Looking to get one or the other for my son starting college and I’m clueless. Suggestion?

MacBook.

1. Mac if you already have an iPhone/iOS
2. Laptop
3. Chrome book - youngest uses with school and def worst of the 3

I got my UA freshmen a Mac last year and it’s met all of his needs. Get the hard case and accessory mouse/keyboard

Ive seen more issues with mac products and document conversions to make me not want one. Lefty academics love them, but tjey are always having to carry their own cablrs and have crazy issues with software updates and screen sharing. Mostly because every usinversity I know of is PC not Mac.

It is getting better but used to be a complete PITA.

Also, I doubt you can run free or purchase added software on the chromebook, so a laptop would be my choice. If your child takes a stat class theyay need R or stata... or maybe ESRI (AcrGIS) download for a geography, ecology, or even sociology course.

bought my daughter a Surface Pro 7 last year ... had a good deal at Costco. That thing has been almost perfect for her. She uses it as a laptop when she needs to do work, etc. and as a tablet when she wants to draw, play around. Zero issues.

I have to work with both at work, and a Mac is just not useful for me. No 10 key option for one. The screen is small too. If you get a MacBook air. The new macbook airs have 2 USB C ports and that's it. They make adapters and stuff, but not being able to just use a thumb drive is a pita. And only can use 1 if you are charging.

I got an old copier at work someone gave us and my Dell finds it and prints to it no problem but I wasn't able to get a Mac to print to it yet.

I have a surface too. Same issue. No 10 key and limited connection for multiple devices.

Chrome books sucks. I had one, hated it.

When I worked at Google, we had Google issued chromebooks. They worked perfectly fine and was as normal as any laptop I’ve ever used to operate. Is it just the terminology throwing me off or are they different? I use the heck out of google sheets and etc, so it worked seamlessly for me.

My son also has a surface pro and he is a sophomore in college and it’s done everything he’s needed.

The church had a macbook and had nothing but trouble with it. Used for the screens and if anything changed, the guy with it would just freak out. Recently went to Dell windows based and it is very good and easy for upstairs to use. Works well with anything.

Six of one half dozen of another. Perhaps it help to know what he's planning to study. Applications such as those associated with Office 365 aren't as big a hog of resources as compared with high level graphic design, audio or film related applications. I'd consider a decent gaming laptop with mid-level specs. Storage space isn't huge as you simply add an external drive for relatively cheap. RAM and processors are where to invest your money.

Another consideration is types of ports and how many. Like others have said, my Macbook doesn't even have an ethernet port any more because they wanted it to be thinner. Adequate connections and types are important depending on how he'll be using it. Wireless internet connections are most likely always going to be available for him in an educational environment.

I'm talking myself in a circle. What's he studying and what's your budget. That'll narrow it down.

If you go with a Windows based laptop be sure it has a solid state drive. They work so much better and faster.

Chromebook is really just an internet machine. I have one and like it, but it won't replace a laptop.

If you have a Costco membership, they double the manufacturer's warranty on electronics.

I have had the same MacBook Pro for about 6 years and its still a great laptop. I did replace the battery but it was about $100 total. It's been a great investment. I would not go with a Chromebook. I like Dell for a Windows PC.

This

My wife has had the same MacBook Pro for 10 years. I’m about to change the HD to an SSD and it should be good for another 5 years. We’ve had zero problems out of hers.

Still have my 17 inch pro gigged out with ram. Outlasted several dell XPS laptops.
Still have my 2005 quad processor PPC water cooled tower.

Get a Windows based laptop and get a Lenovo. They are built like tanks.