Should I get a Mac or PC for college?
I'm starting college in the fall and need a laptop. My parents want to get me a Dell ($800) but I really want an iBook ($999). I'll be majoring in graphic design. Everyone says Macs are better for creative work but PCs have more software. Can Macs run Microsoft Office? Will I be able to share files with PC users?
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Check how much free space is on your hard drive. Windows needs at least 15% free to run well — it uses that space for virtual memory and the swap file. If your drive is 95% full, that alone will make everything crawl.
4 Answers
Check how much free space is on your hard drive. Windows needs at least 15% free to run well — it uses that space for virtual memory and the swap file. If your drive is 95% full, that alone will make everything crawl.
Don't forget about heat. If your computer is shutting down or crashing randomly, open the case and check if the fans are caked with dust. Blow it out with a can of compressed air. Overheating causes a shocking number of 'mystery' problems.
The best resource for this kind of thing is Tom's Hardware forums. Someone has almost certainly had your exact problem and posted a solution. The community there is really knowledgeable and helpful.
This is a case where spending a little more upfront saves you money in the long run. Cheap hardware fails faster and costs more to replace. Buy quality components from reputable brands and they'll last years longer.
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