videoeditor09:

Mac is the better computer, but you have to think about what kind of software you will be running for your engineering. I find macs excellent from the artist point of view, such as working with graphic design, advertising, video, and photography. The choice of PC or Mac depends on the different types of work that is done on them. For example, game designers would much rather work on PC than mac–i don’t know the details why though. Do some research on the programs you will be using in college; find out what systems the professionals are working on. I personally use a mac, but engineering sounds more of a PC. I know someone who works with CAD, which is engineering i believe…he uses a PC.

KJ:

I’m a big proponent of the GNU-Linux route. You will be able to run most of your needs on the machine, and already being familiar with the environment as you have been using Fedora means you won’t need to get up the learning curve required. If you do come across must use programs for school there is always the option to virtualize an instance of Windows within your environment. There are several options for visualization including vmware and virtualbox. I would not tie myself to the Mac environment as you would still require visualization for many Windows based programs and will have to spend significantly more on the machine. Plus if you find that the Windows environment is a requirement you can set up your machine for duel booting quite easily if you go with a PC and install GNU-Linux. Being in an environment with other engineering students the tinkering that your peers will be up to also lends itself to PC hardware where you are capable of doing such tinkering as opposed to the locked down system which Apple controls.