What Comp for Uni

[heavyduty1340]

Quick bit of advice needed
One of my sons is heading to Uni - doing Arts Degree and specialize in Graphic Design.
Is he better off going Apple or Windows?
TIA

[sensei_]

I think these days, it boils down to personal preferences. Most applications are on both platforms with the exception of a few select programs, and if it isn't running virtual machine isn't too difficult.

Personally, I use a mac, for applications that need windows, I just fire up my bootcamp/virtual machine.

[protecon]

What a waste of time and money.

[heavyduty1340]

Uni - I agree but meh...

[Damo 69]

Not near on $4k of alienware laptop i bought to run gaming and autocad with windows 10s.


Crashes / blue screens once a day, needs to be updated twice a day and generally behaves like a piece of shit.

[mr_rotary]

Both are capable however buy whatever platform the industry of using.

[Brett_J]

As much as I hate to admit it, my wife’s 5 year old MacBook is still going strong and since I upgraded the hardware, fast as ever too. I have had 3 laptops in that time, the last one snapped at the hinges, apparently it was an Asus thing...

I use her laptop now when I need one, slightly different commands but easy enough for any young kid to fly.
I know years ago, Mac was the preferred platform for anything graphics related, which PC stuff being much cheaper than it used to be to build a quick machine, I wonder if it’s changed.

[Byah!]

Another that hates to buy apple....butttt for graphic design etc its prob the best out.

My brother is heavily into it and is using a 3-4yo macbook with a retina display. Pretty good kit.

Was mine originally then when he needed a new laptop I went back to windows as I had enough of the software (was a step backwards hardware wise). But for the arts its great.

[sensei_]

For those who don't want to upgrade their whole computer just yet, you can consider getting a SSD to upgrade any computer. Same applies if you intend to look at preowned options.

[Sebdullah]

Had no problem on either my windows based desktop or laptop, so long as it can run the entire adobe catalogue it'll be fine

[Alt_F4]

I'd do some research on the units themselves to see if the lean either way.
If you go Windows route, I would highly recommend the Dell XPS 15, I use one for work, looks great, powerful and light/compact.

[shifted]

I have had 3 laptops in that time, the last one snapped at the hinges, apparently it was an Asus thing...

Comes down to what you buy. I've bought 2 Toshiba laptops in the space of 12 years. Old one still runs but now has a severe power issue. One that replaced it is 5 years old now and still runs like the day it did out of the box.

I find if you spend under $2k on a laptop you generally get garbage. Mine retailed for $2600 at the time from memory and got it for Harvies cost price of ~$1700.

Mates have all bought cheaper and the laptops have hardly lasted 2-3 years.

[mARC]

If the want for for any Apple product emerges it's best to either put him down now or disown.

It really is for the greater good.

[[Jacek]]

As much as I hate to admit it, my wife’s 5 year old MacBook is still going strong

Yep, my 2010 Macbook has only just started showing signs of aging. Plus, at the 4-5 year mark I still could have sold it for $1500 I reckon, even today its probably worth about $500 - not bad for a 7-8year old piece of tech.

Who knows if that dynamic has changed though (I obviously don't have any experience with newer model PCs OR Macs). It seems like PCs these days could be just as good as Macbooks, I'm starting to look into it myself. Especially high-end stuff like what shifted is talking about.

[TheChad]

I'm sure you have, but you should really just ask him?
At the end of the day it's probably what he wants/feels most comfortable with. And what is most recommended.

Historically Apple have been seen as the best at arts and design, in reality it's not been much different. That's kind of stuck, though the new microsoft surface/surface pro range is probably better.
Obviously you'll pay more for apple, he will probably find most of his peers have apple and he might also want it just to fit in. Though it definitely makes things easier if everyone is working on the same platform for group work etc.

And calling uni a waste of time and money is a bit rich? Everyone has their strengths and I know plenty of incredibly successful and motivated designers, not sure what else you'd suggest someone do if that's where their passion lies? Good on OP for being keen to support his son, will likely go a long way.

