• Best of luck to the class of 2024 for their HSC exams. You got this!
    Let us know your thoughts on the HSC exams here
  • YOU can help the next generation of students in the community!
    Share your trial papers and notes on our Notes & Resources page
MedVision ad

Apple or microsoft? (2 Viewers)

jane1820

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2024
Messages
920
Gender
Female
HSC
2026
i want to buy a laptop either apple or microsoft for senior skl yrs and uni if it lasts which i do want it to last
i have a budget of $1500-$2000
which will be more beneficial?
also plz dont try to convince me to buy another brand its either apple or microsoft
 

wollongong warrior

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2023
Messages
239
Gender
Male
HSC
2023
If you want to do computer science in uni, go apple. If you want to do engineering, go microsoft/windows
Any other degree, it doesn't matter but generally, macbooks last longer than windows from what I've heard
 

liamkk112

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2022
Messages
1,043
Gender
Female
HSC
2023
yup agree with wollongong warrior, but keep in mind that most unis have something called citrix that lets you access software from any platform, meaning it doesn't matter too much if you have a mac or windows computer. but if you don't have a preference between any of the two operating systems, then it is nice to run software natively so it could be a part of the decision
 

wollongong warrior

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2023
Messages
239
Gender
Male
HSC
2023
tbh, I wouldn't depend on citrix or any uni-provided emulators too much, just run everything locally since when it comes to exam season, everyone will be on these platforms and you won't be able to run anything smoothly, if not, at all
You also get the added benefit of working on assignments offline
 

jane1820

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2024
Messages
920
Gender
Female
HSC
2026
The guy at jbhifi said the reason a lot of ppl end up w shitty laptop is bc they just choose either cheap or ‘pretty’ laptops or even depend on the reviews when in reality they r used differently like someone might buy a microsoft laptop for creativity based on money or looks n then it lags n dies so leaves a bad review when in reality its good for programming n stuff

he said to look at reviews from ppl who bought the laptop for similar uses
 

jane1820

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2024
Messages
920
Gender
Female
HSC
2026
tbh, I wouldn't depend on citrix or any uni-provided emulators too much, just run everything locally since when it comes to exam season, everyone will be on these platforms and you won't be able to run anything smoothly, if not, at all
You also get the added benefit of working on assignments offline
U think i should also buy office 365? Is it a one time payment or continues? Bc i have an educational scholarship
 

wollongong warrior

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2023
Messages
239
Gender
Male
HSC
2023
If you want to use it in highschool, you can buy it sure
Google drive worked fine for me personally but just know that you'll get it for free if you go to unsw
 

jane1820

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2024
Messages
920
Gender
Female
HSC
2026
talked to my mum (teacher at usyd) she confirms they do the same so yh i agree w liamkk112 i think all unis do
 

jane1820

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2024
Messages
920
Gender
Female
HSC
2026
If you want to use it in highschool, you can buy it sure
Google drive worked fine for me personally but just know that you'll get it for free if you go to unsw
nah its ok the department of education pays for office 365 if i use my skl/education acc
 

carrotsss

New Member
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
4,453
Gender
Male
HSC
2023
macbooks used to last longer than windows but the new Qualcomm and AMD laptops have crazy good battery life (like a fair bit better than m1) and really good performance, so I’d say just pick based on whether you prefer windows or macOS, you can get a MacBook Air or any copilot+ branded Microsoft laptop
 

carrotsss

New Member
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
4,453
Gender
Male
HSC
2023
If you want to do computer science in uni, go apple. If you want to do engineering, go microsoft/windows
Any other degree, it doesn't matter but generally, macbooks last longer than windows from what I've heard
windows is fine for comp sci just use wsl
 

jane1820

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2024
Messages
920
Gender
Female
HSC
2026
macbooks used to last longer than windows but the new Qualcomm and AMD laptops have crazy good battery life (like a fair bit better than m1) and really good performance, so I’d say just pick based on whether you prefer windows or macOS, you can get a MacBook Air or any copilot+ branded Microsoft laptop
Im leaning more towards microsoft bc its easier to navigate (it took me awhile to navigate macs at first) n theyre also touch but the thing is im definitely not going towards an engineering/computer pathway in uni so maybe mac? Also microsoft has office 365 apps downloaded n ready to go while apple no BUT IM NOT AN EXPERT LITERALLY NEVER BOUGHT A DEVICE IN MY LIFE 😭😭
 

carrotsss

New Member
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
4,453
Gender
Male
HSC
2023
Im leaning more towards microsoft bc its easier to navigate (it took me awhile to navigate macs at first) n theyre also touch but the thing is im definitely not going towards an engineering/computer pathway in uni so maybe mac? Also microsoft has office 365 apps downloaded n ready to go while apple no BUT IM NOT AN EXPERT LITERALLY NEVER BOUGHT A DEVICE IN MY LIFE 😭😭
if ur not doing engineering it doesn’t really matter it’s just a matter of personal preference and stuff like touchscreens. you can do office 365 stuff on Apple devices too btw
 

WeiWeiMan

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2023
Messages
1,018
Location
behind you
Gender
Male
HSC
2026
U think i should also buy office 365? Is it a one time payment or continues? Bc i have an educational scholarship
ngl you can an office one-time license (doesn't get updated) for like $10 off smth like https://www.gamers-outlet.net/en/software
can't find the one I got (home and business 2021 for mac) for cheap anymore but ig you can just look around and see

Im leaning more towards microsoft bc its easier to navigate (it took me awhile to navigate macs at first) n theyre also touch but the thing is im definitely not going towards an engineering/computer pathway in uni so maybe mac? Also microsoft has office 365 apps downloaded n ready to go while apple no BUT IM NOT AN EXPERT LITERALLY NEVER BOUGHT A DEVICE IN MY LIFE 😭😭
WINDOWS IS EASIER TO NAVIGATE THAN MAC?
 

jane1820

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2024
Messages
920
Gender
Female
HSC
2026

carrotsss

New Member
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
4,453
Gender
Male
HSC
2023
if i was to purchase a macbook, which model should i buy? def no pro cus 1 we have a family one (that me n my sister use it the most) 2 its too expensive so maybe air? not sure
if i was to buy a microsoft i like this one https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/microsoft-surface-laptop-go-3-12-4-i5-256gb-8gb-ice-blue it has good storage but is 8bg for RAM good? asking the experts cus idk how much that is
8gb of ram is pretty bad especially for that price, that’s pretty much what you’ll get with apple or microsoft though they’re stingy af with ram - but if you really want to insist on one of those brands (I don’t really get why you do) then at that price region I’d go for an M2 MacBook Air unless you’re willing to take the price jump up and get a copilot+ laptop
 

jane1820

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2024
Messages
920
Gender
Female
HSC
2026
8gb of ram is pretty bad especially for that price, that’s pretty much what you’ll get with apple or microsoft though they’re stingy af with ram - but if you really want to insist on one of those brands (I don’t really get why you do) then at that price region I’d go for an M2 MacBook Air unless you’re willing to take the price jump up and get a copilot+ laptop
How abt 16gb for RAM?
Also thx ill check the m2 air
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 2)

Top