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University

ElusiveTramp

ElusiveTramp

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 2, 2009
32
0
Hey,

This is my first post so be gentle :D

I've had a Windows PC for as long as I can remember, and basically, I'm sick of them. Nothing to do with crashes or bugs etc but just Windows on the whole is really beginning to annoy me.

So I leave home for University in September and I decided that I'd treat myself to a brand new Mac to comfort me whilst being away from home. Trouble is I can't decide between a Macbook Pro or an iMac.

I don't need mobility and I'd get more work done on a desktop I know it, but I adore the multi touch gestures on the trackpad and the option to move it if I have to is quite appealing, if I had a MBP. Then there's price. I'd roughly have about £850 to spend (roughly works out at $1393.21) but with the education discount that works out at a slightly modified version of each.

University means being in Halls, and theft is of course something that plays on my mind. I realise that a MPB would be much easier to snatch than a more cumbersome iMac, and with parties with God-knows-who walking in and out, I can't really be sure I'll be there the whole time.

So what I'm asking basically is, what would you go for?
 
I'd go with the MBP. Even if you got the least powerful model, it will have more than enough power for your needs. You can take it to the library, coffee shops, lectures. Also, you can lock it up in a trunk/foot locker when you aren't there.

I wouldn't leave it sitting around.
 
A desktop in college is not a good idea. I had the same decision to make but went with the MBP because the iMac takes up too much space, and you will want to take your computer with you when you go home over christmas, and to your friends room. I would go with a MacBook Pro for college. Just buy a $15 laptop lock for when you are not in your room.
 
Welcome to the Mac Universe! go for the mbp. You'll get much longer use out of a laptop compared to a desktop because as the system ages, you'll still be able to use the laptop for lighter duity applications whereas nobody wants a big old obselete klunker hanging around their room.

as for theft, dont' worry about it. I stressed about the same thing when i went to college. I ended up getting one of those antitheft thingies that you tie the computer to and never ended up using it.
 
iMac takes up space? I always imagined them to be quite slim for a desktop.

As for taking it out, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't use it in lectures simply because I like to write notes first and then organize (weird I know). I just can't imagine myself ever taking it out for fear of denting/scratching/losing it. Although I must admit, moving between friend's rooms would be a real advantage.

Even considering performance we'd still say the MBP?
 
You get more performance for your dollar with the iMac, but I would still say get the MacBook Pro. The 13" or low end 15" just got price drops and are great machines. Don't worry about scratches, it's life and it happens. Plus, if you end up with a crazy roommate do you want to by tethered to your room with the iMac. they are slim but not idea for college in my opinion.
 
MBP, if you don't you WILL regret it, trust me, my mate bought an iMac, he really regretted it, had to shell out £250 for a netbook to take to classes in the end.
 
I believe getting a desktop in college is a MASSIVE mistake. Group meetings to make powerpoints? Getting some work done outside when you don't want to be inside? The uses are endless.
 
Badandy said:
I believe getting a desktop in college is a MASSIVE mistake. Group meetings to make powerpoints? Getting some work done outside when you don't want to be inside? The uses are endless.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Portability is key. Being stuck in your room will eventually drive you mad apart from anything else.

Everyone in my halls had laptops and incidentally we never had any problems with theft (to be fair though there was less than 50 people in my halls so we knew everyone)
 
13" MacBook Pro or white MacBook. Trust me - you don't want to be carting around a 15" notebook in Uni. And you will end up carting it around - library between classes, group meetings, presentations, etc. Notebooks are kind in university, and the 13" is the one to get. Best mix of portability and power. An external monitor is a consideration, but not a necessity.
 
DoNoHarm said:
You'll get much longer use out of a laptop compared to a desktop because as the system ages, you'll still be able to use the laptop for lighter duity applications whereas nobody wants a big old obselete klunker hanging around their room.
Click to expand...

This doesn't make any sense.

If you choose to use an aging laptop for lighter-duty tasks, you can certainly do the same with a desktop. And the desktop doesn't take up any more space when it's three years old than it does when it's new.

The posters here are right - a portable is much more useful in college. If you want a "workstation" setup in your room, get an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse to use with it.
 
Well, as it appears that you won't be needing the power, a 13" MBP seems to be the best option for you. (the 15" is good as well, but more of a powerhouse, and more cumbersome). Also, make sure you get a MiniDisplayPort -> VGA/DVI adapter (whichever your Uni uses for it's projectors)

The portability at Uni is a HUGE plus. You'll find so many extra uses for a laptop at Uni.
 
I agree with all the posters here. I am in college right now and I have a 13" white MacBook for portability, but also have external monitor + keyboard + mouse for when I am in my room.
 
I would get a laptop, but I'll go against the grain and say that there's nothing wrong with a desktop. It's cheaper, more powerful, and you can still take notes in class with a pen and paper despite what everyone else seems to think.

I guess a big factor is how far away you live from your university- if you're flying cross country obviously an iMac isn't going to work...
 
make sure that before you buy it you have checked the higher education price on the online Apple Store, as with higher education purchases, you can get up to 14% off it when buying through your university. alongside this you also get very cheap AppleCare (£50) a free iPod, and a free printer.

Please don't pay more than you have to.
 
I'd recommend a laptop rather than a desktop and get a lock for it as many other posters have suggested, if you feel security may be an issue. The MBP is the best of Apple's laptop lineup - I have one and it is an excellent computer - and - with educational discounts - you should easily be able to afford the base model which should see you through college. If portability is an issue, go for the 13" MBP, or for bang per buck, the white MB cannot be beaten.

Cheers and good luck
 
Tomorrow said:
This doesn't make any sense.

If you choose to use an aging laptop for lighter-duty tasks, you can certainly do the same with a desktop. And the desktop doesn't take up any more space when it's three years old than it does when it's new.

The posters here are right - a portable is much more useful in college. If you want a "workstation" setup in your room, get an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse to use with it.
Click to expand...

I think what he means (correctly, i Might add) is that while the iMac does not seem so big because it is powerful when new, as it ages he will dislike the fact that it is huge, and probably end up wanting a new computer. after all, a 24 inch iMac takes up a huge amount of space. Why waste that space when it cannot do everything? With a 13 inch laptop, he can still get a cheap PC (hackintosh) or even mac pro later on (Arrandale) and use the 13 inch for note taking, light stuff, etc. Basically, what people use ibook g3-4s for now. Some people swear by their old computers, (i.e. eMac g3 or whatever) but we all know that as awesome as they are, they are generally only powerful enough for basic tasks. IMO, the ibooks make way more sense to keep to me. They are PORTABLE.
 
I totally agree with previous posts.
The 13" MBP is the way to go. I'd rather prefer a 13" over 15" for portability, and unibody over white MB.
Also, keep in mind that imacs also use components similar to those in uMB's. So you should not notice big differences.
It's nice to have a larger screen, sometimes. Check around for an external monitor to hook up to your MBP, maybe with an external kb.
 
MBP and if you need a bigger screen then get an external monitor. You get the both of best worlds then:)
 
Thank you everyone for the suggestions.

An external monitor does seem to be the way forward with a MBP, I just have to find one that's looks as good as the Apple LED one.

Plus an external monitor would let me have the best of both worlds as previous posts say, a workstation in my room and a multi-touch track pad I can take outside.

Now to raise £1000 :D
 
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