Mac vs. PC - What's good for school?

[Matty]

So, here in the great Canadian North, I goto University. I see people with Mac, and PC. I know that Mac's are starting to become much more popular amongst young people. It's a new trend in the making. However, when it comes to school, which one is better compatible?

Well, Mac has created a lot of new programs that are compatible with most Microsoft documents. Microsoft created an Office program for the Mac, which has Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
But for the price, is the Mac really worth it for school? Personally, it's a decision made up by you, the Mac's are beautiful machines, but when I'm forking out as much as my car is worth, I don't see the point. I just purchased a brand new Dell for half the cost with the new Window's Vista Business Edition, which came with the laptop. I've got Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise Edition, which I love. It seems to be the easiest way for me to get around with school. Sending and receiving documents and also using programs that I'm familiar with.

I'm thinking a Mac is something that may be possible later down the road once i'm established, just not right now.

What do you all think? Anyone have a Mac? What do you like about it? Hate about it? PC? Discuss!!!!

[sabrina]

Hmm...
i'd rather have a PC for school and Mac for work. . .
My dad always says PC is more for students while Mac, more for the workaholics..haha.. i don't know why..

[Shane]

yeah, PC for school.
Mac for cool. :P

[~Wayne~]

Bought my Mac today, so far Im almost a Mac Fanboy haha

[Fez]

my college uses both. but i'm more used to pc

[~Wayne~]

I'm more used to PC but I wanted to spread what I can actually use

[Shane]

Bought my Mac today, so far Im almost a Mac Fanboy haha
*Classic High Five Moment*

[Matty]

I almost bought one, but I couldn't justify spending over $2,000 CAD on something that is worth the same amount as my vehicle.

I don't get it...

[turnxtunexdrop]

macs! they are like impossible to get virus's on

& are 10x's more amazing than pc's

Only problem with schools using them is many kids don't have them at home.

[~Wayne~]

*Classic High Five Moment*

~Hi fives back~ How you finding yours Shane?

[K Dot]

Ahh You Bought A Dell!! I've only heard bad things! A bunch of my friends purchased it and within like a year the computers were fried! I have a regular PC laptops are so distracting in school! I'd never pay attentions to my profs! And I thing the macs are overrated!!!!

[1stsargeED]

I'm neutral. That's up to the county to decide.

[Shane]

~Hi fives back~ How you finding yours Shane?
I'm loving it to be honest. :P
Can't use Windows anymore.

[CITV vs CBBC]

I would use them both for simply what they were designed for.

PC's are more for doing work, so Id use that for coursework and "serious" internet searching.

However, if im enjoying myself, Id use the Mac, as that ius more suited for playing moves, music, viewing pictures etc.

But I can only afford a Maxdata Windows Vista PC with a 32-bit CPU.

[n0iZe]

You could build your own for a good couple hundred dollars.

MAGIC WEBSITE OF ALL THAT IS GEEK: Newegg.com

[Nammy]

I never used a MAC before so I'll stick with what I know. :)

[saxophonic]

I actually like the mac better than PC cuse its dosn't get any viruses plus it dosn't break down often like the PC does.

[n0iZe]

I actually like the mac better than PC cuse its dosn't get any viruses plus it dosn't break down often like the PC does.

False statement. It DOES get viruses, and it CAN break down often. Macs have VERY limited options when it comes to parts, and they are more expensive.

[Kaytee]

I have my special little white Mac laptop, and there's also an eMac in the household...Dad doesn't agree with PCs.
I use PCs at school, and when I come to buying a computer for myself in the distant future I'll definately opt for Mac. Worth the forking out in my opinion :D

[Nammy]

I actually like the mac better than PC cuse its dosn't get any viruses plus it dosn't break down often like the PC does.
I have used PC since I can remember and only had a virus once, which was dealt with fast, and the only breakdown I had was a failed hard drive.

[saxophonic]

lol my mums computer had to be shut down and windows re-installed on it cuse of my stupid brother using Kazaa at the time -_- but my laptop won't even turn on right now and I always keep my computers up to date with anti virus programs :\

[n0iZe]

lol my mums computer had to be shut down and windows re-installed on it cuse of my stupid brother using Kazaa at the time -_- but my laptop won't even turn on right now and I always keep my computers up to date with anti virus programs :

Well, it's not the computer's fault that your brother was using Kazaa, was it?

A virus cannot stop your computer from turning on. There would have to be something wrong with one of the parts. How old is your computer?

