Should I get a Macbook Pro or something else ?

Hello everyone, I am not sure if this is the right place for this kind of discussion, but I will ask anyway. I am on the hunt for a laptop for college and need some input, I had at first got myself a macbook pro but returned it after I kept having problems that an authorized repair center said was likely a software issue. After they reinstalled the OS and everything else, and it still kept crashing (kernel panics), I returned it.
The only problem is I can't find a computer that I like, I have looked at Windows machines, and reading some of the reviews on some of the ones I did like made me uneasy about them. Many of my picky requirements were only really satisfied by the macbook pro 15" . My only problem with this thought is that according to my degree plan, in two years I will need to run Mathcad ( a Windows only program, and possibly others) for the course, and it makes me wonder if I can justify the macbook and slapping down $200 at some point for a copy of Windows. I really seriously enjoy some of the mac's other items including iLife for my hobbies, so any thoughts on this would seriously be welcome.
Finally, I intend to buy this locally tommorrow at unfortunately a Best Buy, which I seriously hate, but is the only store around where I live that possibly has a selection with which ever way I go. My real question about this is can I buy a macbook here and avoid their sales pitches for Geek Squad and buy an extended Applecare plan, and is a macbook from here covered by the same one year warranty as any other Apple computer ?
Thank You everyone,
Ga776m

Just tell them you don't want the Geek Squad.  http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/rpcart/featured.cgi?group=appcare offers discounts on AppleCare.  I just happen to be a satisfied customer.  Registering for AppleCare can be done through http://www.apple.com/register/ or calling AppleCare directly at 1-800-APLCARE. As far as Windows, it probably only need only cost you about $80.  http://www.virtualbox.org/ will run any version of Windows, and most Windows software will run just fine on Windows XP.  Check if your version of Mathcad will. http://www.discountmountainsoftware.com/miwixpprofuv.html

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