<p>For those of you with kids already in a BFA acting program, what kind of computer does your child have? A basic laptop? Do they even use a computer very much? We are thinking of getting our D the computer she needs for college for Christmas. Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Some colleges offer discounts on computers through the school. That’s how we got my son’s laptop (which he used a lot) when he started his BFA program. But of course you have to be accepted and commit to the college first!</p>
<p>Our son has just a Mac laptop. He has been doing fine with it, and did not bring a printer with him. I was going to buy him one, but luckily I didn’t. My daughter (not a theatre major) also sent her printer home with me after a bit - doesn’t need one. Plenty of printers around. Maybe bring a realm of paper, though.</p>
<p>My D has a MacBook Pro. She uses it very much. Very, very much.
But also no printer.
Good luck.</p>
<p>A basic laptop should be fine. All four of my kids have made do at their five different colleges without a printer.</p>
<p>My son has a basic Windows-compatible laptop, which I believe he uses to type papers, update facebook and watch Hulu.</p>
<p>Depends on the school. My daughter goes to Shenandoah and was “given” a Mac Book as part of the program. My son is at The New School and uses a PC.</p>
<p>Smallest MacBook Pro with no frills for my son at Otterbein. He writes short papers often (3-4 times a week, seems like). Did not bring a printer and hasn’t needed one. He is required to keep a journal for his acting class, and I’m pretty sure he said he uses his iPad for that.</p>
<p>are u guys saying a mac is particuarly good choice for college student? not trying to start an argument, we can just use some good advice here. Would a mac be able to communicate in a computery way with his ipad better than say a Dell?</p>
<p>No - I think computer brand is just a personal preference. Basically, everyone is saying a laptop is fine. You don’t need a lot of bells and whistles on your computer as a freshman BFA student.</p>
<p>Is a CD/DVD drive important? My husband is finding the windows 8’s don’t have them but the windows 7 do. The 8’s are smaller and have touch screens so they drop the drives.</p>
<p>I would say a DVD drive is a good idea. Kids don’t watch regular TV much any more, but I believe they do watch DVDs.</p>
<p>I think my kids watch netflix and xfinity online more than DVDs, though they both have televisions and my daughter will watch her dvds using and “old fashioned” dvd player. My son really just uses his laptop to stream. As for the PC vs Apple, it depends on the school. My daughter’s school is an Apple school so that is why she is apple. My son was given a choice and he prefers a PC. He does have an iPad mini but I am pretty sure he uses it more for personal use than for school.</p>
<p>Mac or PC are both probably fine. We have an Apple store on campus which was a big factor in case anything goes wrong but it’s also good for video editing and such if you need to do those things. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a DVD. Netflix and Hulu are for entertainment and when we have to watch something for class there’s usually a link available. I don’t have an iPad, or even a smartphone.</p>
<p>wow, i forgot about how well stocked campuses are these days/ Computer store right on campus; that will be nice :)</p>