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Computer advice for college kids....

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:27 pm
by cypressgirl
I have one daughter going to grad school that needs a good laptop for her medical program, and another going into college next year, with a bio medical engineering/pre-med agenda. They both want something not too heavey, with long battery life, yada, yada, yada....over my head. Anyone have any advice? I know they'd like blue-ray too. Anyone have any advice?

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:43 pm
by byado18
Mac Air or Mac book depending on the features they need!! LIght and "sexy" and doesn't have all the problems of a PC!

I am sure PC lovers will weigh in with their own opinions..... but I am a Mac convert after 20 years of PCs!

Also, often the college will have a computer purchase area on their web site where they "advise" what their preferred operating system (Mac or PC ) is and then you have an easier time getting support on campus!

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:05 am
by loria
i would second the macbook--not so much the air UNLESS they get an external drive --also, if they are going to be running stat packs like SAS then they might want to reconsider the whole mac thing--I have a mac that runs both windows and mac stuff --it can get hairy.

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:36 am
by cypressgirl
loria wrote:i would second the macbook--not so much the air UNLESS they get an external drive --also, if they are going to be running stat packs like SAS then they might want to reconsider the whole mac thing--I have a mac that runs both windows and mac stuff --it can get hairy.
God, I wish I knew what you are talking about. I'm so tech stupid. But I'll pass along your advice to my son, who is my techie. Thanks!

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:59 am
by loria
Cypress just to clarify--If your kid plans on using the computer for alot of statistical computing using statistical packages like SAS or STATA or SPSS (or a number of others) A mac might not be he best choice--
ON any number of other things I would CERTAINLY go with the macbook
(the air only if you need don't need lots of programs and storage on your computer--)
hope that helps.
L

~

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:27 am
by cypressgirl
Thanks Loria! That helps a little bit. :oops: I'm sure the kids will get it.

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:27 pm
by Chet

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:47 pm
by sherban
Ahhh...is this a PC Vs Mac thread? I have never owned a Mac and probably never will...

If I were buying for my kid it would probably be a laptop from newegg.com or something like that.

I hear Macs are great but I have never seen one where I work...in all of ~ 17 years.

There seems to be cliques...I run in an engineering clique and everyone has PCs.

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 7:18 pm
by loria
ahh the mac versus pc war has begun!!!

i have to say, i work on PC at work (running alot of software that deosn't have a mac equivalent)
but Mac's are great for graphics, and no viruses and better, integration better uniformity--we had the mac-pc war in our house--( iwas a PC person )
Mac won.....hands down.
really. :wink:

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 7:40 pm
by cypressgirl
OMG....I hope I don't get blamed for starting something here. I can tell you what color to paint your living room, or which silk you want for your drapes, but PC?....Mac???? :? :? :?

I think I'll just go to Best Buy and see what's on sale.