Hey guys, my laptop decided to crash on me the other day and I've been having problems since. I hooked it up to my desktop monitor for about 24 hours and it just crashed here a few minutes ago (blue screen of death) so I decided to use my desktop. However, I'm going to college here next fall and I need a good laptop that can more or less get me through 4 years of college.

My current laptop is a Toshiba, bought in August of '05 and it was a pretty good computer, even in this day of age. It seems the video card or the screen is going out because sometimes when I turn on my laptop, either the screen won't turn on or it'll freeze on the "In Touch With Toshiba" screen (first one that pops up).

I've been looking at Mac's on the internet, and although a 13.3" screen isn't necessarily big, I could get used to it. It's appealing in that it offers a lot of standard stuff that would be costly to upgrade on a PC. Another appealing piece of added security is the lack of viruses. Also, many of my friends that use Macs have had theirs for at least 3 years or so and haven't had it crash once.

Our family has always beena PC family and have had mostly HP or Compaq, neither of which I'd recommend. My Toshiba laptop has crashed a few times before this but I have never considered it to be a bad laptop until the past few days.

What are all your opinions on Mac Vs Windows and what do you recommend for a college-bound student? Any of you advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, I checked and I believe that Mac is supported at my college so it shouldn't be too big of an issue.

Thanks for all your input and sorry for the long post,
-rockstate

 

The Mac would be fine unless the major your in requires you to use software that only runs on Windows. The downside of laptops on campus is they are prone to sprout legs and walk away... There also more vulnerable to idiots that would spill coffee, pop, or beer on the keyboard. With a desktop pc you could just run down to Wally World and get a $10 replacement keyboard where as the laptop would be in a world of hurt.

 

That's true about people stealing them. I keep a pretty good watch on my stuff so I don't think anything would get stolen or broken. I'm living with my brother once I get down there so I won't have to worry about any of that as opposed to if I were living in a dorm room.

I'm majoring in Business so I'm not entirely sure how involved I'll be with a computer but I'm sure somewhat. Another pro to having a laptop is being able to work at the Library which is pretty solid down there.

-rockstate

 

The newer MAC OS are able to run windows applications as well as Mac applications. Don't feel bad my laptop is 4 years old. I always say my next computer will be a Mac.

 

i am in business now, finishing up my first semester!

i use a dell laptop, one problme ever was last month when it just decided not to work anymore and wouldn't boot up, said something about a system 32 problem.

but a computer dude fixed it and runs alright now, its 3 years old also.

i got a 5 year old compaq that still runs fine, even has a boot leg copy of nt pro running it.

the only thing i have used my comp for so far is typeing up essays, reasearch, my business on pc's class and ......thats it. and i needed word, excel, access and power point, but since power point and access are expensive, probably be much cheaper just to use the schools comps for it unless you can afford or score a deal on them.

 

I needed to buy a new computer for college in August of '05, and since I was going into an engineering major, I went with an IBM Thinkpad, even though I prefer Macs. It had a bad install of Windows, and ran like poop. I didn't know jack about the system, and none of my friends could fix it like I wanted. I eventually bought an Apple iBook 12" in October, wiped the IBM clean, and it's been fine since. I only use it when absolutely necessary. I hugely prefer Mac OS, though I'm not crazy about their hardware.

Bottom line- I'd go with the Mac if you're not going into Engineering, where you basically need a Windows machine if you don't want to spend a lot of time in computer labs.

As to the desktop vs. laptop issue- I hate laptops. They're expensive, fragile, and the ergonomics suck. But, I have two because they fit better for college, IMO, if you're careful with them.

 

Get the Mac.......

Sounds like you're leaning that way anyway.......I've had mine (desktop imac) for over 2 years now and am as happy with it now as I was then.........Couldn't say that about the previous 3 PCs that I owned...........

Updates and Upgrades are prompted for your "OK" automatically and go off without a hitch......The MacOS system is wonderfully integrated and I've never experiences a "crash".........

And like 1979 Ford already stated.....IN A PINCH.....(and this isn't a bad idea---I like Windows-run gaming).......There are several options a Mac user has in loading software that allows you to run Windows software..........A good example is "Boot Camp"........It's a free download from Apple (now only in beta form....but soon for the PowerMacs)........Download it.....then buy Windows XP.....Load XP..........When you boot up your computer....You can choose either "MacOS" or "Windows" depending on what you want..........

There are "parallel" options also for running the programs side-by-side...instead of having to choose one or the other with the "Boot Camp" download.......

