The following is a guest post by Shep McAllister, one of our (nerdy) friends at Hack College, the #1 tech site for college students

If you haven’t dated a nerd yet in college, you should really give it a spin. We’re generally intelligent, motivated to treat you like a princess, and can fix your computer to boot. That said, we do have our fair share of surprising quirks that you should be prepared for. As a happy boyfriend of one year and editor of a blog that supports digitizing textbooks and carrying around portable computer monitors, I feel uniquely qualified to offer up a few tips to break in your new favorite nerd.

1. Try to understand when he whips it out in public.

His laptop, I mean. Or smartphone, if you’re lucky. Either way, most nerds I’ve come across share the common physiological need to access the answer to any lingering question, at all times. Deciding what to get for dinner, and don’t know what bulgogi is? Before you even lift your eyes from the menu your boyfriend will probably have his internet-connected device of choice out on the table to look it up for you. While I’m inclined to say that this behavior enhances conversation by providing valuable information, I realize that many would disagree. If the gadgets coming out a little too often, don’t be afraid to lay down the law and declare an internet-free zone.

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[Like a magpie, you gravitate towards things that are shiny: cell phones, TVs, anything that allows you to play Rock Band. But just because you love ‘em doesn’t mean you know much about ‘em. That’s where we come in.

Every week we will be highlighting the best, coolest and shiniest in technology. Consider us your personal Geek Squad. And let us tell ya; with CC on your side, geek has never looked so chic.]

So thanks to some clever advertising by Apple, Mac vs. PC has become a sort of pop culture reference point now. Right up there with “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

Anyway, the real question is: what’s all the fuss?

Some people are partial to Macs. Others, like myself, (and any other sane person) enjoy their PC’s.

During the early days of the war there was a huge difference in the two products, but now they’re pretty comparable as far as features and software goes. At this point it’s pretty much a matter of personal preference.

The real difference in them isn’t what they do or what they have; anything that a Mac has a PC has, and vice versa. The difference is who makes it. Everything in the Mac is made by Apple. Everything in a PC is not made by one company. On one hand, having many companies contribute to the computer is beneficial as it allows you to replace parts as they break down or need to be upgraded easily and cheaply. On the other hand, your parts are made easily and cheaply, and therefore need to be replaced more often. Read More »