Their website explains their reasoning.
https://www2.bus.umich.edu/MyiMpact/technology/need-help/purchasing-your-laptop
Thanks so much! You all are the greatest. I knew I could count on you.
My son will really appreciate this link!
Some of their reasoning is quite flawed.
The Mac needs no virus protection. In fact, Sophos, like all third-party Mac virus protection turns OFF the built-in OS primary level protection provided by Apple which works prior to any third-party protections. They do this so they can FIND some Mac viruses to block. . . but do so at the risk of actually infecting the computer and in fact add a performance hit to the Mac. If you do run a Windows OS on your Mac, you will need a virus protection of some kind.
A webcam optional???? Every Mac laptop since before they were included on Windows laptop has come with a built-in webcam? Do they even know anything about Apple products?
Connecting to printers and networks more complicated and more steps? No, it actually takes fewer steps. You just have to know how to do it. Again, if you are running your Mac in Windows, it takes exactly the same number of steps. If you've already set up your Mac to the school's network and printers, there is no reason to do it again when you start your VM Windows. It will already be connected.
Somebody in the UMich School of Business needs to update this web page. You *can* install emulators such as Fusion, but they are extra cost; or you can just use the built-in Boot Camp app to setup a dual-boot Mac with Windows and OS X. The best of both worlds!