Laptop for Math Major

I am giving my Niece a laptop for graduation from High School. She will be a freshman math major in college this fall. I'm looking at a Macbook Pro...but am open to all the help You may offer to help me make a wise choice. I'm thinking that it'll take $1200 to $1500 range. Also how much is theft insurance...with accidental damage and maintenance? Would appreciate any suggestions.

My kids have all been out of college for some time now, so don't know how accurate my advice is today, but here goes anyway.

1) Any current Mac should have more than enough power for her needs
2) Light and portable are big pluses
3) Decider for me would be the Optical Drive

If she doesn't need/want an optical drive the MacBook Air is a sweet machine

But you probably can't go wrong with a standard 13in MacBook Pro either

Thanks...leaning toward your advice of a macbook pro 13 with optical drive. Did you buy theft insurance for your kids...I'm told that about 28% are stolen in college today? Thanks again for taking the time to help me.

tomtate said:

. . . Did you buy theft insurance for your kids...I'm told that about 28% are stolen in college today? . . .

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Ouch!

No, never even considered it. Either I was ignorant of the risk (probably) or it wasn't as big a problem then.

I think kids these days want to have tabs more than a laptop how about iPad?

alicepattinson said:

I think kids these days want to have tabs more than a laptop how about iPad?

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A tablet is not a replacement for a notebook or desktop computer. It can be used as an additional device for quick note taking or other thing.

This is not a good recommendation..

tomtate said:

Thanks...leaning toward your advice of a macbook pro 13 with optical drive. Did you buy theft insurance for your kids...I'm told that about 28% are stolen in college today? Thanks again for taking the time to help me.

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That figure wouldn't surprise me. I see signs at every university I've been at/visited that warned students about theft. Some schools offer theft protection programs - that might be something to look into.

Raz0rEdge said:

A tablet is not a replacement for a notebook or desktop computer. It can be used as an additional device for quick note taking or other thing.

This is not a good recommendation..

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Agreed. A tablet is limited and by no means sufficient for everything that will be needed in a post-secondary program.

tomtate said:

Did you buy theft insurance for your kids...I'm told that about 28% are stolen in college today?

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On the positive side...72% are not stolen!

- Nick

p.s. I'm also sure of that 28% that are stolen...in the majority of cases...owner apathy played a big part!

pigoo3 said:

p.s. I'm also sure of that 28% that are stolen...in the majority of cases...owner apathy played a big part!

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It's probably close to 100%. Libraries and study rooms are the hot spots - people go to the washroom and then they disappear.

That is going to be a terrific graduation gift. Your niece will be thrilled! When I steal my next computer, it will definitely be a Mac

vansmith said:

It's probably close to 100%. Libraries and study rooms are the hot spots - people go to the washroom and then they disappear.

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Probably!

I usually use the word "majority" due the possible odd situation that may actually be true (computer was truely stolen)...with zero carelessness on the part of the owner.

- Nick

I imagine that's very much true (as a statistically inclined guy, you know that "100%" never really finds itself in any results). I've had things stolen from the offices on campus so I imagine that technology has as well.

vansmith said:

I imagine that's very much true (as a statistically inclined guy, you know that "100%" never really finds itself in any results).

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You hit the nail on the head! As a science & statistics guy...I usually feel the 100% value is very very very hard to come by!

Physical death comes really really close to 100%. But I'm sure some folks out there would even argue that!

- Nick