<p>I really need your input. I have no idea what to do! I was always thinking of purchasing a Macbook Pro for college. However, the price puts me off a little. I have the money, but I think <em>do I really wanna waste it?</em></p>
<p>Option 1: Give in and buy a Macbook</p>
<p>Option 2: I have an iMac that I bought in 2010, and it still works pretty good. I'd obviously clean it up, delete things I don't really need, to try to have it running as good as it possible can. I was thinking of taking my iMac, and then buying a 250-300 netbook (maybe cheaper?) that I can take to class/library and take notes, but do the majority of my work on my iMac.</p>
<p>Option 3: Buy a windows laptop. Even though I'm not particularly fond of Windows (I'm used to Mac), they are cheaper, and I'm not a gamer, or into specs, or all that jazz. I can find a good laptop that will cost me 600-800, that I'll probably be happy with.</p>
<p>I need this option to last me for the next 4 years. The problem with taking my iMac is that I'd have to haul it all the way to MA (I'm from the south) as my carry on item when I move, during Christmas break (? maybe, I'm unsure, I'd be scared someone might steal it. Also, I don't know how good a netbook's quality is) and then in the summer when I come back.</p>
<p>ALSO, I have no freaking clue what in the world is the difference between a netbook, chromebook, ultrabook. I'm looking on bestbuy and I'm just like o.O</p>
<p>This is just my opinion, but I’d buy the MacBook. If you REALLY want it that is. Netbooks are good but they’re dreadfully slow. With the MacBook you can add warranty just incase something happens to it during your 4 years in college. I think after the first year if you buy the additional AppleCare it lasts an extra 2-3 years. You might want to check on that during you 1 year warranty if you go the Apple route again.</p>
<p>I have a MacBook and it’s lasted me for almost 3 years now. Unlike the netbook/windows laptops that I’ve had, it’s actually been pretty good to me. The battery still lasts about 4-5 hours after two software upgrades and around 500 cycles of battery usage. Try to do that on a windows laptop… you wouldn’t get anywhere near that. I just bought my windows laptop a new battery a few weeks ago, and the battery only lasts about 2 hours max.</p>
<p>Right now I’m typing this on a netbook. It’s good for just pretty much word processing and surfing the net. If you want to do simple things like watching youtube videos, etc. You’d have a hard time because it can get VERY sluggish. Even having a few tabs open will slow the netbook down.</p>
<p>IMO, I’d use the money for a MacBook Air. It’s basically perfect for all the things that you need to do.</p>
<p>Best buy has a Dell Inspiron Laptop for 280 this week. Would this be a good purchase? Obviously I <em>want</em> the MacBook, but I want a lot of things, lol. I feel like I’d be wasting my money with a good iMac just gathering dust at home.</p>
<p>Sorry for the double post, I’m on my iPod. I just realised that my iMac might be too big for me to take as a carry on item. It’s the 21.5 inch one, but in the box it probably won’t fit in the overhead storage…</p>
<p>I personally think that it’s best if you leave the iMac at home. I think having a desktop is a little too much especially if you’re dorming. I can’t say since I’ve never had a Dell before, but when I talked about it with my father, who’s an IT, he stated that Dell’s were crap… of course that was in '09, so they could’ve gotten better.</p>
<p>Options I can think of:
Sell iMac, buy macbook and a cheap monitor
Sell iMac, buy mac mini, buy a cheap monitor, and a cheap netbook
Keep iMac buy a cheap laptop*
Keep iMac buy a cheap netbook & bring the iMac to school with you*</p>
<p>*Doesn’t your school have iMacs on campus for students to use?</p>