[Nammy]

lol my mums computer had to be shut down and windows re-installed on it cuse of my stupid brother using Kazaa at the time -_- but my laptop won't even turn on right now and I always keep my computers up to date with anti virus programs :
Tell your bro to stay off of kazaa and switch to emule and then only use the index sites wich post confirmed and virus free files.

I use NOD32 antivirus and it catches everything so far.

[n0iZe]

One actual virus program that has worked wonders for me is Super Anti-spyware. It looks like a fake program, but it gets all of the viruses and whatnot off.

[saxophonic]

well the desktop is about 8 years old which for some reason I have 1540 MB of ram and 2 internal hard drives and an 250GB external Hard drive and none of my programs work proprerly on my C drive seys its out of space even tho I moved all my crap to my extral HD and my laptop was my dads OLD laptop so thats part of the reason. that was years ago who my mums computer keeped crashing but her laptop is REALLY laggy.

[saxophonic]

oh and I do have the anti-spyware program but everytime I run it and half way through of finding the viruses my desktop restarts itself its odd :\ I think I might have a trojan or a worm

[n0iZe]

well the desktop is about 8 years old which for some reason I have 1540 MB of ram and 2 internal hard drives and an 250GB external Hard drive and none of my programs work proprerly on my C drive seys its out of space even tho I moved all my crap to my extral HD and my laptop was my dads OLD laptop so thats part of the reason. that was years ago who my mums computer keeped crashing but her laptop is REALLY laggy.

'Tis most likely the fact that it is old. Updates = Good.

[n0iZe]

oh and I do have the anti-spyware program but everytime I run it and half way through of finding the viruses my desktop restarts itself its odd : I think I might have a trojan or a worm

Sounds like you have a case of over-heating. That, or you need to format.

[fuzzylumpkins]

mac all the way, made the switch from pc a month ago, never going back.

pain in the ass learning new programming languages though.

[-Luke-]

My school has dealt with Mac's and i used to use a PC at home so its kinda good that we learnt how to use both.
My personal experince with PC isnt positive and i prefer using Mac, so i ordered one 2 years ago and have never looked back :)

[n0iZe]

Well psh to all of you Englanders. When Me and Nammy are having a LAN party, we'll be having some epic LOLINGZ at yer' macs. Hah.

[colored_zebra]

i got a macbook laptop about 6 months ago and i love it!! its so much easier to use and so far ther has been nothing wrong with it. cant live without it now :D

[conor]

Macs are more widely used by computer professionals and the job of school is to prepare you for the workplace so on that basis alon.. Mac.

Also, it's built on Unix so it's a good-looking intoduction to 'nix systems :)

[n0iZe]

Macs are more widely used by computer professionals and the job of school is to prepare you for the workplace so on that basis alon.. Mac.

Also, it's built on Unix so it's a good-looking intoduction to 'nix systems :)

Macs are used mainly for graphics, video editing, picture editing, etc.

PC's are better for gaming. Though, you are capable of making a PC just as good as a Mac for all of that editing stuff.

[-Luke-]

Lol, hence why we had Macs at school, no gaming children!

[n0iZe]

"Shiiiaaaat, Mrs. Hinkleburg, why you gotz 2 B such a B-I-T-C-H BIAATCH!?"

[-Luke-]

Lol, it was more of if you were caught playing games, you had to help the cleaners clean the changing rooms, or stay in your dorm for 48 hours

[n0iZe]

Ah. Here, the "gangstas" that live in a corn town try to rebel against the teachers. It's pretty funny. The shop teacher slapped a kid for being a dumbass. xD. Flailing saws and threatening people. A fine smack and the kid started to cry. xD. Junior in Highschool mind you.

[-Luke-]

Ahh, i went to a private school, where if you had the money, your child could pretty much get away with anything. I suppose that applies to all private school really. Money appeared to be the currency of school, not education.
Saying that, we got a nice new set of laptops from one of the parents :-P

[n0iZe]

Jesus. xD. I'm not rich.

[g36calex]

mac is good for school becuase a mentaly challenged monkey can figure it out in 5 seconds or less, but when it coems that time fro upgrades you pretty much have to throw your old one in the trash. I had a macbook g4 I ended up spending 600$ on repairs from their "idiots" and it still doesn't work, failed logitech board....twice... Build your own PC it cheaper. You can run them as low as 200$ up to 200,000$ it also depends if you want a laptop or desktop, for any desktop I'd say PC you can easily swap parts later on, how ever with most laptops you cannot and your better off with a simple minded mac. but if you don't have the 2,000$ to blow on a Ubook, then dell, cheap effective said done. their laptops start at like 299$ or something its crazy.

