- Mac Vs Pc For Students
- Mac Vs Pc For College 2019
- Should I Buy A Mac Or Pc For College
- Macbook Or Hp For College
- Aug 30, 2017 A good computer is an indispensable tool when it comes to earning a college degree. That’s why new Stevens-Henager College students receive a tablet for the first day of classes and a laptop when they begin their fourth module. And, with a selection of classes both on campus and online, it’s never been easier to earn a degree.
- I'm indecisive if I should I get a Mac or a PC for university? I want a Mac, but my dad says that I'm only paying extra for the status symbol. For me, I rather have a laptop that I actually like that one that I don't like as much. I'm going to be a business major, if that's any help. Should I get a MacBook Pro or a PC laptop for college?
- Welcome, Mineral Area College. Your future starts today. And it begins with YOU at Mineral Area College! Mineral Area College serves the community by providing students a quality, affordable education and offers opportunities for personal growth and career development in a safe, professional environment.
Today’s computer shopper has a choice of two great software platform standards in Windows and Mac, but lines have blurred between the types of hardware, which generally share Intel® CPUs.
If unsure as to which platform to buy, Mac or PC, students should consult with the appropriate academic department. The Park School of Communications strongly recommends a Mac laptop and the School of Business requires that all incoming first-year students purchase or bring a laptop equipped with Microsoft Office. All student computers must have anti-virus software installed and updated on a regular basis before being able to connect to the campus network or Apogee's ResNet.
Mac Vs Pc For Students
Today’s computer shopper has a choice of two great software platform standards in Windows and Mac, but lines have blurred between the types of hardware, which generally share Intel® CPUs.
Which Platform Is Right for You?
- Consider if you like the Mac hardware and software aesthetic or would prefer the roll-your-own configurations that come with PCs.
- Decide whether you will use touch and voice input capabilities.
- Determine what software you’ll use and where you’ll keep it—on your computer or in the cloud. https://procreite.hatenablog.com/entry/2020/11/23/010247.
- Consider whether your future needs might require upgrades and additions to the computer.
In computing circles, “PC vs. Mac” has long been a topic of debate—advocates on both sides felt so intense that it was better to steer clear of the subject unless you were up for a furious debate. While Macs and PCs still both have passionate followings, the differences between the two types of computers have dramatically lessened over the years. Imo download free for mac. The result is your decision comes down to subtle preferences—but you really can’t go wrong with either choice. It has become less a matter of hardware and software than of style and personal taste.
The Ecosystem: Do You Think Less Is More or More Is More?
When you buy a Mac, you’re buying a philosophy as much as a piece of computer technology. The same company produces the hardware and software, and the computers share an aesthetic sensibility with Apple* phones and tablets. Mac offers just six computer styles with a limited choice of configurations—a “best of the best approach” that eliminates the need to wade through an excessive amount of options. If you don’t like deliberating over RAM, disk space, and other hardware components, Mac does much of the work for you.
With PCs, roughly a dozen major manufacturers produce the hardware, and most run the Windows operating system. You can have hundreds of choices of style and configurations, allowing you to find exactly what you want, though it may take more time and deliberation. Whether more is more or less is often in the eye of the beholder.
Price: Look Beyond the Price Tag
Macs have long carried a reputation for premium pricing compared to PCs, though advocates would say that was simply the cost of higher-end components that provide better performance and reliability.
Making an apples-to-apples comparison on price for PC vs. Mac has always been difficult, though, because PCs and Macs typically have different pre-installed software and components, such as graphics cards, ports, and processor speed. The standard model Macs tend to offer less memory and hard drive space, so you need to take the specs into consideration.
Because of their lower cost, PCs have often been the choice for people who needed basic computing functions, like word processing and web surfing, while creative professionals who perform tasks such as design or video editing have been willing to shell out extra money for the apple of their eye. That said, the premium for the Apple know-how has shrunk to a couple of hundred bucks, making price a smaller consideration.
Maintenance: Are You a Troubleshooter?
Just as Macs offer a narrow number of choices, the systems tend to stay as they are – typically only the hard drive and RAM can be upgraded. PCs, coming in so many models from so many vendors, usually allow any of the individual hardware components to be switched out, from the central processing unit (CPU) to the displays. https://alfaentrancement935.weebly.com/studio-one-product-key-generator.html. Whether that matters may depend on how you use the computer, how long you plan to keep it, and whether you are adept at handling some of your own maintenance.
Because Apple makes both the hardware and software, you have one primary place to turn when you have an issue, and issues can usually be resolved quickly. With PCs, different vendors make the hardware and software, and problem solving can be more complicated. Partly for this season, Apple has always received high marks from Mac owners for customer service.
