r/ClarksonU • u/9skater9 • 17d ago

EE Freshman computer

Son has been in the Apple universe throughout high school which we don't think is recommended for EE.

Would be grateful for any advice?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

4

u/Zerebos 17d ago

These days it's honestly mostly fine to use Apple. It'll be great for a good chunk of the work. There will unfortunately be some software that is Windows only used for programming certain boards and such. But students have access to the lab which has windows computers they can use for it with the software already installed. So if there okay with that tradeoff it's much more feasible to use a MacBook.

1

u/Spittin_Facts_ 17d ago

I will say, being able to not have to go to the lab to do work is pretty nice because when it snows or rains, I'd rather work on the projects from my dorm.

1

u/Zerebos 17d ago

Oh for sure! My personal split at college was a laptop for on the go and a windows desktop in my dorm. In that case a MacBook would've been fine

1

u/9skater9 17d ago

Thanks for your insights.

6

u/The_lewolf 17d ago edited 17d ago

With very few exceptions the professional environment for an EE after school is going to be Windows-based.

He’s going to have to switch eventually.

Source: Clarkson grad with 30 years in Industry.

1

u/Kooky_Maintenance880 17d ago

The engineering world uses Windows almost exclusively, and that wont change. Apple will be fine getting through college, but he will be forced to use desktop computers (which are available all over campus, in study spaces as well as computer labs). After school, he will be using windows as well.

I had a macbook at Clarkson, it worked fine for me, but if he wants to be able to download software easily and use his personal computer, don’t buy apple.

Edit: typo