If you dont mind dropping more money for the pro, go for it. Now if you dont drive i would not suggest the 17 inch, jsut simply too big, but the benefit of it is the prof is completely invisible behinds the screen lol. 15 sounds better for you, it still slightly big, when i had my pro it was harder to take around with me. Now I have traded it in for macbook and its awsome, i literally take it everywhere with me, it literally fits into any kind of bag. I am work in retail, and what you have posted gives evaluates you to amd turrion PC, if you can dish out more them core 2 duo PC, then mac book, then pro. So if simply breaking it into real world, you are wasting money on a pro, as you can get the same size screen for far cheaper and what does what you need just as well, but much cheaper. THen looking into a mac side, mackbook is still too much for you, but simply just because it is a mac i am letting you go for one. And the higher end macbook is best value as lower end has no dvd burner (what was steve thinking). Blackbook simply is overpriced for the look and hardrive. Its not even worth the price, on top of it it is ugly and looks generic. Well bottom line, if you are on a budget, get a turion or above PC, if you have some cash to spend then get a macbook, if you are stinking loaded, get a pro for the show. Thats my 2 cents, damn i work even when i am off clock lol. BTW go to best buy and get one, waranty is better then apple care, its a bit more, but the replacemnt is not refurb.
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College Life
- Thread starter eddy64
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Agreed. 2 Macs are always better than 1. The mid-range 20" iMac with a 500 HDD is $1600, less the student discount and add in the 3rd party RAM upgrade to 4 GB and you still hover around $1500. Add on a BlackBook for $1500, less the student discount and another 3rd party 4 GB upgrade and you still get $1500 for the BlackBook. Of course these don't have AppleCare, but that should be a given factor anyhow so you really shouldn't have to think about that. That brings your total with Apple Care to $3419, not bad at all.
He was aiming for $2500 and nothing more he said...
Go for the the 17". Believe me, if you get a macbook you wont be using it to take it to class. Or atleast wait till you start uni to see how it is man.
$1000 you can spend on drinking and whatever else us students are up to
He was aiming for $2500 and nothing more he said...
Go for the the 17". Believe me, if you get a macbook you wont be using it to take it to class. Or atleast wait till you start uni to see how it is man.
$1000 you can spend on drinking and whatever else us students are up to
Sometimes sacrifices must be made. You don't need both at one time, maybe spread this out over 2 years or so.
He was aiming for $2500 and nothing more he said...
Go for the the 17". Believe me, if you get a macbook you wont be using it to take it to class. Or atleast wait till you start uni to see how it is man.
$1000 you can spend on drinking and whatever else us students are up to
Yeah but like I said he should just take out the student loan anyhow. It will do him much better in the long run because it's basically money that he WILL owe, but not for another 4 years or until he gets out of school, then, he can still pay the interest off first, then pay back his loan amount over the course of 5-10 years.
Either way, the 17" MBP is a great machine and would have been my first choice in college as well (PowerBook G4 for me) but I would have still had at least an iMac or an old refurbished/used G4 Power Mac with me as my main/back up computer. The laptop junkies will try to sell you on the many things that make them want a portable and nothing else, but truth be told the OPs best investment will be in both, even if it's a Mac laptop and a Windows desktop.
Besides. He can still get the 20" iMac and 15" MBP. The expense of those two machines is small compared to what he will be paying in books/tuition/fee/room and board or living expenses, etc. And if he is a comm studies or photography major he will be spending almost as much or more on photo/video equipment on the low end.
The main reason for getting two machines, especially if you live on campus, is the fact that your laptop may walk at any given moment. Your desktop may do the same as well, but not as likely the heavier it is. If one suffers that fate, then you have the second to fall back on. It's a great time to be a college student now, because you can get both for under $3000 or even less if you find the used ones (if you wish to go that route).
Digital Skunk didn't we have a similar debate on an iMac vs. a MacBook Pro and their chances of theft when Santa Rosa came out?
My suggestion is a MacBook Pro under the education discount and get a lock for it. Failing that a MacBook works fine for WoW but don't expect much more 3D gaming out of it.
