<p>Stanford student here. I’d say about 90-95% of students own laptops, and most of the rest own desktops. I only know of one person who doesn’t own a personal computer. </p>
<p>That said, it’s perfectly possible to survive at Stanford without a computer. Every residence has a computer cluster, and there are several large central clusters open 24 hours per day. All computers are relatively recent iMacs dual-booting OS X and Windows 7.</p>
<p>As for the Mac vs. PC debate - it’s entirely a matter of your student’s preference. Macs are extremely popular on campus (I’d say they comprise the majority) but they are indeed quite expensive. Unless this laptop is supposed to be a surprise gift, I’d consult with your son/daughter first.</p>