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What is a student to do?

As a student you should be getting more off that price right? I thought it was 10%. I definitely think having a laptop make life much easier. Especially if your campus has wireless. There was nothing that made me happier than working on stuff in the library on my laptop. It also rocks for giving lectures. The only problem with 2 computers is data transfer. I tried to do it between a powerbook and pc and it made me want to cry. I always gravitated toward the powerbook (yeah I know windows didn't help out the pc's case). I say just get a laptop with a monitor and be done with it. Either get the macbook or wait a little bit and get the intel ibook.
 
Also if you're a student go to the library computers and go to the educational site. There should be a link to go to a link that'll only work on campus computers, that's how it works over here in the UK. It normally gives you an extra 5% off minimum. :)
 
hhlee said:
before anyone can reasonably give you advice, we have to know what you do with computers. are you a comp sci major? are you a graphics design major? what is the purpose of your computers?

i know too many people with dual g5s at home loaded with several gigs of memory. 95% of what they do is surf the internet and play itunes... occasionally they'll plunk out a paper.

having two machines is nice but even .mac can't help you sync all your music, your work, etc.

i'm not sure why you're so scared of integrated graphics. if you want to play games, spend 500-800 dollars for winblows box which can run all the games from now for the foreseeable future. mac gaming won't take off for a while (because directx for pc = ???? for mac [no, coregraphics is not the answer])

oh and by the way, 2005fpw is not so great with tv quality signal. it plays dvds beautifully though

lastly, if you are a graphics person who uses the pro apps... seriously, don't jump on the intel bandwagon yet. those programs are barely optimized, why would you pay top dollar for hardware which runs your software slowly?? buy someone's g4 or go with a g5 - people are selling their 15'' for $1200 and i've seen even some g5 1.8's go for 950.
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Windows boxes are ugly machines. I dont want that.

Im going to major in English or Bio, not sure. I will be using my computers for notetaking, writing, internet, WOW, movies, music, image editing as im a photography enthusiast, DVD authoring, cd burning, bit torrent and instant messaging.

But I wouldnt need a monitor to have good Tv signal quality as I am looking to get an Imac to use as my "TV", which doesnt have a tv tuner. I dont watch TV. I watch Lost and Veronica Mars which I download.

And finally, couldnt I just use Bonjour to sync everything up?
 
I have a desktop that I've had all through college and in december I got an iBook for upcoming graduate school. I have loved the portability of it, and being able to take it to the library and sit around campus with the wireless beteween classes. I only wish my desktop was an iMac... *sigh* well, perhaps after graduate school when I'm rolling in the big bucks as a social worker! *hint of sarcasm* haha :)
 
in2themystik2 said:
I have a desktop that I've had all through college and in december I got an iBook for upcoming graduate school. I have loved the portability of it, and being able to take it to the library and sit around campus with the wireless beteween classes. I only wish my desktop was an iMac... *sigh* well, perhaps after graduate school when I'm rolling in the big bucks as a social worker! *hint of sarcasm* haha :)
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Where in Ohio are you? Im in Cleveland, the city not any of the suburbs.
 
Thanks for all the help everyone. I will be purchasing the Imac and am so excited to get such an amazing first Mac. I cannot wait!

What made this decision for me was very simple fact that a refurb ibook + intel Imac was only $39 more than MBPro alone even after student discount. Plus, I read that review of the MbPro at Ars techina and it almost convinced to just get a powerbook. But sensiblity kicked in and in the long run I think Ill be greatly benefited by the awesome power and screen of the Imac with the ultra-portability of the 12-inch ibook or whatever its intel replacement may be.
 
ieani said:
Thanks for all the help everyone. I will be purchasing the Imac and am so excited to get such an amazing first Mac. I cannot wait!

What made this decision for me was very simple fact that a refurb ibook + intel Imac was only $39 more than MBPro alone even after student discount. Plus, I read that review of the MbPro at Ars techina and it almost convinced to just get a powerbook. But sensiblity kicked in and in the long run I think Ill be greatly benefited by the awesome power and screen of the Imac with the ultra-portability of the 12-inch ibook or whatever its intel replacement may be.
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Great choice! I was in the same boat as you a student deciding over a mbp or imac/laptop combo. Obviously I was swayed here from to macrumors members and i got the imac w/ 2gb ram and will compliment it with an intel ibook replacement as well.
 
excalibur313 said:
I definitely think having a laptop make life much easier. Especially if your campus has wireless. There was nothing that made me happier than working on stuff in the library on my laptop.
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I concur! Since my University has wireless internet, that means I can VNC to my iMac from anywhere. It's pretty sweet. I love my Macs.
 
sigh... lol, im in the same sort of dilemma as you were... BUT, i need the laptop to be able to handle alot of graphically intense stuff :(.

no idea how im gunna get around this pickle, especially with my current money situation :p
 
I have a PowerMac iBook combo for high school, and I have FTP set up in system preferences, so I can FTP right into the iBook from the PowerMac to vice versa and move any files. It's really quick (if you're going to be on the same broadband network.) I also have a Fedora Core server that I store the folders for the websites I work on that I don't need at the moment, and I get them off that when I need them. But when I'm working with the PowerMac and then, say I need to go out, I can open FTP and send the files right to the iBook within seconds and I'm good to go.
 
