.</p>
<p>QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback $19.99 (Ed price)
Allows QuickTime to play MPEG-2 files regardless of source</p>
<p>Flip4Mac WMV Studio $49.00
Utility that works seamlessly to view and save in Windows Media format. Great for exporting files to WMV format for view by Windows Media Player</p>
<p>iWork 2006 $49.00 (Ed Price) (Keynote and Pages)
Includes Keynote, the best presentation production package. And Pages, a Microsoft Word option</p>
<p>Final Cut Express $149.00 (Ed price)
The best darned video editing program for the price!!!</p>
<p>Sound Studio $79.95
Outstanding sound recording and editing studio!!</p>
<p>WireTap Pro $19.00
Capture audio</p>
<p>SnapZ Pro $69.99
Screen capture including video capture</p>
<p>Microsoft Office MAC 25.00 to 125.00 depending on book store price
May also be available from USC IT for free or reduced price.</p>