<p>So I'm going to college, specifically for a math major, and I really need to get a new computer (my old one was a bargain computer bought 3ish years ago) and I don't really know what I should get.</p>
<p>A little bit about what I use my computer for, I surf the internet, check emails, use office programs (word, excel, etc.), listen to music, do basic photo storage/editing, use music notation software, and occasionally watch a movie. I do very little gaming and the videos are usually either youtube or netflix so graphics aren't that important. I know that I'm going to have to use some technical programs during my classes (Maple, Matlab, Mathematica, etc.), but I've heard that these aren't too bad on computers.</p>
<p>I've been leaning towards a mac as the more I use them the more I love them, as well as their innate virus resistance, but I don't know beyond that, and I'm not set upon a Mac. Among the macs, I don't know if an Air would be strong enough or not, or if the cd/dvd drive in the non retina Pro outweighs the power/screen of the newer retinas when you can buy an external one fairly cheaply.</p>
<p>Does your college have any recommendations or deals? That is where you should start. The primary benefit is: If you have problems, then can help you. Also, all the school’s software (if any) should have no problem working on the computer.</p>
<p>Not really, they say that macs and pcs both work, they just have some general hardware recommendations, mainly like minimum 4 gb ram, and that kind of thing. And I believe they have deals for a lot of the major brands.</p>
<p>Any new modern computer should be fine for what you’re going to use it for. Get whatever you like (and can afford). If you prefer Macs, get the Air. It should be fine.</p>
<p>Since you said you do photo editing and use some music related software I would go with the MacBook Pro. When I bought mine it was basically the same price (with the promotions) as the air and it has a little more horsepower and I had to have the CD drive.</p>