Software: Your Choice May Be Up in the Clouds
In the past, it was easy to pick a Mac or PC based on the type of software you needed. Business productivity tools were domain of the Windows operating system, while editing, photo and other creativity apps were clearly a Mac world.
And though the PC tends to dominate in the workplace, many software programs for professional use—including Microsoft* Office and the Adobe* Creative Suite—have versions for both operating systems. The software has also become a smaller issue as many people no longer load software on their computer but maintain subscriptions for software they can access via the cloud. If you stream videos on YouTube, for example, your browser doesn’t care what type of computer or operating system you’re using.
Playing Games: Close the Window on This One
Gamers have always flocked to PCs, and that won’t change anytime soon. PCs can now stream games from Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and the number of titles available on a PC dwarf the Mac. So if gaming is more than just fun and games in your house, the PC wins hands-down.
Getting Touchy-Feely: PCs Emphasize Speech and Touch
For all the passion of Mac users, PC advocates can now honestly say they have a more touchy-feely relationship with their computers. Recent versions of the Windows operating system have embraced touch and speech, such as the new feature Cortana* in Windows* 10, which enables voice commands to schedule appointments. Apple has integrated its voice recognition software, Siri, into its desktop models but has been resistent to introduce a touch feature into its operating system, OS* X.
So if you prefer speaking to your computer, or moving your finger across the screen, to a keyboard and mouse, PCs offer a clear advantage.
Security: Mac Still Gets the Nod
At one time, PCs were known for frequent crashes, but the Windows operating system has become significantly more reliable. While Mac hardware and software is denoted by its stability, the difference here has lessened.
The odds of getting a virus or malware with a PC remain higher than with a Mac, but this is more about the numbers game than technology. About 7.5% of the computers in use are Mac, according to IDC, so hackers spend more time and creativity attacking PCs.
That said, a sprinkling of Mac-attacks have begun to appear, such as last year’s Keyranger ransomware which attacked the OS* X operating system and encrypted all files on a hard drive until users paid an extortion fee. The proper antivirus program and other safeguards will keep either system safe, but PCs will be at greater risk.
The Choice:
PCs and Macs do offer some clear-cut differences; which of those differences are the most important is something that each person has to decide for his or herself. Due to price and availability, PCs tend to be the winner, while Macs remain the choice for the more elite or anti-Windows computer users. Either way, you can’t really go wrong. It truly is the golden age of computers.
Desktop Systems
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Laptop Systems
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Mac Desktop Systems
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Mac Laptop Systems
Check out the latest Intel®-based laptops.
Most students looking for a new MacBook should pick up the MacBook Air. It's less expensive than other MacBooks, more powerful, and has a bigger display than the 12-inch MacBook while remaining lightweight. And though it might not be as powerful as the MacBook Pro, it should provide enough power for the average student to get through their day.
Our pick
MacBook Air (2018)
Hits the sweet spot of power, portability, and price.
More powerful than the 12-inch MacBook and more mobile than the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air sits in the Goldilocks zone of Apple's portable Mac lineup, offering enough power for most everything you'll want it to do without the bulk of a MacBook Pro. Features Touch ID for easy, yet secure, authentication.
![Mac Or Pc For College Mac Or Pc For College](/uploads/1/3/3/9/133909587/287458459.jpg)
Who should buy this computer?
College students who want a Mac for writing papers, doing research, surfing the web, light photo editing and just entertaining themselves should get the MacBook Air. It should also be a great computer for you when your academic career is over and you're headed out into the world.
Is it a good time to buy this computer?
The current MacBook Air came out in October 2018, so now is a great time to buy this Mac. Some solid discounts are popping up at retailers like Amazon, and we're likely many months away from a potential refresh. It's been a while since Apple refreshed any of its Macs in less than a year.
Reasons to buy
- Great balance of price and power
- Light and portable
- Retina display
- Touch ID
Reasons not to buy
- Limited customization
- Butterfly keyboard may irk some
The MacBook Air is a great Mac for students, successfully riding the line between power and portability
For students, portability is a chief concern when it comes to buying a computer. Whether you're walking through your high school's hallways to your history class or sprinting across a college campus to make it your next lecture on time, you don't want to be lugging around a heavy computer. You want something fairly light. At the same time, you don't want a computer that's underpowered. The MacBook Air occupies the happy medium of that ideal. It's more powerful than the MacBook and thinner and lighter than the MacBook Pro.
For the longest time, the MacBook Air was Apple's thin-and-light computer. Many credit MacBook Air with paving the way for the 'ultrabook' genre of computers that gained prominence in the early part of this decade. But Apple has since introduced the 12-inch MacBook, which debuted with a Retina display and was even thinner and lighter than the Air. Surely, if portability is your main concern, you should get the MacBook, right?