[-Luke-]

I dont know whether i'm insulted by that or not...

[g36calex]

my post haha?

[-Luke-]

Lol, yeah

[conor]

g36calex..
Intel macs? :b

[g36calex]

lawls. mac tells intel I want my boards to have this this this this, intel goes and makes 100 million of those boards, shame is these board will only take parts A, B, C which are made along side the board, excluding the processor which is made the base of the project and was already made. 2 years later your looking to upgrade and need parts A, B, C well only 1 company makes parts A, B, C and since their made for one and just one type of computer they are not cheap my friend how ever the board that was sold on the internet to people that build their own computers supports parts A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K. Its happens that parts E-K are made by cheap good 3rd party companys and I can easily buy and use them. This is why it is cheaper, now im not saying that it just is mac, dell does this HP does it, IBM and so on, but things like Graphics cards can usualy be replaced, except Wait, mac runs OSX which not all graphics cards support or have drivers for theres are last problem. If i want a geforce 8800GTX for my mac I have to buy the mac version which I THINK is more expansive.

[conor]

I know about those problems.
I meant at least they don't get fried logitech boards like the laptops. Of course if you want custom hardware you need a PC..
I think OSX is worth the sacrifice in flexibility in that regard, but that's jsut my opinion of course.

[g36calex]

i don't know OSX is nice and simple but in my personal view it just doesn;t suit my personality but for other people it is probably the best for students that need soemthing simple nice and reliable.

[conor]

Or for developers that need something nice, complex and reliable ;b

[g36calex]

Eh it looks liek a simple minded OS to me lol. idk I'm keeping my days to windows but o well thats just me.

[conor]

Well it's not simple minded beneath the hood my friend, it's built on Unix.
It's simple enough for anyone to pick up and use but if you need to get advanced, it can be as complicated as a Linux system.

[g36calex]

Well it's not simple minded beneath the hood my friend, it's built on Unix.
It's simple enough for anyone to pick up and use but if you need to get advanced, it can be as complicated as a Linux system.

oh i know, pretty much any friggin OS isn't simple at all well maybe dos but that was more than a long time ago.

[-Luke-]

All this, goes straight over my head, lol.

[AnnaRose_18]

I am a happy Mac user, so in my opinion that is the way to go. They are also a lot less likely to get a virus as a PC. The only down side that I've found is that a few of the websites I've gone to haven't supported the web browser. Other then that, Mac rocks! =)

[g36calex]

Safari blows anyways.....download Fire Fox asap.

[n0iZe]

>_>

Yeap. I need to get a new video card. My Radeon 1800 XT Pro (I think it was) kinda blew itself up the other day, and now i'm stuck with an Nvidia TNT2 xD.

[g36calex]

dude go with a new something like 8800GTX like 2 of them......

[n0iZe]

I'm broke. >_>

xD. Otherwise, I would.

[VraiCanon]

Someone please recommend a good, reliable laptop that I can take to University. Btw it needs to be cheapish. LOL. So as decent as £350 - £400 is going to get me.

[n0iZe]

Phew, not much, eh?

Are you going to be staying in a dorm, or do you just want a laptop to take to class?

[g36calex]

dell inspiron series with a little extra processor speed ram and HDD, will last you 4 years no problem. just don't go uber cheap on dell or they add a little special suck ass to make the comp die fast.

[VraiCanon]

Phew, not much, eh?

Are you going to be staying in a dorm, or do you just want a laptop to take to class?

I'm going to be staying in a 'dorm' ;D I doubt I'll take it to class, I'll probably write notes up when I get back or something...


dell inspiron series with a little extra processor speed ram and HDD, will last you 4 years no problem. just don't go uber cheap on dell or they add a little special suck ass to make the comp die fast.

OK I have no idea what that means but thank you anyway.

[n0iZe]

Well, you can always build yourself a computer. :] If you haven't done it before, it's a little complicated, but I know where you can get some really cheap parts and have a decent computer aswell.

A desktop, anyway.