A desktop and laptop Mac is a bit much for a student. I'd rather not drag up those past debates.
Note: My tuition was ~$1,300 a semester and I worked around 30 hours a week during most of college.
My suggestion is a MacBook Pro under the education discount and get a lock for it. Failing that a MacBook works fine for WoW but don't expect much more 3D gaming out of it.
A desktop and laptop Mac is a bit much for a student. I'd rather not drag up those past debates.
Note: My tuition was ~$1,300 a semester and I worked around 30 hours a week during most of college.
Definitely NucE
Sorry to threadjack....
I recommend NucE. I'm in the nuclear industry, got a BS in NucE from U of Missouri-Rolla. It's definitely the field to be in for the future.
Sorry to threadjack....
I recommend NucE. I'm in the nuclear industry, got a BS in NucE from U of Missouri-Rolla. It's definitely the field to be in for the future.
Digital Skunk didn't we have a similar debate on an iMac vs. a MacBook Pro and their chances of theft when Santa Rosa came out?
My suggestion is a MacBook Pro under the education discount and get a lock for it. Failing that a MacBook works fine for WoW but don't expect much more 3D gaming out of it.
A desktop and laptop Mac is a bit much for a student. I'd rather not drag up those past debates.
Note: My tuition was ~$1,300 a semester and I worked around 30 hours a week during most of college.
Yeah... I remember that discussion. But you know that I still have the same view point.
Did you live on campus? And what year (if you care to tell) did you go to school, just curious. My tuition was about that much as well, can't remember exact number, but my school got us with university fees and room and board if you lived on campus. My semester usually cost me about $5000 in 2002. Now that my school is growing, and has the second largest library in the state of Maryland (you should have seen the old one that I had to use
) and times have changed, it costs in state students about $7500 from what I hear.And that's just for one semester. I know that a desktop and laptop will be a bit much for college students, but I will still stand by that as being the best option. The security lock really helps though, so if the OP does get just a MBP then please get the security lock and either LoJack for laptops or the thing that www.orbicule.com sells for laptop theft retrieval.
p.s. Engineering is great, but the media is definitely a field for the future.... if you can handle the competition.
i kind of worry about the youth of today.
anyway, these things are simple. if you're earning the money and working hard and paying for it yourself, get a macbook, it more than suffices. if your parents are paying for it, who cares, you'll get a different one in a year anyway.
What are the laptop theft rates in your area? Have you personally heard of a laptop theft?
On campus it was around $7500/year.Did you live on campus? And what year (if you care to tell) did you go to school, just curious. My tuition was about that much as well, can't remember exact number, but my school got us with university fees and room and board if you lived on campus. My semester usually cost me about $5000 in 2002. Now that my school is growing, and has the second largest library in the state of Maryland (you should have seen the old one that I had to use
I don't see the benefits of two computers when having to deal with the cost and file synchronization. Can you run this reasoning by me? The iMac doesn't anything over a laptop but screen size. I read this post as well. Power and mobility?
What about using a campus computer as a backup?
Sadly, my experience is only with computer and electrical engineering.
Sorry to threadjack....
I recommend NucE. I'm in the nuclear industry, got a BS in NucE from U of Missouri-Rolla. It's definitely the field to be in for the future.
Yeah, that double major option with a minor in Engineering Sciences is looking pretty attractive...
macbook
i was in your same position, except it wasnt my first mac. i wanted a macbook pro, but my parents surprised me and got me a blackbook. i absolutely love it. its extremely portable. the screen is planty big, multitasking is amazing with spaces. and it has enough horsepower for any task a college student like yourself could ask for. get some more ram though
i was in your same position, except it wasnt my first mac. i wanted a macbook pro, but my parents surprised me and got me a blackbook. i absolutely love it. its extremely portable. the screen is planty big, multitasking is amazing with spaces. and it has enough horsepower for any task a college student like yourself could ask for. get some more ram though
I think the MBP would be a great solution, but what about durability?
The MB is much tougher being made of plastic, than the MBP.
I'm trying to decide between a 15" MBP and a MB for my daughter when she goes to college.
