Question for ISU Computer Eng students - PC or Mac?

[BobTheHawkHater]

My daughter is thinking about taking Computer Engineering at ISU and I want to get her a laptop and start teaching her some programming concepts since her high school is lacking in that area.

I've heard from a couple of recent grads that it really doesn't matter too much if I get her a Mac or a Windows based laptop. She prefers Macs, I like PCs.

I guess I was thinking she might want to work in a VM running Linux some of the time just to keep from accidentally trashing her Mac from the command line. I've used VMs a lot on PCs but never on a Mac.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

(And no, I'm not posting pictures of her.)

 

[Cloneon]

My daughter is thinking about taking Computer Engineering at ISU and I want to get her a laptop and start teaching her some programming concepts since her high school is lacking in that area.

I've heard from a couple of recent grads that it really doesn't matter too much if I get her a Mac or a Windows based laptop. She prefers Macs, I like PCs.

I guess I was thinking she might want to work in a VM running Linux some of the time just to keep from accidentally trashing her Mac from the command line. I've used VMs a lot on PCs but never on a Mac.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

(And no, I'm not posting pictures of her.)

VM absolutely. Microsoft has admitted, it'll be restructuring its OS in the near future to better compete with operating systems designed for a leaner more open source footprint. I'd say 'Linux' because the core Mac is Linux (the genius of which Jobs learned on his return from Next). More appliances run Linux than any other OS and the core of all computing will grow tenfold in appliances before they grow a fraction of that in Windows. And, considering Windows still has among the worst software grades in the industry, it's just a matter of time before the OS implodes on them. 20 years ago I shifted all my client's 'core' servers to Linux and have not regretted it ever. That said, the desktop is still rooted in Windows. As for Apple, they will always be around 1.5 times more expensive to support. That's just the industry average for support costs. But, they're probably at least that times more reliable. In the end, it's what she wants to do with it that really counts. Office = either. CAD = Windows. Graphics = Mac. Programming = Linux or Windows. Heck, build it in Java or some OS neutral dev language and you're off to the races. Having been in this industry for my entire life (ie pre Jurassic), I'd have one recommendation for young folks starting out. Do NOT become a jack of all trades. Choose one specialty area and stick with it. 'Security' is a hot topic which will always be required. Start there and the sky is the limit.

 

[BobTheHawkHater]

VM absolutely. Microsoft has admitted, it'll be restructuring its OS in the near future to better compete with operating systems designed for a leaner more open source footprint. I'd say 'Linux' because the core Mac is Linux (the genius of which Jobs learned on his return from Next). More appliances run Linux than any other OS and the core of all computing will grow tenfold in appliances before they grow a fraction of that in Windows. And, considering Windows still has among the worst software grades in the industry, it's just a matter of time before the OS implodes on them. 20 years ago I shifted all my client's 'core' servers to Linux and have not regretted it ever. That said, the desktop is still rooted in Windows. As for Apple, they will always be around 1.5 times more expensive to support. That's just the industry average for support costs. But, they're probably at least that times more reliable. In the end, it's what she wants to do with it that really counts. Office = either. CAD = Windows. Graphics = Mac. Programming = Linux or Windows. Heck, build it in Java or some OS neutral dev language and you're off to the races. Having been in this industry for my entire life (ie pre Jurassic), I'd have one recommendation for young folks starting out. Do NOT become a jack of all trades. Choose one specialty area and stick with it. 'Security' is a hot topic which will always be required. Start there and the sky is the limit.

Thanks, appreciate the feedback but I wasn't asking a general Mac vs PC vs Linux question. The question was, for someone entering ISU in 2018 to take Computer Engineering courses, does it matter if you use a Macbook or a Windows laptop for the programming courses?

I've mostly heard it doesn't matter at all but I just don't want to miss something.

 

[Cy$]

Thanks, appreciate the feedback but I wasn't asking a general Mac vs PC vs Linux question. The question was, for someone entering ISU in 2018 to take Computer Engineering courses, does it matter if you use a Macbook or a Windows laptop for the programming courses?

I've mostly heard it doesn't matter at all but I just don't want to miss something.

I don’t think it matters.

