Mac v PC?

Duke Dad · 05-26-2009, 05:35 PM

Any downside to bring a Mac laptop to campus? How about a Macbook Air?

SBR · 05-26-2009, 06:25 PM

No, Duke has been pretty good about supporting both Macs and PC. OIT offers support for both platforms and most software packages (at least in engineering) support both OS as well.

As for a macbook air, IMHO it's not something designed for students to use as their main computer. It makes too many sacrifices in the name of fashion and portability. While I'm sure some people who are constantly on the road might appreciate it's virtues, there are definitely better ways to spend 2K+ on either a Mac or a PC that'll give better bang for the buck. Of course, if you are buying an MBA merely as a secondary computer to carry around, then that's fine, except you can probably save $1500 and just buy a netbook for on-the-go computing. My $0.02.

Duke Dad · 05-27-2009, 02:40 PM

Just learned, Apple now offers a free itouch to students who purchase a Mac prior to Sept 8.

SBR · 05-27-2009, 04:11 PM

Apple runs that promotion every year around the back to school season.

At the moment, Apple is also running a $100 rebate program if you buy a mac with a qualifying printer. That might be worth looking into also. You might need to call to ask whether the two offers can be combined with one mac purchase.

Here's the link: Apple - Rebates

I would also suggest taking a look at Duke's freshmen computer purchase program whatever it's called. Duke offers Lenovo, Dell, and Apple computers through that program and you can buy bundles including the computer, Office for Mac, and AppleCare.

hookem168 · 05-27-2009, 06:07 PM

^ No Duke student needs a personal printer, because they have 100% free e-printing on the Duke network from printers all over campus! But good tip anyway

SBR · 05-27-2009, 08:08 PM

Actually I've become pretty jaded with the E-print network over the past year. Between the fact that there's exactly 1 printer for the entire central campus and that even on west I usually had to go to 3-4 stations before finding one that isn't jammed/broken/weird/whatever E-print has just been a huge headache for me. In fact, I've taken to sending my stuff to my queue at least 3 times before I even leave my computer just to compensate for the inevitable loss of printed documents from my account due to out of commission kiosks.

A printer may not be entirely necessary for students on east and west, but having an all-in-one which can print in color and b/w, scan documents, and make the occasional copy without having to go the library is pretty convenient. And nowadays, you can probably get one for under $50 on sale.

hookem168 · 05-27-2009, 11:17 PM

^ Niiiiiice, forgot you were a current student! Mmk, in that case I might bring one, just in case. Thanks!

SBR · 05-27-2009, 11:21 PM

well you don't have to bring one. I'd suggest considering one if you find it on sale or something...

cewolf1 · 05-28-2009, 04:32 PM

You can definitely combine the iPod and printer offer at Apple.

SBR · 05-28-2009, 05:15 PM

Oh good, that's like getting a free printer and a free touch. Good deal if you are planning on getting a mac anyway.

Edit: cewolf1 another fellow delawarean dukie!?!?

cewolf1 · 05-28-2009, 06:16 PM

Just a note that the printer and the iPod are both free after rebate, meaning that you do pay the $229 for the iPod and the $99+ for the printer up front, and then get your check in the mail. Just so your parents don't freak out at the total when the whole thing gets rung up haha.

And SBR: Hahaha yeah, I'm actually from Maine, but I've been living in the Newark area for the past year between high school and Duke. Even though I'm not a *true* Delawarean, I basically consider it a second home.

SBR · 05-28-2009, 07:16 PM

Total off-topic:

cewolf1: nice!

I live in the hockessin/pike creek area myself. Move up to DE from Atlanta for high school.

singersmom · 07-07-2009, 11:41 AM

My D's experience with OIT support for her Mac was not good. They would always tell her to go the the Apple store for help.

Which was difficult as she did not have a car on campus. She thinks OIT is worthless as far as Mac support.

SBR · 07-07-2009, 03:20 PM

Having worked there, OIT pretty much isn't all that helpful unless it's something really obvious like a giant crack on your screen or your harddrive dying or something.

I would imagine that OIT telling Mac user to go to the Apple store has other reasons than Duke having bad support. It's probable that Apple, which likes to have control over everything, doesn't trust Duke to mess around with their computers. Therefore, in order not to inadvertently void your warranty, Duke basically takes a hands off approach if it requires even touching the hardware...

That's just my speculation, but from what I know of how things work at OIT, it can't be very far off the mark.

constantly · 07-09-2009, 12:49 AM

^ Yeah, that sounds far more likely.