to all current osteopathic medical students who use macs

[applicant2002]

I was wondering, is software for Mac computers significantly more expensive than that for windows based machines?
If it is, how much more expensive.
Is the necessary medical software for mac hard to find?

Also, would you recommend a mac or windows machine for medical school.
I'm trying to decide b/w dell and apple, and any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for all your responses.

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[bones]

well, for what its worth,
when you shell out the cash to buy it:

PC:

Mac: <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

but once you have them:

PC:

Mac:

seriously though, mission critical software and hardware works for both at about the same price (PDA equipment+ software, MS office, web-stuff, etc). with macs you miss out on a few PC-only things like the Netter anatomy CD, but you win in style and you might not need the extras anyway- very few people really used them.

I have an apple titanium powerbook and it's awesome, but a lot of people swear by their PC's. Its a personal choice... I'll leave it at that.

-bones

 

[The Mesentery]

Macs are way over priced in the past, in the present, and in the future. The new G4s are over $2000 I believe compared with a decent Dell for under $1500. The G4s are faster, but then again, you really don't need the extra speed since you're not going to be doing heavy duty graphics manipulations or making movies. Sure they look good and a heck easier to use (I've used a Mac for over 5 years before switching). One thing I've always regretting was the software. Not in terms of price because they are darn close, but more due to the lack of software. However, in medical school (at least in the first year), the only big software you need is MS Office, which is on both platforms anyway. Depending on where you're going, you might need a Histology/Microbiology/Immunology CD-ROM, but if you do purchase a Mac, then you can just buy a program to run PC software. Medical dictionary CD-ROM like Stedmans are on both platforms. Even then, getting medical software isn't as important as getting it for a Palm/Pocket PC handheld.

Bottom line: if you got money to kill, go for the Mac. If you're a starving student, get a Dell (especially if it is the slim model. Depending on your school, you may have to lug it around all day like at Western/COMP). I tend to associate Macs with aristocracy.

 

[lumbrical]

The Netter Anatomy CD works great cross-platform (on both Mac or PC), at least the one I got a couple of years ago does.

quote:
with macs you miss out on a few PC-only things like the Netter anatomy CD, but you win in style and you might not need the extras anyway