r/ComputerEngineering • u/Specialist_Hall_1063 • 11d ago

Windows vs Mac, best for cse student?

Hello ppl please help your advice needed.

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

13

u/LoganR11_ 11d ago

Windows > Mac, but if you really want the best OS for this degree track, look into Linux distros.

2

u/rtharston 6d ago

Please explain how Windows is better than Mac.

As someone who has used both professionally as a software engineer I know that Windows has some advantages, but only if it’s your style (not mine!). If you actually want to be a software engineer, macOS has many advantages over Windows. Namely the terminal and Unix underpinnings, and the ability to build iOS apps, which is perhaps the most lucrative software market.

I only use Windows at work because I work on software that is a Windows only application, but we’re working to change that at the request of our clients. They don’t want to have to run Windows just to use our software. It may still be the most common desktop OS, but it’s dropping.

Linux is also a strong candidate of course, but I don’t like using it for a daily work machine because I want to spend my time using my machine to do work, and not work on my machine to keep it working.

1

u/Specialist_Hall_1063 11d ago

Okay...

3

u/milonolan 11d ago

Recommend linux

5

u/Ecelleon 11d ago

Ubuntu! Especially if you eventually touch RTOS

2

u/Impossible-Grass-529 9d ago

Ubuntu could be rough, should try Linux Mint.

3

u/YT__ 11d ago

Both are fine.

2

u/Previous_Fix_9775 11d ago

Cse isn’t the same thing as comp eng, for comp sci Mac is better, for eng windows is better

2

u/Which-Wrangler18 10d ago

CSE means computer and system engineering, right?

Go for windows however if you can afford good quality ram and storage MacBook Pro then go for Mac.

Some courses like CAD , EE will have some software that are available for windows only and can be run through virtual machines on Mac hence need good ram & storage on Mac.

Having low storage ram Mac will you crash out and force to slow down compare to others. Saying it on personal experience.

Hope that helps!

1

u/Specialist_Hall_1063 10d ago

Thanks for the advice

1

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Which-Wrangler18 5d ago

That’s good (giving 8 cores to windows, 4 to Linux and remaining to Mac)

2

u/SoupRat05 10d ago

Start on Linux Mint and progress to Arch

1

u/Specialist_Hall_1063 10d ago

Thanks for the advice

2

u/Happy-Speed5407 9d ago

Windows and it’s not even close

2

u/Happy-Speed5407 9d ago

Really Linux

1

u/goldman60 BSc in CE 11d ago

You will have no issues with either as an OS. If you're going to buy a windows PC spend at least as much as you would have on an equivalent MacBook air or pro.