Newbie Architecture student

[Xearo]

Hey i'm a newbie here (so be nice to me!) I'm also a newbie architecture student, starting at the bartlett (in london) in a couple of weeks.
I'm actually buying a laptop right now and have come to a split decision between a powerbook, and a pretty good pentium 4 (pretty much top spec).
My question, to anyone willing to answer (please someone alnswer fast!) is whether the pentium will be up to scratch with running any design programmes i'll need to run in the next couple of years....i realise the powerbook most certainly will....but i'd honestly prefer not to get a powerbook....they're really epensive for one. and rubbishly incompatible with anything near the way of fun.
I have absolutely no idea how taxing architecture or proper cad programmes are (having never really used any), nor what i'm likely to use during my degree, so my question is really if i buy the p4 am i gonna regret is seriously, and are cad and architecture programmes usually fully compatible with windows?
any help or advice would be really well appreciated
thanks in advance

[F700ES]

Hello Xearo, well to be honest they both will be fine. Perhaps the real question is what software will you be using? That would be the deal breaker to me. If you will be using AutoDesk (AutoCAD and etc..) software then get a PC, no questions about it. If you will be using a Mac only app like PowerCADD then get the G4 laptop.
Looking at their website is seems to be a majority of mac based labs so perhaps a G4 would be the best choice. Maybe ask around and see what the majority are using. Best of luck

[Xearo]

thanks very much
i'll deffo look into the software they're using,
thanks tho for giving me some scope!