<p>I'm 2014` engineering major student
for days I have been trying to get a new laptop but I don't know what I should get.
I almost decided to get a thinkpad, but yesterday I found out Cornell tech support only has Dell, Apple, and HP. Does it mean that the on-campus tech does not support Thinkpad?
I mean it's going to be too hard for me if the computer fails, and the college doesn't have an A/S center for it. </p>
<p>Should I get Dell?</p>
<p>haeggu…
buy ideapad
I use thinkpad or ideapad or whatever that lenovo laptop is called and it’s cheap and pretty good. I think it will be a good choice if you do lots of multi-taskings.</p>
<p>yea I think thinkpad suits me better but does Cornell has a tech support for Lenovo computers?</p>
<p>Im also entering as an engineering student, and I wanted to get a mac because im tired of my crappy windows computer…any Cornell students out there prefer a mac vs. windows?</p>
<p>15 inch Macbook Pro</p>
<p>Well, definitely a MacBook if you can afford it. Remember that the Cornell store offers educational discounts, too. Just whatever you do, don’t buy an HP. I have one and it is falling apart, I tell you. I’m just waiting to get an acceptance letter anywhere so I can buy a MacBook with the discount, lol.</p>
<p>cool, how big are these discounts? I have an Asus which’ll probably never have a repair place and I want to retire it when I go to Cornell.</p>
<p>Though you should have a powerful laptop for the dorm (or even a desktop), I also highly recommend getting a netbook. The convenience just can’t be beat.</p>
<p>hi i’m in engineering too!!! (:</p>
<p>what about operating systems?
is the software used in engineering compatible with mac os?</p>
<p>and what about linux? i’m not very computer savvy (but i hope to be…i’m planning to major in operations research, where mathematical programming/modeling will come into play) but i hear it’s what the pros use lol
is the software compatible with linux as well?</p>
<p>…or must we learn to live with windows?</p>
<p>CIT (cornell’s tech support) will support any type of computer…</p>
<p>plus being an engineer, i’m sure you’ll make friends who will be able to fix your computer for you</p>
<p>i’d get a netbook, despite what you may think, you wont really need your computer for much more than going on the internet and typing notes. good to get something small and light.</p>
<p>I have a 13" MacBook Aluminum, 2.4gHz. It’s absolutely perfect. I planned on buying like a 20" monitor to keep at my desktop for using in my room, but I haven’t really felt the need for it and as such never bought it. The 17" is a bit big to use in lectures, since the flip out desk is rather small. If I had the money, I would have gone for the 15", but the 13" has worked great for me. I’m definitely glad I got the upgraded processor though (and the backlit keyboard), as it helps keep things moving, especially when you’ve got >5 programs running at once.</p>
<p>So I will definitely recommend a Mac, but I won’t say it’s the only option and never to get a windows laptop. Although the only windows machine I’d get is a thinkpad which, is on par pricewise with Apple products, so then it comes down to personal preference. </p>
<p>And unless you live within driving distance and really want one, I wouldn’t recommend a desktop. It’s extremely nice to be able to just pickup my computer and go wherever with it, and have it to work in between classes on. Yes a netbook can suffice, but then there’s the whole syncing issue and transporting a desktop.</p>
<p>Just don’t buy a cheap laptop, you’ll be sorry. Spend as much as you can comfortably afford because the better it is, the less likely it is to break. And we all know with Murphy’s law that it will break the night when you pushed off your term paper til that’s due tomorrow.</p>
<p>i have a pink dell. my boyfriend works at one of the computer centers on campus and he said it doesn’t matter unless you plan on playing games or doing heavy-duty designing like the architecture kids. so i have my pink dell, he has a lenovo think pad and he’s had his for about 2 years and it can seriously last through anything, so maybe you should look into that if you plan on carrying it to and from classes.</p>
<p>im a firm advocator of a macbook pro. the entire campus, student wise, is basically switching over. there are a lot of services for either computer, so it doesnt really matter.</p>
<p>I am an Engineer.</p>
<p>Had a toshiba laptop, recently switched to a 15" Macbook Pro.
I haven’t really found any compatibility issues.</p>
<p>If you need to use something that is windows only, Mac offers the ability to use parallels and to dual boot into Windows, or you can use the myriad of computer labs on campus.</p>
<p>How long does a mac laptop last for. My friend says that a mac will only last me for the 4 years at college( b4 glitches and other problems) and advised me to get a lenovo if I wanted a long lasting laptop.</p>
<p>Given the pace of technological advances, 4 years is probably too long to stay with one computer…plan for 2-3 years… besides, you never know if it might get lost or broken. Personally, I am also unable to decide between a mac or a windows, because I use gaming laptops. I guess a mac might help force me to play less, haha.</p>
<p>but thats the thing. i’m gonna be spending a thousand something dollars on a mac, so I hope that it will at least a while</p>
<p>I own a thinkpad t500. I got a pretty good discount by going to [Lenovo</a> - Contractor Purchase Program](<a href=“http://www.lenovo.com/cpp]Lenovo”>http://www.lenovo.com/cpp) and using the code: familyandfriends to get in and get the discount. </p>
<p>The only computers that I’ve seen that are of comparable build quality are macs and vios, and all three of these are in basically the same pricerange (lenovos, if you wait for a good deal to combine with that discount can be had for a little cheaper than the other two). </p>
<p>The only thing that I constantly find myself wishing I had was multitouch, it makes the laptop using experience much better. As such I would recommend either getting a mac or a reputable windows computer with multitouch. </p>
<p>Always keep in mind that you can dual (or even triple) boot operating systems, but that mac os alledgedly runs faster on macs.</p>