<p>ive never owned a laptop. i never really needed one when i was in highschool, now that im going to college, im on the hunt for the perfect laptop. I asked my friends, and they told me many things, but with the college special sale going on at apple, majority said "get a macbook pro". i dunno, its 12k. i mean thats a lot of money for a piece of nicely designed plate that can type away essays, take notes and do some reseach... but u can do that with a 300 dollar laptop. is it just me that think macbooks are overated? they look totally cool, ill give them that. i heard they never crash, no need to worry about viruses, and it has long shelf life. But does a college student really need a highpowered laptop like macbook pros? ive been tempted to buy one because it can run starcraft 2, but i dont think im going to be gaming once college starts.</p>
<p>with so many other options im just sick of hearing just one answer. "get a macbook pro". it just dosnt sound reasonable to me. what do u guys think? what are some other options? for some of you who already own a macbook pro, are they worth the money? why?</p>
<p>i just dont know much about computers in general and i want to find a reasonable laptop that will work for me. thanks for the help :D</p>
<p>Generally, one should get what fits him at a price he thinks is reasonable.</p>
<p>As for Macbooks Pro, they are really great piece of technology. If you are concerned about the price, notice that while basic Macbook Pro 13" normally costs $1199, as a student, you get a $100 discount, plus an iPod Touch 8GB (worth $199) and a printer ($99). You can either keep them or sell them, which would make MBP even cheaper.</p>
<p>It will probably serve you well during your 4 years of college or perhaps a bit longer. But there are some other great machines out there as well. Do not follow anyones advice blindly, just do your own research and buy whatever you want.</p>
<p>I too would say get a MacBook Pro. Yes, it is costly at about $1100 (see above), and it is true that you can buy a laptop for as little as $300. But, you are going to use this machine for at least 4 years of college so you want something as trouble-fee and durable as possible. For me, the MB Pro fits that bill, along with the Mac OSX operating system and other programs that come on that machine.</p>
<p>If you want to spend less, I think that you will find that you need to spend about $600 for a good-quality laptop running Windows 7. Those $300-$400 machines seem cheap to me and I would not trust them to get me through a college career.</p>
<p>First of all, anything can crash. A human is flawed. A human wrote the OS. Therefore the OS is flawed. By that I mean anything can crash. It doesn’t happen often because Apple locks it up tight. Imagine that OSX is a jail cell and you’re given the basic utilities to survive. This can be good and bad. To the average user who doesn’t give a care in the world about computers/tech and just wants to write essays/email/etc, this is good. It is basically idiot proof.</p>
<p>Second, any machine running any OS can get a virus. That is why Apple did not add Flash support to the iPad. The MBP does support flash mainly because it was built with flash in mind. Remember, you don’t need to run an executable file to get a virus. You can get them through flash/java. </p>
<p>Finally, I would say the MBP is perfect for you if you meet any of the “requirements” below</p>
<p>a)you’re willing to spend more than the usual
b)you are not computer literate.
c)you like the color white</p>
<p>Do not forget that you would have to pay for extra software.
No I’m not a Windows fanboy, I’m a Linux.</p>
<p>I think you mean “Twelve Hundred”. 12k = $12,000. Even Apple isn’t that expensive.</p>
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<p>Truthfully, nope. I’ve said across various threads that the average student can get an i3 instead of an i7 with Intel GMA graphics and not notice a performance decrease from an i7 and a 310M. In fact, the only time you should get anything better than an i3 and integrated graphics is if you do CAD, media editing, engineering, or gaming. For your average multitasking/homework/videos/web surfing applications, an i3 with integrated graphics will be more than enough.</p>
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<p>Tell that to the PowerPC G5 running OS X that always crashed on me in Photoshop or Indesign. </p>
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<p>G0dzilla nailed it up there.</p>
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<p>People who complain about their laptops breaking early simply abuse/overestimate the abilities of their laptops and blame it on the manufacturer instead of themselves. Don’t download shady files or go to seedy sites, protect your harddrives from shock-inducing behavior, and instead of installing the newest and greatest programs, install period-specific programs instead. I’ve a five year old Compaq (the lowest end possible laptop from HP) with Windows XP that’s still alive and kicking today.</p>
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<p>There are cheaper PC-based laptops that can run Starcraft 2/have similar specs to the MBP yet are hundreds cheaper.</p>
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<p>For non gaming purposes, Acer and Asus make some very great thin+light laptops using CULV Core 2 Duos or i3s that use very little power and boast huge battery lives (longer than the MBPs). For gaming, Asus and HP make some great general purpose laptops under the price of the MBP that can handle SC2. If you feel a bit techy, you can also simply buy an older laptop and run Ubuntu on it. Linux uses the same architecture as Mac OS X, but is free and you don’t have to buy a ridiculously priced machine to get basically the same operating system.</p>
<p>And in short, I’d only get the MacBook Pro if you:</p>
<p>-Have money to burn
-Are not familiar/knowledgeable with computers
-Prefer the “fashion statement” (although I’d rather invest in a J Crew shopping spree here than a MBP)
-Are Steve Jobs.</p>
<p>I’m a PC Guy and have built and rebuilt many of them for myself and others. But we bought a MacBook Pro for my S last year because they are so dependable. Students should be spending their time studying or enjoying college life not maintaining a computer. To me it was worth every cent…</p>
I see no deductive validity in this statement, though all three parts are true.</p>
