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Kenneth Saxe, MCSE, MCSA, MCPS, MCNPS, CNE
Senior Technical Consultant
I am often asked the question by parents looking for a laptop for their child, "Which is the best choice for my high school or college student, a Windows or Mac laptop?"
Admittedly I am a fan of Windows. Nevertheless I still keep up with the Macintosh news, reviews and announcements for our podcasts.
In my opinion Windows PCs do best in most office environments. Windows also has the larger market share than Mac. Most people are already familiar with Windows. So finding friends for assistance or local professionals with Windows expertise is usually very straightforward.
In contrast, Mac dominates in more creative professions like graphic design, advertising, and film production.
Most people and schools have a preference. So try to determine your student or their school's preference before you buy. Most students I know will have an itemized shopping list in hand when Mom and Dad are buying.
Windows PCs
With the endless manufacturers and models available choosing a Windows laptop can be confusing. I have had great success with Dell laptops over the last eight years. Dell's new Vostro 1500 laptop is especially exciting to me. Feature-packed and well-priced it should do very well this Christmas season.
Dual-core processors have replaced single-core processors. I recommend Intel's Core2 Duo. These chips are quite powerful. They will be usable for several years. I have not been overly impressed with Intel's AMD equivalent ... so stick with genuine Intel.
Of course, you should also consider the amount of RAM. For Windows XP and Vista, you will want no less than one gigabyte. This is adequate for word processing, e-mail and Web surfing. But I recommend 2GB. Extra memory will help the computer run faster now and in the future.
You can be more flexible on hard drive size. But don't consider less than 100 gigabytes. Also buy a bigger drive if your student stores lots of music, video or photographs. The laptop should be configured with a DVD burner. This will play and record DVDs and CDs.
In most cases, a large screen isn't a necessity - and it adds to the laptop's weight. But for heavy graphics and video work, look to a 17-inch screen or adding an external flat screen back at his/her dorm room.
Macintosh Computers
Picking out a Mac laptop can be much easier. Your options are simpler, well, because Apple is the only manufacturer of Macs. Remember that Macs tend to be more expensive than similarly configured Windows machines.
Apple offers the basic MacBook and the more expensive MacBook Pro. The MacBook starts at $1099. The MacBook Pro starts at $1999.
All models include Intel's Core 2 Duo. The options for hard drive space are similar. The base MacBook has 1GB of RAM - double this to 2GB to prevent sluggishness. The MacBook Pro comes standard with 2GB of RAM.
Important differences between the models are graphics and screen size. The MacBook features a 13-inch screen. The MacBook Pro offers screen sizes of 15 or 17 inches.
The MacBook Pro has a dedicated 128-megabyte or 256-megabyte graphics card. This is good for video editing. It takes some strain off the main processor and RAM.
Apple machines feature combo drives or SuperDrives. The combo drive burns CDs and reads DVDs. For DVD burning, opt for the SuperDrive.
Warranties
Most laptops will include at least a one-year warranty. Extended warranties are offered by manufacturers and most retailers (like Best Buy, Circuit City, etc). Usually I recommend extending the manufacturer's warranty to a 3-year, on-site warranty to cap your repair costs. Forego retailers' extended warranties.
Accessories
There are all kinds of accessories available when you purchase a laptop. One of the most important is a computer bag to tote the laptop around. This is not an area you want to try to skimp and save money. Be sure the bag is well-padded, comfortable to carry, and is large enough to carry other accessories such as an AC adapter and CDs.
It is usually not a good idea for your student to carry their laptop in the same backpack as their books and other school items.
Conclusion
Regardless whether you choose a Windows or Mac laptop for your student, a computer can help with research, school reports, and presentations. If your student will be working in a traditional office environment, a Windows laptop may give them that added experience. If they will be pursuing a career in graphics design or film, the Mac may give them a hand up to succeed.
| If you or your organization have not yet benefitted from the expertise of the SNBS staff, please take your concerns to Ken at 717-757-6999 or 800-745-8233, or send him an email by using the form below.
Along with the many technical services they offer, SNBS provides Internet and website consulting services. Ken is also the co-host of the Technology Trust podcasts. Ken's blog is available at http://www.kensaxe.com/. |
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