TakeruK Posted April 7, 2014 Posted April 7, 2014 I will be starting MSW program this fall and I need a new computer. I have always owned only PC's and have bought every 2-3 years because they get a virus or just die on me. Plus, the cost of Microsoft programs and I hate Windows 8. All that being said....lol, I'm kinda scared of getting a Mac. Yet, I really wanna give it a try and have a computer that last more that 2 to 3 years. My school assignments MUST be submitted in Microsoft Word and I saw there is a version for MAC. How hard is the shift from PC to a MAC system. I will wait right before school to get a newer version, but how steep will the curve be to know what the heck I'm doing for Grad school. Any input is appreciated. It's not too difficult to switch from Windows to Mac. I made the switch at the start of Grad School too. I really like Powerpoint for Mac and Word for Mac is decent too. I used to use OpenOffice for things like this but now that these software are free at my school, I've been using them! Check with your new school to see if you can get free software too!
Diakonos Posted April 7, 2014 Posted April 7, 2014 For what it's worth, the older models of MBP can be easily upgraded to more ram or an SSD. I have a 240gb SSD on my MBP 2011 and it runs quicker than any mac I've seen without flash storage. As well, whatever you end up going with, consider using Scrivener for your writing projects. Besides the fact that it's a much better processor than Word or Pages or anything else that I've used, it also is much less demanding on your system, so lower ram would be fine and battery lasts longer.
RBWilliams Posted April 7, 2014 Posted April 7, 2014 It's not too difficult to switch from Windows to Mac. I made the switch at the start of Grad School too. I really like Powerpoint for Mac and Word for Mac is decent too. I used to use OpenOffice for things like this but now that these software are free at my school, I've been using them! Check with your new school to see if you can get free software too! Thanks! I will check with my school on the free software
cesarchavez90 Posted April 7, 2014 Posted April 7, 2014 i have a normal macbook pro 13 inch and an iPad 2. I think tablets are essential for grad school. Instead of having to print out scores of articles, (which wastes paper) you can use adobe on iPad to read them and take notes
NerwenAldarion Posted April 10, 2014 Posted April 10, 2014 Go pro I love mine, I got it refurbished several years ago and it's still great. I love the card slot that I can put my photos in as well as the CD drive which is always helpful be it putting in Microsoft office or just a DVD to veg out in.
NerwenAldarion Posted April 10, 2014 Posted April 10, 2014 i have a normal macbook pro 13 inch and an iPad 2. I think tablets are essential for grad school. Instead of having to print out scores of articles, (which wastes paper) you can use adobe on iPad to read them and take notes Or you can send them to your kindle which I'm going to do
AudCSL Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 I will be starting MSW program this fall and I need a new computer. I have always owned only PC's and have bought every 2-3 years because they get a virus or just die on me. Plus, the cost of Microsoft programs and I hate Windows 8. All that being said....lol, I'm kinda scared of getting a Mac. Yet, I really wanna give it a try and have a computer that last more that 2 to 3 years. My school assignments MUST be submitted in Microsoft Word and I saw there is a version for MAC. How hard is the shift from PC to a MAC system. I will wait right before school to get a newer version, but how steep will the curve be to know what the heck I'm doing for Grad school. Any input is appreciated. I switched from a PC to a Macbook Air about a year ago. I somehow destroyed PC's every few years as well. For the first week I was super annoyed because I had no idea how to do anything I was used to doing. Now I absolutely love my macbook air. I would highly highly recommend it. I never used to take my PC laptops anywhere because they were bulky and the battery always died. I take this thing everywhere. I could throw it like a frisbee it's so light and thin! I have microsoft office suite for mac and it works perfectly. I don't have cable and watch all of my TV/movies on here. People on this forum are talking about how it doesn't have an ethernet port…I didn't even realize that until I read this thread lol. I guess I haven't had a need for it in the past year. You'll learn fast and love it.
RBWilliams Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 I switched from a PC to a Macbook Air about a year ago. I somehow destroyed PC's every few years as well. For the first week I was super annoyed because I had no idea how to do anything I was used to doing. Now I absolutely love my macbook air. I would highly highly recommend it. I never used to take my PC laptops anywhere because they were bulky and the battery always died. I take this thing everywhere. I could throw it like a frisbee it's so light and thin! I have microsoft office suite for mac and it works perfectly. I don't have cable and watch all of my TV/movies on here. People on this forum are talking about how it doesn't have an ethernet port…I didn't even realize that until I read this thread lol. I guess I haven't had a need for it in the past year. You'll learn fast and love it. Thanks so much! I will be going to check them out tomorrow just to narrow down which meets my needs. Gotta call my school about an educational discount before I purchase and free software.
