<p>This may seem like a silly question to some, but I'm about to drop quite a bit of money on a computer for my daughter's graduation gift and was wanting some feedback beforehand.</p>
<p>Do most Cornell students use Mac or PC? Everything we have and use are pc's, but someone told me that at the larger universities a Mac would be better. She is majoring in biology (so probably won't need anything fancy in the graphic department), but I just want to get her a good solid computer that will do everything she would need at Cornell. I'm leaning pc since that is what she has always used and has worked fine so far.</p>
<p>I just don't want to spend a lot of money to have her get there and tell me that a Mac would have been much better......</p>
<p>Most people use Macs here, but it shouldn’t matter at all in her case. Just get the computer that best suits her needs (and presumably not go into disrepair rapidly).</p>
<p>Get her the computer that she prefers. She will be using it for 4 years and any extra money spent on a Mac (assuming it is more) will be well-spent if she has a specific preference for it. If she doesn’t, then get her a PC. There seem to be lot of Mac users, which is nice when there is a problem with it (or she needs to borrow a charger like my daughter has) because a lot of students are familiar with it. My daughter wanted the Mac - and we are a family of PC users and she is very happy with it.</p>
<p>I’m in engineering (where computer actually matters), and I use a Mac. I don’t regret it a single bit, and in fact, I have windows loaded onto my mac via bootcamp anyways. Just like Islander4 mentioned, if you walk around the library, you’ll find that the majority uses a Mac. roughly 3:1 ratio.</p>
<p>But PC is definitely a fine choice as well. Unless you’re planning a surprise for your daughter, I think it’s best to ask her for preference. </p>
<p>If she ever decides on a Mac, make sure you wait until they release the new model this summer!</p>
<p>We have bought all of our Macs from the Cornell book store. Their discount is better than Apple’s education discount. The book store also run specials around the graduation week. Our kids have iPhone and iPad, so with Mac is just seamless. I used to be on the phone with my kids whenever they had a problem with their pcs, but not since they have macs.</p>
<p>Most people have macs here. I had a pc before, but purchased a mac last summer. It was the best purchase I have made recently; I am absolutely in love with it. Not only is it simpler to use, but runs quite a bit more efficiently.</p>
<p>I know that there is a pretty big price difference in the mac and pc…so if I do end up getting her a good pc instead of a mac, will she have any problems? There won’t be any classes that only use mac software or anything like that where she would have problems if she gets a pc instead? I still haven’t made up my mind, but just making sure there won’t be any issues other than preference if I get a pc instead.</p>
<p>They get additional discount. Call them up, that’s what I would normally do. I have bought 6 Macs from them. The catch here is it would go to Cornell first then they ship it to you. I think I am going to wait for D2 to show up to Cornell before I place an order for her.</p>
<p>I also purchase all electronics on Amex because you get one year warranty.</p>
<p>I am a bio major about to graduate, and I’ve gotten through comfortably with a PC. I got it because that’s what I knew best from growing up. I can think of at least one time for sure, and perhaps twice, where I have used some software for a bio class that wasn’t available for mac. obviously you could put windows on your mac, or go to the library, so it’s not a huge deal, but there’s your info…</p>
<p>Again, I would go with her particular preference. My daughter really had her heart set on a Mac and was willing to use her graduation money to pay the difference between the PC and the Mac. A PC would have been very functional for her needs but she uses the computer so much that we did end up buying the Mac and she absolutely loves it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. I ended up going with a good pc. I really wanted to look at and compare it to a Mac since we have never owned one. However, there was no place that has or sells Mac within over a two hour drive from me (i know that sounds crazy, but its true, very rural area). I guess that’s why pc is so much more common here. She graduates Friday and I wanted to be able to give it to her that night…so pc was my only option in that short of a time frame. I think she will like it and do fine with it. But we might look at a mac again in a couple of years. It sounds like she would like it as well. Thanks again for the input.</p>