Best type of computer for school

[Carpediem1012]

Hi Guys. I am starting the second year of the BSN program here in September. I am a mature student so had most of the pre req's from my previous university years. Sadly though, since it's been more than ten years, I have to do A and P again as well as intro micro(even tho I was a micro major lol). My question is this: my school is a windows os environment and I have purchased a Mac Pro retina 15.4 inch laptop. I love it but will I wish I had a PC? I have windows for Mac on boot camp, but I much prefer using the Mac side. What do you all think? I am not exceptionally computer savvy!

[crossfitnurse]

Just FYI you guys as students get a killer deal on laptops, as well as a $100 App Store gift card right now :) just sayin #appleemployee

A computer that will LAST is worth the $

[RNnewbie2014]

I use a MacBook Pro.. They are the best investment I tell you. I have had mine almost a year. It is just as good as it was the first day I got it. They are expensive, and I used my new credit card of 0% interest for 12 months as the way to buy it. Low and behold its paid for without interest, and it was definitely worth the money!

[sjalv]

As others have said, the operating system won't make much of a difference. My school offers the Microsoft Office suite for free to students, both the PC versions and the Mac OS X versions. I had a Macbook for a while and didn't encounter any problems during my prerequisites.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I've used a Mac through 2 different online schools. I have word and excel and PowerPoint on the Mac. I have had to go windows on fee occasions and it has been a while since I had to do it.

[ebinbrooklyn]

I have a tablet with a keyboard that attatches (a convertible tablet) and not having Word/Excel/Ppt on my tablet or home computer has been an exercise in non stop frustration. Everyone uses Word--there's some programs that are similar but not the same and I end up sharing so many files that it's a massive headache. And all of my professors use Powerpoint - I haven't managed to find anything that converts ppts to a useable, non-corrupted format (I have an Android tablet and Mac laptop). I've had some huge problems with the Windows work-around programs I've tried using - one didn't save any of my changes and I lost a whole day of work, another froze constantly, another one deleted portions of the text here and there. I'm sure there's lots more programs, some that work better than others, so your milage may vary. I hated Windows before I started school but now I want a computer with basic Microsoft office, it would make my life so much easier.

[sjalv]

I have a tablet with a keyboard that attatches (a convertible tablet) and not having Word/Excel/Ppt on my tablet or home computer has been an exercise in non stop frustration. Everyone uses Word--there's some programs that are similar but not the same and I end up sharing so many files that it's a massive headache. And all of my professors use Powerpoint - I haven't managed to find anything that converts ppts to a useable, non-corrupted format (I have an Android tablet and Mac laptop). I've had some huge problems with the Windows work-around programs I've tried using - one didn't save any of my changes and I lost a whole day of work, another froze constantly, another one deleted portions of the text here and there. I'm sure there's lots more programs, some that work better than others, so your milage may vary. I hated Windows before I started school but now I want a computer with basic Microsoft office, it would make my life so much easier.

Microsoft Office exists for Mac and handles all the files like it does on Windows. Have you looked into it? My college offers it for free to students. As for your Android tablet, have you heard of Quickoffice?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qo.android.am3&feature=search_result

It shouldn't make any difference if you're running OS_ or Win_

If, by some odd chance, you actually need a Windows CPU, buy the cheapest thing going. There's no reason to spend more than $350 for a new Windows laptop unless you really need the horsepower for playing games, modeling, or other CPU or graphics intensive work... nothing in nursing school, that's for sure.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I have a tablet with a keyboard that attatches (a convertible tablet) and not having Word/Excel/Ppt on my tablet or home computer has been an exercise in non stop frustration. Everyone uses Word--there's some programs that are similar but not the same and I end up sharing so many files that it's a massive headache. And all of my professors use Powerpoint - I haven't managed to find anything that converts ppts to a useable, non-corrupted format (I have an Android tablet and Mac laptop). I've had some huge problems with the Windows work-around programs I've tried using - one didn't save any of my changes and I lost a whole day of work, another froze constantly, another one deleted portions of the text here and there. I'm sure there's lots more programs, some that work better than others, so your milage may vary. I hated Windows before I started school but now I want a computer with basic Microsoft office, it would make my life so much easier.

If you're keen on tablets, check out the Microsoft Surface tablet .... the RT (32Gb) version is now only $349... (price just reduced from $499) and comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint & OneNote. It is Windows 8. There is an attachable keyboard that serves as a cover also - ~ $100 I think. I really like mine. I also have an ASUS Transformer... also a great tablet with very long battery life.

[ebinbrooklyn]

If you're keen on tablets, check out the Microsoft Surface tablet .... the RT (32Gb) version is now only $349... (price just reduced from $499) and comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint & OneNote. It is Windows 8. There is an attachable keyboard that serves as a cover also - ~ $100 I think. I really like mine. I also have an ASUS Transformer... also a great tablet with very long battery life.

I actually have the transformer as well - what do you use in place of microsoft office? I've tried Cloud On but it's terrible and slow, and Polaris office has been really unreliable. And how can I turn off the darned mouse pad - it's driving me crazy since I keep accidentally tapping it when I type and the cursor ends up going all over the place. I can't find anything on how to get around that problem.

[mostdesired3]

I have a tablet with a keyboard that attatches (a convertible tablet) and not having Word/Excel/Ppt on my tablet or home computer has been an exercise in non stop frustration. Everyone uses Word--there's some programs that are similar but not the same and I end up sharing so many files that it's a massive headache. And all of my professors use Powerpoint - I haven't managed to find anything that converts ppts to a useable, non-corrupted format (I have an Android tablet and Mac laptop). I've had some huge problems with the Windows work-around programs I've tried using - one didn't save any of my changes and I lost a whole day of work, another froze constantly, another one deleted portions of the text here and there. I'm sure there's lots more programs, some that work better than others, so your milage may vary. I hated Windows before I started school but now I want a computer with basic Microsoft office, it would make my life so much easier.

Have you tried Openoffice.org? It's what I've been using for years and I never had a problem sharing files. It converts to .doc, ppts and all that other stuff really easily. It's really great software. Plus, it's free. Look it up and give it a try.

[Carpediem1012, BSN, RN]

Okay. So I have a Mac with word, boot camp with windows. I should be ok then right?

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Okay. So I have a Mac with word boot camp with windows. I should be ok then right?[/quote']

Yup. I don't know what boot camp is. I use a Mac with word, pp, excel and once in a blue moon I touch the windows side.