<p>I'm an incoming freshman in the LSA for the next Fall trimester looking to go into physics and calculus right away and I'm trying to decide whether to buy a PC or Mac for my laptop. I've been a PC guy my entire life, although I've used Mac's at school. However, I hear that a Mac is better for U-Mich because it "has more to offer for a college student", at least thats how its been put to me in most cases from the forums and threads I've read through. I'm not afraid to switch to a Mac if this holds true, but I'd like more facts to back up the argument rather than just "it's better" or "it's more practical". Can anyone give me some examples as to why they're better? Better yet can anyone support the fact here that Macs are better at U-M? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>Both are equally supported by the university. Go with whatever you're most comfortable with. If you've used a Mac and weren't really blown away by it, it's probably not worth switching.</p>
<p>There is nothing that gives Mac "more to offer a college student." The school has PCs and Macs everywhere. They both pretty much run the same software.</p>
<p>I know that Math software like Matlab runs on a Mac, I don't know if there is other hard-core math software that would only run on a PC.</p>
<p>Bottom line, if you have been using a PC and that is what you like, there is no reason to go out and spend the extra money for a Mac.</p>
<p>If you're interested in a Mac and money is no object, then go for it. You can install Windows and then select which operating system you would like to boot into, so you have your choice if you go that route.</p>
<p>I used a PC for the first semester. I'm using a Mac now.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no difference at all.</p>
<p>Macs look nice and the OS is easy to use, but if you have been using a PC and like it, then there's really no one "amazing" reason to switch. One major drawback is that MS Office is painfully, horribly slow on macs.</p>
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One major drawback is that MS Office is painfully, horribly slow on macs.
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<p>Soo true. But it's pretty slow on PCs too. I wonder if there are alternatives to MS Office.</p>
<p>Office 2004 is very slow on my mac, but office 2007 is pretty fast on my vista pc.</p>
<p>www:</a> OpenOffice.org - The Free and Open Productivity Suite</p>
<p>If you do go with MS Office, don't get Office 2007, it's an abomination.</p>
<p>Oh god, I hired a guy to restore my computer after a hard drive failure. He put Office 2007 on my machine, like as a personal favor that he was giving me this delightfully up-to-date software. Some gift! I hate it! I want my old Office back!!</p>
<p>minitab cant run on mac. not recommended for engineers and stats major</p>
<p>i'm thinking about a tablet pc. Anyone have experience/care to comment.</p>
<p>My Office 07 on my Penryn Macbook Pro runs pretty fast.</p>
<p>I think office 2007 is alright, except that 2003 is much better. </p>
<p>Personally, I would get a pc rather than a mac cause there MAY be some software that is not mac-friendly. Nowadays there arent many but you can never be too sure. But from what i hear (i live in ann arbor), people with macs don't have that many problems. You can always use bootcamp on mac to get xp or vista on it so I would say go with w.e you want.</p>
<p>alot of kids have macs and alot of the school computers are macs but either is fine. Macs are just nicer quality but they tend to get dirty easier too especially the white ones. Dell's are really heavy (i have one) and alot of them tend to have minor problems so I would recommend a Mac</p>