Thanks OldDeckHand.
I have already contacted the music dept. They did not have any specific recommendations other than what’s required on their Notebook Guide page. They did not emphasize or encourage students to purchase a Mac.
Most music-related software these days is both Mac and IBM, but some isn’t. Most peripherals are either USB2 or firewire, so definitely get both kinds of ports. Most musicians are using two or more (usually more) gigs of memory. For desktop based systems, 7200 rpm hard drives are the norm, but you probably won’t find one on a laptop.
Just for what it’s worth, here’s a couple of articles extolling both kinds:
IBM http://forums.cnet.com/7723-19680_102-382852.html
MAC http://yourhomerecordingstudio.com/laptop-for-music
The debate is truly never ending. Mostly, I think I’d forget trying to surprise him. Give him a check (or a budget), and tell him to pick out what he wants.