I was wondering if i would need a laptop for the computing science program and which type of laptop would be best for this mac or PC. As well as the programs i will be using thanks.
You do not need a laptop as the computers at school are sufficient. The computers at school will have the programs you need, but I usually program in scite or even notepad++.
It is best to get a laptop, that way you can keep all your work in one place - and especially for programming courses, you can follow along with the prof. I didn't have a laptop my first semester and thought I could do without it (LOL no. its much better to see code where its supposed to be seen, on a screen and not on paper) - while SFU does have a sufficient amount of computers and laptops that you can take out, in the end its more work than its worth (ex. you can only take laptop out for 4 hours then you have to renew it, but if you forget you get charged on the hour etc).
In the long run, not only for comp sci courses, you'll find a laptop makes managing school work much easier. I use a PC but that's personal preference. You can always load whichever operating system (iOS, windows7, linux) you want in the end, its not like its never been done. So if you're focused on the operating system, don't - focus more on laptop specs and make sure it can handle what you need it to do (while not getting ripped off!) you have about a month aaaaand go! :)
It depends on your budget. If you plan on getting a Macbook, get the 13 inch unless if you plan on gaming on it. I personally just moved from a Windows OS to a Macbook. Pricey, but way better in my opinion.
The school computers are sufficient, but it is way more efficient to have your own in class and such.
Unless you want a powerful computer for your own uses, such as gaming or video editing, an expensive laptop is not necessary. Any computer with a current generation Intel processor will be fine. You will be better off with the Windows OS but a Mac will work as well. (They're just comparatively VERY expensive.) That being said, its always nice to go a little above the minimum spec. (Better have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. . .)
Figuring out how to install and use Ubuntu would be a great idea as well. In Comp Sci, you will be using it soon enough. (You can have both operating systems on one computer)
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computers at school will have the programs you need, but I usually program
in scite or even notepad++.
In the long run, not only for comp sci courses, you'll find a laptop makes managing school work much easier. I use a PC but that's personal preference. You can always load whichever operating system (iOS, windows7, linux) you want in the end, its not like its never been done. So if you're focused on the operating system, don't - focus more on laptop specs and make sure it can handle what you need it to do (while not getting ripped off!) you have about a month aaaaand go! :)