Computer for college

I am looking to find what would be most compatible for what i need for college, im looking for an HP but have no idea what i am looking for in a laptop
any suggestions on this would be much appreciated

It really depends on your intended usage of the system.
A few key questions come to mind:
- What are you majoring in college?
- Do you intend to use the unit for gaming?
- Do you have a lot of music and movies?
- Are you looking for something ultra-portable?
- Etc.
Letting us know what you're thinking you want your new computer is the best way we can give some suggestions on what would be the best solution for you. =)
Please note that while I was once a seasonal employee of Best Buy, any and all views contained in this post reflect that of my own personal opinion and do not reflect that nor are they backed by my former seasonal employer, Best Buy.

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Apple Computer for College

First of all, let me apologize for the length and classification of this question, there was no way for me to pick multiple categories.
I am currently a senior in high school, and will be going to college this coming Fall. I will be going into the Music Department, so I will need a Mac computer. I will also be studying Computer Science.
My question is this: which Mac should I get?
Since I will be a music major and I enjoy doing multi-track recording on the side, apart from the regular internet, mail, and word processing, the Mac will have to be able to handle Garageband, Logic Pro, and (possibly) Finale without a hitch.
I will be receiving financial aid for this purchase, so I don't have a definite price tag, however $2000 sounds like a reasonable ceiling. I will definitely be purchasing the AppleCare Protection Plan. I am focusing on performance and longevity. I am very careful with my gadgets, and have resurrected several PCs and used them well beyond their expected expiration dates. Therefore, I fully expect this computer to last all through four years of college without me needing an upgrade.
What I Already Have/Will Definitely Purchase:
I won in a contest the iPad 2 a couple of years ago, and it has lasted well with no noticeable performance dips. I have the Clamcase for the iPad, which makes taking notes in class at my high school a breeze. Right now, that's my portable "laptop" for school. However, since I won it and didn't buy it, I had no opportunity to get the AppleCare plan, so if it breaks, that's the end of its portability.
I have a decent Windows 7 Ultimate PC that I fixed after a hard drive failure that I will be taking to college with me. I hope to do all my tinkering on that machine, so I don't risk any damage to the Mac. Also, I won't need Bootcamp or Paralells for Mac, because I will have the Windows machine.
I plan on purchasing one or two external hard drives. If I end up doing recording/mixing on the Mac, (if it is possible) I will use one of the drives for that program, saving space on the computer itself.
I have several thumb drives, and I don't have a massive video/picture/music library, so space is not too much of an issue for me.
I already have a printer and a monitor.
Macbook Air 2012:
I have done extensive research on the topic, and from what I've watched or read, the Macbook Air 2012 should support my needs. I absolutely love the design, and if my iPad or the case breaks, it will be just as (if not more) portable. I would upgrade the RAM to 8GB on purchase, but stick with the default space on the SSD. I was planning on the 13-inch model, but if there was a good reason, I could be swayed to consider the 11-inch with slightly less processing power.
Macbook Pro 2012:
Many friends have warned me that the Air won't be fast enough, and that I will need the Pro. I think the Retina display is great, but not for me, I just wouldn't find the extra resolution useful (I don't do photo or video editing). Then I could fork over more cash for performance upgrades.
My real worry with this machine is that my iPad will break, and I will try to take this notebook to class and back and end up tilting and damaging the hard drive. That or it will prove too bulky to take in my backpack. However I haven't had the chance to try it vs. the Air, so I don't know the performance difference.
iMac 2012:
I haven't extensively considered the iMac, but if given some good reasons, I could be persuaded. As I said earlier, my worry is that the iPad will break and I will be stuck without a portable machine (I handwrite much slower than I type). And in college, I'm not 100% sure that I will have the money on hand to purchase another iPad whenever I need one.
And that's it! Let me know what you guys think, I really appreciate any and all input Even if it doesn't answer the whole question, any insight is helpful.

First I strongly recommend that you determine if you want or need a notebook. By this time you probably have identified the college(s) you really want to attend and maybe even gotten early acceptance. Is the college you want to attend one that places emphasis on having a computer in class?
Any Mac you buy today is plenty fast enough to handle what you want to do, but there are two questions to ask yourself. 1) will the computer physically last the 4-5 years it will take you to graduate? The iMac and mini are much more likely to survive than a notebook. You probably wouldn't believe the number of ducktaped and otherwise jury rigged notebook computers I see on campus. 2) will the computer be able to handle 4-5 years worth of upgraded OS and/or software? I'm pretty confident about the iMac, mini and MacBook Pro but less so about the MBA.
Finally, I'm seeing loads more tablets with and without keyboard cases. Another possibility is to go with the desktop computer and reserve some $$$ for a future iPad purchase for portability.