[conor]

You can get very cheap high-end custom PCs on Ebay if it's any help.
You can get very cheap low-end ones with Dell ;)

[g36calex]

why does everybody dis dell like 70% of the world uses them lol, I have rarely had problems with them they use practicaly the same parts as any other computer. if your all like that then just go with an HP. But then again building you own is the best =)

[n0iZe]

I don't use a Dell. Built my own PC. :p

[g36calex]

I don't use a Dell. Built my own PC. :p

same here i used to use dell. how ever I love my custom baby, was fun building it too.

[n0iZe]

Definitely. Though, it'd be nice to have some money to rebuild mine

[g36calex]

i know just the cash to do something like SLI 9800GTXX's? like how bad as mother fucker would that be my friend? wait fuck that 3 way SLI that shit with 6-30inch HD LCD's? thats heaven there.

[n0iZe]

Oh, god yes. xD.

How about upgrading one of those tv's to a 49" ? xD. That'd provide for some fun Unreal Tournament.

[g36calex]

dude i can see it now, being the whore I am id us XFX

XFX 780LI
3 XFX 9800GTXX's
like 16BG's of Ram fastest speed
Intel Core Quad 3.4GHZ
a Raid 8 of the new 20,000RPM Raptor 100GB's or w/e
The 5.1 surround sound card we can get
all those moniters
and a cooling system like no tomorrow

jeez......im a fucking geek.

[n0iZe]

Liquid Nitrogen coolant. >_> But customized. >_> INTEGRATED INTO COLD-RESISTANT TUBING, MADE TO LOOK LIKE;

A walrus made of macaroni and cheese!

[g36calex]

then over clocked to a woop as 7.0 GHZ's oh yeaaah

[n0iZe]

CHeeeeaaaayyyyhhh Boy!

Running Crysis on high, along with a bit of Diablo II, and chatting on AIM all at the same time! BUAHAHAHA!

[g36calex]

haha lmfao btw walrus things going in my sig haha!

[n0iZe]

xD!

[conor]

No man.. 7ghz..
Get a 36 core processor.. like high end servers.. That's the shit right there :D
And how about a wall of HD monitors.. all acting as one giant screen :P

[n0iZe]

Oh, I don't know. There's a limit on how big your shit can get. I wouldn't want to break my neck whilst trying to post in these forums.

[conor]

That's a good point actually.
You'd want a concert hall to see the screens properly

[n0iZe]

I'd want a computer with a screen just big enough to amaze everyone around me. Other than that, I don't think I would want something bigger than that. :}

[g36calex]

what would we do for speakers......??....

[n0iZe]

Either a Regent Surround sound, or some Bose.

[Wandering Soul]

it all depends on what YOUR doing in college. Graphic design and anything around that area. Macs are best.

everything else, such as documentation and databasing goes to PC

but in my opinion i prefer the PC more gaming options

[g36calex]

im pretty sure unless your buying a macbook proz there are ton's of PC's out there that can do a kick mother ass job with CS3. I took a course at Rhode Island School of Design and they had brand new mac desktops , and still my custom desktop could handle CS3 much easier and with no hang ups. truth is all your buying is the OS because mac uses intel parts, PC's usualy use intel parts, so it comes down to 2 things.....do you like Xp or OSX? and do you want a right click or not?

[n0iZe]

im pretty sure unless your buying a macbook proz there are ton's of PC's out there that can do a kick mother ass job with CS3. I took a course at Rhode Island School of Design and they had brand new mac desktops , and still my custom desktop could handle CS3 much easier and with no hang ups. truth is all your buying is the OS because mac uses intel parts, PC's usualy use intel parts, so it comes down to 2 things.....do you like Xp or OSX? and do you want a right click or not?

Quite true. :/

I'm accustomed to PC's workings, so i'd stick with that. :3

[g36calex]

so man when shall i take a crack at this?

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/31/team-overclocks-core-2-quad-to-5-1ghz-claims-world-record-to/ 5.1?....

[n0iZe]

Bah, there's no reason why you'd need to have to go and spend a couple hundred bucks to get your PC to go that high. t_t.

Besides, they don't even have a cool wallpaper. You can't beat a world record and not have a cool desktop wallpaper.

[g36calex]

so true, tho I think one day this week I may pop my 2.4 up to 3.0 and see if the stupid thing is stable with my uber 1337 fan lol. w

[n0iZe]

xD. Before my video card pooped out, the fan on the bugger stopped working, so I put my big fan right on the side of my PC, and it worked perfectly.

..Up until the point where I had to clean my PC because of the dust, but in any case! Improvisation; the way of the future!

