magicbus
LBI, NJ
Senior Member
Joined: 06/16/2002
View Profile
 Offline
|
Another vote for buying on campus or through the school's web site if the service is available. You will probably be offered a choice either of the two major operating systems and you can find one that fits your price range and includes the required software AND can get local support.
Dave
Life doesn't come with a safety fence around it... enjoy it anyway.
|
GSF
full-timing in North America
Senior Member
Joined: 06/04/2004
View Profile
|
Unless you want to risk buying something incompatible with what she'll need for school, have her go to the college bookstore first. At one time, Apple used to sell the Mac at cost through colleges and universities. That's one of the main reasons so many students nowadays graduate using a Mac. Then they go into the work environment, and unless they're in graphic arts, they find that most businesses use PCs, especially in administration, engineering and architecture.
George
97 Airstream Land Yacht
01 PT Cruiser Dinghy
Cappy - Pekinese Burglar Alarm
|
taviking22
Omaha, NE
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Just remember.....
Once you go Mac, you'll never go back!
taviking22
Omaha, NE
2006 2500HD Silverado 4 X 4, Duramax LBZ
2008 Tracker Pro Guide V-16 Boat
2009 Jayco Eagle Super Light 28.5 RLS 5th Wheel
|
donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
Senior Member
Joined: 04/21/2005
View Profile
 Online
|
Sorry all you Microsoft people, but in schools by far the most popular is Apple. DD got a new Apple for her grad school and the battery lasts far longer than the Microsoft stuff some of the rest in her class have. And with so many problems associated with Bill Gates products, the Apple looks to be by far a better choice.
Donn
|
magicbus
LBI, NJ
Senior Member
Joined: 06/16/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
I guess people can't read... the OP is apparently on a tight budget which will probably buy her a perfectly suitable Acer with ease for less than half the price of a Mac.  Macs may put out a great machine/OS combo but a) at entry level they are more undeniably more expensive; b) they don't (in my case anyway) support the hardware I need for work; and c) well, I'm sure there's a c) but nobody cares anyway... oh, and d) the OP's daughter has a PC already and may want to easily share files and programs she has licensed (without purchasing yet another copy of a Windows OS).
Again, I would check the school's offers - they will probably be the best deal on properly equipped for her scholastic needs.
Dave
|
|
|
pulsar
Lewisville, NC
Moderator
Joined: 12/30/2001
View Profile
|
Cynda,
Please check with the college. Some colleges are predominantly PC oriented; some are prodominantly Mac oriented. You should be able to get a good deal through the college store.
I'm not sure where the idea that Macs are the in the majority on college campus, in general. Certainly, Macs have made a big come back on the college campuses. When Morgan Stanley published its survey of college student's planned purchases for this year, 40% said they would buy Macs. Not a majority, but a big increase from the 2006 results that showed 19% of college students planned to buy Macs.
Here is a chart from the survey.
Click to enlarge. Use your browser's Back button to return to the post.
Tom
|
cynda
St. Louis, Mo. usa
Senior Member
Joined: 07/20/2003
View Profile
|
O.K. checked with the school. No mac, just windows programs. I can get $10.00 of a Dell. Big whoopee!! No way is she getting a Mac when I'm to cheap to buy myself one!
I hoping she can find something decent for around 500-700. I am only paying half. She will take care of it if she has to pony-up her own money.
2004 2505QSS Frontier.
|
Fort_Turner
Sherburne, NY
Full Member
Joined: 03/27/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I have been in K-12 IT for 20+ years. Have worked w/ pc's, mac's, and even amigas. I have supported thousands of desktops and laptops. I personally favor the mac at all levels but you were right to check with the college before deciding. Based upon your budget and daughter's needs I would suggest looking at the dell laptops with a 3 year warranty. I have seen them last 2-6 years. If your child throws the laptop around and eats dinner on it, I agree that 2 years is probably realistic. However, with a little care they should be able to get 4 years out of the machine - This also assumes that they only need it for Internet access and typing documents, and other 'normal' software - basic stuff. If they are into gaming and creating videos, it won't last.
Try this link:www.dell.com/aug2 You might find some better deals.
2006 Terry Quantium 2952BS 5'ver
2001 Dodge 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 LB V10
|
PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/19/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
My kids are all finished with college. They never used a laptop, they just used their trusty desktop.
A lot of students think they can take notes in class on a laptop. They are wrong. It is really difficult in math and science classes.
The only time my kids really had any use for a laptop was when they met in a study group. Someone else always had a laptop. So they took all the notes. Nice way of getting out of that task.
Some majors use very specialized software. Engineering uses various CAD packages. Some of these will not run on Apple.
A lot of students like to use their laptop on the bed. This is a very bad idea. The laptop must always be on a hard surface so that there is airflow underneath the bottom. Otherwise it will overheat.
My son the engineer kept a lot of his projects on a memory stick. He could work on it in the lab on campus or back at his apartment. Many times data portability is enough.
Securing a laptop is problematic when away from home. If you are using it in the library, make sure you take it with you if you go to the restroom so it doesn't disappear.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
TV2:2008 GMC 2500HD long bed 4wd Crew Cab,GMC brake ctlr,GMC mirrors
TT:Trailmanor 2720
Honda 2000
Yamaha WR250R,Polaris Sportsman 700 X2,Polaris Scrambler 500
|
8.1 Van
Millstone NJ
Senior Member
Joined: 03/20/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
donn0128 wrote:Sorry all you Microsoft people, but in schools by far the most popular is Apple. DD got a new Apple for her grad school and the battery lasts far longer than the Microsoft stuff some of the rest in her class have. And with so many problems associated with Bill Gates products, the Apple looks to be by far a better choice.
I paid $1,000 for my loaded Core 2 Duo 17" HP laptop with blu-ray drive,HDMI out etc that is not on the 17" Apple laptop that cost almost 3 times as much. I have not had a single problem and I have not see a single school were Mac laptops outnumber PC laptops.
* This post was
edited 08/07/08 08:15pm by an administrator/moderator *
FKA PSDExcursion
2002 Chevy Express LS 3500 8.1 155" WB passenger van 3.73 posi (GT4/G80)
41 Ft 2003 Thor Citation 41-ZBSR TT w/ Hensley Arrow
|
|
|