[TJ]

Just get a FIFO job and buy bitcoins for success

[IanJ]

Email the course coordinator and ask what they recommend. Probably be a macbook as it's a design industry standard. Also wouldn't surprise me if there is an IOS app design module thrown in there somewhere and although you can use windows for this it's a PITA.

[heavyduty1340]

Emailed Uni - no response.
Son called them - oh - just buy what you prefer
Dont want to go buying the wrong muthafucka and have to do it again in 6 months time for him
He has nfi, so thats why I thought Id chuck it up here for some input

[MMM]

I have no idea what is better for his particular course.

But if I was to get a windows machine i would get a metabox
https://www.metabox.com.au/

[protecon]

And calling uni a waste of time and money is a bit rich? Everyone has their strengths and I know plenty of incredibly successful and motivated designers, not sure what else you'd suggest someone do if that's where their passion lies? Good on OP for being keen to support his son, will likely go a long way.
I disagree.
If the kid really is passionate about an arts degree in graphic design, he'll already know exactly what software he'll want, if not already using, and the hardware needed to run it.

[Phyber]

Warning on Surface devices - if they break they have a reputation as being difficult to fix. They are nice when they are working though.


iFixit scored the Surface pro 5 a 1/10 on repairability
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Microsoft+Surface+Pro+5+Teardown/92362



Final Thoughts
-Although we like connectors, the ones present in the Surface Pro aren't standard, making display removal tricky.
-The display removal procedure is simplified by the use of thin foam adhesive and a fused display, but is still not trivial.
-Adhesive holds many components in place, including the display and battery.
-Replacement of any part requires removal of the display assembly, an easy part to damage.
-The SSD is no longer replaceable.

[f6rspec]

Buy a Mac book installed Bootcamp which install window 10 and have the best of both World :)

[Byah!]

Do you need to sort this out before the course starts?

Usually the university will have tech labs one can use to do homework etc.

Why not wait a week or two and see what everyone else is using/whats being used at the campus?

[heavyduty1340]

^^^ Great idea

[Sebdullah]

Do you need to sort this out before the course starts?

Usually the university will have tech labs one can use to do homework etc.

Why not wait a week or two and see what everyone else is using/whats being used at the campus?


came here just to make that same suggestion, it's not usually until week 2 that all the hands on stuff starts

[Evilteddy]

Not near on $4k of alienware laptop i bought to run gaming and autocad with windows 10s.


Crashes / blue screens once a day, needs to be updated twice a day and generally behaves like a piece of shit.

Common issue with a PEBKAC error.

[Evman]

Why not wait a week or two and see what everyone else is using/whats being used at the campus?

Nothing important (end of semester grades-wise) is covered in the first week of semester because people are constantly chopping and changing units during that time, so he wont miss anything critical if he doesn't have a laptop from the start.

Curtin is predominantly Windows based but has dedicated Apple lounges for those that need them. If you go the Windows route I too recommend the Dell XPS range. I got the XPS13 for uni and never looked back. Definitely do not get anything physically large, it'll be a nightmare. For graphics design I highly recommend a high quality, high resolution monitor at some point (maybe a reward for good grades after the first semester?). At least 1440p and around the 28"+ mark. The bigger the better for that sort of that sort of thing. Laptop-sized screens are far from ideal.

[TheChad]

I actually just came here to post the same thing hahaha.

Same goes for books etc. Don't buy any text books until you find out they're absolutely necessary AND you can't find a PDF online. Even then you can usually just find a library copy at the uni and scan the relevant bits if you need them.
The first 3 or 4 weeks of Y1S1 is barely uni, it's halfway between kindergarten and uni, you have plenty of time. This time of year you'll struggle to get responses from course coordinators etc, they are flat out preparing or enjoying a small break. They don't respond super quick, ever.