Im going to UT next year and im looking for a laptop, I've narrowed it down to two laptops: HP http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11479314&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US# and the apple macbook http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook?mco=MTE4MTY The HP comes with a crappy printer and will run me about 670 total with tax and shipping included. The pros for this it is significantly cheaper, and it has superior ram and hard drive, and ive never owned a mac. The macbook i can get for 1000 TOTAL with tax and shipping and with a free 8 GB itouch and a very good printer. The good thing about macs is that it comes with a lot of software the pc cant offer. (i think) Plus I really want that itouch lol.. As far as my computer usage goes, i surf the internet a lot, use microsoft office, download songs, watch tv shows, but basically everything is practically internet oriented. So I was wondering is any of the extra apple software worth it? Like would any of their programs come in handy for college projects or anything? I am a biology major if that helps. And which computer is faster on the internet? So which do yall think think is the better buy?
oh and i forgot with costco i get a 3 year full warranty for free, and with apple i only get 1 year... but then again do i even need a warranty with an apple since they seldom crash?
For college I would say get the PC. And I'm a Mac owner. I work full-time and am getting a master's part time, and more often than not I end up doing school work at work on a PC or on my old desktop PC at home. I don't know how much you'll use Office for Biology though, other than writing papers (and that's easy enough to do with software you can get for Mac). But if you HAVE to use office a lot and rely on it, I'd get the PC. You can get Office for the Mac, but I'm not a big fan of it. I use my Mac for photo/video editing, which is more what it is geared toward. And the computer doesn't determine your internet speed, the source of the internet does. An inferior computer might be slower to open the browser, but that's about it.
lol, pc and macs are made with the same components. The most likely thing to break after 30 days is the hard drives. You do realize one of them is 16 vs 13 in. If you are going to take it to class 16in is too much you should go with the 13in. I used to have d430 that thing so super comfortable to take around except it is slow.
I had a bad day at the apple store yesterday, so I'll refrain from being irrational and angry. The main reason I'd recommend a PC is because of the fact that you're a freshman, different programs want different things, but almost every undergrad program accommodates to PC users. Certain programs do require Macs, but let's be fair, you can get by by running linux. However, running VMWare for PC utilities is not always fun, especially if you're doing anything design intensive. Ultimately, a PC can fake being a mac, but the counter isn't so true. All of this is moot until you see what your program advisor recomends. At UA they say PC for BioPhysics, but specifically Linux (not mac, don't ask me why) for Physics. It's all in what they ask for. Personally, I'd say go PC.
I'm biased. Mac. I use it for college and it does everything I need perfectly fine plus I have all the extra software. Office for Mac is pretty slow, but it works fine.
I just bought a MacBook about a week ago.... and I would really recommend the MacBook... but that HP looks really nice for $600... You can always get an iTouch for cheap on eBay if you really need one... but for the same components and 400 dollars less.. with the warranty for a total of 3 years is pretty awesome. Apple Care costs almost $200... but if it's within your budget to get it.. then go ahead... but I'd really look at that HP... that really seems like a good deal. I'd also look at Lenovo and Sony... they have some really good notebook with great specs. Hope this helps!
Mac. plus you get a free Ipod touch as a college student. Can't beat that offer. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/back_to_school?cid=WWW-NAUS-BTS20090507-00032
I also plan on downgrading to XP because I dont even want to bother with vista, and I really dont need a hardcore operating system. Does anyone know if downgrading to XP: A)voids your warranty? B)Does it give the computer a higher probability of crashing or freezing more since you changed the operating system from the original one the manufacturer put in. C)And will a XP laptop with 4GB ram work considerably faster than a 2GB Macbook? My main interest in buying these laptops is speed.
A) No, as long as you reformat and install vista back before servicing it B) No, but Vista is more secure and stable than XP, depending on the task C) NO, XP can't see more than 3.1 gb UNLESS YOU ARE RUNNING A 64-bit Distro. Plus, some HP's with Vista come with Windows 7 coupons.
