Quote:
Originally posted by PSKAdvisor
Personally, I'd get a PC. For the most part, univeristy networks are PC or Unix based, and mac support is few and far between because they are in SUCH a minority and the training for them is limited by the realitities of budgeting.
If you end up with a wifi networking issue or something, you'll likely end up having to talk to some Mac geek who's not really IT support staff, just a guy that works in the advertising or graphic design department... because that's the only place on most campuses you'll find Macs.
If you're looking for the best price, here's a couple things for you:
www.tigerdirect.com
www.pricewatch.com
Or... watch the best buy newspaper inserts for those great deals they have. 24 months free financing on the Best Buy card? GREAT stuff there. You can pay like $1000 and get a $400 rebate, then finance the rest over time.
I have a high-end HP wide-screen from Best Buy, probably close to two years old. I do graphic design work on it, plus all the standard "office" functions. Great machine, never a problem.
One other thing to note about Mac vs. PC... If you have or are used to "borrowing" software from friends, for the most part on a Mac you will have to buy everything. (Not that I'm advocating anything here, but something to keep in mind)
Suggestions:
1] Make sure you get virus software that updates online automatically.
2] Make sure that virus software includes Adware stuff too.
3] Never put your real email address in the settings inside Internet Explorer. Websites grab it and you'll get spammed all to heck and back.
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Please don't offer computer advice if you don't know about it. At the very least, read what others wrote.
This is getting ridiculous.
You will rarely have that trouble on OS X because it's well integrated and a strong nix based OS. All campuses have IT staff that runs nix boxes, windows boxes, and os x boxes and I'd be willing to bet most of their servers are nix/bsd boxes. Plus you won't have a "wifi issue". You simply take your mouse to the top, click, and select the network you want to join. It couldn't get easier than that.
And, once again, you can run every single PC program once you install Windows. You can pirate the majority of mac programs just like you can with Windows. You can use limewire, poisoned, acquisition, or torrents to grab them or simply use someone else's CD if you feel like stealing.
And geeky, you can install Windows XP as an OS. You can install most operating systems on a mac. Examsoft won't shut it down. You can tell your IT department that you have a PC with Windows installed on it even if you have a Mac.
-Rudey