iMac or MacBook!

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Fireman767

231 Posts

Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

If your spending over $1000 on a laptop, your looking at the wrong products. I understand mobility, but i bought a chromebook that cost $200 and weighs 2 lbs, thinner than most apple laptops, and a 2 year warranty. As mentioned above, an ASUS (my preferred brand) can run at $400-500 for mid class performance (compared to the equivalent of a macbook). It may not look at fancy or shiny as a macbook, but its less likely to be stolen, and if it is, its $400 compared to $3000. realistically, this computer isnt for video or music editing, not for gaming or software design. More for research, papers, studying so you dont need a high end processor or tons of ram. A mid level laptop from ASUS, Acer, Samsung or any other company will do the same as a high end mac at an affordable price range. you wont notice a difference between a mac and a pc for your purpose in nursing school.

sjalv

897 Posts

Specializes in CVICU.

Fireman is correct. For anything you would need to do in general (powerpoints, web browsing, writing papers) a low-end computer would be fine. Something like this would work perfectly:

ASUS F55U-NH21 AMD Dual-Core Processor 4GB Memory 320GB HDD 15.6" Notebook Windows 8 - Newegg.com

usfgirl

135 Posts

If your spending over $1000 on a laptop your looking at the wrong products. I understand mobility, but i bought a chromebook that cost $200 and weighs 2 lbs, thinner than most apple laptops, and a 2 year warranty. As mentioned above, an ASUS (my preferred brand) can run at $400-500 for mid class performance (compared to the equivalent of a macbook). It may not look at fancy or shiny as a macbook, but its less likely to be stolen, and if it is, its $400 compared to $3000. realistically, this computer isnt for video or music editing, not for gaming or software design. More for research, papers, studying so you dont need a high end processor or tons of ram. A mid level laptop from ASUS, Acer, Samsung or any other company will do the same as a high end mac at an affordable price range. you wont notice a difference between a mac and a pc for your purpose in nursing school.[/quote']

Absolutely agree with this post! I really have nothing against Macs, but I recently got an awesome ASUS laptop for $430 (on sale from Newegg) that fits all of my homework, Internet usage, music, picture, AND gaming needs, and the specs are the same or better than MacBooks! I'd say to be practical - invest in a cheaper but fully functional pc now, and when you land a great job one day, feel no guilt sparing no expense for that fancy MacBook. And definitely do not ask this question to a PC or Apple "snob" as I like to call them (and not in a derogatory way lol...just for laughs). There are people who swear by each and they will argue about it ad nauseum. Whenever one of these super fans in my family begins that debate I'm just like "here we go again..." It is never ending lol. Best of luck to you with your purchase. At the end of the day, it's your money and you have to be happy with the product, so go with your gut.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

4 Articles; 7,907 Posts

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I use a MacBook Pro as my main computer--I don't own a desktop Mac or PC.

PCs do run cheaper than Macs do...then again, I get far more mileage out of my Macs because Macs are built to last. My last PC laptop had to go in twice for service before the 3-year warranty was up. Meanwhile, I have a clamshell iBook that is over 10 years old that carried me through most of nursing school--the battery no longer holds a charge but it runs without any problem off of AC current--and has never needed to go in for service once. This current MacBook is going on 3 years, outperforms most PCs, and hasn't needed service once.

Macs are also far more resistant to viruses and malware (though not immune...but most of these bugs are targeted towards PCs), and don't need as frequent updating and upgrading of their OS as Windows do. As far as software selections for Maccs being limited...yes, more software out there is for PCs, but Mac software is growing. And besides, I have a Windows emulator on my MacBook Pro, so I can run Windows 7 and all PC programs on my Mac.

That being said, you need to pick whatever computer system fits both your needs and your budget. A Mac works for me. A PC may work for someone else. You go with whatever one feels right for you.

And PP, I wouldn't consider myself an Apple "snob", otherwise I'd own an iPhone as well :) PCs are great but I'm happier with Macs. And I prefer my Android because I get frustrated trying to work the iPhone.

I have a macbook and didn't pay NEAR $3000 for it - more like $1400 for an i5 processor...I love it - never fear the blue screen of death again!

sjalv

897 Posts

Specializes in CVICU.

For the record, while I am currently using a PC laptop, I would like to add that while there're fewer applications for OS X compared to Windows, the applications for OS X tend to be of a higher quality both in functionality and appearance.

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

A base model 13" MacBook Pro would be way more than you need and its 1200. Either way, get a second monitor to hook up to. It makes research papers 1000000x easier.

I prefer macs. I've grown up with them, I worked for them, I still use their products without problems.

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
For the record, while I am currently using a PC laptop, I would like to add that while there're fewer applications for OS X compared to Windows, the applications for OS X tend to be of a higher quality both in functionality and appearance.

Have you ever used office for mac?

sjalv

897 Posts

Specializes in CVICU.
Have you ever used office for mac?

Yes. My school offered Office for Windows/OS X free to students. Never had any problems out of it and I used it to make my powerpoints for presentations in Speech/Humanities, write papers for Medical Terminology/Success in Nursing, and spreadsheets for Fundamentals of Computers.

Fireman767

231 Posts

Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

i dont mean to start a whole pc vs mac argument but ive had over 20 laptops for pc, and never had an issue. i dont run anti-spyware or malware because i dont trust it. i just watch what websites and programs i run. Never had a blue screen, and only issue is battery dying. as far as costs go, this is the decision of the OP. lets not start a flame war of mac vs pc and keep this on topic.

OCNRN63, RN

5,978 Posts

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Thank you all! It sounds like my best bet will be a MacBook. Wanted to go for the iMac because it is cheaper, but it seems more practical

to get something that will offer me portability. How much do they run? Will the bas model work.?

I use my MacBook Pro as a desktop. I love that it does everything a desktop does, but is portable.

I would never get a PC again.

A base model 13" MacBook Pro would be way more than you need and its 1200. Either way, get a second monitor to hook up to. It makes research papers 1000000x easier.

I prefer macs. I've grown up with them, I worked for them, I still use their products without problems.

How come a second moniter? I do find that my extra full board key board is nice. I don't like typing papers on the Mac book keyboard.

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