Laptop Requirement - Please help !

aviral10000

Okay so I am in Quinn school of business. They have said that my OS req is Windows 7 or Windows 8. I own a Macbook Pro (Retina Display)
Any problems ?

You might run into software compatibility problems. I know on my course we used some programs that wouldn't run on a Mac, people had to emulate Windows or something like that to get them working. Though obviously I don't know exactly what software you'll be using in your course.

ironclaw

I was Mac my entire time in UCD in Engineering. Never had an issue. Most of the major packages are on both platform (MS Office, MATLAB, R etc) and you can always use Citrix and UCD Connect. If you are really stuck, you can run VirtualBox and a copy of Windows (Or dual boot which I don't recommend). Both have plenty of tutorials online and is very easy to do.

You don't need a Windows based laptop.

aviral10000

ironclaw wrote: »

I was Mac my entire time in UCD in Engineering. Never had an issue. Most of the major packages are on both platform (MS Office, MATLAB, R etc) and you can always use Citrix and UCD Connect. If you are really stuck, you can run VirtualBox and a copy of Windows (Or dual boot which I don't recommend). Both have plenty of tutorials online and is very easy to do.

You don't need a Windows based laptop.

See basically I was going tomorrow to buy a Mac. So you are suggesting that I should go for A windows one ? I hate its interface

GoldFour4

aviral10000 wrote: »

See basically I was going tomorrow to buy a Mac. So you are suggesting that I should go for A windows one ? I hate its interface

I just finished in Quinn and you'll be fine with a mac. Buy microsoft office for mac and that'll be grand.

aviral10000

malistheman wrote: »

I just finished in Quinn and you'll be fine with a mac. Buy microsoft office for mac and that'll be grand.

So you are suggesting that on top of Mac , I should spend like 200 dollars on MS office ? Isn't it better that I go and buy a Dell instead ?

ironclaw

aviral10000 wrote: »

See basically I was going tomorrow to buy a Mac. So you are suggesting that I should go for A windows one ? I hate its interface

I'm pretty sure it was fairly clear from myself and others than you don't need a Windows based machine. A Mac is fine.

aviral10000 wrote: »

So you are suggesting that on top of Mac , I should spend like 200 dollars on MS office ? Isn't it better that I go and buy a Dell instead ?

You need MS Office anyway as most documents sent and received in the world are doc / docx / ppt, which while the likes of OpenOffice etc can open, its better to use Office in my opinion. Anyway, by buying a Mac you will probably qualify for a discount and I'm pretty sure the student version is less than 50 euro or so. A Mac will also outlast any Dell or similar system for college. They are solid, well built machines and the OS is top notch. Far better money spent.

aviral10000

ironclaw wrote: »

I'm pretty sure it was fairly clear from myself and others than you don't need a Windows based machine. A Mac is fine.



You need MS Office anyway as most documents sent and received in the world are doc / docx / ppt, which while the likes of OpenOffice etc can open, its better to use Office in my opinion. Anyway, by buying a Mac you will probably qualify for a discount and I'm pretty sure the student version is less than 50 euro or so. A Mac will also outlast any Dell or similar system for college. They are solid, well built machines and the OS is top notch. Far better money spent.

Bro after the student discount it is costing me around 990 euros. The retina display one.

ironclaw

aviral10000 wrote: »

Bro after the student discount it is costing me around 990 euros. The retina display one.

Then buy a Dell or other brand. You don't buy a MacBook and complain about the price

aviral10000

ironclaw wrote: »

Then buy a Dell or other brand. You don't buy a MacBook and complain about the price

Made up my mind. Macbook it is. Thanks

Raphael

€140 for Office Home & Student for Mac, or €79 for a 4 year sub to Office 365, which is good for 2 machines, Mac or PC.

Once you're a registered UCD student you can buy from this crowd:

http://www.software4students.ie/

You'll get a much better price than buying from PC World or something.

tHE vAGGABOND

Going back to do a two year part time thing at Smurfit, and was thinking Chromebook..

Have a work laptop with windows and office if really needed, but in terms of notes and day to day stuff it should be fine [assuming it connects to network etc, as I know some folks with "non-windows" laptops had issues connecting in TCD last year

ironclaw

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

Going back to do a two year part time thing at Smurfit, and was thinking Chromebook..

Have a work laptop with windows and office if really needed, but in terms of notes and day to day stuff it should be fine [assuming it connects to network etc, as I know some folks with "non-windows" laptops had issues connecting in TCD last year

UCD network is fairly standard to connect to but I'd imagine you'd have difficulty getting on the the eduroam network. I wouldn't buy a Chromebook over a MacBook or similar spec Windows machine however for college work as not everywhere has reliable online access.