Recommended: Mac
The advantage of Mac is that it is a UNIX-based system – and computer science courses are mainly taught in UNIX. Most development software is made for UNIX-based systems, and it is the most widely used in the industry. Moreover, users can still install Windows on a Mac using either Virtual Machine or Oracle (free), and it will run as it would on a native Windows computer. Mac systems are more stable, with barely any sudden shutoffs, a user-friendly interface and no forced system updates. However, with all these benefits, the downside for a Mac is the cost. The graphics card, in general, is not as good as the one on a Windows computer within the same price range, although it is more than enough for computer science courses.
The advantage of Windows systems is that most programs are compatible because almost everything is designed with Windows in mind. However, that is not the case for programmers, and UNIX systems are undeniably better for developers. With a Windows system, you can set up dual boot so you can use your system’s full capabilities in both Windows and Linux in order to use a UNIX system. Alternatively, you can set up a virtual machine for quick access to both systems at the cost of performance. You can buy a PC inexpensively and still have a good system – and Windows is far better for gaming.
Recommended: MacBook Pro, Minimum: MacBook Air
Apple created three product lines for laptops. The MacBook and MacBook Air are suitable for users who are not heavy computer users, while the MacBook Pro is better for users who expect more computing power from their laptop. Even though MacBook and MacBook Air are similar for the user group, each product line still has its differences and advantages. It is important to check your degree program requirements before purchasing your computer.
MacBook Air is more compact and thinner, with a screen size of 12’’ with a Retina display. While MacBook only weighs roughly three pounds and is only 13.1 mm in width, the Air is roughly two pounds. It has a more powerful touchpad that is bigger and supports force touch. The keyboard design is also more advanced. However, a MacBook is more expensive than a MacBook Air. It has a less powerful CPU and only one USB-C port, which means that users would have to buy adapter hubs for HDMI or USB 3.0. In short, the MacBook Air is cheaper, has a more powerful CPU than a MacBook and has more connection ports. However, it has a less advanced keyboard and touchpad.
Ultimately, the MacBook Pro is the go-to product for students who want to use their computers for computer science classes, mainly because MacBook Pro is more powerful. There are two sizes: a 13-inch and a 16-inch model. However, the 13-inch base model comes with 2 GHz CPU while the base model for MacBook is only 1.3 GHz. The integrated graphics card is better, and the MacBook Pro also gives user options to install i7 CPU as well as an AMD discrete graphics card. Now, even though a MacBook Pro is the best computer for computer science students, there are still more questions to be answered:
- How much memory should I get?
- How much storage should I get?
- Should I get the discrete graphics card?