The MacBook Air sits in the happy medium between the portability of the MacBook and the power of the MacBook Pro.
Well, let's take a look at the modern MacBook Air. It now also (some would say 'finally') has a Retina display, without adding any bulk. And no, it's not as small as the MacBook, but it's almost as light. The MacBook Air comes in at 2.75 lbs, less than a pound heavier than the MacBook's 2.03. You're not making much of a sacrifice on weight. If the footprint of the computer is a concern, check out the MacBook, but you're gaining only about half-an-inch each on width and depth, so maybe the larger Air won't present much of a size problem.
The other consideration the MacBook versus the MacBook Air is power. While the MacBook Air's eighth-generation Intel processor won't really keep up with those found in the current generation of MacBook Pro, it's more than a match for the 7th-generation processors found in the MacBook. For everything from web browsing to photo editing, the MacBook will find itself outmatched by the Air, all while the MacBook Air is priced at least $100 under the current MacBook.
Speaking of power, the MacBook Pro is probably overkill for most students. Sure, some will be able to take advantage of its more powerful processors available to it, but if most of what you're doing is writing papers, putting together presentations, or doing research on the web, you probably don't need the level of power a MacBook Pro offers. And again, you'll be saving a bit of money if you get the MacBook Air, which is always something to consider.
Ultimately, when looking at the current MacBook lineup through the lens of a student, the MacBook Air successfully rides the line between the thin-and-light MacBook and the powerful MacBook Pro. It will meet the needs of most students, and should still be a great Mac to have when you're ready to leave academics behind and head off into the world.
Alternatives to the MacBook Air
The MacBook Air might be the best MacBook for most students, but different people have different needs. If you're looking for more power, then check out the MacBook Pro. It'll be a more capable machine for almost everything you want to do, with more expensive models offering an ever-increasing amount of power for tasks like photo and video editing, app development, scientific programs, illustration, and music production. It will last longer than the MacBook Air and perform at higher levels the entire time.
If you're looking for more of a budget option, unfortunately, you're going to have to settle for something older from Apple. It's still a MacBook Air, but it lacks the Retina display of the newer model, and its processors are older. But, it still has all-solid-state storage, which means a lot when it comes to boot times. If budget is your chief concern and you still want a Mac, the older MacBook Air that Apple still sells should work just fine, if not quite as well as the new model.
Mac Vs Pc For College 2019
More power
MacBook Pro
More power for whatever you need to do.
More powerful and versatile than the MacBook Air, the Pro lineup offers more customization options so you get the exact machine you need for photo and video work, scientific programs, music production, or other intensive tasks.
The MacBook Pro offers a lot of customization options that allow you to create the computer you need. Offers everything from a seventh-generation dual-core Intel processor to an ninth-generation, eight-core i9 beast, configurable up to 32GB of memory with AMD Radeon graphics for the most intensive tasks. If power is what you want, that's what you'll get with the MacBook Pro.
Should I Buy A Mac Or Pc For College
Value pick
MacBook Air (2017)
A capable computer for the money.
While it hasn't seen anything other than a spec bump in the last couple of years, the 2017 revision of the MacBook Air is still a capable machine. It may lack Thunderbolt and a Retina display, but it'll still get you through most of your tasks without hassle.
Apple quietly bumped the specs on the MacBook Air in 2017, introducing a couple of new processors to choose from. Despite its lack of Thunderbolt 3 ports or a Retina display, the older MacBook Air should still be able to meet most of your needs. It even still has an SD card reader, something many Mac owners thought was lost to the ages (or at least the Mac).
Bottom line
If you want an excellent 'medium' Mac laptop, get the MacBook Air. Offering enough power to meet most of the needs of student life while being almost as portable as a MacBook, the Air strikes a great balance between the other offerings in Apple's laptop lineup.
It's also among the most affordable of the portable Macs, especially when you start getting into the upper echelons of what that MacBook Pro has to offer and even compared to the 12-inch MacBook.
Macbook Or Hp For College
Our pick
MacBook Air (2018)
Hits the sweet spot of power, portability, and price.
More powerful than the 12-inch MacBook and more mobile than the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air sits in the Goldilocks zone of Apple's portable Mac lineup, offering enough power for most everything you'll want it to do without the bulk of a MacBook Pro. Features Touch ID for easy, yet secure, authentication.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Joseph Keller is a senior writer at iMore. An Apple user for more than a decade and a half, he spends his time learning the ins and outs of iOS and macOS, always finding ways of getting the most out of his iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Rene Ritchie has been covering the personal technology industry for a decade. An outspoken analyst and critic, he writes at iMore.com/vector, podcasts at applepodcasts.com/vector, and you can find his show at youtube.com/vector. Follow him @reneritchie on Twitter and Instagram
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