I'm leaning towards the MB because I woudl think it is more durable...
Any thoughts on that?
The MB is much tougher being made of plastic, than the MBP.
I'm trying to decide between a 15" MBP and a MB for my daughter when she goes to college.
I'm leaning towards the MB because I woudl think it is more durable...
Any thoughts on that?
if you can afford the
mbp get it, but you may be better off saving a grand and getting a macbook
mbp get it, but you may be better off saving a grand and getting a macbook
do yourself a favor, and no matter what you decide to buy, wait until you actually GO to school to buy it. It will be difficult to wait that long, but it would be worth it. See what other people are using, what your engineering school recommends, what software you will need to be running, etc. You won't always want to run to the computer lab to do things...
Nothing worse than a month before school starts, the new MBP/MB comes out for less money and more features... Check with your on-campus stores as well, many times deals there will be even better than the apple.com edu discount.
Nothing worse than a month before school starts, the new MBP/MB comes out for less money and more features... Check with your on-campus stores as well, many times deals there will be even better than the apple.com edu discount.
save the money, get the macbook, my parents got me one and its amazing, and besides being more durable its also more portable
They are high over here. I had one of mine stolen. A friend has theirs taken at gun point. Another one had theirs stolen from their dorm room, but the guy who had the 20" iMac had theirs left alone, but their cell phone, iPod and other electronics were missing.
We all know that theft rates change from place to place though.
The biggest benefit of having two machines is very very simple. You have a back up, and many cases you have something that is more comfortable to work on in the long run. It's more personal preference I guess.
I don't want to rehash an old conversation. I am just going to tell the OP to consider it.
Imo glossy is perfect!
I am a student. I've got my Macbook in my bag all the time. I seriously am in love with it. The only negative thing is that some "school apps" only runs on windows, but there is software to take care of that i know. But they use a lot of the battery. But i am very happy with my MacBook.
I am a student. I've got my Macbook in my bag all the time. I seriously am in love with it. The only negative thing is that some "school apps" only runs on windows, but there is software to take care of that i know. But they use a lot of the battery. But i am very happy with my MacBook.
Something To Consider Also!!!
I currently have an ibook and am looking to get the Macbook Pro (MBP). I would like to get it because it will last me well for 4 years and has greater ram potential for the future. Also, I'm not a huge gamer, but it would be nice to have the option. I will probably install Bootcamp and XP on mine then I can run non-mac programs and games. But another reason to consider the MBP and its graphics besides just for gaming: I don't know what your major is, but I'm going to be majoring in mechanical engineering and a lot of times colleges will let you load a copy of the engineering applications onto your computer. I figure have the extra graphics will be better for 3D rendering on the design programs.
Also, since you want to watch movies, consider the fact that the macbook pro can run and external display incase you want to get a large one to work on and run movies in your dorm.
I would go with the MBP because while the Macbook will serve you just fine, and Macbook pro is only $600 more with an ed discount and will last you longer and do more than everything you demand of it.
As far as the one guy's comment earlier about buying an imac and macbook, well I guess you could do that. BUT, the problem I see is file transfer. I don't like having to transfer files all the time from one computer to another. But I am a little afraid of someone steeling my laptop when I go to college. I recommend checking out iAlertu for the Macbook pro. Its a free program for your MBP. you can set it when you walk away from your laptop with the front row remote. If anyone moves your computer (hard drive motion sensor picks up the movement), touces the keys, or a bunch of other things, it sets off a loud alarm and then the isight discreetly takes a picture of the person. Its a pretty neat tool.
Well I hope that helps. God Bless in your decision. Either way, you should be satisfied with your computer.
I currently have an ibook and am looking to get the Macbook Pro (MBP). I would like to get it because it will last me well for 4 years and has greater ram potential for the future. Also, I'm not a huge gamer, but it would be nice to have the option. I will probably install Bootcamp and XP on mine then I can run non-mac programs and games. But another reason to consider the MBP and its graphics besides just for gaming: I don't know what your major is, but I'm going to be majoring in mechanical engineering and a lot of times colleges will let you load a copy of the engineering applications onto your computer. I figure have the extra graphics will be better for 3D rendering on the design programs.
