It's a techie world and we're all just living in it, so when shopping for college, one of the most important things you will need is a computer.

When people go out to buy what has become this most essential item they'll need for college, they find that they are hit with a tough choice: Macintosh or PC? The debate is a hot one right now, and it looks to only get hotter as back-to-school season arrives.

There are arguments to be made for both sides. Most people have a PC, such as a Dell, Gateway or Sony, running Windows. Familiarity plays a big role in the decision, because when entering your first year of college, learning how to work your own computer should not be on your already long list of worries.

"I think people buy PCs a lot because they either don't know the pros of having a Mac, or they just don't wish to learn how to operate anything else," said Shawn Affolter, a freshman at North Dakota State University. "Even though Macintoshes really aren't that hard to figure out, the thought of something different isn't a comfortable one for some."

PCs are known for being incredibly good with spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel) or word-processing documents (Microsoft Word). In fact, most Mac users don't even bother with anything else but simply buy the Macintosh compatible versions of both programs. PCs clearly have the edge here.

That's where the advantages end. When it comes to fun stuff, Macs have a distinct advantage. As an owner of both systems, I will be the first to admit that if I want to fool around with pictures, make a movie or record a song, I make a beeline to my Apple laptop.

"The fact that the same company makes both the hardware and the software leads to less incompatibility," said Affolter.

"It's stylish, too," said Dave Diebel, a freshman at Minnesota State University-Moorhead. "Apples are a good choice for a lot of reasons, but it definitely helps that they just look cooler."

So if Apples are so much better at cool things, why don't more people own them?

"A problem that North Dakotans have to deal with is that once a Mac gets broken or a problem arises, we don't know where to bring them," said Affolter. "There is only one licensed Mac dealer in Bismarck that I'm aware of, and the fact that more tech stores know more about PCs definitely helps the PC people."

Not only that, but Apples are known to be more expensive than a lot of good PCs. "You definitely pay more for the name," said Affolter.

So while Apple has the hip ad campaign, PCs remain more popular. What's the final verdict in Bismarck?

There are Apple supporters …

"I admittedly like Macs more because of the seamless features and the look of the whole thing," said Affolter. "They are not known to get viruses, which is never ever a bad thing."

… and PC supporters.

"I'll say PCs," said Joe Laszewski, a current graduate of St. Mary's and an University of North Dakota-bound freshman. "Mostly because the new Windows operating system Vista. I think that it'll make PCs a lot easier to use than before."

And then there are these:

"I don't really care, to be honest," said Kelly Nelson, a junior at Century High School.

"I could care less," said Erik Peterson, a sophomore at UND. "As long as I have music, the Internet and Word, I'm set."

(Bryan LaBore is a graduate of St. Mary's Central High School and will attend Northern Arizona University this fall.)