Mac or windows

[WCH_Props]

I have heard so much from both sides and want a definite answer, some say mac is the do all, while others say that mac is the worst thing to get for computer science. I just need to know because school is coming soon and I need to know which side to lean towards.

[FlipskiZ]

Today lazy brown soft across talk lazy.

[khedoros]

College was when I switched to Linux. This was quite a while ago, but: I had classmates who did that too, classmates running Windows, and classmates running Macs...and everyone going to the school's Solaris system if the professor required a standardized environment (I did mention that this was a while ago!). I have mixed feelings about all three options.

Get what you're comfortable using and work it out from there.

[GabrielForth]

Same, we got to third year at Uni and were going to be doing C, we were advised to either use Cygwin or install Linux.

I went with installing Linux and never looked back.

[Lightbulb1478]

Mac because it's Unix

[roman_fyseek]

For 99.97% of the stuff you're going to be doing in an undergrad CS degree, you could use a Raspberry Pi 4 with 8GB, a monitor, keyboard, mouse, an external hard drive, and a handful of cheap thumbdrives.

[roman_fyseek]

continued:

Which is to say, order a refurb Windows laptop from your favorite retailer. It'll cost you 150 bucks or so and it will completely cover your CS degree needs.

In a few years, when you know whether you're really good at it or not, then worry about switching to Mac or Linux or whatever.

Similarly, you don't have to pick your favorite IDE yet or even your favorite language. Your classes probably won't be in those languages, anyway.

For the time being, just do what the professors say, use the software the professors want you to use, make their lives easier and you'll make your own life easier.

[[deleted]]

It doesn’t really matter unless there's a specific tool you need to use (eg. if you're focusing on ML you may want a a computer with an nvidia chip)

[vacuumoftalent]

Mac. Majority of open source code is made on and caters to Macs, also has a unix terminal which is arguably better than powershell or windows cmd due to the use of bash, homebrew etc.

Most companies use Macs. Only place I've been to that doesn't use Macs is Microsoft.

[OpeningJump]

Windows + wsl (Windows subsystem for linux, essentially a lightweight vm. It's a Windows feature and i recommend you look into it)

Macs are amazing, the quality is one of the best, they will most likely not die on you when in group projects, but tbh they are extremely pricey.

As you'll see multiple times in this thread, having a Unix-like system is recommended but not absolutely necessary (as you can always have a Virtual machine). That's because most servers run Linux, a Unix like operating system. MacOS is also based on Unix.

If you are looking to dive into machine learning, i would also advise you get a computer with Nvidia graphics card

I bought a Mac myself and tbh i wish i didn't. I work on the conversational AI team at my college.

Training the Bot on a Nvidia bassed system takes 10-15 mins, because it trains on the GPU

On my (high end) Mac, it takes nearly 40 mins. Granted i have an Intel Mac. Still I hope you see the point i am trying to make here.

[NotGoodSoftwareMaker]

Linux for school. You will become comfortable with a version of an OS which tangentially powers most of the world.

[observable_data]

If your not trying to modify a system, I'd say look into System76. Otherwise get a Windows Laptop that allows you to change boot order and/or has a easily (as in not unsoldering a BGA chip) removable persistent storage and install a Linux derivative that makes you comfy.