Best Laptop for College Engineering Students Needed!

I'm about to start an engineering program in college and I'm shopping for a laptop. For those already in or recently graduated from an engineering college, what laptops would you highly recommend and why?

As someone who's seen a lot of engineering students go through the process of choosing a laptop for their program, here's what I can share. Ideally, you'd want a laptop that has a strong processor (ideally an Intel i5 or higher), at least 8 GB RAM for handling heavy software, and plenty of storage space (around 256 GB or more).

A popular choice with many engineering students is the Dell XPS series (XPS 15, for one), as it has a strong processor, good battery life, and is highly durable, which is crucial during those all-nighters in the library or lab. It handles software like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or MATLAB quite smoothly, which you'll likely be using a lot in your classes.

Additionally, the MacBook Pro is also a good choice, especially for its speed and durability. It's great for software like MATLAB and Adobe Suite, but do note that not all software or programming environments that are typically used in Engineering like AutoCAD or SolidWorks run on macOS. In this case, you'd need to install Windows on your Mac, which is feasible but can be a bit of a hassle.

There's also the Lenovo ThinkPad line, which is known for sturdiness and strong performance. It's especially suited to handle heavy mathematical modeling and computational tasks which may be useful for your engineering classes.

All that said, you should consider not only the technical specifications and your program needs but also your budget, as those models can get quite costly. If budget is a concern, you might want to consider some mid-range yet powerful models like Acer Aspire 5 or HP Pavilion.

Finally, remember to check with your university or specific engineering program, as they often have specific recommendations or requirements for student laptops.