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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Dell or Mac?

    
  • Processor: Intel i7 (2.80GHz)
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Hard Drive: 128 GB SSD
  • LCD Screen: 14"
  • Includes: 1TB External Hard Drive for backups, Wireless Optical Mouse



  •  

  • Processor: Intel i7 Dual Core (2.8GHz)
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Hard Drive: 256 GB SSD
  • LCD Screen: 13"
  • Includes: 1TB External Hard Drive for backups, Magic Mouse, MiniVGA Adpater, Windows 7 Pro



I have to choose a computer for school. I don't know anything about computers, but, thank goodness, the IT department has provided only four choices (well, and the IPad pilot program) - two different Dells and two different MacBook Pros, where the difference appears to only be screen size.

I will definitely be going with either the smaller Dell or the smaller Macbook. I don't want to carry anything heavy around (although I guess a few ounces is not that big of a difference). At home, though, I will have a big monitor, so screen size is not that big of a difference.

What I am having a hard time deciding is whether to go with the Dell, which has a better warranty package, or with the Apple, which has better aesthetic qualities. Of course, another issue is cost. The Apple product is more than $1000 dollars more expensive. But given that I'm already borrowing so much, what's another grand?

Can anyone with computer knowledge recommend which laptop you think is the better fit for a medical student? Or should I just ignore computers altogether and sign up for the IPad pilot program?

5 comments:

  1. Hi Sophie! This is Bryan, your old room-mate. I think you have been an apple-fan in the past, right? In my opinion, Dells break constantly and are a pain. I have had several Dell computers. Though the apple computer is more expensive, it will likely make your life easier. You probably won't have to deal with constant computer problems. I would go with the mac, if all you are doing is word-processing and web-surfing. If you are doing scientific computing, windows might be better, but whatever.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Bryan! Are Dells really that bad? The warranty on it seems pretty good...shouldn't that cover the majority of my issues? Also, if I get the Apple, I would have to use Bootcamp and have two different operating systems. Would that slow down the computer?

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  2. Apple!!! I've had a macbook for the last 4 years with minimal problems and it's only started slowing down in the last year. I run Bootcamp for a few windows programs but you can get most programs for mac now. As a non-computer person, macbooks are definitely the way to go. Easy, straightforward, and pretty!

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    Replies
    1. I have a Mac now and I LOVE it. Maybe I will get the Mac again, but since this one is fairly new...I'm not sure if its worth the cost.

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  3. Stopped by your blog to say hello - you're off to a great start! Keep up the good work...and DEFINITELY GET A MAC. Not even a question. Spend the extra money and get the good quality. I have a Dell laptop for school (bc it was required) and it makes me mad each day about the amount of times my iMac has made me mad since I bought it in 2008. :)

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