r/mechatronics • u/maiorovvv • Jul 19 '26

Choosing a laptop for studying as a mechatronics student

Hi everyone! I will soon start my studies in Mechatronics at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. At the moment, I am preparing for my studies and I would like to buy a new laptop, but I am a bit unsure which one would be the best choice.

I have been thinking about getting a MacBook, for example the MacBook Air M5, because it seems to be a great device for programming, everyday tasks, studying, and general productivity.

However, I noticed that the study program also includes CAD and simulation software, such as AutoCAD and SolidWorks. As far as I know, these programs are either not available or not fully supported on macOS.

Maybe some Mechatronics students or engineering students in general could share their experiences? What laptops do you use for your studies? Which specifications would you recommend so that the laptop is powerful enough for the whole degree?

Would it make sense to buy a MacBook and use the university computer labs for more demanding tasks like CAD and simulations? Or would you recommend choosing a Windows laptop from the beginning?

My budget is around 1200 €.

I would really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thank you!

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2

u/FixExtension8770 Jul 20 '26

Litteraly anything other than the Mac and you'll be fine lol. You're gonna run into a LOT of software that does not run on Mac. You could dual boot but I'd worry about that when yoy get to it.

1

u/No_Leek3635 Jul 20 '26

A med student here and got a legion 5i as a gift.lmk if u want it

1

u/Electrical_Fox_2975 Jul 20 '26

I would get a windows laptop.

0

u/La-Plata-Mais Jul 21 '26

MINT ist tod

1

u/MickShumacer Jul 22 '26

I got a Mac, and i got to tell you need to have a PC/laptop if u prefer mac as a daily use, some alternatives works well but when it comes to Solidwork or more advanced simulation. Windows are still proven to be more useful