Mac or pc for college

I was wondering if a Mac or pc would be a better investment for college. I will be having a few online classes that require working with windows but I know macs can run windows now. Also if you have windows on the Mac do you still need to get Microsoft office for word etc? What's the better choice?

In all honesty... I am a windows fan.
When you are going through college you will be interacting with quite a bit of different software throughout your years which will usually NOT be useable on a mac.
MACs are restricted on the software they support, but that is also a main reason they are "more reliable". But it will also limit your knowledge of a computer in my opinion.
You can still run windows within the MAC through other software you have to purchase, such as boot camp. You will also need to purchase a fresh copy of windows as well, which really just ADDS to the cost of the already overpriced MAC machines.
Is there a need for the MAC OS + WINDOWS OS? My opinion is no. You will benefit more throughout college with a Windows based machine and it will not hurt your pocket nearly as much. But if money is not an issue for you, then yes a MAC computer with some software to run windows would be ideal, but not worth the $$$ in my opinion although it would provide you with the flexibility and power of both operating systems.
My opinion is just to pick a reliable PC manufacture and a good model. You will use windows a lot more frequently than MAC or it's software.
A windows based PC can do everything a MAC can... and more, but because of that there may be a few future head aches such as software problems.
Window based PCs are extremely flexible and changeable and thats why you hear a lot of problems and people complain because they change things without even realizing it and it sometimes does not like what you changed as it conflicts with another setting/change.
MACs are bit restricted and thats why you do not hear about the problems nearly as much.
Summary: Grab a Windows based computer for college. You are there to learn, might as well learn a bit about a compute aswell. They are everywhere.
Geek Squad Agent
Although I am currently a Best Buy employee my involvement with these boards are voluntary and on my own time. I am not representing Best Buy. My comments/posts have no affiliation with Best Buy in any way and are strictly MY OWN words & opinions.

11 or 13inch air for college?

I am going to college for engineering, most likely mechanical, at Duke. My question is should I get the 11inch macbook air (2.0Ghz i7, 8gb ram, and 256 SSD) or the 13inch macbook air with the same specs (I am leaning towards the 11 inch). The price difference is $50. I will have a desktop monitor (20-25 inches) and an external hard drive that I can connect the laptop to while in my dorm. I will be using it for Logic pro and maybe some light gamming. But I think its primary use will be note taking in class and writing papers (I don’t really know because I haven’t started yet). There are computer labs with top of the line iMacs that I can use for any hardware intensive programs like CAD. I will have to be able to use some windows programs, I can get windows xp free or windows 7 ultimate for $15 through Duke, is bootcamp the best solution or is a virtual machine better? (Secondary question not as important)
Recap:
Desktop monitor in dorm
External hard drive in dorm
Light gamming
Some logic Pro
Portability is important
Durability is important too (not sure if they differ in durability)
Some windows programs needed
Is screen size going to be a major issue?
Please excuse my grammar, I have no aspirations of becoming an English major.
I also apologize if this question has been asked elsewhere or if I am rambling.
By any chance can someone compare the strength and speed of this laptop to a 2008 iMac with a 3.06Ghz Intel core 2 duo and 4gb of 800Mhz DDR2 SDRAM? (If not it doesn't really matter)

Have you played on both? Which do you like better?
As others have said, the question really comes down to screen size (while away from that external monitor) and battery life. If you don't mind the smaller screen, and you can do with 5 hours (relatively speaking) compared to 7 hours battery (relatively spreaking) then don't be afraid to go with the 11". Not only is it incredibly light--which means less weighing you down as you haul that bookbag from class to class, not only is it incredibly small--which means it can fit on very small desktops in class rooms, and give you more room on a tabletop for your books and papers--but it that lightness/slimness also translates to being able to slip it in and out of bags faster; you save time packing and unpacking, and have more room in the bag for other things.
In the end, play on both and go with the one you fall in love with, as both can be configured similarly (do go for 8g RAM), and, thus, can be pretty much the same in performance. Which means what matters is which computer you are going to enjoy working on.
And do let us know which you pick. Either one is a great computer for college.

My daughter will be leaving for college. Can she access our account on her computer and sync her ipod to that computer?

