AboutEd Dyer Expertise Current Tech: Mac OS X 10.0 - 10.5, Some shell scripting, cron, launchd, Mac OS X Server 10.2-10.4, AD-OD Integration, Automator, Movable Type Blogging, All current Mac models, iLife '06 and previous, iWork '08 and previous, Apple Remote Desktop, Now Up to Date & Contact, Quark 6.x & 7.x, NetRestore/NetInstall, Font Management, WiFi, BASIC Cisco
Devices: iPhone, AppleTV, Airport Express
Old Skool: Mac OS Environment 7.5.3-OS 9 (please upgrade for pete's sake! I will only answer basic questions in this area, as my expertise here is fading), PowerBook G3/G4(all models), Mac/Windows Networking, PowerPC 604-G4 desktop models, Outlook 2001, Photoshop 7 and previous, Flash MX, Dreamweaver MX
Dabbler: Newton 2100 w/ WiFi and NSync, Yellow Dog Linux, Suse Linux (PPC), Ubuntu Linux, Vista Business
Experience I'm employed as a Systems Engineering Manager at All Covered with a specialty in Macintosh technologies. I'm an Apple Certified System Administrator (ACSA) through 10.4 and have the lower certs as well (ACTC for 10.1 - 10.5), an Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist for 10.3 (ACHDS) and a member of the Apple Consultants Network, as well as an Apple Product Professional for 2002-2007. I have an MCP cert. from MS as well... I've worked with the Macintosh Operating system and various machines since my first PowerMac 8500 running Mac OS 7.5.3 in 1996. I support my friends and family in keeping their Macs healthy and upgraded. Now I use a MacBook Pro for work and have a Flat Screen iMac (intel 20" core 2 duo) for home use. I went to school for multimedia and design, but this knowledge-base is fading, though I primarily geek out with workstation deployment and server management. I'm sort of a "Mac of all trades" :)
Most important: I've also worked on PCs for a number of years with various flavors of Windows(95,98,NT4,2000,2000Server,2K3Server,SBS 2K3Server,Mil,XPHome,XPPro, Vista Business), but I've always used the Mac as my platform of preference. Publications http://www.macwindows.com : VPNs and Outlook
Get IT for your business: http://www.allcovered.com
Expert: Ed Dyer Date: 7/7/2008 Subject: New to Mac
Question I have a son going off to college. He wants a Mac Laptop but they are twice as much as a laptop from Best Buy. He plays games but doesn't consider himself to be a gamer. He is an eBay seller so reliability is important. I will need to also buy Microsoft Office in order to be compatable with his school. I just don't want him to be at school and not be able to complete his assignments due to compatibility problems. He currently has a desk-top and loves XP. He figures that with a regular lap-top he will have to have Vista and that will be a nightmare. We currently spend at least $50 a year on each computer in our home for virus protection (which sometimes doesn't even work). Is a Mac really worth the extra money? Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Janie Rigsby
Answer Janie,
Short answer: Yes, it is worth it.
Longer answer: I don't even know how much the laptop at which you're looking costs, but I'll give my frank assessment.
Your son will be able to use a MacBook (http://www.apple.com/macbook) and Office 2008 to get his assignments done. If he's using XP now and has a full copy of XP service pack 2 (not the OEM copy that comes with a pc laptop), he can install THAT on his Mac and dual boot to it if need be.
My advice for shopping would be to look for educational discounts on laptops and get the educational version of office 08 ($150). You can purchase from Apple Education (store.apple.com and choose the college) or from refurbished section on the same apple store page (the blue price tag). You can score deals with the same warranty (which I'd recommend getting) at 20-40% off.
If you have any more questions about specific configurations and what else your son's college gives you for requirements, feel free to ask!
