Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
$3000 to spend on computer(s), going to college, what do you think?
- Thread starter Entourage12
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Take the $3000, get a loan for another $3000, and have the best dam freshers week available, just remember to keep $5 for a writing pad and a pen. Every person i know who says you need a good computer for course work ends up either playing solitaire or the mac equivalent all day.
Screw the computers and focus on college or have some fun. You don't need a good computer, something like a macbook will do you grand.
Screw the computers and focus on college or have some fun. You don't need a good computer, something like a macbook will do you grand.
I'm in a bit of an abnormal situation in comparison to most people who are going into college practically broke. I'm going into the Business course which is about 15 hours / week, at the same school my girlfriend for a year and a half goes to. I am getting MORE money from my parents that just this $3000 for everything else, booze, etc, etc. I have a PS3 and a decent 26' Insignia LCD (I know its not the best but it will work).
As another person said I wont have much downtime because i'll be too busy with girls etc etc. When I made this post I said I was really a casual gamer, I mean i'd be on WoW for maybe an hour a day? And play FPS games once a week. Tops. I just have the money to spend, and would like what I buy to be able to do these things.
So far most people seem to think the Macbook Pro with another brand of external display. I had a look at the dell displays and there are some really nice UltraSharp displays at some extremely competitive prices. I liked the look of the 19' because I really have no idea how much space I will have in a cramped University room for all of this.
I read some of the posts and someone has said to wait on getting the AppleCare. Whats the benefit of this? If you're going to buy it eventually why not just get it now?
Also another thing is to buy the AppleCare from a 3rd party, this would be good for cash but I have been reading that the AppleCare you can buy from eBay etc will only work in the United States. I'm going to be based in Canada. Can anyone confirm this? Also, the AppleCare for a MacBook pro is $279, iMac is $135, and Macbook is $218 with the Student Discount.
Thank you all very much for you're help and I made this post with a completely open mind because I really have no idea what would be the best to get for that amount. Keep the replies coming!
As another person said I wont have much downtime because i'll be too busy with girls etc etc. When I made this post I said I was really a casual gamer, I mean i'd be on WoW for maybe an hour a day? And play FPS games once a week. Tops. I just have the money to spend, and would like what I buy to be able to do these things.
So far most people seem to think the Macbook Pro with another brand of external display. I had a look at the dell displays and there are some really nice UltraSharp displays at some extremely competitive prices. I liked the look of the 19' because I really have no idea how much space I will have in a cramped University room for all of this.
I read some of the posts and someone has said to wait on getting the AppleCare. Whats the benefit of this? If you're going to buy it eventually why not just get it now?
Also another thing is to buy the AppleCare from a 3rd party, this would be good for cash but I have been reading that the AppleCare you can buy from eBay etc will only work in the United States. I'm going to be based in Canada. Can anyone confirm this? Also, the AppleCare for a MacBook pro is $279, iMac is $135, and Macbook is $218 with the Student Discount.
Thank you all very much for you're help and I made this post with a completely open mind because I really have no idea what would be the best to get for that amount. Keep the replies coming!
I know that's the the second post in the thread, but I'm quoting it for truth.
Seriously, you don't NEED two computers. Go with a portable, either an MB or an MBP, an external monitor, and put the rest away. If you've got a PS3, you might not need the power of the MBP just for gaming.
A big part of university learning occurs outside the classroom, through the experiences you have with your classmates and colleagues. You'll need cash for many of those experiences: food money, beer money, clothes money (a nice outfit or two to wear to networking events never hurts).
I say this from experience. As someone completing a second master's degree, I'm on my third trip through university life.
If you're getting a portable, I'd say that AppleCare is a must. Perhaps not on a desktop unit, but if a portable gives your trouble, often it's too late for AppleCare at that point.
Still you might as well stick the extra money in the bank.
Cashflow. However as you can afford it you might as well get it now.