I was a computer engineer that graduated recently. I have a MacBook Pro and it got me through school. Java and C are the 2 languages you use at Iowa State. I recommend a laptop. It's way easier to get help on campus if she has one that she can carry around to show to TA's for tips.

An important note is the IDE they recommend for Java is Eclipse. I worked on C projects on campus. The first course in C won’t have her do a ton of work outside class.

Pm me if you have other questions.

 

[azhuth09]

I would say in general most of the courses are designed around PC. I know our program (Aerospace engineering) had us download a lot of PC specific open source programs. With that said it wasn't impossible for people who had a mac because there was usually an equivalent mac version with just a few tweaks to get used to.

 

[MeowingCows]

I would get Windows. Most software used by the university are designed around and for Windows, and thus so are the classes. What a large chunk of Mac users end up doing is either getting a VM/remote client to use Windows OS on their Mac anyway, or Bootcamp it to actually install Windows on it. Buying a Mac just to use Windows on it regardless is a colossal waste of money -- better performance in Windows can be found much cheaper.

 

[clonebb]

I would get Windows. Most softwares used by the university are designed around and for Windows, and thus so are the classes. What a large chunk of Mac users end up doing is either getting a VM/remote client to use Windows OS on their Mac anyway, or Bootcamp it to actually install Windows on it. Buying a Mac just to use Windows on it regardless is a colossal waste of money -- better performance in Windows can be found much cheaper.

Stopped reading at softwares. Cred was gone.

 

[nshull16]

I’m currently a sophomore in the cpre program, and I think it’s really personal preference. I do my stuff on a windows laptop/desktop, and I’d say windows is the majority, but there’s certainly a fair share of Mac users. Hope that helped!

 

[MeowingCows]

Stopped reading at softwares. Cred was gone.

You're right, unacceptable on my part. Edited.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Probably didn’t need to say “for computer engineers,” cuz typically engineers will let you know what they are before much else is said

 

[Cyclones01]

I'd echo the idea that it doesn't matter all that much. As someone else stated, Java and C are the main languages. It's been 6+ years since I graduated and that's what it was when I was there; not surprised it hasn't changed. Going with whatever she is more comfortable with is probably not a bad route, but it probably also depends on her proficiency with whichever system that is. When she has problems getting something working (can happen with either), will she be able to more easily figure it out herself on one system over the other?

 

[Cy$]

Probably didn’t need to say “for computer engineers,” cuz typically engineers will let you know what they are before much else is said

Did you know that I’m an engineer?

 

[Bader]

Were I going through it again I’d get a MacBook (personal aside, christ I graduated 9 years ago). Windows is not development oriented at all, outside Visual Studio (the Microsoft dev environment). As others said whatever she’s confident with is the biggest factor.

Just make sure the laptop is light! I always got a kick out of classmates lugging these fat 15” laptops around campus.

If it’s what she decides I hope she gets through all the weedout courses and enjoys the program!

 

[guacamole7]

My daughter is thinking about taking Computer Engineering at ISU and I want to get her a laptop and start teaching her some programming concepts since her high school is lacking in that area.

I've heard from a couple of recent grads that it really doesn't matter too much if I get her a Mac or a Windows based laptop. She prefers Macs, I like PCs.

I guess I was thinking she might want to work in a VM running Linux some of the time just to keep from accidentally trashing her Mac from the command line. I've used VMs a lot on PCs but never on a Mac.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

(And no, I'm not posting pictures of her.)

1) No matter what anyone else says, it doesn't matter. It is personal preference. It is more so that way now than ever. With the exception of a few edge cases (like iOS apps), you can have full programming environments in Windows, Mac, or Linux desktops.

Windows 10 now has WSL (Windows sub-system for Linux) which allows you to install native linux command-line applications. Prior to having this, you needed Mac or Linux to have a Bash environment. Read more about it here:

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/wsl/2016/04/22/windows-subsystem-for-linux-overview/

Windows also has Hyper-V which will allow you to run both Linux and Windows VM's if you want to run any VM's.

Also, Windows, Mac, and Linux now all have docker (https://www.docker.com/what-docker).

5 years ago, Mac would have been the clear winner, but like I said above, it doesn't matter now.

Personally, I use linux at home and windows at work and I develop on both platforms. I would recommend linux to anyone doing development, but it's more difficult to get a great out of box experience so it's not for everyone.