laptop for college?

Question

I want a laptop for college and I'm not sure which is the best.
I am leaning towards the Macbook just because I'm a girl and it is cute looking--but I also heard that Macs are reliable--BUT other than college they are not really used in the real world--everyone has a PC

I am majoring in biological sciences, so I don't need any fancy features...just the basics

I also heard the tablet pc windows was pretty good.

then dell is supposed to be the college computer.

can anyone compare those brands? or tell me which kind i should get?

also i want this to last till i get to graduate school which will hopefully be med school---would the same laptop be good for there too?

Answer 1

Dell is horrible first off, and it's also very expensive. Mac's are reliable but they only have a limited software compatibility. I have owned an Hp, Compaq, and Toshiba. Toshiba is by far the best and is priced reasonably. well i found a site that you can compare the Toshiba. Good luck finding a laptop and have fun in college, it's a blast : ) and oh yeah Laptops get stolen a lot on college campuses so be careful...

Answer 2

Macs are very reliable, the only thing is you're thinking the opposite about them. Many colleges prefer PC's but in the real world, depending what you're doing of course, Mac's are just fine. These days, you're able to use Macs the same way as a PC, such as saving a Word document on a PC then opening it up on a Mac. Many schools have certain software and technical assistance for Macs so I would make sure with the school you're going to.

In terms of brand, my school required everyone to get a Dell. Almost everyone I know from school got a new Dell laptop after having it three years since it was made from refurbished parts. Not to mention their customer service is pretty bad.

All in all, for a PC, I would suggest an HP or a Compaq (even though HP owns Compaq). If you want your computer to last for awhile, I would get a Mac since they have less problems and very few viruses. Just to reiterate with a Mac is your school's tech support for a Mac. If you ever wanted to install Windows on a Mac while still having the Mac operating system, you can these days with a program called Bootcamp. I've never used it, but it's pretty cool.

The important thing to remember about a laptop is how you treat your laptop. I worked at the Help Desk at my school and some people had new laptops and treated it pretty badly and didn't last very long. Hopefully this helps.

Answer 3

Avoid Dell...

They have a reputation for using refirbished parts and calling them "New"...plus, you'll pay an extra couple hundred for the name alone.

Do yourself another favour and don't buy something because it is cute...unless it is also functional.

Personally, for your route to the "real world," I would advise avoiding the Mac. If you were going into graphical arts or similar programs, I'd advise a Mac.

The big problem with the MacBooks is the case is so flimsy where the LCD screen is, and the screens are VERY expensive to replace.

You can go with *almost* any Laptop manufacturer right now, although Acer still has some problems, and Fujitsu's name (where laptops are concerned) is not the best right now.

Tablets are great for students (and Medical professionals), since you can write right on the screen (with a stylus), but the hinge/pivot is exceptionally vulnerable, and the LCD is, of course still very fragile, so it has to be treated with due care and consideration.

Answer 4

I would recommend asus and IBM (lenovo) for good quality systems. Dell is fine but a little to poorly made for my liking. Macs are expensive for all they can do, very little software and what they do have is for "creative people". If you want an inexpensive laptop i would buy a dell, with coupons. I think you shouldget ubuntu linux, it is a great OS and with Beryl it has all the flash of windows vista with aero.

Answer 5

Go to http://www.compusa.com/ and compare specs side by side to get the best price. If you do you'll see that mac's are overpriced. I can get a PC with the same processor speed. twice the RAM, twice the storage, and twice the front side bus speed for the same price as a mac. Plus your right the real world doesn't use mac. Don't listen to people that say mac's are sweet. Look at the facts.

Answer 6

HP and Dell offer the most bang for the buck and are the top makers. My link will give you reviews and free expert advice if give more info as to price screensize etc.

The two 15.4 models that might be good are the Dell E1505 and HP 6500. They also come in 14.1 inch versions.

Apples are slower, more expensive, and have less software, but do have their adherents.

Answer 7

I am not a big fan of Dell. They put all their money into their advertising and little into R&D. I would stick to Toshiba or HP if I were you. If you don't mind refurbished you could checkout: www.geeks.com. They actually have a tablet pc on there now.

Answer 8

I got a used ibook direct from apple, with warranty. I've had it for three years, no problems at all!

Answer 9

you sound like you do basic computing, which would make a macbook good for you. they require little if any maintenance and like you said they are "cute". although everybody thinks you need a laptop for college.......you dont. ive been in college for 3 years now and i havnet actually needed a laptop at all. at the most you need a good desktop in your room. way cheaper, and much much much easier to fix if something goes wrong.

Answer 10

You should buy a Toshiba laptop.