Don't forget your Back Up Solution
Which ever solution you decide on, don't forget the back up solution. You are going to be on deadline all the time. In this day and age, I don't think you'll get much sympathy from faculty because your HD crashed with the term-paper due. It doesn't have to be a hardware solution - emailing your assignments to a gmail account daily would work. Just make sure you do something, and do it daily. I've seen students come in on a due date, and say that their assignment had been lost due to computer problems. I believed them, but didn't give them an extension. They (and you, now) must learn the importance of having important work properly backed up. I'm sure you have already thought of this.....
When my wife was doing her Masters she had all her papers on her MBP's HD, on memory sticks, on the school's server, and often emailed to her gmail account. Never needed to go to a backup, and had to develop a system for keeping straight which versions went where and when - but she is very organized!
Good Luck
ps She went through her Master's with just a 15" MBP. Loved it, still has it, she didn't play any games or rip DVDs on it - she was there to learn.
Which ever solution you decide on, don't forget the back up solution. You are going to be on deadline all the time. In this day and age, I don't think you'll get much sympathy from faculty because your HD crashed with the term-paper due. It doesn't have to be a hardware solution - emailing your assignments to a gmail account daily would work. Just make sure you do something, and do it daily. I've seen students come in on a due date, and say that their assignment had been lost due to computer problems. I believed them, but didn't give them an extension. They (and you, now) must learn the importance of having important work properly backed up. I'm sure you have already thought of this.....
When my wife was doing her Masters she had all her papers on her MBP's HD, on memory sticks, on the school's server, and often emailed to her gmail account. Never needed to go to a backup, and had to develop a system for keeping straight which versions went where and when - but she is very organized!
Good Luck
ps She went through her Master's with just a 15" MBP. Loved it, still has it, she didn't play any games or rip DVDs on it - she was there to learn.
Plan to do essay writing (of course) probably stuff like powerpoints etc which I think would be easily done on the Macbook. But, I need a bit more power to do a little gaming and use it as a entertainment center, I currently have about 580GB of external storage, which is almost filled to capacity with movies and songs so I will probably end up getting another.
I'm really in a pickle between the Macbook Pro and the screen or the iMac and a Macbook. I love that with the Macbook Pro I will be able to have everything on one powerful computer but the idea of 2 separate computers for the same price has me very torn.
Would anyone happen to have links for benchmarks between the older 2.4GHz iMac vs the new 2.4GHz Macbook Pro? I've done some searches but turned up with nothing.
I really have no need to save the money like people have said, in the bigger picture $3,000 on computer equipment is quite cheap for the total cost of University. For me atleast, being an international student, I'm looking at about $30,000 atleast a year, without factoring in the scholarship. So spending $3,000 on something to last me for 4 years, possibly 5, in University is really not that big of a deal to my parents.
I'm really in a pickle between the Macbook Pro and the screen or the iMac and a Macbook. I love that with the Macbook Pro I will be able to have everything on one powerful computer but the idea of 2 separate computers for the same price has me very torn.
Would anyone happen to have links for benchmarks between the older 2.4GHz iMac vs the new 2.4GHz Macbook Pro? I've done some searches but turned up with nothing.
I really have no need to save the money like people have said, in the bigger picture $3,000 on computer equipment is quite cheap for the total cost of University. For me atleast, being an international student, I'm looking at about $30,000 atleast a year, without factoring in the scholarship. So spending $3,000 on something to last me for 4 years, possibly 5, in University is really not that big of a deal to my parents.
You've got the right idea with the $1299 MacBook, and spend the other $1701 on a gaming PC if you feel it's necessary. A very nicely spec'd system with with and 8800GT or 3870 card should be about $1200.
Or consider a PS3 in lieu of the gaming PC. If you do that though, wait for the 80GB's return in June, bundled with MGS4, DualShock3, and backwards compatibility.
In fact I'd actually recommend that. $1300 for the MacBook + $500 for the 80GB PS3, then $1200 of wiggle room. College students don't start out poor, but it DOES happen slowly.
