STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Alegria · Kate Spade

Mac

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I have a mac and I love it. I will say that you will want to get Microsoft Office for Mac when you buy it. It is expensive, but will make the transition a bit easier.

Are you thinking a desktop or a laptop?

Kelly · Hermes

I've always had PCs until a couple years ago, I bought a Mac laptop. I still have a PC at work, and my Mac at home.

Maybe I'm just not using the Mac to its full potential or something, but honestly I kind of regret getting it over a PC. It was something like $900 more than the PC I was looking at, and I'm not impressed with it enough to have justified spending that much more on it.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Is it his 8th grade graduation or his high school graduation? The diff is important. Unless he is heading to college, I wouldn't to a Mac bc
1) it is nominally more expensive, like twice the price, and what if he drops it or damages it?
2) schools aren't really mac friendly and you will have to buy office which can be 200$ more on top of the already-expensive cost

I say this as someone who has owned Mac and PC. I prefer a Mac for myself but I think someone so young would benefit from a cheaper computer than the Mac unless you have money to burn.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

XtinaStyles wrote:
Is it his 8th grade graduation or his high school graduation? The diff is important. Unless he is heading to college, I wouldn't to a Mac bc
1) it is nominally more expensive, like twice the price, and what if he drops it or damages it?
2) schools aren't really mac friendly and you will have to buy office which can be 200$ more on top of the already-expensive cost

I say this as someone who has owned Mac and PC. I prefer a Mac for myself but I think someone so young would benefit from a cheaper computer than the Mac unless you have money to burn.

I agree with everything XtinaStyles said. I would love to say "go get a Mac!," but I worry about it making it through high school. But, of course, you know your son best!

Recommending a PC is a little easier now that the most recent versions of Windows are reportedly better than Vista and XP.

To help ward off the threat of viruses, I highly recommend that people get into the habit of using Google Chrome as their browser, instead of Internet Explorer. It's faster too. One of the best anti-virus programs available now is ESET Node32 Antivirus.

I also prefer Mac, but I'm glad I have experience with both. Plus, for my work (past and present), knowing both has been extremely helpful (and necessary). Right now I own an 11" MacBook Air. DH thinks I'm nuts because I design in Adobe Illustrator on the small screen, using only the trackpad.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

I asked DH if he heard any back-to-school laptop buying guides on any of the numerous tech podcasts he listens to. He came up with one. http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-laptops

Alegria · Kate Spade

Thanks for your input everyone. I'm looking for a laptop for him. As for the schools, they all use Macs...at least in the district he is in. I was hoping it would last through high school...so four years. Good thing I have some time to research and think about things. Ick stressful!