Whats the best Mac for a student?

[h0e0h]

When pricing make sure to add tax to the apple store edu prices, and you might want to ask the other places if they charge tax in your state. They may or may not. Apple does in every state that has sales tax. Sometimes that can negate the student discount. Also if you need portability the powerbook is a great way to go. By the time you add all the features onto the ibook as you have on the powerbook, you have about the price of the PB. If you don't need portable, trust me in a dorm room you probably do, especially when things get loud and you have to take it to the study area or whatever. But you also have to worry about being too portable and easy to steal. In either the case of the new imac or the powerbook it would be easy to steal, the emac would be alot harder to steal. Also as far as programming and power any of the current or recent lines would work fine. I program right now on a 667mhz g4 powerbook and used to use a 500mhz ibook. Both would have worked but not to my liking. I just ordered a 12" PB that should be here wednesday BTW.

you are going to love it, i absolutely love my 12''... have fun with it

 

[Coca-Cola]

If you can, go for the low end iMac with the educational discount. The new iMac is sweet and will last a long time. I am still using my iMac SEDV 400 Graphite. It rocks for everything but new games. It rocked at new games about three years ago however. Will the madness of graphics card memory never cease. Enough allready. Thankyou freeverse for your low system requirements. Hail freeverse!

 

[MacinDoc]

Thanks for all the input! I think I'm going to go with the G5 iMac, 17'', 1.8ghz w/ the superdrive.Thanks!

Great choice! I think that price/performance, this one is the winner, considering that the LCD display (more energy efficient than CRT, and easier on the eyes) is included. As a bonus, it takes up no more space than an LCD display with no CPU. To be quite honest, I would find it hard to purchase the entry level iMac G5, considering that for $200, you get a 10% faster CPU and FSB and a SuperDrive.

 

[Coca-Cola]

Thanks for all the input! I think I'm going to go with the G5 iMac, 17'', 1.8ghz w/ the superdrive.Thanks!

Now, I am jealous. I really, really, REALLY want one. The more I look the worse it gets.

 

[JLaFrance]

Now I'm just playing devil's advocate, BUT, the new iMac isn't THAT big, so i COULD put it in a bag with some cords and take it places pretty easily..right? (not from desk to couch, like desk to lab or library {sit by the wall} ) Yes it is 18.5 lbs and it would be a beast, but i think i could manage as long as i wasnt running the decatholon....

 

[Chaszmyr]

Thanks for all the input! I think I'm going to go with the G5 iMac, 17'', 1.8ghz w/ the superdrive.Thanks!

Great choice. You'll love it. Don't forget to get some extra RAM, but don't get the RAM from Apple, get it from a 3rd party dealer (probably Crucial)

 

[Chaszmyr]

Now I'm just playing devil's advocate, BUT, the new iMac isn't THAT big, so i COULD put it in a bag with some cords and take it places pretty easily..right? (not from desk to couch, like desk to lab or library {sit by the wall} ) Yes it is 18.5 lbs and it would be a beast, but i think i could manage as long as i wasnt running the decatholon....

Yes you probably could... would just have to be super careful of the screen... The box it ships in would probably be best for transport.. the box probably even has a handle.

btw, 18.5 lbs isn't very heavy...

 

[vraxtus]

Late response...

...but I figured I'd add in that,
1) I'm a college student still
2) I hate eMacs
3) PBs aren't meant for games but neither are eMacs
4) I love my 12" Rev B even though it isn't the best for games.

That said...

Get the 12"

 

[CmdrLaForge]

I would go with the powerbook. Its a really nice machine. If you need a bigger display you can add a LCD later.

my 2 cents

 

[yippy]

Get the iMac like you are planning. Nice and small and powerfull.

To those who say it isn't upgradeable, it is. Search the apple website for its user upgradable parts. It even includes the motherboard!!! I would consider it a very upgradable computer (not as much as a tower, but a heck of a lot better than any previouse iMac).

 

[Little Endian]

You say you are looking for longevity in your machine? well to hell with imac and everything else Apple offers. The only option for you is a nice new PowerMac G5 Dual 2.0 or 2.5GHz even a Dual 1.8. If you got the money for a PowerMac G5 I suggest you get that as it could easily last you twice as long before upgrading due to it's more diverse and cost effective upgrade potential. If you were to get an imac G5, powerbook, ibook etc. you could easily realize you need a whole brand new unit in about two years or so. The PowerMac could easily last you four years plus without too many qualms plus you can enjoy ungodly speed in the here and now. You also at least get a choice of keeping your display if neccesary with the PowerMac.

 

[JLaFrance]

imac = cheap G5 tower = not Also, i would have to get a monitor and that's another $500 for a satisfactory one.

 

[tomhut]

Best student comp

Id have 2 say best comp for a student would be an ibook. Its small has good performace and dosnt cost to mutch 🙂

 

[512ke]

Go portability. It'll grow on you. Noisy roommate. Research in the library. Taking notes in class. Taking the computer home for Spring break so it won't get stolen in the dorm. Taking it on weekends. Etc.

I'd go iBook. Better battery life. Greater wifi reception. That is, unless you need to play games. In that case I'd definitely go Powerbook.

A G5 tower... I dunno. It feels like overkill in terms of both power and money. 12" portables are great!

 

[camobag]

I bought the 12'' powerbook G4 with a 512 stick. I don't play that many games, but as far as the actual school work goes, i wouldn't trade it for the world. It's great having the portability because i can go from the desk to the couch to the library to the lab and everywhere between. Go with the powerbook, the battery life is GREAT and you WON'T regret it. I edited a video of my senior trip on the drive from orlando to louisiana for 4 hours and got tired before the battery went out. It is DEFINITELY worth it!

I can't agree enough with the portability aspect of the powerbook. I have a 15 alu 1.25 and it plays Warcraft III great! I definitely want to try out WoW too. Anyways, I understand if you can't afford it, but the powerbook should be worth the money.