The Mac, Windows, and School

[chukwithak]

I'm a Veteran about to start school. I'm buying a new Macbook or MBP with tuition. What do i need to know about School intergration on the Mac? Any guides out there? I've searched a bit, but nothing really justifies school matters. Any tips are helpful.

Also any input on Aquaminds Notetaker or Circus Ponies Notebook?

 

[Balty]

I'm a Veteran about to start school. I'm buying a new Macbook or MBP with tuition. What do i need to know about School intergration on the Mac? Any guides out there? I've searched a bit, but nothing really justifies school matters. Any tips are helpful.

Also any input on Aquaminds Notetaker or Circus Ponies Notebook?

Can you give us a bit more information?

What computers does your school use? Mac/Windows/Other
What are you going to be using it for? What subjects?

With more information we'll be more able to help.
Sorry, I don't know anything about Aquaminds Notetaker or Circus Ponies Notebook.

 

[martychang]

Yeah, it really depends on what they(IT) want you to do.

I can say if you have any class websites that require ActiveX controls there is IEs4OSX which lets you use Internet Explorer 6 and ActiveX controls on a Mac without buying Windows/Crossover or any other commercial product. As of the latest version it no longer inexplicably takes up 100% CPU either

If you can post more on what IT expects of student machines at your university/college I should be a decent resource, as an IT student & Mac user.

 

[chukwithak]

Imnot sure what computers the school uses. I have seen Mac computers around the campus for directories and what not though. I'm starting in spring as a freshmen at Metro State of Denver and hope to transfer to CU @ Boulder and get an Electrical engineering and Computer Science Ba

 

[The Flashing Fi]

Imnot sure what computers the school uses. I have seen Mac computers around the campus for directories and what not though. I'm starting in spring as a freshmen at Metro State of Denver and hope to transfer to CU @ Boulder and get an Electrical engineering and Computer Science Ba

If you don't know, then we don't know.

I'm sure you have somebody at the school you can talk to. It will depend on your major as to what software you need to run, which can determine with OS you'll need to run. I suggest talking to someone who can provide you a definitive answer.

 

[Balty]

If you don't know, then we don't know.

I'm sure you have somebody at the school you can talk to. It will depend on your major as to what software you need to run, which can determine with OS you'll need to run. I suggest talking to someone who can provide you a definitive answer.

Ask someone (staff, students) at your school....
That's probably your best option. Hope everything goes well.

(Or look down)

 

[Saladinos]

I'm currently doing an Electrical Engineering MEng, and I use a Mac. It's fine.

Macs are actually pretty common among students. All universities have systems which support the Mac. For computer science especially, most work is done on Linux, so they need a system which is not Windows-dependent.

Check the website for the school you're going to. There should be plenty of technical support information, including walkthroughs on setting up your system, which should tell you if the Mac is supported or not.

As for software, I'd recommend Office, simply because you're going to need equations, which iWork doesn't have (otherwise, iWork trumps Office easily). OSX also has a nifty grapher application which you'll find useful.

EDIT: Metro should be fine. Their IT helpdesk has a troubleshooting page for Macs.

 

[Slovak]

Also, be aware that your school store may sell the notebook with a discount as well as a variety of deeply discounted software (I can buy MS Office for $29 for example). Apple stores and apple.com also offer educational discounts on hardware.