Or consider a PS3 in lieu of the gaming PC. If you do that though, wait for the 80GB's return in June, bundled with MGS4, DualShock3, and backwards compatibility.
In fact I'd actually recommend that. $1300 for the MacBook + $500 for the 80GB PS3, then $1200 of wiggle room. College students don't start out poor, but it DOES happen slowly.
He said he already has a ps3. Almost everyone who plays games has a PS3 and/or 360 and/or Wii. Consoles are not a replacement for PC gaming anyways, theyre all different platforms that have different kinds of games. Its like saying "dont get a radio, get a cd player", most people who listen to music get both.
Get nothing.
If you already have a computer to use, get on campus and get a feel for what your going to need.
I ended up with, MBP 17" connected to a 24" with a Playstation 3. Then a Macbook Air in my backpack.
If you already have a computer to use, get on campus and get a feel for what your going to need.
I ended up with, MBP 17" connected to a 24" with a Playstation 3. Then a Macbook Air in my backpack.
Will the Geforce 8600M GT be enough for your gaming needs? If not, I would seriously consider the 24" iMac with the Geforce 8800M GTS and either a MacBook or MacBook Pro for portability. Although the MacBook Pro sure is a fine machine
You will appreciate the screen real-estate of the 24" iMac when doing essays and power point presentations.
I am pretty sure that many have given you good insight, but this is my two cents.
Get the Macbook and iMac combo. Everything else can be had for cheap later on or with your own money, or refund check if applicable.
I still stand by college students being prone to loosing or having their computers stolen at least once before their college careers are up. That's my OPINION. And nothing beats a backup machine.
The 20" ACD is wonderful, but if you're not springing for the 23" (where HD starts) don't worry about it, or save some dough and get a Dell or Samsung or HP.
Seriously though... get the Macbook and iMac, use the iMac as your main base and use the MacBook as your portable notebook (with not too much personal stuff on it). You will love the experience.
Get the Macbook and iMac combo. Everything else can be had for cheap later on or with your own money, or refund check if applicable.
I still stand by college students being prone to loosing or having their computers stolen at least once before their college careers are up. That's my OPINION. And nothing beats a backup machine.
The 20" ACD is wonderful, but if you're not springing for the 23" (where HD starts) don't worry about it, or save some dough and get a Dell or Samsung or HP.
Seriously though... get the Macbook and iMac, use the iMac as your main base and use the MacBook as your portable notebook (with not too much personal stuff on it). You will love the experience.
They are about the same. MBP has better video card for games so I'd give it an edge
Sorry, I dont have a link to benchmarks, but barefeats.com has plenty of them.
A bright future
Oh boy, I teach at university and I tell you: you have that kind great attitude towards work that will likely earn you even a C- (maybe, occasionally... if you are really smart).
One hour/day play, booze, girls.... right on dude!
Let me guess: you are going to school in a Hummer?
Oh boy, I teach at university and I tell you: you have that kind great attitude towards work that will likely earn you even a C- (maybe, occasionally... if you are really smart).
One hour/day play, booze, girls.... right on dude!
Let me guess: you are going to school in a Hummer?
In your situation I don't believe that two computers are necessary. I think one decent notebook will suit your needs. I had one laptop for the first 3 years, moved to a PB once I knew I'd be done in 1 year and moving onto my Master's. Now, three years later I'm replacing it with a desktop but fully intend to keep the PB to use around the house and when I travel.
In all honesty, the PB driving a 30" has been just wonderful. Prior to that it was hooked to a 20". The iMac/MacBook option seems like overkill. Save your cash, get a MBP and bank some because you'll need it.
In all honesty, the PB driving a 30" has been just wonderful. Prior to that it was hooked to a 20". The iMac/MacBook option seems like overkill. Save your cash, get a MBP and bank some because you'll need it.