RunnerGrad Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 I'm trying to decide whether or not to get a new Mac for grad school. I have a Macbook Pro 15", but it's over 5 years old now, so it is starting to slow down a bit. I'm not sure if I should try to get another two years out of it, or if I should go ahead and "treat" myself to a new, smaller, Macbook Air 13". I guess when I find out the results of various scholarships I'll know how much money I have, and can make a decision then.
RomulusAugustulus Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 Thanks so much! I will be going to check them out tomorrow just to narrow down which meets my needs. Gotta call my school about an educational discount before I purchase and free software. You should just be able to search for and enter your school from the apple education online store: http://store.apple.com/us-hed which will give you the educational discount. The free software you will have to contact your school about though.
RBWilliams Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 You should just be able to search for and enter your school from the apple education online store: http://store.apple.com/us-hed which will give you the educational discount. The free software you will have to contact your school about though. Thank you! Just did it.
RomulusAugustulus Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 ack sorry, just realized that link was kind of a dud (I think it was linked to my school and not the general education stores). Sounds like you found it ok though!
C&C Posted April 13, 2014 Posted April 13, 2014 I would recommend Pro and an iPad… This is exactly what I have and it's a great pairing! The Macbook Air was tempting, but I'd rather have a laptop with a little more power. scottdickson86 1
scottdickson86 Posted April 14, 2014 Posted April 14, 2014 This is exactly what I have and it's a great pairing! The Macbook Air was tempting, but I'd rather have a laptop with a little more power. Me too. iPad and and a MacBook Pro, for over a year now.
Villain Elle Posted April 15, 2014 Posted April 15, 2014 Although I love my pro for its functionality, I just started grad school last fall and find that it is way too heavy to carry to campus on a regular basis. I definitely wish that I'd gotten the air! I could definitely have lived with an external optical drive and smaller hard drive. Best of luck!
psychologue Posted April 21, 2014 Posted April 21, 2014 Isn't there supposed to be a new air coming out this year? I'm afraid I'll buy one in August and then be basically screwed when the new one comes out a few months later. Trying to figure out if I can stretch my 2008 macbook until then lol
DeafAudi Posted April 21, 2014 Posted April 21, 2014 Isn't there supposed to be a new air coming out this year? I'm afraid I'll buy one in August and then be basically screwed when the new one comes out a few months later. Trying to figure out if I can stretch my 2008 macbook until then lol My friend works at Apple and he said that if a new Air comes out, it should be in the summer. He also said that they usually don't make major changes, only minor tweaks.
psychologue Posted April 21, 2014 Posted April 21, 2014 My friend works at Apple and he said that if a new Air comes out, it should be in the summer. He also said that they usually don't make major changes, only minor tweaks. Nice! Thanks for the scoop
gradrunner Posted April 25, 2014 Posted April 25, 2014 Air air air!!! I got the pro and sooo wish I would have gotten the air. I'm not sure about the difference in features (I'm pretty sure I don't use them anyway), but I can tell you this extra weight of the pro got superrr old super fast, to the point where I don't even bring it to school anymore. I'm looking into getting an air now too.http://justkeepswimming.blogspot.com/ Cookie 1
TheGirlWhoLived Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 So, I guess the new Macbook air is out. It's $100 cheaper than before, but you only get a $50 education discount.
microarray Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 (edited) Can I just ask OP why you are not even considering other manufacturers? There's lots of neat touch screen laptops and other thin laptops that are much cheaper and will last you longer. Edited April 29, 2014 by microarray
ecm07e Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 I disagree with that. My MacBook (white unibody, 2009) has lasted a helluva lot longer than my HP that I had in undergrad. I have had no real issues with my MacBook and I won't go with any other brand.
DeafAudi Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 I disagree with that. My MacBook (white unibody, 2009) has lasted a helluva lot longer than my HP that I had in undergrad. I have had no real issues with my MacBook and I won't go with any other brand. Same here. It's still going strong and I'm only upgrading to the Air because I want something a bit lighter to carry to school with longer battery life. In fact, I feel a bit guilty about giving away a perfectly functioning laptop. ecm07e 1
Cookie Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 Go Air! I have had 7 laptops over the years and Air is my favorite. My research is 100% computational so I work either on my Mac mini or my Mac air: build and compile various quantum chemistry codes, Matlab, Mathematica... The weight and the battery life make a big difference! My SO is a programmer and he uses a Pro. I tried his and still prefer mine
ecm07e Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 I guess the huge question I have is 11" or 13" Air. I like the 11" because it is small and compact but I am blind as bat
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