Student needs a laptop. Windows or Mac? Help!?

Question

I need a laptop for school next year but I dont know which kind I want. The macbooks have the weight, size, and price I want and they offer a decent battery life. Ive never had a Mac, Ive used only Windows. I do not like Windows very much and while my PC is old now it never seemed to work very well. I frequently lost data, it always freezes, I had to do numerous system restores, so Im not too happy with my Windows experience, but its all Ive known about. So I understand that Macs dont freeze or crash or anything. I know its a different OS, but with some time I'll be able to learn it. People have told me that Mac doesnt have 2 much software available for it, but all I really want is a good computer that will last me the next 4 years of school and hopefully my small home office the first year or two, but that may be pushing it lol. Ive spoken w/ some people who got "great deals" on Dell or Gateway laptops for like 599 only to see them blow up in less than a year.

I know that Mac can now run Windows, but if I do get a Mac, Id prefer not 2 have 2 run Windows. So Mac has less software, but better usability, no viruses or crashes, etc. I can get a Windows one cheaper though, but Mac still fits in my budget. So Im really torn and I don’t know what to do. Im not too good with computers and I hate all the message windows that pop up with Windows because I don’t know what they mean and I heard theres a ton of security pop ups on Vista. So basically I want a laptop that will be used for school the next four years and possibly a home office if it is still alive lol. Which laptop do you recommend and WHY? Please explain why you prefer one over the other. Thanks to all those who reply

Answer 1

I say go Mac. Let me tell you why.
1) You don't like Windows
2) Macs NEVER freeze
3) Macs are easy to use.
4) Love your iPod. Love your Mac.
5) Macs have all the software you need. There's just not 5 different products for one thing, like on Windows. On the Mac, there is one product that does what it needs to do perfectly.
6) It's beautiful!
7) iSight camera built in. Video chats on the go.
8) A lot of college students use Macs.
9) Reliability! What is a virus? I have never had one.
10) They last forever. People today use Macs just as well as they did 5-6 years ago.

Trust me. You will not regret buying a Mac. Visit your local Apple Store and just revel in the experience. It truly is amazing how much I love using my Mac.

Answer 2

properly, it sounds such as you're already beautiful set on Mac!! yet i'm going to enable you comprehend from my experience, i bought a working laptop or computing gadget the 365 days I graduated best business enterprise. i'm going to right away be getting into my third 365 days of school, and the only i bought then nonetheless works fairly good. that's a Dell, which runs residing house windows. some persons ***** approximately Dell, besides the fact that i've got under no situations had any themes with mine. As long as you safeguard it as much as date and secure, it is going to artwork right for you too. I safeguard Norton Antivirus as much as date on it, run consumer-friendly scans, and be picky approximately what I download. that's a easy version with a gigantic computer screen, which makes it ideal for me. wish that helped!

Answer 3

I'd go with a Mac and you seem to have already decided as well, the MacBooks are very fully featured for the price and a really good choice. Learning the OS really isn't that hard either, you'll be up to speed in a few days at most. Most software is actually available on both platforms, you could always install something like Parallels (check http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/ for more info) if you find you need to run a windows application or two.

Considering you're planning to have this for a while, look at it as an investment and spend a bit more...you'll be glad you did.

Answer 4

Well, it sounds like you're already pretty set on Mac!! But I will tell you from my experience, I got a laptop the year I graduated high school. I'll soon be entering my third year of college, and the one I got then still works really well. It's a Dell, which runs Windows. Some people complain about Dell, but I've never had any problems with mine. As long as you keep it updated and protected, it should work well for you too. I keep Norton Antivirus updated on it, run frequent scans, and be picky about what I download. It's a lightweight version with a big screen, which makes it perfect for me. Hope that helped!

Answer 5

You can't really get by without Windows. I have a Macbook. You don't have to choose between OS's. You put OSX on one partition and Windows on another one. It works fine. Apple gives you Bootcamp for free to partition the drive and make a Windows driver CD.

Answer 6

i had the same problem... torn between mac and windows. except i had a good reason to get a mac because as a design major you need the space and speed and programs that mac offers. but windows can also provide the same programs but not as fast processing.
your just a student, im guess highschool and such so i would go for windows. while it is easier to get a virus if your smart enough to know what to download and what to avoid put up an anti virus and your good to go.
there is alot of programs that do not work if you have a mac. for instance i tried watching some movie or videos on a mac and it just didnt open. it also easier for me to share programs and other things with people who have a windows because its the same format but if you have a mac its different.
programs like msn and such are more advanced in windows than in mac and so on and so on. plus! you have a wider range of pc's to choose from if you get windows.
and so id say go with the windows.
but if your an art major you might want to defintely consider mac.
good luck hope that helped ;)
oh... and i ended up buying a toshiba with windows media because i also use it for watching dvds and shows.
mac's sound is somewhat bad for such an expensive package.

Answer 7

i would do windows