Laptop Recommendations for UNSW Software Engineering (1 Viewer)

uryour

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I know I can use the UNSW computers but I also want a personal laptop that I can work from. So what laptops do people recommend for software engineering. I heard that Windows laptops aren't a great option, is this true? Any CS/SENG students what do you guys use? Thanks
 

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I know I can use the UNSW computers but I also want a personal laptop that I can work from. So what laptops do people recommend for software engineering. I heard that Windows laptops aren't a great option, is this true? Any CS/SENG students what do you guys use? Thanks
Windows laptops are the best option. You get a Mac and your going to have a load of problems with the Unsw software as I’ve seen with others. Just get a windows laptop.

I got the surface book and I recommend it.
 

uryour

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Windows laptops are the best option. You get a Mac and your going to have a load of problems with the Unsw software as I’ve seen with others. Just get a windows laptop.

I got the surface book and I recommend it.
Interesting, on reddit and other websites people seem to say Windows laptops have problems with the software needed for CS/SENG.

https://www.reddit.com/r/unsw/comments/epd9w8
 

Drdusk

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Interesting, on reddit and other websites people seem to say Windows laptops have problems with the software needed for CS/SENG.

https://www.reddit.com/r/unsw/comments/epd9w8
I mean when your like 3rd 4th year your an expert at that point so you can get anything to work but when your 1st and 2nd year I’ve seen lots of people have issues with Macs that just aren’t there with Windows and they can’t fix it because it’s complicated.
Personally I haven’t had a single problem with the uni software with my windows laptop.
 

Velocifire

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I mean when your like 3rd 4th year your an expert at that point so you can get anything to work but when your 1st and 2nd year I’ve seen lots of people have issues with Macs that just aren’t there with Windows and they can’t fix it because it’s complicated.
Personally I haven’t had a single problem with the uni software with my windows laptop.
Coming back to this now, why can't they run windows on a mac? Solves the problem of people having problems. You can get windows on a mac but not mac on windows so Macs are better for exclusiveness. Or if you have a sore back and weight is a big issue

Preordered the MSI GS66 with an RTX 2070 (actually is really light), have a fortune from selling mysterious white rolls.
 

brent012

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I don't think you'll have major problems with either a Windows or Mac laptop.

Realistically, most stuff in CS will probably need/be simplest with Linux, so it will be less hassle to just setup Ubuntu or similar in a VM rather than mess around with Windows Subsystem For Linux or Mac OSX's slightly different flavour of Unix. You'll be able to do that in either Windows or Mac OSX.

The point of that person's opinion on Reddit is that Mac OSX is Unix derived, so closer to the Linux you'll be using on the labs. That's true, but it's still not Linux and I doubt the average OSX user will build much Unix profiency just through using OSX.

I don't know the whole UNSW course very well, but it's also pretty common for embedded software stuff (especially from 10+ years ago) to only support Windows. I believe UNSW definitely covers some stuff with MIPS, and that might be the case there. But once again, I think not having a Windows PC in that case would be a minor inconvenience as opposed to something you base your whole laptop decision on.
 

Zackeroo

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Coming back to this now, why can't they run windows on a mac? Solves the problem of people having problems. You can get windows on a mac but not mac on windows so Macs are better for exclusiveness. Or if you have a sore back and weight is a big issue

Preordered the MSI GS66 with an RTX 2070 (actually is really light), have a fortune from selling mysterious white rolls.
Am I reading something wrong, or is that laptop really a RTX 2070, 2.1KG Laptop :)

I didn't even think a laptop with those specs would be NEAR 2kg... Good pick, random Boredofstudies guy 👍
 

Velocifire

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So are you saying it's a great choice? Thanks!

I wanted something that's really sleek looking and one that packs a lot of power.

Just came in today from I think a US seller. Since with conversion and shipping, it's still much cheaper!

Better than some guys with the 15 inch MBP or 16 inch models.
 

Zackeroo

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So are you saying it's a great choice? Thanks!

I wanted something that's really sleek looking and one that packs a lot of power.

Just came in today from I think a US seller. Since with conversion and shipping, it's still much cheaper!
Oof that took pretty long to come, but I'm sure it was worth it... Yes, I was saying it's an amazing choice, however, it's EXTREMELY pricey :)

I love my SUPER LIGHT X1 Carbon, however, I just wish it had a bit more GPU power... The UHD 620 just isn't cutting it, plus the thermals don't really help too much lol...

BUTTT, I bought it for the lightweight, and if I really want more GPU power, all I need to do I just spend some money on an eGPU :)
 

Velocifire

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I have a Macbook Air 11, that's great too!

Since it's really light! Yeah cause Coronavirus had to interfere!
 

Zackeroo

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I have a Macbook Air 11, that's great too!

Since it's really light! Yeah cause Coronavirus had to interfere!
Yea tru, but at least it's finally here...

About the Mac Air 11, that really shows how amazing the X1 Carbon is since the weight of my 14" X1 Carbon is almost the SAME as the 11" Mac Air... It's not even like they chucked in a Celeron N3450 in here, cause I got a maxed-out i7, 3.5GHz, as well as an AMAZING keyboard (KEYBOARD IS SUPER IMPORTANT)... It's also got USB-C (Future-proofed) with fast charging, a matte QHD screen, Glass Touchpad (I don't even need a mouse most of the time) and a whole bunch of other features which make this thing a PERFECT SLEEPER :)
 

Velocifire

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I have a wireless mech (Anne pro 2) and the GPW from LOGITECH, I don't like the built-in kb's that much.

Been playing Valorant on the new laptop, light work, you hit max settings and you go from there.
 
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