Laptop choice...

Hey all.

I'm a computing sceince student. I've been using Windows my entire life; but according to peers, profs and majority of people in the major, everyone suggested i get a Macbook as its more professional for developing.I'll finish second year by the end of this year.

I have never liked any of Apple's products; cuz i can always get something better for the money, but i guess for battery and development; i can risk it.

Ever since i started university; i havent been gaming as much as i used to back in high school.

So, I've been thinking for a while, and came up with 3 choices.

1) Get a Macbook 13" 2011 for school and the $600 gaming rig on Nvidia's forum; the one they used for crysis for gaming.

2) Get a Macbook 13" 2011 for school and and x360 S/w Kinect or PS3/w move for gaming.

3) Get a Macbook 15" 2011 for gaming and school.

All three choices should cost around $2000 in the end. what do u guys think??? and for any computing science people; is it a correct choice to do??

Take into consideration this offer, from Microsoft: Buy a Windows PC, Get an Xbox 360 for free.

I'm not very familiar with your field, but if your colleagues are recommending Mac's over PC's I would listen, as I am blatantly ignorant on your current situation.

I get a free ipod touch with Macbooks... so, same thing when it comes to price; ipod touch 8gb : $250 - X360 S : $299

i can even sell the ipod for the console; that way i'll be getting both of what i need.

If I were in your shoes, I would just get the Mac's and focus on school.

When you want to set your mind outside of school and just have a good time. PARTY PARTY PARTY!

lol, i already have a ps3, rarely use it unless some friends come over, we play fifa and stuff... apart from that; i barely even touch it...

so... yeah, i might take ur advice on that :), thanks a lot man... its very clear, i dont know how I didnt see that part of the equation :p

I'd just about say go for the 15 in machine. The extra graphics horsepower could actually be useful to you for whatever you might be working with (not sure), plus the Radeon 6750 is actually quite decent, even for a mobile graphics card. You'll just need to get Windows for it.

You can get a bloody 18" alienware for 2000$, it's still better specced than any macbook you can find, and even then, its still overpriced

I've been using Windows my entire life; but according to peers, profs and majority of people in the major, everyone suggested i get a Macbook as its more professional for developing.

wacrack

Have you ever asked them why or even what this means?

Because i can tell you from personal experience that developing on Mac OS is an absolute joke. And you'll probably never find a job either. Everyone does Windows development and usually in .NET, C++, or Java.

If they are telling you to bootcamp it and just install a Windows OS on it, then for development purposes, any laptop will do just as well. I dont know why anyone, in good faith, would actually recommend you a macbook.

Something like Sony Vaio SB with sandy-bridge has just as decent battery time (superior with sheet battery ~16 hrs), and better specs than a Macbook 13". Better specs and cheaper price with the right configurations (namely drop SSD).

GhoX

I'll check that laptop; havnt heard of it before really... looks pretty awesome, but will i come in a few months a have heating problems with it and stuff. I have a Toshiba Qosmio F-60, got it about a year ago, but now, the performance has greatly decreased, its always hot, fan running at full speed. i do clean it every once in a while and it tells me battery needs to be replaced. I dont want to have to deal with all that stuff again.

You can get a bloody 18" alienware for 2000$, it's still better specced than any macbook you can find, and even then, its still overpriced

DoomZaW

I'm getting a laptop for school not gaming. I dont want to be walking around with 5.41kg on my back everyday.

If they are telling you to bootcamp it and just install a Windows OS on it, then for development purposes, any laptop will do just as well. I dont know why anyone, in good faith, would actually recommend you a macbook.

XaisII

well, you do get durability, battery life, i'll be familiarized with more than one OS, and if i ever need Linux; having a MAC is better of a choice. And i can always bootcamp if i need development for windows. I'm still new in computing science, so, im not really familiar with which softwares im going to need for development just yet.