Lap top for college

[1GR8DISNEYFAN]

I have twin dd's starting college in the fall and they both need lap tops. They would like the Apple MacBook, either the 2.1 GHz or the 2.4 GHz. I have also shoped Costco online and there are some HPs and Dells that are a lot less espensive. This is our first experience with lap tops, so I would appreciate any advise. Thank you!

 

[ChloroFiend]

Rock on, a topic I'm pretty well expert on. I spent 7 years in college, now I work with computers on a daily basis. I've also toted a laptop daily for 5 years now.

Picking the right laptop for college starts with addressing a few different questions.

Usage. Is it going to sit in a dorm room all the time? Only move to go to the library occasionally? Be carried to every class and take notes on it? For something like the former, the 'consumer' models available at Best Buy or the dell Inspiron lines will probably be sufficient. For people toting one around a lot more, you'll want something more durable and actually designed for such a use. Dell Latitude series, IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad T-series, or the MacBook Pros are my usual recommendation. I carried my Dell Latitude D600 daily to class for 2 years then to work every day since then for the last 2....its still in great condition and I don't tend to baby my kit.

Course of Study. Design majors are likely to be VERY highly suggested to get Mac computers. Business majors stick with Windows. Computer Science/Engineering are a lot more likely to be driving a Linux box. Why the differences? Aside from the strengths and standard uses of each platform, settling on one or the other helps the faculty and staff design the curriculum around a standard and makes it easier to support each individual student. Some departments/colleges also have agreements with the various software manufacturers and can provide discount/free versions of any programs used in course work to those with the computers than can run them. If the program of study has a recommendation, I'd HIGHLY advise going with that.

Lifespan. 'Consumer' grade laptops tend to wear out or break quicker than a 'business' class laptop is going to. It's both a materials and a design compromise.

Price. Gotta afford whatever right? Many colleges have discount computer purchasing programs direct through Apple, Dell, HP, and the like. I'd check with the kid's college to see what kind of deals they offer.

My bottom line? Spend the cash and get the best possible computer that's appropriate for the course of study. In my eyes, that's going to be the Latitudes, T-series, or MacBook Pro. They're THAT good.

 

[csaribay]

I tend to recommend Apple solutions, but this is somewhat dependent on the major(s) your daughters would be considering. Do keep in mind that the MacBooks aren't limited to running just Mac OS X, but are capable of running Windows XP/Vista as well.

Apple does offer discounts for students, and you can take a look at those at Apple's education website. They are currently running a special back to school promotion through September 15 that includes a free iPod (normally up to $299) for each machine purchased, via mail-in rebate.

Otherwise, I highly encourage you heeding ChloroFiend's very solid advice. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[hockey999]

I have Dell its great

 

[1GR8DISNEYFAN]

Thank you for taking the time to give me some great advise. I am going to let my dds read your words of wisdom so they can decide. All of their friends are getting the MacBook, so I have a feeling that is what they are going to decide on.

 

[breathinforluck]

I was in your place last year. I'm a sophomore in college now, and all I can say is that I LOVE my MacBook. I had to buy my laptop myself and decided to spend the extra money to get a computer that will last me.

I lived in a dorm last year and watched my roomate throw her Dell against the bed in anger because it never did what she wanted. She simply got it because her parents wanted to buy her something cheap. I had another roomate with an HP, who really didn't like it too much, because it has Vista.

I am glad I spent the extra money, plus I got a free iPod!

 

[epfootballcutie04]

here's my 2 cents...

as a gift, my parent's got me a gateway. HORRIBLE computer and basically every single store clerk i've talked to has said it was about as bad as you can get in terms of computers. It lasted a year and a half and then died.

I bought an HP desktop and i LOVE it. i've had it for about 6 months and it's in perfect condition. Then, just a couple weeks ago, i purchased myself a dell laptop and i love it, too. It works great and was SO MUCH less expensive than an apple.

both my desktop and laptop have windows vista on them and i much prefer that over XP. It takes some getting used to, but i do like it. .

I do think it's important though to really figure out what they need the laptops for like other posters have suggested... and then only getting the laptop that fits those needs. No use in buying into more than they will ever use, ya know

I use my laptop for the internet, and applications such as microsoft word, excel, power point and the like and I'm a student that is takes a lot of online classes... and for picture editing with photoshop and that's about it. my dell works beautifully for it

Good luck in what your daughters decide!!! As with anything, there's pros and cons to both!

 

[ChloroFiend]

Just want to throw this out there.

All dell's are not alike...and the same can be said for every other brand.

For instance...Dell has 3 main lines of laptops. Inspirons are targetted towards home users and the consumer market. Vostro's are for small business, and Latitudes are designed for enterprise or large business customers. Inspirons are cheaper than Latitudes...and it shows in build quality, overall feel, durability, weight, performance, life span, etc.

Same with HP. The laptops you can buy at Wal-Mart or Best Buy are going to be a significantly lower quality than the business-class machines. They don't have snazzy naming conventions to tell them apart though ;-)

Vista vs. XP....

Vista is more demanding on systems. Any new laptop should be able to run Vista just as well as XP. There are various tweaks/settings you can make to get rid of some of the more annoying Vista features (anyone interested, shoot me a PM). XP will no longer be sold on new computers as of 1 July, if memory serves. If you have a choice (not likely except from Dell via their small business, educational, or enterprise business units)....I'd probably steer you to XP. I personally run Vista on all my computers (work and home), but I'm not a typical user. XP is proven, most people are fluent in its use, and it just works.

My take on Macs....

Lemme preface this by saying I'm a PC user. I have been since 1990....the dark ages. DOS 5.0. Windows 3.0. I still do stuff command line. A few years back, I finally overcame my complete bias towarsd them (pretty much when OS X was released). The MacBook Pro's and the G5 series of computers are aesthetically beautiful, well engineered, and very stable machines...but they're not for everyone. For those of you that suggest running Windows on the mac hardware, I view that akin to driving a sports car to the grocery store. Sure, it'll work, you'll look cool, and feel awesome...but what's the point of spending all that extra money?

One more thing....

Accidental damage warranties. Not the Best Buy PSP, things like Dell CompleteCare or the Apple version that protect the laptop in case of spill, drop, whatever. These are on top of the regular warranty. You want that coverage. Seriously. ESPECIALLY in a college scenario. You can empty a full keg of beer into a running laptop, drop it out of a window, light it on fire, and they'll STILL replace the machine.

 

[CelebrationNM]

I have a Dell Latitude D620 laptop. I’ve had it for two years and it still runs as well as it did the day I got it. I’m glad somebody mentioned getting the highest form of warranty/coverage. My Dell’s screen began to “leak” (pieces of dust and hair were getting under the screen) and I had a problem with the PCI slot. I gave them a call and the next day somebody came and replaced the entire screen and PCI slot. If you have an accident, that coverage WILL pay for itself.

I chose a PC because I am familiar with the interface, I have a collection of software that I wouldn’t want to have to track down/purchase for Mac, it works well with my Windows Mobile device, and I feel I have fewer compatibility issues than Mac users when sharing documents. (Although this is becoming less of an issue for all of us).

All that being said: Macs are cool, there is no doubt, and you can’t go wrong with either of them.

 

[Melonie1121]

I'm using a PC. Laptops are great, but you get more bang for your buck with a PC.