<p>The only times you need the absolute raw power of a $1500 laptop is when you run the very highest levels of software, extraordinarily large memory and running space hogs, and with multi-tasking of a few deeply complex programs, simultaneously. Even Macs in the lower price ranges are much more power than the average person needs. Yes, some art students need to be able to run several design programs at once- and prefer a Mac, for various related reasons. Certainly engineering or CS kids have unique needs. But, this doesn’t automatically mean the higher price ranges.</p>
<p>You pay attention to the school’s stated requirements- with the emphasis on the processing and memory needs. Yeah, you can do this for $6-700. Check sales and you can bring the price down. </p>
<p>And, as suggested, remember: even an expensive computer can be dropped, spilled on, or get stolen. Or, be cranky. </p>
<p>Ps. cheapest software programs are often through the school’s arrangements with suppliers. I think we paid about $85. But, I don’t find the schools’ computer “purchase arrangements” to be a great deal.</p>
<p>And, yes, we asked each of our kids to pay half the cost.</p>
<p>Lookingforward, if this is a kid who has never had a laptop, is wearing her 8th grade clothes while her brother gets luxuries, yeah, I think the parents should get her the laptop.</p>
<p>Why? If it were his or her first car, would you want to bump it up in price? I worked in the industry and there’s a certain macho element that sometimes leads to overbuying. Most brand new model laptops will offer the same state-of-the-art functionality. So far, we do not know the $1500 option is what the school promotes or requires.</p>
<p>On some threads, they advocate the online reconditioned or deeply-discounted options- I wouldn’t buy a lapotp that can’t be easily returned for service. We also usually stick to one-year service additions for the kids- not for DH or me.</p>
<p>I have always kidded around that my kids would do a powerpoint presentation whenever they tried to convince me to do/give them something. But it is not so outrageous. Maybe you should 1) state what kind of computer you want (not brand, but cpu, memory…), 2) Why? (for your courses, or nice to have), 3) find few brands which offer the kind of computer you want, or one you would build from scratch, 4) compare them (cost of a computer, cost of service agreement, service level, life of a computer, proximity of service center…).</p>
<p>As a parent, assuming I could affor it, if I could see there is a benefit of spending extra few hundred $$ then it is easier for me to say yes. A lot of parents hear from their friends that a laptop should only cost $500 now, for them to spend that extra $1000 is hard to justify. </p>
<p>I don’t know your family’s financial situation…but if my kid has been frugal (wearing 8th grade clothing) and has a full scholarship to a college, I would splurge to get that one item which is important to him/her. On the other hand, if your parents do not have that extra money, then that’s life.</p>
<p>The OP has been asking for advice on computers for months. Says he/she has about $1200 to "play with and has gotten lots of good advice on other theads. I’d stay at under that. No need whatsoever for a college freshman to have a huge souped up unnecessarily expensive machine that will be outdated in a few years even if it doesnt get broken, dropped, spilled on, stolen, etc. Now wants a souped up $1500 machine and thinks his/her parent is being unreasonable? Thats not the unreasonable one here, IMO.</p>
<p>jym, I dont think we have the full picture. OP says her brothers get to spend on luxuries. That would burn me. I dont agree that parents should spend more on boys.</p>
<p>That’s why it would be useful to list what he would get for 1500 vs 1000, then his parents could decide if those extra add ons are worth paying for. Or they could just say, “You have 1000 to spend, knock your self out. We don’t know anything about computer.”</p>
<p>Exactly, OF. If the parents have given a budget and the OP (no clue if the OP is male or female) wants to spend more, then the OP can pony up their own money if they have it, wait for sales, shop for better deals or select a model with a few less bells and whistles. I have a family full of IT/computer/STEM geeks and speaking from experience a college freshman does not need to spend $1500 on a laptop. Doesnt matter if they are still wearing clothes from many years ago. So am I.</p>
<p>I think that the answer may be that the parents may be being unreasonable (if they subsidize the boys luxuries, but wont get the girl the laptop), but there is not much she can do other than contact her schools major dept and see what they recommend, and try to get her parents to talk to them.</p>
<p>I would also suggest to OP, that if her parents become elderly and want help, she remind them to look to the boys.</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is that it doesn’t matter if the paent is being unreasonable or not. Someone offers to buy something for you or pay something, the price is up to them. There is this old saying about looking a gift horse in the mouth, that has a lot of merit.</p>
<p>It is rather unlikely that you need a high end laptop for doing computer science programming assignments. A less expensive model is likely perfectly fine.</p>
<p>OP has not yet started college and has already said he/she has shifted from wanting to major in finance to computer science. This could easily change again. </p>
<p>Agree with those who sugges that he/she check with the comp sci dept and see what the recommended systems/ needs are.</p>
<p>Sorry, but I don’t think a $1500 laptop is a necessity for a comp sci major. Nice? sure, but not a necessity. My comp sci kid got what he needed last summer for around 700- maybe 800 with everything. I also agree that you should check with the school to see what deals they have and what’s required.</p>
<p>My comp sci kid is hard on computers. He doesn’t drop them, or spill things on them, but hinges seem to be his enemy. We helped him buy his first computer, but he kicked in money too, because he, like the OP, wanted a top of the line machine. He replaced it at some point while still in college using money he’d earned from a summer internship. </p>
<p>Not having any idea about your family’s income and obligations I have no idea whether your family is being unreasonable.</p>
<p>Frankly, the coveted computer is cool. It’ ultra-thin, and brand new. But that isn’t the most practical machine for a college student. There will be plenty of things that you’ll need along the way and the extra money for this machine will come in handy then.</p>
<p>At D1’s school, the Mac came with a 3 year guarantee. At the end of summer junior year, Apple tried to sell us one more year of the guarantee, but we said no (hadn’t had any trouble). Wouldn’t you know it the computer crapped out senior year?!! :eek:</p>
<p>We had to buy her a new computer her senior year.</p>
<p>So I would calculate in a FOUR year guarantee to your price, lol…</p>
<p>We usually spend $1500 on the kids’ college computer, but that includes 4 years of guarantee, whatever cords and software they need…that would make the computer about $1200. </p>
<p>I’d dial down your expectations a bit. When you are working in the computer sci world (maybe even with the money you might be able to make on a summer internship), you can buy yourself the best laptop that money can buy–with your OWN money.</p>
<p>Bottom line is that $1500 is too much (and I’m one who tends to go with the higher end). There is a lot of theft at college, for one thing. My son’s laptop was stolen out of his apartment right before finals 1st semester soph year. It was a nightmare. </p>
<p>H tends to like Dell laptops. At work we have Lenovo ThinkPads (were IBM) and they are durable but more corporate-oriented.</p>