Those horrible second-thoughts are creeping in now. Im not sure now if I should just cancel the whole idea, buy a macbook pro and be done with it. Ignorance is bliss.
 
Leani, have you ever thought of the idea of..


12'' PowerBook + a Dell 2005FPW?


Im currently at college and thats my setup. Its wonderful. Got my PB, Xbox360, PS2, External HDTV tuner card hooked up to the monitor. Cost was less than 2000 bucks.

If you have more than 2000 bucks then go for a 24'' display. I regret I didn't.
 
My local AppleCentre (which seems to get everything in stock really quickly) had a 2.0GHz MacBook Pro on the floor this afternoon.

MY GOD.....It was sooooo fast. Just snap snap snap between the apps, everything opened in less than a bounce, just incredible. The MagSafe connector is a lot firmer than I thought, and smaller, the connector is barely as wide as my thumbnail.

It just looks like such a sweetly put together machine. The screen is gorgeous!!!

Damn-it!! I want one, anyone want to give me $3600 to get it? Please? I promise I'll post photos......
 
wako said:
12'' PowerBook + a Dell 2005FPW?
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Or a cheaper iBook and the same monitor which over VGA is very good from the iBook. Plus the iBook has better battery life.
 
TBi said:
Or a cheaper iBook and the same monitor which over VGA is very good from the iBook. Plus the iBook has better battery life.
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The iBook would need to run that monitor with a hack and using 16MB of the 32MB on the card to push a screen that big is really going to test it.

I wouldn't recommend it.
 
Chundles said:
The iBook would need to run that monitor with a hack and using 16MB of the 32MB on the card to push a screen that big is really going to test it.

I wouldn't recommend it.
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Well it gets 500 Euro of recommendation from me :)

For slightly more than the price of a 12" PB you could buy a Mac Mini and an iBook.
 
wako said:
Leani, have you ever thought of the idea of..


12'' PowerBook + a Dell 2005FPW?


Im currently at college and thats my setup. Its wonderful. Got my PB, Xbox360, PS2, External HDTV tuner card hooked up to the monitor. Cost was less than 2000 bucks.

If you have more than 2000 bucks then go for a 24'' display. I regret I didn't.
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Yes I have but Steve didnt give us any ibooks. So I would do that but with the MbPro.


TBi said:
Well it gets 500 Euro of recommendation from me :)

For slightly more than the price of a 12" PB you could buy a Mac Mini and an iBook.
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Id rather have one fast computer than two slow ones(comparatively).


Heres why i have cold feet:
  • currently have a very fast desktop for use until college
  • in college I think having an Imac and ibook might be overkill
  • i would love to have just one machine as i tend towards minimalism
  • if i got the imac and ibook i would probably out use the ibook over the imac
  • all the benefits of the imac from screen, to speed, to gaming are things I will not need, may want but dont need
  • i need a laptop so getting an imac would require an ibook or equivalent making it more expensive than mbpro
  • ive watched movies on a 15inch screen before and do not think this would be a problem while in college. my future roomate may even have a tv.so i would save on not getting an external.
  • this is entirely a battle between needs and wants, and sadistically the line for me has blurred
  • But up until last july when it died, i lived with a p3 500mHz gateway desktop with just 64MB RAM and 16MB VRam, 10Gb HDD, and a non-flat 15inch CRT. So as much as I want the perfect computer I think I can live with anything.
 
i know having two machines is probably better than one, but i am coping very very well with my PowerBook G4 (sig). i have it set up with a desktop replacement, with an iCurve, wireless keyboard and mouse. of course, if you were planning on getting a 12" then an external screen might be a good idea, but the 15" is more than adequate and allows the option for future expandibility. if you are using intensive apps on your mac, i.e. pro apps, then it's probably be better to go with a desktop rather than a laptop......i find that my setup offers the best for portability and performance, as i can easily just pick up my laptop and take it home.

i would suggest one or the other, even go with the 17" macbook pro of they release one, but for a student i find it hard to find reasons to actually have 2 computers. (unless they are different platforms and you need them for academic requirements). i would save your money and max out one computer with specs and buy desktop replacement components. you have more money left over for other important things. speaking as a first year student, money does become incvreasingly important very quickly. i know some who did not work during the summer and are really struggling....you will need every penny eventually, and maybe even end up selling one of the computers.:(

sad but true.

:D

S
 
To be honest, I'd say that 2 computers is overkill. I'm in my second year of University on a Media Production degree using a 1.33ghz iBook, and I've not had a problem, or wanted another comp since. I love the simplicity of having my main computer with me at all times.

My advice would be to get a top spec MBP, and then pick up a couple of cheap external HD's should you feel the need for more space.

Remember when mentioning the quality of the iMac's screen that you are looking at it comparitively. There really isn't anything wrong with the screen on a PB/MBP or iBook :)

Last of all, I find it quite suprising that so many students on here use their laptops to take notes in lectures. I've not been in a lecture where ANY student has used a laptop... lol! I prefer using pen and paper and then typing them up- I find I remember things easier that way...

Anyway- good luck with the decision. Just look at it this way- which ever route you choose, your still gonna get a box in the mail with a shiny new Mac inside. And nothing beats that :D
 
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