Better Laptop for College?

I am very conflicted about this. The issue that I have with the Dell computer is that it has 4 GB of RAM. Normally this would be an awesome feature to have. But you have to make sure that the version of Windows Vista Home Premium that comes pre-installed on the computer is 64 bit edition. The 32 bit edition only recognizes up to 3 GB of RAM. So if the Dell only has the 32 bit version then that extra GB of RAM is a waste because you won't be using it. If it does come with 64 bit edition then the Dell is the better choice. You'll get a larger hard drive which equals more storage capacity and a lot more RAM which will help when running multiple programs at once. But also be prepared in the event that some of the software that may come with your textbooks may not be compatible with Vista Premium 64 bit edition. Many programs are compatible with that operating system but less popular programs may experience some difficulty. As a college student I have never actually used any of the software that came with my textbooks because A) Just about the same information is available in the book and B) most textbooks have respective websites that will provide more information than what is in the textbook or what is on the dvd-rom. The Dell is the better buy but weigh your options. With the Mac you may see less compatibility issues but it is overpriced for what the computer actually has inside.