Starting college as an electrical engineering major. Mac or PC?

Question

Ok, I really can't really decide what kind of laptop to buy. I will be starting college soon as an electrical engineering major. I've been doing a lot of research on macs, and there are some definite pluses. The macbooks look really cool, and also can run Windows using bootcamp. So I can have the best of both worlds. I already have a copy of Windows Vista. But according to this website http://www.appledefects.com/wiki/index.php?title=MacBook , I don't know if I want to risk it. I just don't know what to think about the discoloration or the random shutdowns. And my budget limits me to $1300. I've also heard that Macs hardly have or any viruses or trojans to deal with and very user friendly. I've been using a PC for 7 years. But if I choose a mac, I am willing to learn.

Answer 1

get mac and run bootcamp - but youll still get viruses

Answer 2

Although not all of Paul's points are valid it is a better idea to get a PC for EE because most of the programs will probably be made for either Linux or Windows.

If you really want to go with a Mac then you could always get Parallels Desktop which will let you run Windows inside your Mac. You can also use the free Boot Camp provided by Apple to switch between Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista.

For a good deal on a Macbook check out the refurb section at the Apple.com store. As of the switch to Intel processors Macs are now comparably priced with their PC brethren, even cheaper in the case of the Mac Pro.

And no, there aren't actually viruses nor spyware for the Mac. I'm not sure what Paul meant but Macs are hardly ever attacked and that's why you don't hear about it. It's not because they're unimportant and the attacks would be on a lesser scale, in fact there was a lot of news this week about a possible virus for the Mac which has yet to be seen and may end up being another hoax.

Answer 3

Im also a computer engineer with years of experience in the business. Read on.....

If your buying a computer - buy a Windows PC. Why?

First: PC's dominate about 92% of the market. Its what the world uses. Apple only has about 4%, followed by Linux. When you ultimately go for a job, which operating system do you think you'll be using? You'll be at a disadvantage if you use a Mac.

Second: The hardware technology curve is heavily biased towards PC's. They are completely customizable and upgradeable for astonishing prices. The very best hardware is available for PC's first (Dual Core and Quad Core processors, as well as Nvidia GPU's)

Third: Software availability. PC's simply have more availability of software than Apple. Period. Professional and gaming software companies generally write for PC's first and Apple second. You always hear of games being "ported" over to Macs.

Fourth: Windows is not nearly as complicated to use as people perceive. I used Macs years ago and simply found them different that Windows machines. Although Vista has issues because it is so new, OS10 was riddled with bugs when it came out. Once the patches were fixed by Apple, it was more acceptable - just like Vista will be. Max OS also gets hit hard by viruses and malware. You only hear about WIndows getting hit by them because the world uses PC's and the "damage" is on a much larger scale.

Fifth: Bang for buck. Compare a PC to that of a Mac and see what you actually get for the money. Since PC hardware is not owned by any one company (like Apple), you get fierce competition for your dollar. All the software you get is nothing more than a throw in. The real value comes from the hardware you purchase.

Just remember that you will get a lot of opinions on this topic but the fact of the matter is that PCs dominate the world while Apple only has a fraction of it. There is a learning curve to ANY operating system (PC/Mac/Linux) and each will have problems by those who dont know how to use it.

Just make sure you do your homework before you buy ANY machine and make sure you do comparisons to maximize your dollar.

GL!

Answer 4

Most Mac users tend to be Graphic Design students. Engineering students will most likely choose a PC, and a lot of them will use Linux OS. Some universities will even encourage students to learn Linux. But in the end the ultimate choice should be yours. Have you ever tried Mac OS? If not, try it before you buy it, or you might end up buying something you don't like. Also, try to find out what software you will be using in college (Matlab? AutoCAD?). Once you know what you will be using, search the internet to see if Mac computers can handle it. Of course, like you said, you can always dual boot, but that can sometimes be a pain that's just not worth it.

Also, if you go with a PC, since you already have a copy of Windows, try to find a laptop that does not have Windows preinstalled(like Dell, who just started selling some computers with Linux instead of Windows)

Answer 5

$1300 is a lot of money. I recommend that you buy good used systems of both kinds for $300-$400 each, and invest the other $500 in gold. As an electrical engineer, you should know both systems, and a used system will teach you to deal with the quirks and viruses that come with a used system.

Answer 6

You need a mac. They are very secure, fast, reliable, and apple he fixed the discoloration,and random shutdowns I have owned mine for a year and not one problem. HP and Dell are cheap apple designs perfect computers. I can see that most people are telling you to get a pc but don't listen to them you will regret getting one. Apple computers are the best plus if you need windows you can get it. Vista also runs good on the MacBook but mac is way better then crappy vista.its time for you to make the switch get a mac you will love it!!!

Answer 7

PC (running windows platform) electrical engineering uses OrCAD, Labview, NI Circuit Design, Autodesk Electrical, all support windows but not MAC

Answer 8

In reality, it doesn't matter too much. Buy whatever you desire. Most of your EE computer simulation / design assignments have to be done in the EE computer labs anyway since you won't have the required software on your computer. Software for schematic capture, VLSI layout design, E&M simulators, etc, are very expensive (they can cost more than a few thousands of dollars).

Answer 9

PC.

In your EE courses you'll need to do some development. For that you'll be better of sticking with either a Windows or Linux environment.

Answer 10

PC, both hardware and software, EE and PCs naturely mix but Macs are like waters to EE fire.