That means either buy from the VT Bookstore or from Apple if they let you buy directly from them at student prices. As for software, Macs come with their version of MS Office programs (Pages, Numbers, Keynote, etc.), but Microsoft also sells Office for Apple. She'll find out if she needs the MS program once she gets into class. I wouldn't buy it unless they say she needs it. If she has only used MC programs, you might want to buy "user manuals" for the Apple programs/apps. They are similar, but work slightly differently. (I am a long time Excel user, but worked to find how to do the same things in Numbers.) Also find out what type of Mac she needs. If she doesn't need heavy processing, a Mac Air is fine. If she needs more computing power, she should look at a Mac Pro. I would probably pass on the Neo because it seems suited for a high school student.

...I bought a Mac Mini to replace my PC last year. I was a PC user for the previous 30 years, and have no regrets switching to Apple computers. After ~7 years, the battery on my Mac Air is pretty weak, but the machine keeps running fine. I'll probably replace it with another Mac Air when the battery is completely shot.

So this is the process I would recommend: Wait for Apple to announce their back-to-school special. This special in recent years is a gift card that you can use on a purchase immediately afterwards but not for the computer. If you purchase a Mac, it was either $ 150 or $ 250 when I purchased my MacBook Pro in 2024. I would look into using that gift card for an iPad or other useful accessory. Also, if you have the Apple Card, you get 3% back on the purchase if you use that to pay. Also, when buying through Apple, you get a discount on Apple Care when using the education discount. Additionally, if you want Apple Care, the options are monthly and for a 2-year set. There is also a blanket $20 a month offer which allows you to have three items on Apple Care. If she has a phone and an iPad, I would recommend that. If you need to use Apple Care for the computer, Apple will send you a box to mail it to them since the closest Apple store is not close. I don’t remember if the bookstore is an Apple-authorized repair, but if they are, they could repair under the Apple Care warranty.

if one vendor is better than the other(s), I'll buy from there even if it's an extra $200. I'm just trying to figure out (mainly) whether there's a benefit of buying at college bookstore compared to apple site.

of Beats headphones, tech support and in one instance, when my daughter had an issue, she got a loaner computer while they fixed the fan on hers.

because I think that was before my time, but they fixed it once or twice when something went wrong with it. Never know when you might need it over four or five years in school, and nice to have a place close by to fix it like the bookstore, where it's covered in case of emergency. Got that Mac in 2017. Lasted me until 2022, so a year after I graduated. Got the new one at Best Buy, and it's been pretty good for four years.

her major, it's unlikely that she'll need too much tech support. Some majors may have specific software they use, but most of those are going to be IOS compatible. Both my kids have MacBooks at VT and never had a single problem.

if it was my own computer, I wouldn't put much thought into it, but seeing as I'm the first phone call if something does go awry, I'm trying to do whatever will be simplest. Her major is business/political science, so there's no hardcore computing requirements

in business finance. They both loved the Mac’s and had no computing issues at all.

** Edited by EDGEMAN at 5/29/2026, 6:55:53 AM

they are both going into fields where they can afford to pay me back for all this tuition. :-) Oldest daughter graduated 5/15 with a neuroscience degree and business minor. She must get the brains from her mother. Going to be building clinical and research hours for the next year ahead of applying to med schools next year. Young one has two more undergrad years left.

...MD/PHD program. I dated a gal who was doing that at Pitt. Just doing a MD program wasn't enough...she needed more of a challenge...lol (Her dial was stuck on 11.)

Her logic was that if/when she has an office she needs to learn how to run it. Or maybe hospital administration in the future. She's also considering getting an MBA while she's working on research and clinical hours. She did not get these genes from me. I got a bachelor's and went to work.

Medical fields should require a few business classes. She has 30+ years practicing medicine.

her got back from the cruise ship.

Just saying...lol. Apple software updates usually go flawlessly. But I would avoid downloading any 3rd party software that didn't come through the Apple App Store. Can't say the same with Windows updates. Those usually work, until they hit some mysterious snag that interrupts the process.