A macbook pro i5 or a PC i7?

Easy question, which one should I get. A macbook pro with i5 or a PC with i7? 
 
I will use it when I soon starting the university, and it´s a "workingcomputer", so I wont play any games or so.   
 
I will read to be a engineer by the way, if that´s substantial.
  
Please help me out.

Easy question, which one should I get. A macbook pro with i5 or a PC with i7? 
 
I will use it when I soon starting the university, and it´s a "workingcomputer", so I wont play any games or so.   
 
I will read to be a engineer by the way, if that´s substantial.
  
Please help me out.

Well i'm a pc gamer and I say get the i7 with a pc. I don't care for mac products so keep that in mind.

Uh... I can't imagine why an engineer would need a macbook. I'd say go for the one that has a better warranty, as it sucks having your laptop go through difficulties halfway through a semester.

Mac < PC 
 
It's simple, although as you know, I am biased.

WELL I DONT KNOW THATS A TOUGH ONE
But isn't an i7 WAY better than an i5? Also aren't macs overpriced garbage?

I got a Macbook Pro as my Uni computer and love it. Windows 7 feels so slow and clunky to me now.

Macs are much more likely to have software compatibility issues. If you are in engineering or another major that will require modeling apps, PC is much friendlier for that. 
 
Otherwise, laptops are laptops. Just pick one, they all do pretty much the same stuff if you aren't looking for a high performance machine. Weight is probably the single largest factor to consider if you need to decide between two.

15' macbook pros have available i7 upgrade. I'm in record production and sound design, so i'm Mac all the way, but if you're doing engineering, you're probably better off going with a PC for compatibility issues.

Go for the Mac for the higher build quality and warranty. Boot Camp works well, so you can run both.

You can get more power with the PC, I don't see any reason to get a Mac, actually. At least wait until they announce the new maps.

 PC

PC, Macs have serious overheating issues so I wouldn't recommend buying one O_O

Specs of both machines please.  There a lots of i5 and i7 processors around.  The answer isn't as simple as i5<i7.  Hitman doesn't know shit.

If you don't need OS X for any specific reason you shouldn't get a mac.  

200-300$ netbook for email/class notes/surfing. 
 
500-800$ Desktop that will do the newest games max settings and be much much more powerful than any powerbook.

i love macbook pros, but really, if you're going for maximum price/performance, I'd say skip Intel altogether and get a good PC with an AMD CPU. 

I have a macbook pro and really love it, but in your case your probably better off with the pc.

" PC, Macs have serious overheating issues so I wouldn't recommend buying one O_O "

If your planning on running off the battery a lot, go with the i5.  I love my laptop with the i7, but it eats batteries for breakfast.

PC. No questions asked. Mac is a bad choice for any engineering, or any computing really.
And yes, I am a fanboy.

Do you need Final Cut Pro or Logic?  If so, Mac.  If not, pc.  It'll do the same thing for way less.

The desktop PC will cost half as much and be gazillion x faster (if you build it yourself), but if you're not paying for it and have rich parents, get both. =]

engineering student you say?  Will you be running Ansys, Catia, Pro-E?  Go with the PC.  The big engineering and CAD software packages are PC-only.  Get lots of RAM.  Either i5 or i7 will be just fine.

" @oatz: my bro's macbook does. Macs are garbage for 2000 dollars the damn thing overheats. "

The aluminium body of the MacBook Pro tends to bend in on itself if heavy books are placed on top of its screen.  A university tech officer on Tested claims that he handles more bent MBP screen than any other error. 
 
Also, the performance difference between Core i5 and i7 is monumental.  The respective GPUs likely associated with the i7 PC would be more capable.  Battery life should be the real issue here: do you intend to keep your computer unplugged for the entire workday, or tend to keep it plugged in for the majority of the time?

" the i7 pc
especially if you are going to be using AutoCAD at all 
and if your not and its just for general computer stuff.... the i7 
 
@oatz said:

" @endless_void said:

" PC, Macs have serious overheating issues so I wouldn't recommend buying one O_O "

No, they don't... I have 5 different Macs (iMacs, Airs, Pro's, Mini's) from 2010, none of them have that issue. "

therefore, no Macs anywhere have any issues ever "

Ok, thanks guys for all your comments. I will consider your thoughts before I make my final decision in the first week of 2011. When I have decided which one it's gonna be i'll post it on this wall just to let you know (for those who cares).  
 
Over and out!      

" PC, Macs have serious overheating issues so I wouldn't recommend buying one O_O "

" PC, Macs have serious overheating issues so I wouldn't recommend buying one O_O "

Macbook.

get a pc and dual boot windows for easy software compatibility and linux in case your windows partition is compromised with malware during an important time. I like macs, sometimes I wish I had one, but unless you're gonna need OS X specific software, then go with windows.

go with the PC but you should post the other specs than just the processor.