My daughter will be leaving for college. Can she access our account on her computer and sync her ipod to that computer?

She cannot sync to that computer unless she has access to it, or is on the same wifi subnet as it is.
I think you mean can she access your iTunes account from another computer? As long as she has your AppleID and password, she can access your accounts in iTunes so you can continue to share purchased products.
I imagine she will want her own iCloud accounts and iMessage accounts, so you and she are not sharing the same emails, contacts, messages and so forth. To do that, just have her create her own AppleID to use when creating her iCloud account and her iMessage login account. These services are completely separate from the iTunes or App store, so having different AppleIDs for purchased content and other services is fine on a device (lets your family share purchases, but keep everything else separate).

Programming for College with Windows Apps on bootcamp HELP?

Hello everyone I come to you for help after a long search for the perfect laptop.
Right now I am using a macbook late 2009 with multitouch. I love the features but after signing up for some programming classes for college I had to revise what laptop I should own.
My question is if I'll be able to program on bootcamp with Windows 7 with windows applications like Dev C++, Microsoft Visual Studio, Eclipse, an assembler and the like with 100% compatibility?
I am on a very low income but I think that Apple really gets it when it comes to mobile laptops. I haven't found anything comparable to a Macbook anywhere. I've seen some imitations like the HP Envy but when you look closely they do not come close.
Laptop PC makers just don't get it with their 2 hour battery life, "Desktop replacements" and heavy laptops. What is the point of all that if it's not mobile.
I can only own one laptop and I will upgrade to a 15 inch because I need the screen real state. I'm hoping that the answer will be YES to compatibility with programming applications on Windows 7.
One last thing, I've heard of Xcode but college teaches on Windows Applications, there is no way around it. I need to use what everyone else is using right now.
Thank you all.

Hi and welcome to Discussions,
running Windows with BootCamp on a Mac is like running Windows on any other given computer.
Those programs you mentioned shouldn't give you any kind of problems.
Only very low-level BIOS and/or hardware programming (in assembler) can arise problems due to some differences between Macs and 'other' PCs (like the lack of a full BIOS support).
Other than that you're good to go.
Have Fun
Stefan

What MacBook Pro with Retina Display is recommended for college students?

I'm trying to decide which MacBook Pro with Retina Display to buy before I go off to college. I want to get the 2.6 GHz, 16 GB of RAM, and just the 512 GB of Flash. But I don't know which one is better for a business major. The 2.6 GHz Pro with Retina, or the 2.3 GHz Retina. My concers are the space, and this computer is suppossed to last me 4 years.

I'm a college student as well and I'm going to be a sophomore engineering major. I'm currently sitting on a 2007 white MacBook. Yes, it is from the stone age. However, over 5 years, I have only used 280 GB of space. I'm going to order a 2.7GHz, 16GB, 512 SSD R-MBP this weekend, in the hopes that this, too will last me about 5 years. Honestly, if you have the money to drop, I would buy the fastest possible configuration, 16GB ram, and a 512 SSD so that you can comfortably use your computer for another 4-5 years. My white MacBook served quite well for 5 years. The thing about newer technology is that it may last longer. A Core2Duo processor from 07 is nothing compared to Ivy Bridge now. So I would max out the configuration if I were you. By 2017, Intel is going to be making processors that will make this R-MBP look like crap, so consider "future-proofing" your computer for the long run.

I am a college student trying to decide if I should get a laptop of an Ipad 3 for college work. Which one would be better suited?

Please specify pros and cons if possible.

Other posters here made good points. A laptop is pretty much a necessity.
Many colleges require a laptop for class, so you might want to check with the school. My younger son, starting his junior year in college, recently got an e-mail saying he must have a laptop for class. Other groups were required to buy a netbook directly from his university last year with pre-loaded programs.
You might also be required to have microsoft word, excel, etc. as my sons have to. If you get a laptop, and need/want microsoft word, etc., you might want to wait until you get to school and find two others in the same position with same type of laptop (pc or mac) and split the family pack. You'll save a lot of money.
Also, neither an ipad or a netbook (they all crawl and do not come with much memory - we have two) has a dvd drive, and that could make a big difference to you.
An ipad is fun and very portable. If you can get both, good for you. Enjoy!
We were pc users until less than two years ago. Our computers were fried by a microsoft security update. We now have two imacs and a macbbok pro. They are so much easier - no more viruses frying hard drives - at least three each on our son's laptops, replacing $80.00 adapters, etc. We have saved money because of this. My older son (just graduated) has the 13" macbook pro 2010 and still loves it - incredibly fast, reliable and long lasting battery. We do not plan on using pc's any more.
Many countries have the student discount where on a 13"macbook pro you get a $100. gift card for the app/itunes store and another $100. off the price of the macbook pro (so $1099.00). So when you're deciding on a laptop, you might take this student pricing into account. You must buy directly from an Apple store, Apple online or your Apple approved college bookstore. You don't need the retina display version, the added cost, or the additional weight of a larger model. With savings, you'll actually be paying $999.00. Also, if you buy apps for your macbook pro, those apps can be used on up to five authorized family imacs or macbook pros. Given the prices of some apps, that can be a great savings.
On the other hand, pc laptops keep improving (?) and might have sales because at at this point, they want to sell off the windows 7 versions before the new windows os comes out.
Whatever your decision, enjoy your new computer and college.

