Surface Pro....

[SkaGoat]

My daughter had a slavish devotion to Apple also. Used a Mac Book Pro for college, but after 5 years, and multiple(frustrating) trips to the Genius Bar, It suffered a lot of hardware failures during warranty. it gave up the ghost, so be bought her a new one for graduation. That one has completely turned her off Apple. Something to do with all the junk they put on them, trial versions of software that should have been included and the fact that it needs all these updates. And this one is going down the same road of hardware failures (optical drive). She says she's done with Apple.
She was so hard core Apple that I am still in shock how she feels.

I'm not sure where you got this Mac... I have been buying Apple computers for over 10 years now (iBook, MacBook, MacBook Pro (x2)), Apple has never put junk, or trial software on their computers.

They come shipped from manufacturing with full versions of only Apple software, iTunes, Mail, Notes, Photos, Contacts. I don't even know if Pages and Numbers come pre-loaded, I think you have to download them (for free) from the Mac App Store.

Surface Pro is a fine computer, if the student will be taking any kind of courses that require a lot of writing, or spreadsheets, they will want an external monitor, keyboard and mouse.

 

[DLgal]

I think the Surface Pro was just named as "Best Laptop" by CNET. They are amazing computers and I think totally perfect for a college student.

I have a Surface 3 that I use for work and it does everything I need it to. I never use my home desktop anymore. And mine isn't even the Pro version.

 

[tvguy]

I'm not sure where you got this Mac... I have been buying Apple computers for over 10 years now (iBook, MacBook, MacBook Pro (x2)), Apple has never put junk, or trial software on their computers.

They come shipped from manufacturing with full versions of only Apple software, iTunes, Mail, Notes, Photos, Contacts. I don't even know if Pages and Numbers come pre-loaded, I think you have to download them (for free) from the Mac App Store.

Surface Pro is a fine computer, if the student will be taking any kind of courses that require a lot of writing, or spreadsheets, they will want an external monitor, keyboard and mouse.

First one was from Best buy, second from the Apple store. DD's issue is with the frequent need to log onto the App store to update software, and not liking Apple software in general.
As for Surfaces, now Consumer Reports had chimed in and decided to rate them not recommended. https://www.consumerreports.org/lap...-tablets-not-recommended-by-consumer-reports/

 

[SkaGoat]

First one was from Best buy, second from the Apple store. DD's issue is with the frequent need to log onto the App store to update software, and not liking Apple software in general.
As for Surfaces, now Consumer Reports had chimed in and decided to rate them not recommended. https://www.consumerreports.org/lap...-tablets-not-recommended-by-consumer-reports/

I don't know where consumer reports is getting this data, I have friends with experience with large install bases of Surface Pros, One business rolled out 250 of them 2 years ago, and have only had any kind of problems with one of them. The other is a business with 500 units, and zero have needed any kind of warranty work.

Apple usually scores high with consumer reports, and I've heard of lots of issues with the newest MacBook Pros and iPad Pros, someone I know had to take hers back 3 times before she got one that worked reliably.

 

[tvguy]

I don't know where consumer reports is getting this data, I have friends with experience with large install bases of Surface Pros, One business rolled out 250 of them 2 years ago, and have only had any kind of problems with one of them. The other is a business with 500 units, and zero have needed any kind of warranty work.

Apple usually scores high with consumer reports, and I've heard of lots of issues with the newest MacBook Pros and iPad Pros, someone I know had to take hers back 3 times before she got one that worked reliably.

We only have 6, so small potatoes, but they are worked to death.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

My daughter has a surface pro. We haven't bought her the keyboard yet, but she hasn't really asked for it either. If she had the keyboard I don't see why it couldn't provide everything that she needed while away at college.