Chances are your university laptop is going to be doing quite a bit of traveling back and forth between your home and your university, to the library, to your classes, maybe even on the odd field trip.
Having tested laptops for years, I can say with some certainty that there's more weight behind some makers' claims than others.īut before I get to that, it's useful to consider what you're looking for. Weight, I think, is important. It can be a difficult purchase to research, because every laptop manufacturer on the planet wants to convince you that their machine is perfect for university (and potentially recruit you to their eco-system for years to come). For the next three years it’ll be your notepad in lectures, your library buddy, your essay-writing companion, a means of communicating with friends and family back home, and perhaps most importantly, your television for binge-watching hours of Netflix when you’re supposed to be doing any one of the others things I’ve just mentioned. Ask any tech question on Facebook or Twitter.To describe your university laptop as an important piece of kit is one heck of an understatement.
Ken Colburn is founder and CEO of Data Doctors Computer Services.
Mac laptop disadvantagesĪpple charges a premium for their devices and they have a limited selection, so you’ll pay more for something with comparable storage and memory to a Windows laptop.Īnother huge disadvantage is that Apple has migrated to laptops that can no longer be upgraded (like iPhones and iPads), which means that if you need more storage or memory, you’re now forced to buy a new laptop.Īpple replacement components can also be more expensive, so if something breaks or they spill a soda on their keyboard, be prepared to pay more.
Mac laptops can also run Windows 10 using software such as Parallels or Boot Camp. If your student also has an iPhone or iPad and relies on the Apple ecosystem for their music and entertainment, a Mac laptop will integrate seamlessly. While it’s far from malware-free, the volume and severity of potential threats is a fraction of what it is for Windows users. Since Apple controls every aspect of the laptop from the components to the operating system, the stability and consistency of performance tends to be better. This means that service-related issues can often be brand- and model-specific, making them a bit more complicated to diagnose.
None of the hardware manufacturers have anything to do with the operating system, so each one must create specific drivers and figure out any compatibility issues with the components that they use in each laptop.
Lower-cost laptops will be built with cheaper and often less reliable components, so that may affect the reliability and long-term performance. The single biggest disadvantage is that Windows is the most targeted operating system by malware because it’s the most widely used. The serviceability of the laptop can become an issue if your child attends a smaller college in a rural area, so explore service options before you decide. There are many more service companies for Windows laptops too. Windows laptops are generally less expensive to service as well, especially if a hardware component fails. This results in a much lower cost, as entry-level laptops can be found for around $600 and more advanced devices with larger storage drives and faster processors can be found well under $1,000. Windows-based laptops are available from many different well-known vendors, which creates more of a competitive landscape. Windows laptop advantagesĪ couple of the biggest advantages on the Windows side are selection and price. For MacBooks and premium Windows 10 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise. Available for students, teachers and staff. Receive a discount on a new Mac or iPad for your studies with Apple Education Pricing. What your student plans to study, and specific software that will be required, may provide you with an obvious path if that software is operating system-specific.įor the most part, it’s likely that everything they’ll need to do can be done on either platform, but always start by checking this variable. Start with course work Windows Or Mac Better For College
And which one they used at home shouldn’t be the primary factor in the decision. Q: Should I buy a Windows or Mac laptop for my child’s first year of college?Ī: It goes without saying that a computer is an essential tool for anyone going to college, but which one is best for your student will depend upon a number of variables.