Macbook Air for College?

I'm thinking about getting a MBA for college in the fall.
I do light/medium video/photo editing, a lot of multitasking, web surfing, etc. I like the idea of the AIr because it boots up so quickly and is much more convenient for work on the go. Has anyone experience noticable lag when video editing or photo editing with the MBA? Is there any reason for me to consider one of the Macbook Pros?

Even though I have a new iMac at work and a very good iMac at home, the 2011 MBA I got in December has become my workhorse and that includes using Photoshop CS 5 and iMovie. I briefly experimented with Final Cut and abandoned it, not because the computer couldn't handle it but because my project couldn't fit on the SSD and when I tried working from a USB drive I got some stuttering. This may not be an issue any longer with the new MBA having USB 3 ports (or if I were willing to remove a goodly bunch of media from my computer).

For college/grad school should i get ipad 3 or mac book air?

for college/grad school should i get ipad 3 or mac book air?

Nobody can tell you which one is best for you, it's a personal preference. However, here are a few factors you might want to take into consideration:
1-They're two different devices that serve different purposes. The way you take notes in an iPad is different than the way you would on a MBA. On the iPad, with apps like Evernote and Notability you can take more complete notes than with a MBA. You have the option to have audio notes, write with a Stylus, make diagrams by hand to explain/relate concepts easily. With the external keyboard (for that I'd recommend using the Apple Wireless Keyboard with the InCase Origami Workstation) you could type just as fast as you would on a MBA and format the text just like you would on the MBA. However, for bigger (possibly partner) papers, the MBA would help you. You could start the paper on the iPad without any issues (using Pages or even Evernote) but you'd need a laptop/computer to finalize the project.
2-Portability wise, they're both incredibly light. The iPad is somewhat smaller = lighter but with the keyboard they're about the same. The fact that with the ipad + keyboard combo you can take out the keyboard only when you need it, for me, is an advantage be ause when I don't want to use it, it's not in the way. For others, it's a disadvantage because you have to carry two items instead of one.
3-MBA let's you access all websites and most file types. If one of your classes requires you to go to the Browser and see a Flash enabled page, the iPad would not be of much help. Same goes for any programs you might need to install. On the MBA you'll most likely be able to do so. On the iPad, chances are there won't be an app for that.
4-Aonce you already have a MBP, I'd go for the iPad. If/when the iPad falls short(because of the limitations mentioned above) you can use the laptop. And in the mean time, use the iPad for everything else. That way you get the best of both worlds. You'd only need to take the MBP when you know you'll need it and wont have to carry that weight all the time.
6-Studying (reading, highlighting, annotating) is easier and more intuitive on the iPad. The iPad is great for reading, combine that with the fact that you can leave comments/notes just like you would on a physical piece of paper, and you've got the best way to learn IMO.

Laptop for College

My brother's graduation present is going to be a MacBook for college and it is my responsibility to find one for him. I was just wondering if you had any suggestions. He is not very tech savvy but doesn't have trouble using what he needs because we already have a Mac.

