Mac with Engineering

I am an upcoming Engineering freshman who is now planning to purchase a new MB. I am currently using Windows and really wanna try Mac OS. However, concerns arise while I am about to purchase it.
1. Are there problems with engineering programs while being installed on Mac OS? (Heard that we can switch to Windows OS with MB. Anyone who ever run Windows OS under Mac please leave some comments too ^^)
1.1 Do we have to pay extra money for Windows OS? how much? and programs on Windows OS?
2. Anyone know GOGOBOX/CLUBBOX/Bitcomet? These are the programs that I download my favorite series since the series forum I stick with only provide links under these programs.
3. Are we able to update the ram by ourself instead of updating through the apple store?(Apple sold RAM = expansive 0 0)


To be more specific, I am taking Industrial engineering/ Mechanical engineering if I pass my first two years.

 

1. Windows is easy to install and runs like on pc based notebooks. you do need to buy a copy of windows to use it. you can get the OEM version (cheaper)

2. Cant you download a normal torrent file? Check this list to find one you like that works in OSX http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitTorrent_client
you can always use bitcomet in windows if you have to.

3. Yes you can.

 

I'm an upcoming engineering sophomore. I just bought a MBP. Heres my take:

A) Some programs require Windows for engineering. However, either through BootCamp or VMware/Parallels, its no big deal.

B) You will not need to reboot into Windows every time you use a Windows app. I have Boot Camp and VMware Fusion installed. Only if I'm going to play a game, I reboot. VMware handles all non-graphics related things more than adequately. For undergraduate engineering, you really shouldn't have to reboot ever. "But what about CAD?" At my school (Pitt), students are not expected to have CAD software on their computers, its really not even available to students because licensing is so expensive. We have engineering computer lab class and labs with ProEngineer for CAD use. Unless you are an extreme go-getter, don't worry about CAD. I used a lot of C and MATLAB freshman year, which can easily be done through virtualization.

C) Check with your school about OSes and software. Pitt gives out Windows and Office 2007 for free (along with Tiger and MacOffice 2004). If you're going to a public school, it should at least be heavily discounted. (I can get Adobe CS3 Design Premium for 150$!)

D) Boot Camp runs Windows natively. There will be no performance loss if you are doing something intensive. Honestly, its not a big deal if you have to reboot; my MBP can shut down OS X/restart in Windows in a minute or two. It can go from Windows to OS X in about a minute.

E) I love my Macbook Pro. OS X is great. I'm a sucker for the sleek interface.

F) You can upgrade RAM yourself. It's as easy as unscrewing a few things. If you get a regular Macbook, the HD is also easily upgradeable (not so for MBP, argh!).

I think that covers it all.

Also, VMware Fusion is free (beta) right now. Never overlook open source programs (OpenOffice, NeoOffice). Hell, they even have open source MATLAB (Octave, SciLab), Photoshop (GIMP) and other expensive programs.

 

Also, I use Transmission for BitTorrent. It works great.

 

At the moment, there are no unconditionally great torrent clients for OSX. Actually, this is true for Windows as well. Each of them has several disadvantages:

Vuze/Azureus - bloated, java, doesn't use standard DHT. Some people dislike their partnership with media companies, etc.

Transmission - abusive announcing makes it banned on a lot of trackers. A few minor stability issues. Lacking several key features (encryption, a more robust queueing system, etc.).

Tomato - based off the original bittorrent client. Bad, redundant interface. Missing key features.

Bittorrent - ... ... why would anyone still use this?

utorrent - not fully ported to OSX yet. Also some people dislike it for being bought out by Bram. "Rumors" of privacy invasion in v1.7.1 and thus blacklisted on several trackers - whether it's true or not doesn't matter, being blacklisted on a tracker = less downloads.