I would bet that my iMac G-5 Processor with 1.6GB processor and 512K RAM and 80GB hard drive (Mar 2005 manufacture) operating the MacOS "Tiger" system is as fast as some of the newer PCs with more powerful processors............

 

Get the mac. I had pc's up until my current computer (mac) and they always froze, got virues, etc. My mac is the best purchase i've made outside of my truck. They really are better, just the software that is included on a mac makes the mac a better choice. I couldn't recomend anything else after owning a mac.

 

A few years ago I'd have said hands down to get the Mac. OSX was by far the better system, even just 10.2.8, and the hardware was much more reliable. But XP Pro has really closed the gap, and in my experience crashes and annoying bugs have diminished a lot. Who knows with Vista coming up, though...

We just converted to Office 2007 at work, and if you haven't seen it, the look and feel is so Mac it's funny. I wonder what Vista looks like, if it emulates Mac like Office 2007 does.

 

Style-wise.....For the desktops anyway (laptops are a different matter).....I believe the iMac to be the perfect machine for the "minimalist" (of which I am one)......I LOVE not having a huge tower cluttering up the desk and wires running everywhere. The iMac (for those who do not know) is basically a thick screen on a small, but sturdy and curving mount. After I added the Logitech wireless station (the size of a zip drive), I've got this "minimal" system running with a wireless mouse and a wireless keyboard....This small, uncluttered system belies the inherent power and ease of the Mac system itself.........

I WILL do the "Boot Camp" download when it's available.....Then buy WindowsXP (maybe Vista....It'll support both, but as FXForistel pointed out, XP is a good system) and run my favorite games when the mood strikes me and I've got the time........

 

I vote PC, with some reservations.

First, chances are something you're going to do at college will require Windows. That alone should make the decision. Say you get the Mac, and one of your classes uses a program that only runs on Windows. You get back, try to load it on your windows emulator or whatever on the mac. Doesn't work. Now what? Big PITA that's what.

Second, if you know someone or are willing to learn, get a regular PC custom built! Trust me, I do this for a living, I've taken enough of 'em apart, prebuilt systems are crap. Period. If you absolutely need to buy a dell or such, have someone do a fresh install of the OS before you even touch the thing. Of course, if you have someone build it, be sure to get the specs first and post them so we can determine if he knows what he's doing or not.

Third, OpenOffice.org is your friend. Can open and edit MS Office files very nicely, as well as it's own format. http://www.openoffice.org/

Fourth, create a user and a password. A good password. Keep people the hell off of it!

Fifth, enable a firewall and antivirus program. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. AVG is a good one, and they have a very nice free version. http://www.grisoft.com/

Sixth, and this kind of goes with the previous one, do not, under any circumstances, load any software or open any email unless you're 100% sure it's virus free.

PC's require that you use your head a lot more to keep them running. But if you do, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

It seems like there is a lot of Mac votes out there for good reasons!

You bring up a good point, Kurt, how something will need to open on Windows some time or another. However, I'm sure I could just go to the library or just bring my desktop down so that shouldn't be TOO big of an issue the majority won't work on Macs. I have opened a PowerPoint on my PC that was created by a Mac and the images did not load.

Speaking of keeping the viruses out and such, I use the EzTrust anti-virus system and all the components that Road Runner has as a service, which is nice. I'd like to think I'm pretty good with computers, (won the Technology award at school today which was pretty cool for my work on a PowerPoint that was shown at a teacher's wake who passed away this year and for completing most of the computer classes available) so most of the viruses and stuff that I've gotten can be searched for by EzTrust and then I can delete them if EzTrust can't/wont.

Seems like the general consensus here is in favor of Mac and if I were to bring down a PC desktop (I can always make room for things like that) then that would really clear up any confusion.

I appreciate all your input and would love to hear anybdoy else that has an opinion on the matter. Thanks again,

-rockstate

 

If being stolen is a worry, you can add a GPS that will log on secretly and send its location when connected to the Internet..

 

First things first have you tried reformatting your hard drive and installing everything again? It very well could just be a glitch in the software right now and it could save you a lot of money. If the computer is only 2 years old it should have a couple of years good use left in it. I've had my Dell laptop for almost 7 years now. I've had to have it worked on a couple times, and had to reformat the hard drive a couple times but that's just what happens with PCs sometimes.

As far as Macs go I am sure they are fine, but speaking from my experience pretty much everywhere you are going to work (outside of graphics design and radio/tv type stuff) after college you are going to be using PCs unless something drastic happens between now and then.

 

Not really. Most of the "special" programs I've needed that were Windows-based, they didn't give me anyway (AutoCAD, MathCad, etc.) and I had to go to the computer lab to do the work, because even student licenses are darn expensive.