Which Laptop For College Programming Course?

[Root]

I first want to start off by saying I hope this is the right section. As this is a programming section and this is related to it, I thought it should be fine. If it isn't, then I'm really sorry and hopefully a moderator can move it to the correct section.

 

Next year I'm going to be going to college for computer programming. The course is based off of Windows so everything is in Windows. But, I'm unsure what laptop I need/want. So far, I have 3 options; Dell XPS 15, MacBook Pro 15", or some slim gaming laptop. The problem is, I don't want a gaming laptop. I know they're better but I don't want that option. I don't want that thought of "Well I can either do homework or play video games" as I can do that on my desktop, plus it has to be slim and light for traveling from home to college. The other problem is that I'm really interested in OS X and can learn programming languages for OS X and iOS on my free time. I also don't want a $1,000 laptop as this will have to last for for at least 2 or 3 years depending if I get in a 2 year or 3 year course, so price isn't an issue. If I went with a MacBook Pro though, I would be using Windows in Parallels or Boot Camp (whatever one is better).

 

What is your opinion on this? Should I get a MacBook Pro or should I stick with a Windows laptop?

[Builder]

What is your opinion on this? Should I get a MacBook Pro or should I stick with a Windows laptop?

You should definitely get a MacBook Pro, probably the 15" Retina. Depending on when you need it though it may be worth it to wait until the new ones are released either in October or November.

 

I would recommend VMware Fusion or even just VirtualBox over Parallels Desktop though because Parallels has a history of being unsavory with update prices and putting unremovable ads into their paid software.

[Zeke]

Macbook Pro is really good if you're not planning on gaming. Plus, it takes zero effort to get Windows running on it. My advice though, if you're planning to run Windows in VM a lot, get 16 Gb of RAM.

[jezza39]

You should definitely get a MacBook Pro, probably the 15" Retina. Depending on when you need it though it may be worth it to wait until the new ones are released either in October or November.

 

I would recommend VMware Fusion or even just VirtualBox over Parallels Desktop though because Parallels has a history of being unsavory with update prices and putting unremovable ads into their paid software.

 

The 13" rMBP is no slouch either, it crunches effortly through anything I've thrown at it in my electrical engineering degree.

 

But if you've got the budget the 15" would be a dream

[Builder]

The 13" rMBP is no slouch either, it crunches effortly through anything I've thrown at it in my electrical engineering degree.

Oh yeah, definitely, it's just the quad core is nice when doing long compiles and such. I have a 13" myself.

[Bogica]

I would go with a Dell XPS 15. I guess it's down to personal preference, but I'd rather go with a Windows laptop and have all the support for drivers, software etc. (don't forget the free upgrade to Windows 9 for existing Windows 8 owners).

But the Macbook Pro is a also a good choice. Again it's down to personal preference.

[Root]

The 13" rMBP is no slouch either, it crunches effortly through anything I've thrown at it in my electrical engineering degree.

 

But if you've got the budget the 15" would be a dream

The problem with that is the course requires a quad-core i7 and the 13" rMBP offers a dual-core i7.

[jezza39]

The problem with that is the course requires a quad-core i7 and the 13" rMBP offers a dual-core i7.

 

I think a quad i7 would be overkill but then again by programming is generally C and Matlab, you may be doing something that scales better with cores.

 

Best to stick with the recommended device I guess

[Root]

Macbook Pro is really good if you're not planning on gaming. Plus, it takes zero effort to get Windows running on it. My advice though, if you're planning to run Windows in VM a lot, get 16 Gb of RAM.

Thank you for your opinion. I would be getting the 16GB, 1TB SSD, etc. as you can't upgrade the new MacBook Pro's, and it has to last for 2+ years.

[Builder]

The problem with that is the course requires a quad-core i7 and the 13" rMBP offers a dual-core i7.

If you have literally no budget the maxed out 15" MBPR is a helluva laptop. Eight hour battery, gorgeous screen, super thin and light, awesome keyboard and trackpad. Super powerful too obviously.

