Starting college this summer. need a laptop and advice!

[Davyboy4603]

I am in need of a laptop by may. I am looking at the Base white macbook, and the aluminum 13 macbook pro. i know this discussion has been posted time and time again, but i want actual consumer advice rather than reading it on the website. With that being said is the extra 200 bucks actually worth it to get the MBP?? Please help me come to a conclusion, and put my mind to ease LOL...

 

[Spag_187]

read a few threads below this one Macbook vs. Macbook Pro....

 

[chas_m]

For $200 bucks difference, I think this is a no-brainer. IMO.

 

[ingallsra]

I bought the low-end 13" MacBook Pro six weeks ago and I LOVE IT. It's definitely worth the $200 price difference. It's better construction (the aluminum unibody really is beautiful), it has edge-to-edge glass display, back lit keyboard, firewire and an SD card slot. The MB does not have those things. You will not be disappointed with the MBP.

 

[foxj66]

I would wait it out to see if any and what upgrades the MBP might receive and then dont forget to take advantage of your student discount!

I have the white unibody now and love it! but i wanted the pro and i found a sale on the white one for 800...

 

[gogreen15]

I was in your position last year. I ended up getting the 13" Macbook pro and I love it. Personally, I think it's worth the $200. I also spent some extra money on the upgraded processor, the 4GB of RAM, and the 250GB hard drive. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't do anything different.

 

[Davyboy4603]

that's awesome guys...i think i am going to wait it out so i can see what upgrades are available if any...And for my Student discount...

 

[Themuskr]

I was also in your situation last summer. I went with a 15" MBP but since your looking into a 13 inch i would definitely suggest the macbook pro in the end i think you will be happy you spent the extra bucks

 

[len0475]

Here are some questions for you.
1. Is this your first year in college?
2. What is your area of concentration?
2a. Does it require a Windows or Mac based computer?
3. Do you need a more on-the-go durable laptop?
4. Are you concerned with your "image" in school?

Here are some facts and tips:
1. Student discounts averages in at $50 off of MSRP for most Major Universities. (I believe this varies by university.)
2. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to show your student ID to get this discount. (This varies by stores, however online, you will need a student email address to complete the transaction.)
3. Waiting for tax free weekend and using your student ID will yield a better savings.
4. The first 2 years of college, you will NEED your computer to take notes, write papers, and prepare presentations. I am going on into my Junior year as a Psychology/Biology double major and as a US Army Cadet in the ROTC program. So far, the ONLY programs I use for school are: Microsoft Word (Writing papers and taking notes), PowerPoint(Made one presentation for Speech), FireFox (Used to access school related mail, online math labs, etc.)
5. The MacBook Pro is very prone to minor damages. For instance if you were to accidentally drop your TI-84 Calculator on the case, it WILL DENT IT. (Keep this in mind, the university is very fast paced and there is a lot of traffic. Even the slightest bump or scratch will show up on the aluminum MacBook. If you do decide on an aluminum version, consider some case protectors.)
6. A lit keyboard is very useful in an auditorium class. Some teachers may turn the lights off completely to show a PowerPoint presentation. Having a backlit keyboard makes it easier to type and a bit easier on the eye.
7. Be aware and be able to distinguish your "needs vs wants." That extra $200 can go towards books, parking fees, student fees, membership fees, food, various school supplies, etc., It all adds up very quickly. Initially you will spend a lot of money. But if you buy with your future needs in consideration, then you'll only have to buy once.
8. KEEP ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS. You'd be surprised how much this can help out next year on your taxes and FAFSA.

 

[Davyboy4603]

Here are some questions for you.
1. Is this your first year in college?
2. What is your area of concentration?
2a. Does it require a Windows or Mac based computer?
3. Do you need a more on-the-go durable laptop?
4. Are you concerned with your "image" in school?

Here are some facts and tips:
1. Student discounts averages in at $50 off of MSRP for most Major Universities. (I believe this varies by university.)
2. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to show your student ID to get this discount. (This varies by stores, however online, you will need a student email address to complete the transaction.)
3. Waiting for tax free weekend and using your student ID will yield a better savings.
4. The first 2 years of college, you will NEED your computer to take notes, write papers, and prepare presentations. I am going on into my Junior year as a Psychology/Biology double major and as a US Army Cadet in the ROTC program. So far, the ONLY programs I use for school are: Microsoft Word (Writing papers and taking notes), PowerPoint(Made one presentation for Speech), FireFox (Used to access school related mail, online math labs, etc.)
5. The MacBook Pro is very prone to minor damages. For instance if you were to accidentally drop your TI-84 Calculator on the case, it WILL DENT IT. (Keep this in mind, the university is very fast paced and there is a lot of traffic. Even the slightest bump or scratch will show up on the aluminum MacBook. If you do decide on an aluminum version, consider some case protectors.)
6. A lit keyboard is very useful in an auditorium class. Some teachers may turn the lights off completely to show a PowerPoint presentation. Having a backlit keyboard makes it easier to type and a bit easier on the eye.
7. Be aware and be able to distinguish your "needs vs wants." That extra $200 can go towards books, parking fees, student fees, membership fees, food, various school supplies, etc., It all adds up very quickly. Initially you will spend a lot of money. But if you buy with your future needs in consideration, then you'll only have to buy once.
8. KEEP ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS. You'd be surprised how much this can help out next year on your taxes and FAFSA.

