Best laptop for college students

[seminoledq]

If you were about to start college what laptop would you get? It seems a lot of people default to say a mac book but don't realize the add ons needed to be combatible with Microsoft Office, which I am assuming is still widely used in classes. Or maybe I am wrong and that is the way to go. Not going to be doing a lot of intensive design, gaming or editing so what is best for all purpose use?

 

[FSUdawg]

I cannot believe I am going to say this because I hate Micro$oft, but the Surface Pro Tablet is probably the way to go these days.

 

[FSUTribe76]

I really like the Lenovo Yoga Pro 2. It's very versatile, the perfect size and relatively cheap. I'd stick with a nice new 2 in 1 like that or the Asus clone that's a little bulkier but even cheaper.

 

[northside_hawk]

MacBook Pro (yes it is compatible with Office). You don't want to replace their laptop yearly do you?

/thread

 

[cmanole]

Originally posted by northside_hawk:
MacBook Pro (yes it is compatible with Office). You don't want to replace their laptop yearly do you?

/thread

Agree. Got the kids one and it has been great...

 

['88nole]

You don't really believe that if its not a Mac it has to be replaced yearly do u?
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[seminoledq]

Originally posted by cmanole:

Originally posted by northside_hawk:
MacBook Pro (yes it is compatible with Office). You don't want to replace their laptop yearly do you?

/thread

Agree. Got the kids one and it has been great...

What does the Office Suite for a Mac set you back?

 

[cmanole]

Originally posted by seminoledq:

Originally posted by cmanole:

Originally posted by northside_hawk:
MacBook Pro (yes it is compatible with Office). You don't want to replace their laptop yearly do you?

/thread

Agree. Got the kids one and it has been great...

What does the Office Suite for a Mac set you back?

Wasn't much if I bought it. A hundred or two at the most...

 

[NolaNole9]

Originally posted by northside_hawk:
MacBook Pro (yes it is compatible with Office). You don't want to replace their laptop yearly do you?

/thread

This. Pages, Keynote, etc documents can be converted to Word, Power Point, etc documents without buying MS Office if you want to save $. I got through college just fine without ever buying Office.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[EveryoneBleedsGarnet]

If it's going to be their only computer I would probably go with the yoga or surface but that said I'm about to buy a Macbook as a travel laptop even though I'm a Windows guy... the new MacBook is coming out in three weeks so I would wait until then... I just love how thin and sleek they look plus I do online marketing so I think it's time to diversify and have one of each.

 

[mnole03]

Originally posted by seminoledq:

Originally posted by cmanole:

Originally posted by northside_hawk:
MacBook Pro (yes it is compatible with Office). You don't want to replace their laptop yearly do you?

/thread

Agree. Got the kids one and it has been great...

What does the Office Suite for a Mac set you back?

For college students? Probably around twenty bucks.

 

[Bartdog]

a subscription to office will likely come for free if you by a laptop or two-in-one via MS. Or you can get a 4 year subscription for about $99 student version. I believe you also get at least one Tb of OneDrive cloud storage with that.

I like the Lenovo Yoga and of course the Surface Pro 3, which I have. They are super versatile. I never thought I'd use a pen to take notes on a tablet/laptop, but it works SO WELL. The notes are saved to OneNote and I can therefore not lose them.

Windows machines, if you don't skimp on the specs, will last a good long time, thank you. Just be sure if you get a Lenovo that it doesn't have superfish installed.

Also, any machine running Windows 7-8.1 will be upgraded to Windows 10 later this year for free.

 

[fsu1jreed]

It really depends upon their major et al., Mac's are go for graphical design classes but for anything else I would stay with Microsooft.

 

[Bragglefraggle]

Originally posted by mnole03:

Originally posted by seminoledq:

Originally posted by cmanole:

Originally posted by northside_hawk:
MacBook Pro (yes it is compatible with Office). You don't want to replace their laptop yearly do you?

/thread

Agree. Got the kids one and it has been great...

What does the Office Suite for a Mac set you back?

For college students? Probably around twenty bucks.

Free at FSU

 

[seminoledq]

Thanks for all the info. I probably won't be buying until May or June. I should check the school bookstore to see if they have this free software for students you speak of.

 

[fsu1jreed]

Originally posted by seminoledq:
Thanks for all the info. I probably won't be buying until May or June. I should check the school bookstore to see if they have this free software for students you speak of.

Every university has that............at UWF I copy a copy of Win98 & Office for 10 bucks each.

 

[surfnole]

I see the Mac zealots are out. For the path of least resistance, get a laptop that runs Microsoft. The only exception may be if your student is making videos etc.

My son has a $350 Toshiba laptop that got him through four years of college. You might want something a little more powerful, but its find for all student tasks such as internet, email, writing papers etc. My son's girlfriend has a MAC and was forced to buy a Windows PC for one of her interior design classes.

Skip the office subscription and buy the student version for about 100.

 

[Fijimn]

I have a Surface 3 and, unless you are going to create a docking station at home, I would avoid it. The keyboard is flimsy, most likely will wear out in a year. Difficult to type, etc unless on a hard service.

 

[MuchasVeces]

I like my Macbook Pro.

If you're going Windows, spend a little more on something like a Lenovo or an Asus (Sager, Razer, MSI if you like). The 350 dollar laptops are 350 dollars for a reason. They generally have worse keyboards, worse screens, and are less durable. They're great as a second computer, or for just screwing around on the web, but for real work I want something better.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Truthfully I use my iPad Air 2 with this keyboard all the time.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/logitech-ultrathin-portfolio-keyboard-case-for-apple-ipad-air-carbon-black/1817061.p?id=1219065231640&skuId=1817061

I don't bring my real laptop in for my trials, hearings, and board meetings, I just bring this guy and use the keyboard when needed and just carry it around as a tablet with me when I'm grilling witnesses or whenever else where I would be using a notepad. I end up using the iPad easily 10x the amount probably more like 100x the amount of my regular laptop.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Oh and of course there's word and everything else for the iPad. If I were you I'd just get a cheapo laptop or home desk model for doing work at home and then get an iPad with a nice keyboard like that one or the new more expensive but matching Brydgeairs that really turns the iPad into a laptop much better than the Surface. http://www.brydgekeyboards.com/collections/ipad-air

 

[RTM58]

Originally posted by surfnole:
I see the Mac zealots are out. For the path of least resistance, get a laptop that runs Microsoft. The only exception may be if your student is making videos etc.

Skip the office subscription and buy the student version for about 100.

What's wrong with the subscription? $70, 1TB of cloud space and some Skype time with GF, and online help.... win, win, win

https://products.office.com/en-us/office-365-personal