laur0814

I understand that JohnnyK works for apple, but all things aside, does anyone have advice for future science majors and pre-med students in the mac/pc choice? I am planning on buying soon, so any advice would be great.

tenebrousfire

logged in with the penn institutional discount:

the 17-inch macbook pro: $2,599
15.4-inch 2 ghz: $2,299
15.4-inch 1.83 ghz: $1,799

pentasa

so it's only like a $200 discount. I was hoping for like 25% or something haha stupid me

thanx for doing that t-fire

Re en Kam

I'm thinking that getting a Mac and then putting windows on it makes it more expensive than just getting a PC in the first place...so what would make the Mac better?

pentasa

Macs are generally known to be computers that require less maintenace

Re en Kam

The thing that holds me back about them is the keyboard. I know most people don't notice, but the keyboard on Mac if different than most PCs keyboards and they annoy me. Earlier today at school I stole a keyboard from a PC in the library to bring it to my class to use on the Mac because they annoy me so much...

JohnnyK

db06,

Yes. Don't wait any later than NSO. The Computer Connection will send you information about buying a computer online at the appropriate.

The stalling and running slow is probably because you have too many applications running at once. Mac apps usually don't exit when you close the window. The window will close but the app stays open. look at the program's icon in the Dock and see if it has a little black triangle below it. If you see a lot of black triangles, try quitting the programs you're not using.

I'd get the MacBook 15". 17" is just too big for a notebook unless you're a serious creative professional.

JohnnyK

Pentasa:

Unless you're doing graphic design in the field, a 17" portable is too big and heavy to seriously consider. For the same money you could buy the much more reasonable 15" MacBook and a 17" external display for it. Then you get a smaller and lighter notebook and the big screen for the times you may actually need it.

And you can definitely put XP on the MacBook. But why would you want to? Saying you want to use XP because you're 'too used to it' is silly. That's like saying you're too used to using a horse n buggy to switch to an automobile. You are 18 or 19 and your mind is young and flexible and more than capable of learning new things. College is about trying new things. It is also about not having to waste time waging a war against the network and its myriad viruses, hacks, spyware, etc.

Getting used to the Mac will take half an hour of effort for years of benefit.

Additionally Apple and the Computer Connection offer special Mac "switchting" training sessions to help people like you quickly discover and adapt to the differences between Mac OS X and Windows XP.

JohnnyK

laur0814

Biased I am, but the Mac works great for science and premed majors. Apple is big in academia, so all the science titles (Mathematica, Strata, SPSS) run on Mac. Other titles, including the ones professors write themselves for whatever, are UNIX-based. They will either make you use them on UNIX workstations or recompile them for your Mac (or ideally the lab Macs they will be using if we get the order from them :-D)

JohnnyK

Re en Kam:

The MAC OS makes getting a Mac better!!

It does everything you need and it does it without being perpetually under siege by malware and hackers. it's more intuitive, it doesn't need drivers isntalled for everything (most printers, cameras, scanners work automatically when you plug them in), crashes a LOT less...heck it even just looks better!

In the unlikely event your Mac should screw up or you need help with it, Apple made everything, so one phone call will get you the party responsible. No more Microsoft blaming the hardware manufacture blaming Microsoft blaming the driver company blaming AOL...ad nauseam. The buck stops here.

Just try the Mac. If you don't like it, return it. I've converted everyone from people who could care less about their computer to Windows lovers (I'd be happy to put you in touch with them). I promise you it's nothing like the outdated and poorly maintained pieces of crap you may have used in middle school.

As for the keyboard, it's not that Apple keyboards have a systematically differently designed layout. EVERY keyboard from EVERY manufacturer is slightly different, requiring adjustments in where you aim your fingers. I even experience this difference when I go from a PowerBook to an iBook.

AND YES MAC OS X HAS RIGHT-CLICK!!!!

Re en Kam

I must say, you're a really good salesman, JohnnyK. I'm actually considering Mac right now, which I've never done before. It'll probably come down to the kind of discounts I can get with the Macs and with PCs.

Klogon

I'm considering a mac too, something I had sworn never to do earlier.

upenn_rocks

This is the best place to here that NOTHING in the world could be better for you than a MAC...

bluejay400

Hey JohnnyK
I know we're all probably giving you a hassle with this, but I've been asking around a lot and you seem very helpful providing answers.. I've been researching the college houses, and I've read alot of threads here, on myspace, and on the penn forum, but I can't seem to be able to put information together.
I know what I want but I just don't know which house will provide that. The following is a list of my priorities in order of importance; I just want ur opinion on which house u think is most suitable according to my needs/wants...
1. i want an apartment/suite that has two separate rooms (not two beds in one room, but I definitely want a roommate) and an in-suite/apartment bathroom. Since I cover my head, it doesn't sound convenient for me to use communal bathrooms
2. a college house where I can go up to people randomly and introduce myself without having to feel weird about it...u know what i mean? like im the type whoz outgoing and goes to people and introduces myself before people coming to me. I just don't want to feel weird doing that, so basically, good social, friendly house...I heard the quad was great for freshmen social life, however, I also heard social life there was based on drinking. I don't wanna feel like im outta place bcuz I don't drink...so if drinking and partying is the way to meet friends, then its not the right place for me
3. i dont play any instruments but i dance, so it would be a great plus if the house had a practice dancing room..
4. i dont have a laptop, so it would be necessary for the house to have a computer lab
5. easy access to classes...i dont want to wake up half an hour earlier than anyone else to get to class on time, but if thats the only condition the house wont meet, then I will manage..
5. exercise or fitness room.

I know ur thinking "house brochure" but i read that from cover to cover and it doesnt help me that much...i mean it tells me what the pros of each college house is, but it doesnt tell me the cons, and it doesnt give me a clear perspective on each...
ur help is tremendously appreciated...
thank u sooo much

*by the way, im an int'l student ... if i lived in the states, i would have visited the place myself and saved u all the trouble...

legendofmax

People who bash Macs are too used to Windows and are afraid of switching. I like both Macs and PCs... but Mac definitely has its upsides.