nephew is graduating high school and will be a college freshman this fall. I'm going to buy him a computer and I don't know anything about what's best for college. I rarely use mine as I do everything on my phone. Should I get an iMac or iPad or what? Want something relatively trouble free for him but that will do most everything he needs.
College freshman
- Thread starter H. Lecter
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Get him something with Microsoft Office Suite. He will need all the programs.
I would recommend Windows, just because you know everything at school will be compatible. While most Mac stuff is to, it can still cause problems.
I'd say a thin laptop, 4-8 gb of ram, 500gb of space, maybe up to 1 tb. 17 - 22 inch screen.
Get him a i5 or i7 processor. Blue ray burner.
Any brand is good. $700 or so.
I would recommend Windows, just because you know everything at school will be compatible. While most Mac stuff is to, it can still cause problems.
I'd say a thin laptop, 4-8 gb of ram, 500gb of space, maybe up to 1 tb. 17 - 22 inch screen.
Get him a i5 or i7 processor. Blue ray burner.
Any brand is good. $700 or so.
A lot of schools offer Office365 for students for free, so I'd try and find that out before dropping $$ on it.
Edit: full installs are usually available too as part of the package.
Edit: full installs are usually available too as part of the package.
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I'm a Mac fan. But PCs will do just fine too.
A Surface Pro would be prefect for a college student. Can function like a laptop and a tablet, but it's not one of those cheap/lame 2-in-1s. They can be pricey, but they are good. Not sure I will want to leave the Mac world when I have to get a new computer, but I would definitely consider a Surface Pro when it comes to that point.
A Surface Pro would be prefect for a college student. Can function like a laptop and a tablet, but it's not one of those cheap/lame 2-in-1s. They can be pricey, but they are good. Not sure I will want to leave the Mac world when I have to get a new computer, but I would definitely consider a Surface Pro when it comes to that point.
The budget version is google.
Google account=access to gmail (email), google drive (iCloud), google docs (word), google sheets (excel), google slides (powerpoint).
Stil using the same Mac I got when I graduated high school in 2009, FWIW. Can't imagine myself doing that with a PC, and I know none of my buddies who had them are.
Your OS hasn't been supported in over 2 years, assuming it's snow leopard and not leopard. That also assumes the processor is 2 generations behind the current standard.
So, you're using an outdated, unsupported computer with slow computing power and yet you are bragging about this?
Sounds like your buddies are normal people who upgrade to match faster, better, specs.
Fair enough, since we only use it for my wife to "go to" her online class and write papers. 95% of my browsing is done on my phone.
Sometimes, depending on the major, they will give the students specific recommendations if a computer is required for a course. Personally I'd get them a macbook, as I've had mine since 2011 without a single issue and still use it quite a bit. I also have microsoft office on my macbook so that took care of that. But the mac was great for what I do, and was worth the price, but obviously you have to figure out if its worth it for you especially as a gift.
"Buy him a drone so he can study anatomy." -Paddock
Another vote for MacBook here. MacBook Pro if you really want to knock his socks off and feel the burn to your wallet. Basically unbeatable as a laptop.
You might want to at least research the iPad Pro first though. It might be good enough - it is lighter and more portable than a MacBook and they are much more powerful than the second generation of tablets, they are now more powerful than a lot of desktop PCs. I tend to use my tablet way more than my MacBook when I'm on the go - you can carry a tablet everywhere.
Haven't read the whole thread but find out what he is majoring in. Some programs have very specific requirements and sometimes the university does as well. You might buy something nice that won't serve him at school.
Damn, an Uncle buying a nephew a computer? I was lucky to get a card with a $20 spot in it for my graduation from my aunts and uncles. Computer sounds like something a parent should purchase. Lucky kid has a pretty generous extended family's apparantly.
Sounds like your nephew will be looking at porn on a nice computer.
Most of my extended family barely recognized my existence upon high school graduation. My grandparents gave me like $20 and a card. All I got for college graduation was a card from the Dollar Store. For grad school graduation, I basically got a "What the **** is wrong with you? You're throwing away your life. Why didn't you go work at Walmart like your uncles did out of high school?"
Thought for sure there would be a wooderson quote within the first five posts in this thread.
You're the uncle.. let the parents worry about his academic needs. Go buy him a kegerator. At the very least a few dozen 30's to start his first semester off on the right foot. He'd be the first person to offer up beer in his dorm on the first week.. a week where everyone is trying to fit in.. he'll be king for the next four years (or five years, that's the price you may have to pay for establishing your nephew socially)
Good call but I was gonna get him an ounce and a hydro starter set instead.
Get him anything that'll hold a ton of pirated music, movies, TV and porn (That's what I did with mine. Ahh. Pre-Lars Napster.)
Also, is this a responsible kid who will be in the dorm studying or is he gonna be out getting wasted? I'd rather he spill beer/bong water on a $300 HP than an iMac if I were paying for it.
I tend to go cheap on computers because of the lessons learned over the years at various levels of investment. I find the good ones and bad ones all get ****** as slow after a few years. If you have the money and think he can take care of it get a Mac. If you have the slightest bit of hesitation about how this computer will be cared for, get a mid-grade PC.
Also, is this a responsible kid who will be in the dorm studying or is he gonna be out getting wasted? I'd rather he spill beer/bong water on a $300 HP than an iMac if I were paying for it.
I tend to go cheap on computers because of the lessons learned over the years at various levels of investment. I find the good ones and bad ones all get ****** as slow after a few years. If you have the money and think he can take care of it get a Mac. If you have the slightest bit of hesitation about how this computer will be cared for, get a mid-grade PC.
If you really wanna help the little feller out then get him a couple boxes of Trojans (assuming you think he can get laid) so that he doesn't catch the AIDS. You're welcome.