<p>As for the Macbook Pro, I’d say it’s an excellent laptop, but it is not the only excellent laptop. There are cheaper options that will also be perfectly functional and likely just as satisfactory.</p>
<p>I simply do virus scans and defrag (before I got a SSD) once a month while I’m asleep, and (before I got an SSD) be sure that I don’t rock or otherwise introduce shock to my laptop while using it.</p>
<p>I doubt I’ll ever be able to study while I’m sleeping, and making sure I don’t treat my laptop like a textbook isn’t really time wasted either.</p>
<p>Macbooks and any macintosh product for that matter is best suited for individuals that are extremely incompetent when it comes to any piece of technology. Steve Jobs has done a good job by appealing to the <em>higher prices = better product</em> idea that surrounds the modern day marketplace. He also has a grand army of blind followers that beileve as though Macs do not get viruses. It’s plain and simple, if you were a virus creator, would you want to target the sorority girl who only uses her computer for Skype and note taking, or the entire business running on Windows 7? The masses use Windows, therefore virus creators attack the masses.</p>
<p>So, the question really is do you enjoy limited functionality of an overpriced <em>pretty</em> product, or a comfortably priced machine that will dominate anything with an apple logo on it? </p>
<p>^ This is ridiculous. Have you ever even owned a Mac? Come back and contribute when you know what you’re talking about. Blind stereotypes are not what the OP was asking for.</p>
<p>^^ I got one for graduation from my grandparents (who barely know how to operate a television). Tottaly swapped it out for an XPS. Enjoy your overpriced web surfing device.</p>
<p>More Steve Jobs Apple television commercial zombies are welcome to figure out why PCs are chosen for gaming (Direct X 11 anyone?) over Macs (OMG I CAN USE A WEBCAM!).</p>
<p>Regardless of the torches you guys may hold for your shiny silver boxes, at the end of the day, Macs aren’t really for power users. Plain and simple. But as the OP is probably like he said, notes and research, there’s no point in buying a 1200 dollar Macbook. That 1200 could be better spent on enjoying your freshman year on cab rides home.</p>
<p>It’s obvious that avid gamers will pick PC since it allows them to upgrade it as often as they want, which is essential for some. Plus, Windows is more common, so it’s clear that most games are designed to run specifically on this OS. I’m certainly not one of gamers, though. MBP 13" is more than powerful enough for me. In addition to that it has an amazing battery life, excellent OS, is great for media and has several simple, but extremely useful features (backlit keyboard, Multi-Touch and battery indicator lights, among others). Also, it’s really durable. Not to mention Apple’s outstanding costumer service. </p>
<p>I can see why some people prefer PCs. However, if you want to argue with Mac-users try to use arguments for PC instead of calling us “zombies”, “blind followers” or saying we are incompetent when it comes to technology. Frankly, I can’t see why someone competent would not pick simpler and better alternative.</p>
<p>Because there are laptops with similar specs but with better battery life for hundreds less? And if you need a UNIX-based OS still, just put Ubuntu or any other Linux distro on there for free.</p>
<p>No, there are not. RAM, Hard Drive, processor - it’s not all I care about. I just want it to be good enough. No, I - and for that matter, most of people - do not plan to do some very advanced work, which requires an outstanding machine. I want my backlit keyboard and Multi-Touch. I want simple and reliable software. The problem is you use the world “similar”, while I do not want to give up on any of these things. Plus, when it comes to money, me and probably most people here are college students, so we are talking about Back to School offer, which means a discount as well as iPod Touch and a printer for free. There is simply no other PC, which offers as much for a similar price.
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<p>Really? As someone said in this thread, we are looking for something simple. I want to open the box with my computer and use it. Instead you are offering more complications.</p>
<p>See when i say zombies i mean people who constantly reiterate common Apple features. OMG YOUR LAPTOP HAS A BACKLIT KEYBOARD? NO WAY WINDOWS WOULD NEVER HAVE A LAPTOP WITH THAT…</p>
<p>Kvasek, when i say incompetent i mean people that can <em>Open the box with their computers and use them</em>. Really, how difficult is it for you to open up Microsoft Word and type your notes? You are trying to justify something that DOES NOT MAKE SENSE… </p>
<p>WEBCAM? = SKYPE WINDOWS?
NOTES? MICROSOFT WORD?</p>
<p>Apple users= those too stupid to realize that the email message that features a russian bride wanting your hand in marriage is a VIRUS and will blame Windows for it. </p>
<p>:] </p>
<p>Oh, and word to the wise. You lose all credibility when you try to bring up price being a better point in a Mac. I’m done though, its pointless arguing with the kind of people that take advice from Best Buy salesmen.</p>
<p>Asus U35/U45JC. i3 w/ 4GB DDR3-1066, G310M with Intel HD4500 GMA via Optimus, and 500GB 5400RPM HDD. Did I also mention longer batter life and multi-touch pad? Oh, and at $819 too.</p>
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<p>The cheapest MBP is the 13" at $1499. An 8GB iPod Touch retails for $199. That means the printer has to cost at least $481 to match the price of the Asus laptop.</p>
<p>Guys this isn’t a Windows Vs Mac war or place to discuss about gaming. The choice between a Mac and a Windows based computer depends on the person who is buying it. </p>
<p>If he/she wants it to work out of the box, get a Mac. Simple does not necessarily mean bad. I have used both and would say if you wanted to game a lot, get a Desktop PC. Much easier to change parts for new games.</p>
<p>xSidx1337x,
You really need to open your eyes. The only true way to achieve nirvana is to embrace it all. It is like the way of the jedi. If one was able to learn both the powers of the jedi and the sith and keep a good balance he/she is the ultimate jedi master. </p>
<p>Your hate should not be at Apple because they want to do things differently. So what if they reiterate Apple features? They bought it and they should enjoy it. </p>
<p>Too stupid?
You should know that Google has completely dumped Windows for OSX.</p>
<p>OP:
I think you should ignore these other guys. You buy what you feel comfortable using.</p>