Also, since you want to watch movies, consider the fact that the macbook pro can run and external display incase you want to get a large one to work on and run movies in your dorm.
I would go with the MBP because while the Macbook will serve you just fine, and Macbook pro is only $600 more with an ed discount and will last you longer and do more than everything you demand of it.
As far as the one guy's comment earlier about buying an imac and macbook, well I guess you could do that. BUT, the problem I see is file transfer. I don't like having to transfer files all the time from one computer to another. But I am a little afraid of someone steeling my laptop when I go to college. I recommend checking out iAlertu for the Macbook pro. Its a free program for your MBP. you can set it when you walk away from your laptop with the front row remote. If anyone moves your computer (hard drive motion sensor picks up the movement), touces the keys, or a bunch of other things, it sets off a loud alarm and then the isight discreetly takes a picture of the person. Its a pretty neat tool.
Well I hope that helps. God Bless in your decision. Either way, you should be satisfied with your computer.
Imo glossy is perfect!
I am a student. I've got my Macbook in my bag all the time. I seriously am in love with it. The only negative thing is that some "school apps" only runs on windows, but there is software to take care of that i know. But they use a lot of the battery. But i am very happy with my MacBook.
Just download Bootcamp (for free
) then install Windows Xp on it. If you have a Windows XP cd from your last windows computer, I think it'll work to install. More To Consider
Almost forgot to mention I would go with the 15". Its another reason I want the pro over the MB. I'm used to a 14" full screen and the 15" wide feels to be about the same size. The 13" is nice, but feels a little small for me and the extra 2" of screen real estate goes a lot farther.
Also, I figured the backlit keyboard would be nice if I had to stay up late working on my computer and my room mate wanted to go to sleep.
Although the nice part about the Macbook is it has longer battery life if you think your going to be carrying it around a lot.
Almost forgot to mention I would go with the 15". Its another reason I want the pro over the MB. I'm used to a 14" full screen and the 15" wide feels to be about the same size. The 13" is nice, but feels a little small for me and the extra 2" of screen real estate goes a lot farther.
Also, I figured the backlit keyboard would be nice if I had to stay up late working on my computer and my room mate wanted to go to sleep.
Although the nice part about the Macbook is it has longer battery life if you think your going to be carrying it around a lot.
If you're going to buy two computers
get the 20" inch imac running 2.4 ghz... should cost you $1300 with SD
then you can get a macbook for about $1000 (less with the SD), which puts you at $2300. Forget about applecare. Just make sure you use your machines hard early and often, so if anything is wrong, you can send it back in before the warranty runs out.
You'll have $200 left to spend on RAM and whatever else
get the 20" inch imac running 2.4 ghz... should cost you $1300 with SD
then you can get a macbook for about $1000 (less with the SD), which puts you at $2300. Forget about applecare. Just make sure you use your machines hard early and often, so if anything is wrong, you can send it back in before the warranty runs out.
You'll have $200 left to spend on RAM and whatever else
macbook....im a college student and thats what I bought a little over a month ago. lots of word processing + excel charts and diagrams + lots of pictures uploaded from my lab...all mixed together....lots of music, movies sometimes, powerpoint , and the lots of surfing/researching online...
i love it!!
Aside from budget(obviously) I felt more comfortable carrying a mb around instead of a mbp(lots of thefts in los angeles!)....not to mention this is my first mac and i felt that taking on a mb would be super hard...let alone a mbp!
in the end, go with what you feel is best for you! hope you enjoy it just as much as i have.
oh..and check your college/university computer store for promotions. MUCH better than "educational discount" apple offers :-D
i love it!!
Aside from budget(obviously) I felt more comfortable carrying a mb around instead of a mbp(lots of thefts in los angeles!)....not to mention this is my first mac and i felt that taking on a mb would be super hard...let alone a mbp!
in the end, go with what you feel is best for you! hope you enjoy it just as much as i have.
oh..and check your college/university computer store for promotions. MUCH better than "educational discount" apple offers :-D