You should definitely get something that comes with or upgrades for cheap to Windows 7. It looks promising.
Well.. I wouldn't recommend you doing that... simply because Windows 7 is coming out in October and you will get a free upgrade with the HP PC. It doesn't void your warranty though if you downgrade to XP... No it doesn't give higher probability of crashing or anything like that either. Yes of course 4 GB > 2 GB... but again Windows 7... from the looks of it.. it's basically a significant upgrade from XP... and it's supposed to be faster than Vista... it's gotten great reviews so far.. I'd stick with Vista.. and then HP probably has a Windows 7 upgrade thing.. (here let me find it for you > http://h41112.www4.hp.com/promo/win7web/ie/en/ ) Go to that link to see more about getting that Windows 7 upgrade thing for free.
Well, why not throw down RC1? Microsoft has said they will just give you a code when the RTM hits shelves, and you won't have to format and reinstall to keep 7. Plus, if you try Windows 7 early and realize you have massive driver issues, you avoid an unnecessary format or upgrade later down the road. I'm not saying it's likely to happen, but it's easier to format a laptop the day you get it than after 6 months or so of use.
Well my dad is one of the deans at UH so he is able to get any of the programs for free, like xp, microsoft office, vista, and most likely windows 7. and with the apple you can upgrade to 4 GB ram for 100 dollars. and correct me if im wrong but a 4 GB apple is >>> than a 4GB PC? The main problem is price too. My dad is only willing to spend 700, MAYBE 800 total on a laptop for college. So if i got the apple, I would have to cover the difference. But I will easily cover the difference if there is a noticeable performance difference. I wish I could just try both them out for a week
Well... that's his decision I guess... but this isn't coming from Microsoft... this is coming from HP... you don't get crap from Microsoft... but yeah that's his choice I guess if he wants to install RC1.. he'd still have to uninstall Vista that comes pre-installed. But yeah.. I mean it's only 3 months away so... it's just whichever way you want to go with it Butterfingers.
Do this, go to the Apple Store... try out a Mac.. see how you like the Mac OSX.. I've been wanting the Mac OSX for a long time... it's been a after-thought after I couldn't get an iMac but I did get a MacBook mainly for the Mac OSX... It just depends on your preference. And no... 4 GB from Apple isn't any better than 4 GB for PCs.. it's all the same.. it's all about the OS at this point.. Let me put it to you this way... you can get same or BETTER specs on PCs for cheaper than you can if you get a MacBook... it really comes down to the Operating System.. if you really care about getting Mac OSX... (or the Snow Leopard which comes out in September) then you can go with the Mac... but if you're mainly a Windows person and really like all the components of Windows then go with a PC. You technically can't install Mac OSX without hacking it on a PC. So.. just decide that way.
Definitely wrong. It's like asking does a million pounds of feathers weigh more than a million pounds of water. When it comes to multicore support, and multichannel memory PC is better, then again the question at hand is what do you wanna do? If it's interweb surfing, the occasional video, typing word documents, and such, neither OS will make a difference. If you want to watch TV, run photoshop and go on Facebook, the PC will handle it better. Windows 7 is the first OS that can adequately thread to 4 cores. Mac OS can thread to two (correct me if I'm wrong on this). XP and Vista also can only do 2 cores. So even if you get 4gb of Ram and a quad core system, your OS can only really use 3 gb of the ram and 2 of the cores on hand (outside of Windows 7). Plus, with DX11 the graphics are much more efficiently handled by your gfx and not your processor. What that means is this, when you minimize a window, you see how it pops down or floats like a genie into a lamp? That will put strain on your system. Windows relies on the gfx card to do that, while unless you're running an awesome ass mac you're proc is doing that. It seems useless but it's not, if you're multitasking that act alone throttle's down performance. In the end, what you're asking for of your computer isn't much, both systems will accommodate to you well. If you are going to run 7, you don't need 4gb. My netbook runs it with only 1 gb flawlessly.
Well, some PC's come with a rebate in the box saying when the RTM comes out you get it for free or at a reduced price.
