mac or pc? desktop or laptop?

[beep]

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hello all,

i am thinking about buying a computer. i am hoping to start med school next year, so obviously i don't know where yet. this computer should hopefully last me at least through the first two years of med school. my questions are, should i go mac or pc? desktop or laptop? (i.e. am i really going to care whether the computer is portable?) what kind of med-specific software, if any, am i going to want to be running in med school, and does it require anything special?

i would greatly appreciate hearing what you use, and receiving advice. thanks for the input!

beep

 

[ItsGavinC]

Part of this answer will be determined by what school you are attending.

The vast majority of programs that you would want to run (or need to run) are compatible on both Windows and Mac platforms.

For what it's worth, I'm using a Windows laptop issued by my school, but using two Mac computers (one laptop and one desktop) at home.

I have ZERO troubles syncing information or transferring between them. They are also hooked together on a wireless network which makes it even easier.

More than that I can't answer, since a lot of the question depends on your preferences and current wants.

 

[Echinoidea]

Get a Mac.

 

[Megalofyia]

Dude. get a dell. (laptop)

Honestly Dells are good computers, and I was really impressed with their service. My sister has a dell laptop and she needed something done to it. They went to her apt THAT day to fix it.

 

[femdoc]

Get a Mac. I have a Powerbook G4, a Compaq Presario laptop, and a Gateway desktop. Macs do it better. Mac users also do it better 😉

 

[ItsGavinC]

I'll third the Mac (didn't want to be too hasty in my initial response).

The Dell issued by my school is a piece of junk (but that's probably just my model).

 

[stomper627]

Id wait and see where you get in. Dont buy anything before. Then contact the school to find out. It might help to ask the school IT which they recommend.
Both OS are fine. Macs are probably a bit better, yet more expensive, and usually lag a few months in available software (Windows has a 90-95% share of the market).
Laptop v Desktop...depends on the situation. At lecom they "require" us to have laptops. But they really are not...they are only called a requirement so that you qualify for financial for the cost.
If you plan on using your computer only at home...Id recommend the desktop. But if you plan to use it to study at the library, coffee house, etc. Get a laptop. Remember that you may still be using this same computer when you are doing rotations. If you do any away....its much easier to have your own computer with you, than to have to share or not have one.
Also keep in mind....dont buy the most expensive computer out there....its not needed for you, as computers usually need to be upgraded every 3-4 years before they are outdated, so that computer you bought as an MSI will be ready to upgrade as a PGY1.
stomper