re: Apple Mac

In case you haven't gotten the message yet, get as much RAM as you can. If the kid was in engineering or something, you most likely would have gotten a spec sheet with 2 or 3 options that meet the requirements of CAD, etc. The chip doesn't matter nearly as much as it used to. Does it burst to 3.2GhZ or 2.7? Who cares? It's not like it's 1990 and we're arguing between 16Mhz and 33Mhz. They're going to be using web applications like Blackboard, they're going to be using Word, etc.

I would suggest the 13 inch, since they're going to be hauling it all over. I'm a devotee of the 13 inch (Ultrabook, not Mac) since I used to travel so much. A 15 inch was a pain in the arse to haul from the hotel to the client, let alone through an airport. Your kid will be hauling that thing between multiple locations, probably every day.

Computers end up sucking because of what they install and click on, otherwise it'll be fine either way.