[Root]

You should definitely get a MacBook Pro, probably the 15" Retina. Depending on when you need it though it may be worth it to wait until the new ones are released either in October or November.

 

I would recommend VMware Fusion or even just VirtualBox over Parallels Desktop though because Parallels has a history of being unsavory with update prices and putting unremovable ads into their paid software.

My course wouldn't start until September, 2015 so I would be getting the newest model. As for Parallels Desktop, I heard someone using it to run Windows on a MacBook so it was just a thought. Would not get it anyways if it has a bad history.

[Root]

If you have literally no budget the maxed out 15" MBPR is a helluva laptop. Eight hour battery, gorgeous screen, super thin and light, awesome keyboard and trackpad. Super powerful too obviously.

I have a budget but not like $1,500. If I'm getting a rMBP, would be maxing it out as you can't upgrade the RAM and such. I wouldn't upgrade the CPU because it's expensive for just a little improvement of speed.

[Root]

I would go with a Dell XPS 15. I guess it's down to personal preference, but I'd rather go with a Windows laptop and have all the support for drivers, software etc. (don't forget the free upgrade to Windows 9 for existing Windows 8 owners).

But the Macbook Pro is a also a good choice. Again it's down to personal preference.

Thank you for your opinion. When I do get the laptop, it would be when rumors of Windows 10 releasing, as I would be getting the laptop in May/Summer 2015.

[Builder]

My course wouldn't start until September, 2015 so I would be getting the newest model. As for Parallels Desktop, I heard someone using it to run Windows on a MacBook so it was just a thought. Would not get it anyways if it has a bad history.

Yeah they put unremovable ads into one of the versions and it's unclear whether or not they're still there. VMware Fusion is, I believe, the best solution overall but for most people VirtualBox is fine.

[Bogica]

Thank you for your opinion. When I do get the laptop, it would be when rumors of Windows 10 releasing, as I would be getting the laptop in May/Summer 2015.

Oh ok. Then I suggest you wait it out. New Macbooks should be coming out soon and we should see new models of laptops as Intel releases their new mobile CPU's. My suggestion would be to wait before your course starts and save the money so you can get the best laptop for your money.

[Bogica]

Yeah they put unremovable ads into one of the versions and it's unclear whether or not they're still there. VMware Fusion is, I believe, the best solution overall but for most people VirtualBox is fine.

After extensively using both I agree VMware is the way to go but VirtualBox also does a fine job.

[TheGuyNL]

There is some good choices already, macbooks tend to last longer (even though I don't like em, it's true), but depending on what you are going to program it might be nice to get a Windows laptop. (Think of C#)

 

I'd suggest you take a look at Lenovo (IBM basically) as they have solid and slim laptops.

[LePawel]

If it's gaming related, get something with dedicated GPU, other than that look for something with large screen, large resolution, numpad and get yourself some velcro and a 20000mah+ battery bank and stick it to the back of the screen

[Root]

If it's gaming related, get something with dedicated GPU, other than that look for something with large screen, large resolution, numpad and get yourself some velcro and a 20000mah+ battery bank and stick it to the back of the screen

Please re-read my post. I'm looking for something thin and light and not gaming related. I don't need a gaming laptop as I have a desktop that can handle games.

[LePawel]

Please re-read my post. I'm looking for something thin and light and not gaming related. I don't need a gaming laptop as I have a desktop that can handle games.

I'm in final year at game programming course.

I was relating to game programming not gaming itself. If you want a fashion statement look for 13 inch ultrabooks, if you want a laptop for programming look for large screens, with a lot of screen space, with at least 2 hard drives (preferably SSD+HDD combo).

A strong quad core with 8+ GB of RAM, and GPU power that reflects your course's requirements. If it's computer science or software engineering, you don't need much. But if you go Game/graphics/web programming you'll be happy you have the extra kick.

And if you want this laptop to be your main programming medium, you will need a good battery, possibly 2 (hence the battery bank). The advertised "10 hours" don't fare well when you are watching YT tutorial or otherwise browsing web while compiling and possibly writing some reports or working in graphics software. If it's just a college-crappy-PC substitute, and you'll work on a PC at home, get a durable external hard drive or large USB 3.0 thumb drive to have a copy of all your work always with you (+ backups on both platforms).

