TAMU MBP vs. Windows Laptop

[JP89Hornet]

Howdy,

I am going to be a Junior in high school next year, and I almost have convinced my parents to buy me a laptop for college early!
I have used Windows my entire life (mainly b/c my dad is a hardcore Win. fan, UGH!) I'm just sick of it... viruses, etc!!! But finnally
I have fallen for the MacBook Pro!!! It just looks co cool, and is running on Intel technology (which dad likes!!!)

I have 2 delimas:


1) I don't completely have my dad convinced a "Mac" is the best thing for me. I plan on mayjoring in either consumer electronic's
some type of eingenering degree, or in the tech. medical feild. With the recent "Boot Camp" I feel that I can fully work with Mac
OS X, and Windows, on a solid laptop. Any suggestions on how to confirm that this computer will work out with this feild!!!

2) At Texas A&M (TAMU) I plan to be in the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band wich is affiliated with the Corps of Cadets (Basically Military
training/lifestyle) Well, in the CoC you cannot bring a TV on campus So I was planning on getting the 17" and
bassically using it as a DVD player/TV. BUT I have heard it may be too much too heavy/bundlesome to carry around the
worlds largest (acerage wise) campus!?!?! I don't think I can convince my parent to buy me an LCD and a smaller MBP.

I wish I could convince my parents to get me this set-up!

With A Few Changes:
Apple Wireless Mouse
MBP (of course)
Different Speakers

Thanks,

--Jake

P.S. Any pics of dorm setups would be awesome!
Also, I know verry little about Ram, Processor, etc... Any advice on upgrades, mods, or origional options would be helpful!

 

[KingYaba]

Your best bet is to venture over to your nearest Apple store and actully look at the 17" MBP and 15" MBP and compare. Judge for yourself. Personally I would love to have a 17" MPB for all that realestate. Just the price is out of my range.

 

[laidbackliam]

i watch stuff on my 15" all the time! its great.

plus you can get a usb tv tuner for it, so you can have tv if you really want it .


next time you visit the campus find out how big the desks are, go by that.

 

[JP89Hornet]

Thanks

Thanks For the great advice, I was also wondering if the switch from PC to Mac was going to be extremly hard?

Where can you buy a USB tuner for a Mac???
I have a pic of the desk...

 

[Abstract]

Get the 15". It's not bad at all.

 

[adk]

You'd be a fool to buy a computer now that you're still going to be relying on in six years. If you manage to make it out of school in four years, you'll be using that computer until 2012 (and probably past that, since most college grads really can't afford new computers). Don't be stupid, just wait.

 

[xfiftyfour]

You'd be a fool to buy a computer now that you're still going to be relying on in six years. If you manage to make it out of school in four years, you'll be using that computer until 2012 (and probably past that, since most college grads really can't afford new computers). Don't be stupid, just wait.

i agree with adk. i'd wait until you graduate hs before getting your college laptop. if you get it now, it'll be way outdated in two years, and you'll be wanting a new one anyway.

 

[fenixx]

the above pic = my IDEAL setup.

 

[topgunn]

Aggie class of '01 here. I was a computer science major and one of only two Mac users out of 100 other Comp Sci majors in my class. With a little help from Metrowerks CodeWarrior and a little Java compiler called Roaster, I was able to breeze my way through most every class w/o using Windows. I had a PowerMac 6500 (lite on the Power) with an OrangePC PC card or as I called, PC on a stick, which featured a 200MHz Pentium Processor. I did have a few classes that required VB or Access that were a bit of a pain but I was just an Open Apple + D away from Windows.

Now, with BootCamp, there is no reason why a Mac such as the MacBook Pro would not get you through 4-6 years of college. Seeing as how you will be in the Corps, it should be closer to 4 years since you have less time to slack off compared to non-regs.

I do agree with the previous posters in that it would be foolish to buy your new computer now when you won't be starting college for another 2 years. Look at where the Powerbook was two years ago. Well, its about where it was 8 months ago but that is another story. In 2 years, the MacBook Pros could have 8 cores and X8950 GPU's all the while you are stuck on your obsolete 2.16GHz Core Duo. I know its hard but you can tough it out.

You picked a great school especially for the two fields that you seem to be most interested in. But, for all that occupies your time (Corps activities, Aggie Band, school), don't forget to leave time for your "Other Education".