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For University level work a notebook/laptop is more feasable. You need to have the Office based programs for nearly everything. If you can afford it, get a Samsung Series 9 notebook. As to the Ipad you can get away with using a bluetooth keyboard with it, but currently for your use it is not a notebook replacement. On an Ipad you can type notes. problem is that you have to email it to a computer in order to print them. On an Ipad you can also record lectures, but if you want to listen to them in a mp3 device you need to copy it over to a pc and convert it. They both have their pluses but a notebook still makes more sense.
A few mistakes in this post.
Airpint means that ipad can print to almost any printer there is.
Again, if you use Pages (it is part of iWorks) it is better than word, and all documents can be saved in the Word compatible .doc. Same goes for Keynote (Power point compatible) and Numbers (though Excel is more powerful for statistical analysis).
Oh, and the thing about making mp3s on ipad, also not true. There are many apps and one native, garageband that does this.
My daughter went to school with my macbook and got an ipad with a keyboard case. She used the ipad almost exclusively now.
I recommend a MAC Book Air or a Windows Ultrabook (ideally the ThinkPad X1 Carbon that comes out in August).
I would recommend a macbook over the macbook air only because many textbooks come with a cd with extras on them and macbook air does not come with a cd drive.
Mac's are a great product, but not worth the extra cost IMHO. Of course, my son is Mr. Tech in our house and is very good at finding us great deals on pc products. Your intended college will most likely have discounts on different computers. Don't buy without checking that out, software is also usually heavily discounted.
No no no, do NOT buy an iPad over a laptop. iPads are cool and all, but they do not compare to a laptop. Another thing, college freshman always talk about taking notes on a laptop, but honestly it's really just a pain in the ass. Get notebooks and write it, you'll retain the information easier and it's easier to get written down, less distractions and also it's easier to go back to.
Mac's are a great product, but not worth the extra cost IMHO. Of course, my son is Mr. Tech in our house and is very good at finding us great deals on pc products. Your intended college will most likely have discounts on different computers. Don't buy without checking that out, software is also usually heavily discounted.
If you have a tech person pc's can be great but for the average user I have to say mac. I was a pc person until I got my first macbook. I still have my top of the line (for then) Sony Vaio from 2006. I also have a macbook from the same year. I still use the macbook everyday (right now as a matter of fact).
My macbook has been much more reliable, it just works, and there are never "issues". Its was also super cheap to upgrade, software costs very little (iworks was $20), and the apple store people just replaced my battery for free. Just my two cents owning and using both.
Mac's are a great product, but not worth the extra cost IMHO. Of course, my son is Mr. Tech in our house and is very good at finding us great deals on pc products. Your intended college will most likely have discounts on different computers. Don't buy without checking that out, software is also usually heavily discounted.
Heavily discounted or free. I got Windows 7 professional for free through my university and Microsoft Office 2010 for $10.00. As a student you should not be paying full price for anything related to computers, especially software.
Why can't you just get a regular laptop? If you're in more of a creative field, then I can see the advantage of having a MacBook. But if you aren't, just get something already loaded with windows.
I was a business major and used a gateway. When I graduated college and decided to take up photography, that is when I purchased my MacBook.
i never took my laptop to class in college. i don't know that its as big of a deal as everyone on here is making it out to be. we had plenty of computer labs available on campus so even having a laptop wasn't totally necessary. the most important thing for me was the warranty. i bought mine through the school which was really helpful and convenient the few times it messed up.
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