[Zeruel]

Intel quad core, SSD, screen resolution 1080p+

All that should do you well. You will need a high resolution screen because if you are going to be looking at code for long periods of time, 1080p makes it look nice for the eyes.

[Root]

I'm in final year at game programming course.

I was relating to game programming not gaming itself. If you want a fashion statement look for 13 inch ultrabooks, if you want a laptop for programming look for large screens, with a lot of screen space, with at least 2 hard drives (preferably SSD+HDD combo).

A strong quad core with 8+ GB of RAM, and GPU power that reflects your course's requirements. If it's computer science or software engineering, you don't need much. But if you go Game/graphics/web programming you'll be happy you have the extra kick.

And if you want this laptop to be your main programming medium, you will need a good battery, possibly 2 (hence the battery bank). The advertised "10 hours" don't fare well when you are watching YT tutorial or otherwise browsing web while compiling and possibly writing some reports or working in graphics software. If it's just a college-crappy-PC substitute, and you'll work on a PC at home, get a durable external hard drive or large USB 3.0 thumb drive to have a copy of all your work always with you (+ backups on both platforms).

Sorry then, I thought you meant gaming. My course isn't related to game programming. There will be a unit or two at most, maybe one of the projects will be to make a game, but nothing like that. I would be getting a i7 anyways as that's one of the requirements. The laptops I'm currently looking at come with 16GB of RAM and a 500+GB SSD. Also, the GPU requirements is basically nothing. I can run on-board Intel graphics and still be good. The other requirement is a optical drive but I would be buying a USB external optical drive if I went with a Dell XPS 15 or a MacBook Pro. I also have a 32GB USB drive to transfer small files over if needed, or I can use my 2TB external hard drive if needed. Also, battery life is a concern for me. But, considering that I don't need a high-end GPU and high clocked speed CPU, battery life is good for me. The Dell XPS 15 has a good battery life and the MacBook Pro has good battery life. But, I would be getting a back-up battery either way.

[Root]

Intel quad core, SSD, screen resolution 1080p+

All that should do you well. You will need a high resolution screen because if you are going to be looking at code for long periods of time, 1080p makes it look nice for the eyes.

Please re-read my post. Either way I need to get a i7 CPU as that is one of the requirements. I would be getting a 1080p+ screen as most laptops (besides Acer and HP) have screen resolutions of 1080p and higher.

[LePawel]

Sorry then, I thought you meant gaming. My course isn't related to game programming. There will be a unit or two at most, maybe one of the projects will be to make a game, but nothing like that. I would be getting a i7 anyways as that's one of the requirements. The laptops I'm currently looking at come with 16GB of RAM and a 500+GB SSD. Also, the GPU requirements is basically nothing. I can run on-board Intel graphics and still be good. The other requirement is a optical drive but I would be buying a USB external optical drive if I went with a Dell XPS 15 or a MacBook Pro. I also have a 32GB USB drive to transfer small files over if needed, or I can use my 2TB external hard drive if needed. Also, battery life is a concern for me. But, considering that I don't need a high-end GPU and high clocked speed CPU, battery life is good for me. The Dell XPS 15 has a good battery life and the MacBook Pro has good battery life. But, I would be getting a back-up battery either way.

Well if your budget allows you to easily get 500GB+ SSD, I'd simply jump at the biggest screen that meets my specs and a good backup solution.

Since you are aiming at additional battery bank, getting one in the 20000mah+ range would at least triple your battery life, so even a 5 hour laptop would turn into a whole-day experience (again, once you strap that battery bank to your laptop with rubber bands making it look like a bomb of course ).

I personally always had an eye on the MSI slim gaming laptops like the GS70 because of their size/screen size ratio (I'm on games dev course), but the 4 hour battery life is a huge con w/o additional bank.

Additionally if you're interested in 15 inch area as well, the Levovo y50 might fit in despite additional GPU kick.

[MrSuperb]

i7 and windows is a requirement for a progamming course ?