Hey everyone! I'm about to start a computer science course in October and I'm a bit unsure about my laptop situation. Currently, I have an ASUS VivoBook Go with an AMD Ryzen 7520U processor, integrated graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. I've coded lightly on it without issues, but I'm curious if it will last for the next 3-4 years as I dive deeper into my studies. I've also seen a lot of recommendations online for the MacBook M1, but I've been warned that it might not be compatible with some programs that universities typically use. I found a refurbished model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for £345. Should I go for the MacBook or stick with my ASUS? Thanks for any advice!
2 Answers
I’d recommend checking what your university suggests for equipment. Having a laptop that your university's help desk is familiar with can save you a lot of headaches later on.
8GB RAM is pretty minimal these days, so upgrading to 16GB would definitely help. If you can boost your ASUS to 24GB by adding another 16GB stick, that could be a solid upgrade! MacBooks are great, but note that some software like VirtualBox doesn't run on M1 chips, though there are often alternatives available.
I can add 16GB in one slot to my laptop making it a total of 24GB of RAM. Would you recommend that?