Which should I buy? A Mac or a Windows?

Question

Hey guys, it's time for that age-old question: which should I get, a Mac or a Windows laptop?

I'm researching laptops as next year I'll be starting my Computer Science degree and although I'm well versed in using Windows, I've never used a Mac.

Wondered if anyone could shed some light on this matter for me; I'd need the laptop for programming too!

Any ideas / experiences would be great. Thanks. (:

Answer 1

You should dual boot Linux/Windows. There are more tools available for PC versions. You may need to use Visual Studio for C/C++/C#. The Java IDE like Eclipse, works for both mac and pc though. There were some tools that were available on both platform, but you will get no support from the instructor if it doesn't work on a mac such as UML tools. Only thing that will annoy you is when working with the window shell, which is why some people in my class dual boot with linux or just fully use ubuntu or fedora. You can get away with working with any platform, you just might have a harder time with mac though.

Answer 2

Get the Mac.



The new Macs with the Intel processors can be set to boot into Windows. You will need a "PC" for your Computer Science studies. But when you are out and about doing your own thing, you will be happier using the Mac OS instead of Windows.

Answer 3

Some of the answers you've had are not even close and rather than turn this into an argument I would just advise that you contact the college or Uni. Just make sure you get through to the correct dept and they will understand exactly who to put you through to.

(actually I should say something)

Consider that if you use windows or a mac you will have to buy any software you want for it. Using Linux or a UNIX-based OS on your PC will give you the option of using any programming language and the software is free. (I don't see how there can be any other option). Bearing in mind that you must learn about UNIX based OS's, the same cannot be said of anything from Microsoft; and the mac's OSX is originally UNIX-based.



Your best bet for now is to dual boot your current PC to run on XP (Pro) or Vista and Ubuntu or Mandriva (the 2 best Linux distributions. You can download either for free and the benefits are 'too good to be true'! They are said to be ever so slightly more difficult to get used to but that is simply that you have much greater choice. You will also be further introduced to the Command Line Interface (CLI) as in Linux it is much more powerful a tool than in Windows (the DOS prompt - that's if you have used it much in windows at all) Necessary for your course for certain!



Anyway, you can now at least look into it. Linux! Check it out and for instructions on dual-booting there are some good tutorials on You-Tube (Look at some of their offerings for Compiz-Fusion which is one of the possibilities for your windowing environment, that's if you like eye-candy (such as is available with the mac OSX - macs are only really essential to artists as far as I am aware)



I kind of agree with the guy above but there are NO programming languages that I know of that can't be used on Linux - apart from that I agree whole-heartedly

Answer 4

Really this comes down to the question of what it is you really need the computer for. Macs are better for somethings, Windows based PC's for some and Linux for others.



Given that you say that you will be using this as part of a CompSci degree then I would contact the University and ask what aspects of the course you will need a computer for. My suspicion would be that they'll be teaching on Windows PC's but it would be best to check before purchasing.

Answer 5

This all depends on what you are coding in.



If it is C++ you could get a mac but a Windows laptop would be better.



If it is C on the other hand I would say a mac. The main language for Mac programming is Objective-C, this is based on C and has many C functions in it. It will work with other languages but not everything will.

Answer 6

i'm not sure if mac would be a good choice for programming. but generally macs rock! to begin with 1.) they dont get affected by 99.99% of viruses 2.) they look great 3.)they're so user friendly and 4.) if you're into graphics, then mac is for you



they're more expensive though



anyway you can operate windows and mac OS X on the new range of macbooks. in that case, i dont know whether they'll be affected by viruses.



i switched to a mac recently, and now whenever i have to do something on windows i feel like i'm looking at/working with something ancient!

Answer 7

I prefer PCs in general. If you're using it for a computer science degree I would say that your best bet is dual-booting Windows and Linux.

Answer 8

If your going to be doing programming get a windows. Macs are directed at "regular" consumers.

Answer 9

in case you ever plan on easily utilising your pc get domicile windows. It has a larger utility compatibility library and can do particularly plenty something you are able to ever desire to do on a working laptop or pc. domicile windows 7 purely released, which will make each thing plenty extra handy, so i desire to advise that. Mac has limited utilization and good factors. particular you would be waiting to browse the internet and sync your iPod, yet domicile windows would be waiting to get the extra jobs performed, and performed extra effective(most of the time). Edit: To each and all the people who say the mac is larger on the grounds which you are able to installation domicile windows, that has no longer something to do with the working device, it is because of the hardware. to boot, why get a mac and installation domicile windows on it once you are able to purely get domicile windows interior the 1st place? heavily, domicile windows might have extra reward than Mac.

Answer 10

I think windows would be better for if you are interested in programming

Answer 11

my friend said that mac is great if you're a graphic artist...but if you're more of a document user...he suggests windows