1. i am gonna be in my first year of a 2 year program
2. I am studying Information Systems Technology. I talked to the instructor and he said either windows or mac would be fine.
3. I would prefer something that is durable, and macs seem to be the most durable of laptops that i have researched
4. Not concerned with my image. I am 28 yrs old with a wife, and a baby on the way. Image is my least of worries.

I am looking to get the laptop before i start so i can be used to it when classes start. I will be starting in or around mid May. I've been holding off to see if they release something else, but i do not believe they will until later. I switched to a Imac from pc just this year, and i do not wanna go back to windows for my personal use. Macs just work so much better.

 

[Donnut]

My first Mac was the first generation whitebook, I sold it to my Dad, still works solid, and he took it with him on an 8000+ mile bicycle trip around the US and Canada. I upgraded to the aluminum macbook, and a year later, to the pro and sold the aluminum basic book to my brother. LOVE the MBP. The backlit keyboard is simply fantastic, and the firewire and SD slot are worth the upgrade in my opinion. Of course if your not too worried about your warranty, you can upgrade the ram and Hard drive yourself for far cheaper than apple's price. I put in 4gb of ram for about $60, and a 640gb Hard drive for $107. It's your money, but I am also a student, and only paid $1100 for my MBP, and it is definitely worth the money.
steve

 

[Davyboy4603]

here at my local best buy they do not give student discount.....Id also prefer to buy in person....they want 1200 for the MBP here....so i am not sure what i am going to do yet....i'm still in limbo lol..

 

[len0475]

1. i am gonna be in my first year of a 2 year program
2. I am studying Information Systems Technology. I talked to the instructor and he said either windows or mac would be fine.
3. I would prefer something that is durable, and macs seem to be the most durable of laptops that i have researched
4. Not concerned with my image. I am 28 yrs old with a wife, and a baby on the way. Image is my least of worries.

I am looking to get the laptop before i start so i can be used to it when classes start. I will be starting in or around mid May. I've been holding off to see if they release something else, but i do not believe they will until later. I switched to a Imac from pc just this year, and i do not wanna go back to windows for my personal use. Macs just work so much better.

1. A two-year university. Just keep in mind my advice about protecting your laptop. My campus just so happens to be in downtown Atlanta. There are people everywhere and the last thing on their mind is the well-being of your laptop. Get a protective hard case or a polypro soft case if you can. I have seen many students walk around with broken screens from drops, massive dents in their uni-body macs, cracked edges of their regular MacBooks.
2. I would still recommend parallels or bootcamp and a copy of Windows. Although I haven't looked back ever since I switched to Macs about a year ago, there have been occasions where I would have to run a windows specific .exe file for school. I love parallels because it doesn't force me to reboot and I use it like a regular program on my MacBook. And the most beautiful part about it is if Windows decides to lock-up in parallels, it doesn't lock up the entire computer. lol
3. If you are on the go, I would highly consider the regular white MacBooks. But your needs are your needs. You will have to identify what you need and purchase accordingly, especially if finances is an issue. Even a base model MacBook with the entry level performance is capable of running a wide variety of software.
4. The reason I asked this is because to some people, having the latest and greatest is a boost to their social status. This is true especially among young students. But if you are content with who you are and could care less what others think of you. Get a base model MacBook. I would even dare to consider purchasing a used unit with warranty left. Even a refurbished unit can help you save some money so that you can use it for other things like school supplies.

My suggestion would be the base white MacBook for you. Preferable used, but if you can find one refurbished, then I would purchase that one. If you are a power user and all logic is overridden by emotions, (I'm guilty of it sometimes) then by all means, indulge in the MacBook of your choice sir. We cannot and will not be able to change your mind sir.

Good Luck and let us know what you end up with.

 

[Davyboy4603]

thanks for all the advice....i am not to familiar with bootcamp, and other programs to run windows on my mac. Does that mean i would have to buy a whole copy of Windows??

 

[Donnut]

Ummm... yeeeesss... buy it..... If you want to be legal beagle than, yes, you would have to buy it. An alternative is find someone with an old copy of Windows XP and a license he is not using(i.e. that shiny Microsoft sticker on a dead or unused PC). Parallels is an insanely great program that runs windows in your mac OS. Running windows 7 64 bit is REALLY slow with it though, so I'd stick with windows XP. Runs great on macs.
steve

 

[Davyboy4603]

that sounds good...although i don't think i am going to run into much of a problem with having to have windows in college. I need it basically for the the math assignments online, and submitting papers and such....I could get the mac and if i had to have windows, i could get the program, and the xp version...that wouldn't be a problem.....i am working on brushing up on my math online now with the same program the use at the school, and i am using my home mac