[g36calex]

haha nice, i think you can buy atx cases like that I was going to it had to small fans on the front and like a big as one on the side instead i went with a window case o well.

[n0iZe]

Meh. If I wanted all the bells and whistles on my computer case, I wouldn't have all the bells and whistles inside the case.

[g36calex]

yeah true, and on top of it....my case is under my desk.....with no one looking in on it....that should change sometime soon eh?

[openmindedguy]

mac is good for school becuase a mentaly challenged monkey can figure it out in 5 seconds or less, but when it coems that time fro upgrades you pretty much have to throw your old one in the trash. I had a macbook g4 I ended up spending 600$ on repairs from their "idiots" and it still doesn't work, failed logitech board....twice... Build your own PC it cheaper. You can run them as low as 200$ up to 200,000$ it also depends if you want a laptop or desktop, for any desktop I'd say PC you can easily swap parts later on, how ever with most laptops you cannot and your better off with a simple minded mac. but if you don't have the 2,000$ to blow on a Ubook, then dell, cheap effective said done. their laptops start at like 299$ or something its crazy.
Yes as he said. Mac is for school and people who aren't into computers but want one. PC's are more trouble but once you get everything working and the way you want it. It is better, like me I just made a new computer a week ago and now I am using it and its Owning my friends top of the line pre-built computer. Now I can run games high graphics and listen and surf internet with no lagg or errors.

So for expandability and better performance with more work but better results get PC. For easy out of the box I can do everything then get Mac

[n0iZe]

Yes as he said. Mac is for school and people who aren't into computers but want one. PC's are more trouble but once you get everything working and the way you want it. It is better, like me I just made a new computer a week ago and now I am using it and its Owning my friends top of the line pre-built computer. Now I can run games high graphics and listen and surf internet with no lagg or errors.

So for expandability and better performance with more work but better results get PC. For easy out of the box I can do everything then get Mac

I disagree. :/ It's all about what you've used before. Or if you have no computer knowledge, it'd be the same for both. One just comes in a locked case.

[openmindedguy]

I disagree. :/ It's all about what you've used before. Or if you have no computer knowledge, it'd be the same for both. One just comes in a locked case.
Well I have alot of experience in the computer community.I AM NOT saying you don't so please don't take it that way. Mac is more for people who don't know what to do. The reason is that its a simple system to use. While PC has alot of bug's to work out with components and software to use. Most PC user's that know what they are doing. Like me I would rather order each individual piece and assemble it myself. But I can understand why you disagree and I am not 100% right. I do have alot of fault in my logic but I know most of my information parts are right.

[n0iZe]

Except this one.

It really just depends on the person.

[openmindedguy]

Except this one.

It really just depends on the person.
Yes your right. Lol I'm wrong finally lol. But true like me, I need a powerful gaming computer to do what I need to all the time

[n0iZe]

Sadly, I don't have a powerful gaming computer to do what I need to all the time.

Soon. Bwuahaha!

[openmindedguy]

Lol I just rebuilt a new one. The old one was to slow Had a dual core 1.9 or something. Just over clocked my new processor to 3.4GHz. BALLIN!!!

[g36calex]

Lol I just rebuilt a new one. The old one was to slow Had a dual core 1.9 or something. Just over clocked my new processor to 3.4GHz. BALLIN!!!


um even if you where joking about the ballin part please never say it again....ever......

[n0iZe]

xD. Especially coming from a rich kid that lives in Florida. >_>

[openmindedguy]

um even if you where joking about the ballin part please never say it again....ever......
Kinda no. It means awesome and other things. Not anything nasty....

Also Never said I was rich. All I said was I make all the money I have. It's a little lot.

[n0iZe]

You don't need to say that you're rich.

I'm saying it for you!

[openmindedguy]

You don't need to say that you're rich.

I'm saying it for you!
Ok...

[n0iZe]

When you have enough money to not know what to do with all of it, that falls into definition in my book about being rich.

[openmindedguy]

Lol ok if you say do. Though all that is after saving up for 2 years

[eukaryote]

Well, I just bought a Mac laptop for school yesterday and I'm using it now. They give great deals to students. You get a discount on the computer, and you get a free iPod nano or touch. Students also get discounts on all the software you might want to buy. Right now, you also get a free printer/scanner/copier.

And if you do need to use Microsoft works, you can install them on Macs now.

I say Macs are better.