<p>I remember seeing a thread about which laptop to buy. It was a rather lengthy thread, can someone please post a link. Thank you.</p>
<p>Try looking in the computer sub forum that is in the college life forum.</p>
<p>I would also post this on your college’s board. A few schools have plans to buy a computer through the college at a discounted rate and a few others ( although it is very rare) give students computers to use in college. In general, both are fine.</p>
<p>Depends on your needs. The UW-Madison DoIT (computer tech) site has suggestions based on how graphics heavy versus other criteria. If this is for a student wait until summer when the sales are.</p>
<p>By all means, do check the college’s requirements or recommendations. At Lake Jr.'s university every underclassman is assigned a windows PC.</p>
<p>Is there a reason?
Seems a big expense if not needed.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider, don’t buy a computer or tablet unless you plan to use it regularly the moment you get it. </p>
<p>If you buy it as a “spare” or don’t use it for the first several months to a year, you may find yourself afflicted with a serious issue or malfunction due to a manufacturing defect which could have been uncovered and repaired within the warranty period. </p>
<p>I read my son’s college’s web site and it was all over the place. Meaning you can get either, but one section seemed to prefer MACs. Also they provide computer rentals. What are the odds a new computer is equal to the rental price over 1 or more years? Also, what if it gets ripped off? I’m sure the rental would have theft insurance. I’m on the fence about splurging right away. </p>
<p>You buy insurance for college stuff, including computers. There are 2 or 3 companies. We used NSSI. Full replacement cost coverage and they paid for a laptop screen replacement. </p>
<p>Beyond that, you should buy something like SquareTrade as a warranty for electronics rather than relying on a manufacturer. </p>
<p>But beside that, I’d say the best choice for a regular use computer now is the MacBook Air. Very few kids need more power and students love the 12 hours of battery life in a 13" notebook. They can add an optical drive as a peripheral for under $50 including an adaptor. The Airs are so good, I’d think about that over a next full size iPad. (To be specific, I love my iPad but am switching to a mini and using that with an Air.)</p>
<p>Son was a diehard PC user/antiApple but got the MacBook Air for himself last year. He’s a software developer/engineer (depends on employer) so he had his reasons. However, while a student he used his desktop PC from home- math then added comp sci major, portability versus function (gaming et al).</p>
<p>The major matters, hence the varied recommendations. Engineering may prefer one over the other, intensive graphics use was Apple back when I did research. It isn’t just the school but the usage anticipated. Be sure there is easy compatibility with the department most needing it. </p>