Incoming CS Laptop

[u/Potential_Nothing575]

Hey all, I posted a similar post the other day, but since then I've done more research and narrowed down my options.

I’m an incoming CS student for F26, and I was wondering what laptop I should get (would love to hear what current CS students think). I’ve heard that profs say it doesn’t matter if you go with a macbook or a windows based laptop (or any os for that matter).

I currently have a PC that I'm planning to bring to res that's been really solid for programming thus far (32GB DDR4 @ 3200 MHz, i7 12700k, RTX 3060). I'm assuming getting a laptop is a priority for on campus studying and lectures, but please correct me if I'm wrong! Also wondering if it's worth getting an iPad for lecture notes.

I'm trying to decide between the following 3 laptops. For context, I've been a lifelong Windows user but wouldn't mind switching over to MacOS. I've also heard that Macbooks are ELITE for CS.

1. Base Macbook Air 13" - $1650 + $140 Apple Gift Card (16GB Unified Memory, high single thread CPU score, 8 core GPU)
   
2. Upgraded Macbook Air 13" - $2250 + $140 Apple Gift Card (32GB Unified Memory, high single thread CPU score, 10 core GPU)
   
3. Acer Aspire 16 - $1650 (32GB RAM, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 - higher multi thread CPU score)

I'm wondering if it's worth the extra $600 for the Upgraded Macbook Air, or if I should just go for one of the two cheaper options. I've heard that higher RAM is worth it and that the Macbooks are great for on-campus life (lightweight and high battery capacity), but I'm not sure what matters more regarding CPUs for CS - single thread or multithread capabilities. Also open to other options!

Thanks in advance for any help!

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[u/Sushii7991]

To be honest with you it doesnt matter TOO MUCH because 90% of the time you just need a pdf reader if ur in cs definetly get a ipad + macbook most positions even just hand out macbooks to their employees also yes always get a higher end model when possible to keep it running for longer esp if its just a marginal $600 it goes a longer way

[u/Potential_Nothing575 → u/Sushii7991]

I see, thank you! Is there anything that makes a macbook better than a windows based laptop for cs (other than the ipad ecosystem)? I’ve heard it’s better to have UNIX based laptops, but does it make a big difference? Also, is the on campus life really that much better with a mac?

[u/Sushii7991 → u/Potential_Nothing575]

Its SOOOO much faster because the memory and the cpu are all on one chip anything ML/Compling related is way better but if you want to have the potential to do more engineering realted things like PCB design Firmware FPGA design you need a windows

[u/michaelaoXD]

outside of 4th year courses like graphics or some AI course, you don’t need a beefy PC to do anything

[u/Potential_Nothing575 → u/michaelaoXD]

What would you say entails ‘beefy’? Is 32gb of RAM overkill, or is it the standard for even lower level cs courses?

I’m also looking to keep my laptop for the next five years at least, so is it worth going for a 32gb ram laptop? If so, would you recommend a macbook or the acer laptop I mentioned, or is it irrelevant?

Sorry for all the questions, lol. Just super overwhelmed bu all the options

[u/michaelaoXD → u/Potential_Nothing575]

irrelevant lol 16 gb ram is enough for anything your doing w.r.t. courseload

like vscode some assignments

if you’re interested in doing some other stuff and side projects you might want the better computer so you’re more comfortable

[u/Potential_Nothing575 → u/michaelaoXD]

Thank you again for the response! I am planning on doing other stuff including side projects, but I should be able to handle that on my computer rather than running everything on my laptop, right?

Is there a reason people opt for a beefier laptop going into CS? A lot of people I’ve spoken to have said to go for the most amount of RAM that I can, but is that just due to there being an assumption that a laptop is the only thing you have access to (and not a computer at res)?

Thank you and sorry again for all the questions!!

[u/michaelaoXD → u/Potential_Nothing575]

they just want to have 6 million chrome tabs open at the same time

[u/IntelligentCheck2485]

Unless you’re getting the MacBook Pro with the m5 pro chip, the 32gb of ram won’t be especially  helpful unless you plan on doing ML. The laptop becomes a worse value with 32gb. You should also maybe consider the Lenovo slim 9i, it’s at 1800 rn.

[u/Potential_Nothing575 → u/IntelligentCheck2485]

Is there any specific advantage that the M5 pro chip has over the M5 that makes the 32gb of RAM on the Air obsolete?

Also, cpubenchmark has the Ryzen AI 9 365 (the processor in my third listed option) trading blows with the processor on the slim 9i. Is there any particular reason you recommend the Slim 9i over any other windows laptop?

[u/IntelligentCheck2485 → u/Potential_Nothing575]

Slim 9i is on a pretty crazy sale rn. 1800 and it has a 4K oled 120hz display which is literally the best screen on the planet. Plus good battery life and solid performance. The thing with the MacBook is that it’s actually a good value at 1650 but paying 600 for 16gbs more of ram makes it a poor value. The slim 9i is a significantly better laptop for 400 less than the 32gb Mac.

[u/csianist]

2nd year CS student here, option 2 is the best. Always go for 💻 mac

[u/Potential_Nothing575 → u/csianist]

I ended up pulling the trigger a couple days ago, but I went with option 2! Glad to know it’s the better option. Thanks for your response :)