I am thinking of going into a computer science degree program when I go to college and I need to get a computer. I am trying to decide between two computers, the Alienware M14x and the 15" Macbook Pro.
The specs for the Alienware are:
PROCESSOR Intel® Core i7 2720QM 2.2GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64bit, English
MEMORY 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
VIDEO CARD 3.0GB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M using NVIDIA Optimus technology
HARD DRIVE 750GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
LCD PANEL 14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight
WIRELESS CARDS Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6205 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE 8x SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Slot Load Optical Drive
SOUND OPTIONS Soundblaster® X-Fi Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled
BLUETOOTH Internal Bluetooth 3.0
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 3 Year Advanced Plan
Total Cost: $2408
Spec for Macbook Pro 15"
2.2GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
MacBook Pro 15-inch Glossy Widescreen Display
Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook Pro - Auto-enroll
Total cost (Student discount + 7% MS Tax) $2587.26
Both of these computers have the same processor. They both have the same amount of memory, but the Alienware is 1600mhz vs Mac 1333mhz. I need a hdd at 7200rpm and the Alienware has a 750gb vs Mac 500gb. They both have the same type of disc drive. The Mac only has 1gb of video RAM whilst the Alienware has 3gb.
I know that the Mac has lesser specs and is more expensive, but I like how almost every aspect of OS X has a polished look to it, such as all of the icons are smooth and look sleek.
I will most likely go with the Alienware if I would have to buy a copy of Windows 7 to do either Parallels or Duel-Boot for the computer science software, because I don't want to spend more if I don't have to. I don't know if I would have to use Windows for the programming part of the computer science courses. I would snap up a Macbook immediately if I would only need Linux to do the programming and the like.
If Linux would be the only thing I need, then how much of the hdd should I partition for Linux so I can run all of the software?
If anyone has taken a computer science courses and could tell me what they used, what the rest of the students used, what programs they used, and how compatible a Mac would be for the software that was used it would be very beneficial.
I know that Macs are expensive because only Apple makes them and they can charge whatever the want, but the price for the hardware like the memory and the lack of choice for the video card, and how Apple won't ever seem to get a blu-ray drive. Also what is up with how Apple won't offer a 750gb 7200rpm hdd when you can easily fit one in the case?
I would like some impartial opinions (even though I'm on a Mac forum) for how well both of these machines could hold up In a computer science classroom.
p.s I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section, because I couldn't find a more appropriate place.
-MrP
The specs for the Alienware are:
PROCESSOR Intel® Core i7 2720QM 2.2GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64bit, English
MEMORY 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
VIDEO CARD 3.0GB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M using NVIDIA Optimus technology
HARD DRIVE 750GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
LCD PANEL 14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight
WIRELESS CARDS Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6205 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE 8x SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Slot Load Optical Drive
SOUND OPTIONS Soundblaster® X-Fi Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled
BLUETOOTH Internal Bluetooth 3.0
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 3 Year Advanced Plan
Total Cost: $2408
Spec for Macbook Pro 15"
2.2GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
MacBook Pro 15-inch Glossy Widescreen Display
Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook Pro - Auto-enroll
Total cost (Student discount + 7% MS Tax) $2587.26
Both of these computers have the same processor. They both have the same amount of memory, but the Alienware is 1600mhz vs Mac 1333mhz. I need a hdd at 7200rpm and the Alienware has a 750gb vs Mac 500gb. They both have the same type of disc drive. The Mac only has 1gb of video RAM whilst the Alienware has 3gb.
I know that the Mac has lesser specs and is more expensive, but I like how almost every aspect of OS X has a polished look to it, such as all of the icons are smooth and look sleek.
I will most likely go with the Alienware if I would have to buy a copy of Windows 7 to do either Parallels or Duel-Boot for the computer science software, because I don't want to spend more if I don't have to. I don't know if I would have to use Windows for the programming part of the computer science courses. I would snap up a Macbook immediately if I would only need Linux to do the programming and the like.
If Linux would be the only thing I need, then how much of the hdd should I partition for Linux so I can run all of the software?
If anyone has taken a computer science courses and could tell me what they used, what the rest of the students used, what programs they used, and how compatible a Mac would be for the software that was used it would be very beneficial.
I know that Macs are expensive because only Apple makes them and they can charge whatever the want, but the price for the hardware like the memory and the lack of choice for the video card, and how Apple won't ever seem to get a blu-ray drive. Also what is up with how Apple won't offer a 750gb 7200rpm hdd when you can easily fit one in the case?
I would like some impartial opinions (even though I'm on a Mac forum) for how well both of these machines could hold up In a computer science classroom.
p.s I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section, because I couldn't find a more appropriate place.
-MrP