<p>I've narrowed it down to either a 13" MacBook Pro or a 14" Dell Latitude E6140. I need it for college, word, PowerPoint, just surfing the web.<br>
If I got the MacBook i would probably get Microsoft office installed.<br>
Any thoughts on which one is better?</p>
<p>You mean Apple vs. Dell. And you don’t need either of them. Internet and word processing don’t warrant a $1000+ price tag. Get something around $500. Check this deal out for a laptop that is more than enough to suit your needs, for under 500. [DELL</a> EPP INSPIRON 15 i3-330M,4GB,500GB,9Cell,Webcam… $490shipped +taxes - SlickDeals.net Forums](<a href=“http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=975828&t=2098178]DELL”>http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=975828&t=2098178)</p>
<p>Agreed with theReach; your needs are very basic and shouldn’t warrant a laptop that costs over $500. At that price point, check out some Toshiba Satellite laptops.</p>
<p>Get a windows machine. Office for Mac is annoying and not always compatible(small incompatibility with formats) with regular office.</p>
<p>office for mac sucks, but otherwise macs are really reliable. if price isn’t a concern and you want something that’ll last long, get a mac which would probably outlive your 4 years of college. then again, keep in mind that excel for mac sucks, so if you’re gonna major in something that requires a lot of excel like econ you could look into a pc.
if you’re gonna get a pc, i’d say don’t get a dell but get a lenovo or a sony.</p>
<p>A Mac is going to outlast your 4 years in college, and therefore, I see as a better buy than a $500 Dell Inspiron. I had a Dell Inspiron for 3 years, and was honestly the worst computer I’ve ever used. To begin with, it was cheaper than a Mac, but I spent so much money on repairs in those 3 years, that the Mac ended up being way cheaper. I don’t recommend them, so please, don’t go there.</p>
<p>Cheap laptop + Linux = happy. I got my $300 Dell laptop last year. It still runs both Linux Mint and Windows 7 well. No need to waste money on awful Macs.</p>
<p>Learn to take care of your computers people.</p>
<p>Agreed with TheJuanSoto. A lot of failures I’ve seen in laptops are HDD-related or cooling-related issues. The same people I see with those issues are ones who like to rock/shake their laptop (shock damage to HDD), rock the desk it’s on (more shock damage), or walk around with their laptops still on (so much shock to the HDD here). Furthermore, most people aren’t aware where their exhaust/intake ports are, and usually either block the ports unknowingly and/or refuse to clean dust out of the ports. This is, of course, not counting the massive amount of spyware/viruses people get. It’s not that hard to not click on shady links, not download files you aren’t 100% sure of the contents, and otherwise practice safe internet habits.</p>
<p>It’s extremely simple to maintain laptops, but most people end up messing their machines up with user error and blame the manufacturer for it.</p>
<p>Extending r31ncarnat3d’s argument, those people also bloat their computer with crapware.</p>
<p>I suspect that you will end up more productive with the MacBook Pro (i.e. spend less time fooling around with figuring out how to make it work), and the total cost of ownership over several years will justify the higher original price. We just bought our daughter a MacBook Pro 13" and it is incredibly well-made, with great features such as backlit keys, magnetically-attached power adapter, and a multi-touch glass trackpad. The screen resolution/color/contrast is outstanding. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that MS-Office for Mac is ‘crap’, but it could use some updating. My understanding is that the update will arrive next year. </p>
<p>The Dell (or similar) will get the job done for the lowest initial cost, but I think that you will find yourself happier with the MacBook.</p>
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<p>I have observed that MBP owners tend to be LESS productive, since they always have an urge to sit in a Starbucks all day and discuss the cinematography of obscure French films. :)</p>
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<p>Sorry, but I don’t quite understand why this makes Macs unique or more productive. Many laptops now have a multi-touch trackpad, but I’m not quite sure what makes glass better than metal or even plastic on a trackpad. I also don’t see the point in backlit keys or magnetic power adapters.</p>
<p>If you buy a Dell, make sure you purchase the Complete Care/On-Site Repair Coverage.
Based on my experience, you will need it.</p>
<p>Macs are more durable than Dells. The OS is arguably better, but that’s an opinion.</p>
<p>And lol @ the guy with Linux. Good luck selling that to a non-computer geek.</p>
<p>Yes because teaching people about better alternatives is bad. Especially when it is easier than it sounds. At least Linux actually has a redeeming quality, unlike Macs.</p>
<p>Yes, TheJuanSoto, nothing sells your point like derision. In my experience, Linux is not as user-friendly for non-CS people as CS people think it is. </p>
<p>I’d just like to say that I have a lovely HP laptop, and it just almost crashed (I am not kidding here) while I was trying to type this. I have a chance to get a new computer and leave this one at home, and I’m getting a Mac. I like the OS better and it’s way easier for me to troubleshoot by myself.</p>
<p>Dude, get the Mac. Its sweet. Its awesome. It will pleasure you in ways you never thought possible ;). And you won’t even need to use protection coz Macs have no viruses.</p>
<p>Linux is too complicated for the average user. Even for someone like myself, who is relatively tech-savvy, I have no interest in Linux. </p>
<p>I, along with the vast majority of consumers, want a computer that is easy to use and allows me accomplish what I want to accomplish easily and quickly. Macs are good at this.</p>
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<p>This exactly. CS people don’t quite realize that Linux is too complicated for the average computer user, and it’s nowhere near as easy-to-use as they seem to think it is.</p>
<p>Anyway, let me just say, I spent 18 years as an avid Windows user, and only used Apples on a rare occasion, back in like 2000. I never thought Windows was necessarily bad, or anything, and I had my issues with it and wrote them off as something that comes with any computer & operating system. But, I have had NO problems what so ever with my Mac & I honestly probably will not buy a Windows computer again because I find that Macs are so much more user-friendly. They are overall easier to use than Windows, and therefore make me more productive, since I can accomplish tasks quicker.</p>
<p>If you do buy the Dell, make sure you get the extended warranty & everything you can. You WILL need it.</p>
<p>I don’t see why you’re convinced you will need the warranty.</p>
<p>I have a Dell, and a lot of people I know have Dells. At least 6 of my friends have them and none of us have ever had an issue.</p>
<p>Especially the Latitude…those are made like bricks.</p>