Was that honestly necessary? This is a forum for people looking to buy or looking for information on Mac computers. I'm here looking for advice just like many others and how is that going to be helpful at all?
I think that's a whole lot of assumptions you've made about me and you know absolutely nothing about me. I have no intentions of going to University to get drunk and screw away the rest of my life. I'm in a position right now where my family has enough money that I don't even need to go to school anymore! I actually happen to be a 90%+ student, and I take my work extremely seriously. I am extremely self motivated to get somewhere in my life on my own without relying on my parents and that's something I've seen is quite rare in people my age.
Speak your mind! I agree, his comment was uncalled for. By the way Linux, you gotta work on your English.. since you're a college professor and all.
I'll put my two cents in:
I am in the same situation as you. I like computer/video games but I want a macbook pro for portability. I am going off to a University this year as well. Money is not really a problem for me either. It is really hard for me to decide on what to do.
I have a 26" lcd which I am not bringing as well as a Wii/xbox 360.
Someone mentioned that a desktop would be easy to steal. A game console wouldn't? There is always some risk to what you leave in your room so yes it is possible what you bring will get stolen, but I do not think this happens very often. I would think it is more likely a game system would be stolen than a desktop. Wouldn't it look a little weird if someone was fleeing with a desktop in hand?
I am on the verge of custom building my own gaming computer and bringing it with me. Sure there is a possibility that it will get stolen, but I tend to think I will be safe. Also, I am going to make it in a case that is not very flashy in order to keep it a low profile. I think a nice TV and an expensive game system like a PS3 will stand out more than a desktop. If you like to game now, there is no reason why you will not have the opportunity to game in college, and many college students game alot. Your best friends might be gamers. On a college forum I go to, there are six users going to my college next year who say they like to play computer games, and five of them are bringing a desktop as well as a laptop to college so they will be able to game with other students.
Oblivious teachers will tell you that you will fail out of college if you bring a desktop and party animals will tell you that you will be need the money for hot babes and booze. I tend to think that bringing a desktop to play the occasional computer game is a fine idea and if you want to pay for it, there is no reason why not. You already admitted that money was not an issue, so go for it and you will be able to have the productivity and function of a macbook pro with the luxury of a desktop gaming PC.
This post is so riddled with ridiculous statements I don't even know where to begin.
You sure as hell can go wrong with a 1.2 Ghz processor. Good luck having that last you 4 years.
Wow, this thread is just filled with gems, isn't it?
Get a macbook pro and be done with it. That will suffice for most everything, last 4 years, and be a simple, all in one solution. Don't get two computers - it's needlessly complicated, and completely unnecessary.
Get a MBP, external monitor, and leave it at that. Having 2 computers would be a mess. I have a MB, and a computer at uni (I'm doing a PhD), and I only use my MacBook. Even if you decide to get a MB and an iMac, save the iMac purchase for later. What's the harm? Walk in with your MB, find out what you need first, and then shop. Or better yet, buy your new Macs after you enter uni. You may find that you don't play video games as often as you do now, as you're too busy with uni, new friends, (peer) pressure to go out and having fun, etc. That's life. I've been at uni for 8 years. I know universities quite well.
Also, I wouldn't go with the ADC you have in the poll. Get a Dell and blend in. Seriously. An ADC is going to stick out from what other students have, and you'll have a higher risk of getting it stolen. I'm not going to tell you to stop buying nice stuff. I had $5000 worth of photography equipment right now (as a student), and I love it. However, I think the ADC would be over the top if you live in a uni residence/dorm.
Did McDonalds open a university?
Also, I wouldn't go with the ADC you have in the poll. Get a Dell and blend in. Seriously. An ADC is going to stick out from what other students have, and you'll have a higher risk of getting it stolen. I'm not going to tell you to stop buying nice stuff. I had $5000 worth of photography equipment right now (as a student), and I love it. However, I think the ADC would be over the top if you live in a uni residence/dorm.
Did McDonalds open a university?
