What's the best laptop for an incoming college student?

I'm going to college this fall and I'm torn between a laptop like the dell xps 13 or the Macbook air 13'. I really like the touchscreen option for the dell, but I like apple products, even though I've only ever used an iPad and iPhone. I might use products like photoshop and blendr for fun. I'm so torn. Are MacBooks easy to get used to? Is a touch screen helpful? Which laptop do I get?

The only thing I don't like with the Air, is you can't plug in an ethernet cable to troubleshoot the modem if there's an internet issue.

I've switched from iphone to android, and mac to pc. The best decisions i've made. Now, for a college student like yourself, there are a few key concepts to take into consideration. First of all, it sounds like you want to make some animation, and photoshop for fun occasionally, correct? You would want a non apple product for these things, mainly because you can get much better hardware inside a pc, for the same price as a low quality macbook. Macbook you pay extra for the brand name. However, apple is most likely thinner, and if you choose a macbook air, almost weightless, and have pretty good battery life. If you are currently using an iphone, use the macbook, it will sink with it and life will be. But for software, there are generally more titles available for the dell. I don't care much for apple as a company. I don't support them due to (special ) reasons, but, i will definantly say a macbook will perform much better in a school enviroment.

Both are fine. OS X is easy to learn. Apple products allows to have Windows as second OS while Windows doesn't allow Apple OS (you have to hackintosh). Check characteristics and the price and decide. Dell is cheaper. Apple is more reliable IMO. But if you are going to spend a lots of time with it - I suggest to buy a larger monitor and to hook the laptop.

Whichever you get. Do not get 4GB Memory. The average now is 8GB. 4GB RAM is a really bad buy for such an expensive computer. It will come out of the box with memory issues if you leave a lot of tabs open or multiple programs. You'll also end up getting rid of either well before there CPU is too slow because of too little RAM. Neither are upgradeable the RAM is soldered.

The Dell has all around superior hardware for the price. As you are looking at the touch model. That means it has the 3200x1800 QHD+ display. The 1440x900 screen in the Macbook Air doesn't come close to that level of detail. Even the default 1920x1080 screen in the XPS 13 is vastly superior. Even the Macbook Pro with the 2560x1600 Retina display doesn't come close.

As to whether the touchscreen is worth it. Purely for a touchscreen I'd say no. Unless the laptop is convertible into a tablet the touchscreen is little more than a gimmick. After the cool factor wears off hardly anyone uses the touchscreen. It is too much of a pain to reach your arm out and point to everything. They generally aren't accurate enough for Photoshop. For the higher resolution it may be worth it although you do sacrfice some battery life.

CPU: The default Dell CPU i5-6200u is a little bit faster with better graphics. The real gain is in battery life. The 6200u is much more energy efficient.

Battery: The Dell has better battery life. The 1920x1080 model is much better at up to 18hours. The touchscreen is less. I don't know how much so.

SSD: I think they use the same model Samsung SM951. The Apple may be using the older SM941.

Portability: They all weigh about the same and are about as thin.

If you aren't determined to own a Mac and are happy with Windows I'd get the Dell. Either the default touch (3200x1800) model with 8GB RAM, i5-6200u and 256GB SSD or the FHD (1920x1080) model upgraded to 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD and i5-6200u for $200 less.

If you can afford it get 16GB RAM to maximize it's useful life especially if you end up getting serious about Photoshop. Either screen is good for Photoshop although the hire detail QHD would be better. In either case 13" is not ideal for Photoshop. Photoshop loves big screens.