Does step-son need Macbook for uni?

rach_k

I doubt he actually needs a Macbook of his own, but if he wants one or his course would be easier with one, what's to stop him getting a summer job to pay for it himself? His mum could contribute whatever she feels is reasonable for a laptop if she wants (I'd say no more than £500 and I think that is fairly generous, for an adult who has chosen his own course).

Lavender13

Unable to comment on whether he needs a macbook. But from experience I can say, we purchased a macbook for our son to go to Uni , and it lasted him the 4 years of his course. It even survived being packed in his hold luggage :0 , which I would not recommend , and was aghast when I found out. When we purchased the laptop , Apple gave us an educational discount and insurance ( which came in handy when the charging lead failed, which the apple shop replaced free of charge as well as offering to replace the battery free). The insurance gave me peace of mind knowing that if the laptop failed , he could have it repaired wherever his course took him.

Herzlos

He should be old enough to not worry about peer pressure. I also doubt that he needs the mac or that spec, and would likely be fine with a windows laptop. No harm in a lower end mac though, if you can stretch to it as a compromise.

If it was me, I'd let them start uni without one and see what they actually need.

tronator

securityguy wrote: »

A glance around the Costa and Starbucks on campus shows that to be true: you can routinely get a coffee in University Centre and there be nothing apart from Macbooks of various stripes being used.

The questions is whether these students are representative or just the ones who feel the need to show off their shiny macbooks...

cookie365

Or just the ones who can afford do drink coffee in Costa and Starbucks

im-lost

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Not necessarily, my bosses daughter started Uni at Birmingham last year and Mac Book seemed to be the favored machine among the students, besides, you do know that these days you can run Microsoft Office from a Mac, so no compatibility issues, plus I've been told (but not tried it as we have Office 365) you can save Pages, Numbers and Keynote into their equivalent Microsoft formats. The only thing students will use their own computers for is their own notes and work so as long as it can be printed out then it doesn't matter what technology they use.

That said, I agree with others, not sure it's absolutely necessary to use a Macbook of such high spec, I guess there may be a little bit of keeping up with the Jones's going on.

nowt to do with buying them with the student loan they get then I know plenty of students that bought the most expensive mac they could, because it was essentially 'free' and I don't blame them, it'll likely last the time at uni and beyond.

but its a waste of money if you ask me, a £300 windows laptop should be sufficient for most students, and they'll only moan when they start running out of readies and have to phone mummy for some shopping money so they can eat

im-lost

tronator wrote: »

The questions is whether these students are representative or just the ones who feel the need to show off their shiny macbooks...

it takes a certain type of student to take their mac to costa, not representative of students as a whole IMO only of course

Most will keep their expensive gadgets in their rooms, taking them to lectures if and when needed, and then squirreling them away back to safety.

shortchanged_2

No he doesn't need a macbook, he WANTS one.

The latest fashion accessory for students.

shaun_from_Africa

If your step son is staying in University lodging or is renting a room in some student accommodation, you should really check up on insurance to see if something such as a £1500 laptop will be covered for theft.

prowla

He should find out whether the uni has offers; my son can get one at half price via his.

(The insurance is a good point!)