Well you won't need to go pro then! (At least, not this time).
Here's some price comparisons to consider:
The stock white MacBook through the education store is $949.00.
The stock aluminum MacBook through the education store is $1249.00.
The main differences between these two machines are hard drive size (which is very easy to upgrade & replace yourself) and RAM type. The aluminum MacBook uses DDR3 RAM; the white MacBook uses DDR2. Both machines that I listed have the 2.0GHz core 2 duo processor.
Here's some other options currently available, under the "refurbished Mac" link (this is in the lower-left corner of the main store page).
The white MacBooks listed under the refurbished Mac link start at $849.00 and come with the same one-year warranty as a new Mac. They should be in "like new" condition when you receive it, should you choose to buy one. The only aluminum MacBook I see is priced at $1899, but I believe the higher cost is due to the machine coming with a Solid-State hard drive installed, rather than the traditional one with moving platters.
Personally, I'd go with a refurbished white MacBook--it costs even less than a new one through the education store and will perform just as well.
If you do decide to get a refurbished computer, take a good look at all the specifications (some machines have 1GB of memory; others have 2GB and they are listed as the same price) to get the most for your money.
~Lyssa

Macbook Air 13 vs Macbook Pro Retina 13 for college?

In your opinion, what would be better for college?
A Macbook Air 2012 vs. Macbook Pro Retina 13"?
I'm a Junior in high school right now and I have a 13in MBP, early 2011 base model. I just upgraded the RAM to 8GB. (I'm not a spoiled kid, I have a pretty well paying job, for a teen with no bills haha, and I purchased this myself.)
This question is more for next year. With the refurbished models of these, both 8GB of RAM.
Which would be a better everyday computer for notes in class, portability (although I know the Air is best for that), Netflix, Youtube, etc.?
I'm thinking of selling my MBP, because it's so **** heavy and honestly not quick enough for me. My mom is considering taking my MBP and buying one of those upon graduation and I pay the difference.
-combine one of these with also owning an iMac (saving up for one, most likely a refurb model)
-I don't care about USB slots (both have the same anyway), I have USB Hubs
-Storage space isn't an issue for me, I would use the SSD storage for the important things such as documents, etc. and use my External HDD for media files, such as; movies, music, photos and backup
-I don't play computer games
I'm pretty knowledgable on them too, I'm really just wanting some honest opinions and maybe tell me if you use either for college/notes.
Thanks for any answers

You sound like you only want us to justify what you've already made up your mind to do and have some tangible evidence to back you up with the folks.
If you can afford it, yeah, the Retina will be a vast improvement over a measly Air. Just remember it is a totally closed system and if you want it to last and have a good resale value, you will need to buy as much computer as you can. Especially in the RAM department. The storage area is becoming less of an issue since OWC has already come out with replacement for that part and if the market improves others will surely follow.
Lastly, exactly when do you NEED the computer? New models will surely come out this year. Some years see two model releases, spring and fall. Last year we only saw a single one. And once in college, many schools have on-campus stores with attractive student prices.

Can I use the education discount to purchase a computer for my husband who is in school?

I'd like to buy a computer for my husband who is in college. When I purchased my computer I used the education discount because I was in college at that time. I am wondering if I can use the education discount for purchasing a computer for him. I noticed that on the terms you need to agree to in order to use it you have to either be the student, faculty, or a parent. I was wondering if spouse counted.

You need a valid .edu email address, IIRC.
Since he is the student, he can make the purchase and get the discount.
Won't work real well if you're planning on gifting the Mac.

I purchased a MacBook Pro in fall for College and it came with a $100 card. I signed up to redeem but accidentally put the wrong ending on my email and now that I try to do it over it says it has already been redeemed. Help, Please!

I purchased a MacBook Pro in fall 2011 for College and it came with a $100 "Back to School" card. I signed up to redeem but accidentally put the wrong ending on my email and now that I try to do it over it says it has already been redeemed. Help, Please!

- You can only sync an iPod to one iTunes library/computer. You can however, manually manage music and videos among different libraries.
Go to iTunes>Help>iTunes Help>Sync your iPod....>Sync You Device>Set up Syncing>Sync your device manually and follow the instructions.
- If y wnat to switch syncing libraries/computer see:
go to iTunes>Help>iTunes Help>Sync your iPod....>Sync You Device>Set up Syncing>Sync your device manually and follow the instructions.
Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive: Apple Support Communities
If all the synced media like music is in the iTunes library of the second computer it is very easy.

If i buy a mackbook pro for college, can i get a free ipod with it?

can i get a free ipod touch if i purchase a mackbook pro for college this summer?

In the past the Apple Store has offered that promotion. Last year when I purchased my Macbook Pro I was not offered a free iPod. The Apple Store did run and summer promotion that year for college student; if you purchased a computer through the college portal in the Apple Store you recieved a $100 Appstore gift card, which came quite handy with some apps that cost money. But personally I would of been happy with an iPod instead.

Computer for college

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