MacBook vs. regular PC laptop for engineering student

[Wolfpup]

So far I haven't had any spyware except cookies I think, definitly no viruses, frustration yes but all OSes gives me that, unstability? After XP SP2? No.

So well, that's lies, just know what you are doing and it's just fine.

It's still pretty easy to get infected with a virus unless you've got up to date antivirus protection, even if you're being careful.

Of course I think that's mainly because Windows is a bigger target.

 

[Setlew]

Thanks for everything, guys. You've helped a lot. I may or may not get a MacBook, depending on what the competition looks like and a variety of other things, but I appreciate the prompt responses and plethora of details (even though the last one about virii and chicks was not, um, exactly what I was looking for ). Now I have some good user opinions and tech info to make my decision with. Thanks again!

 

[jstad]

I am going to be a senior this year @ University of Iowa and your delema is the same one that I have asked myself every year I have been in school. I have used both pc laptops and an ibook throughout school. I wouldn't push you toward either one off the bat but the question for me came down to this.

If you are going to do alot of Windows apps, yes bootcamp is possible but if you are in the middle of a conversation with friends online, do you really want to shutdown/restart into windows? Ok, then there is the Parrallels option, but that works for only so much since using the normal MacBook you are going to eat ALOT of resources running CAD and things of that nature which would be better served by bootcamp.

If you feel like you only need to run one or two windows apps then go for the macbook as it can handle that with ease, however if you love to multi-task and your classes use mostly windows apps then go with a cheaper PC.

Hope this helps.

 

[Roguepirate]

I'm a Electrical engineering grad student, and the SR MBP is my first mac. I run Matlab, Labview and Cadence (formally PSpice) for my school work and I actually just installed those programs onto my Macbook using Bootcamp (WinXP). I ran some of my old image processing programs and it ran well, i can't really compare to my old dell (1.4ghz 1st gen pent M, 512 DDR400 ram) cause its pretty much outdated. Theres no real performance benefit in getting a mac to run this software since you're going to be running it in windows anyway. I made the switch because my dell died on me after about 3 years, and i've been wanting to make the switch. As a college student tight on cash, you should just get a dell capable of running your EGR software just to save money for now until youre done with your engineering degree program, the resetting will eventually get on your nerves and you may eventually regret getting a mac when it didn't really match your needs.

 

[ventro]

I am an engineering student. I use a Macbook Pro. While I have to use Parallels alot, it's pretty much painless.

 

[jstad]

I am an engineering student. I use a Macbook Pro. While I have to use Parallels alot, it's pretty much painless.

I think he is looking at the MacBook not the MBP so posting stats for a MBP is kind of pointless

 

[flopticalcube]

I think he is looking at the MacBook not the MBP so posting stats for a MBP is kind of pointless

Not really. They are pretty much the same for CPU-bound tasks.