Simplify your laptop buying
General Mac hardware discussions: Future buying option
Future buying option
by white-bread - 6/19/08 8:50 PMI want to buy a Mac as soon as personal affairs are done (remodeling my house.)
Anybody have any suggestions as to what I should go for?
Need more specifics
by BeatleMegaFan - 6/19/08 10:00 PM In reply to: Future buying option by white-breadEach Macintosh computer is built for a specific market/purpose. You'll have to tell us what you want in your Mac, what you want to do with it, and other details among those. Now for example, the Mac Mini, and the low-end MacBooks and iMacs are primarily aimed at the education and consumer markets. The higher-end models of some of those Macs are still geared towards for consumers, but they pack in more power and more costs for the upgrades. The iMacs are actually good for a variety of purposes such as in the enterprise field as well.
Now the MacBook Pro line is technically for the professionals, but if you want a 15-inch portable, you'd have to start with the base model and go from there. For me, the base configuration of the MacBook Pro is okay, but if you're going to be buying a Mac like that, you might as well spring for the mid-range MacBook Pro with the speedier processor and double the graphics memory. You also get the 250GB hard drive standard. This line is somewhat expensive, but its competition can't offer the same hardware+software combinations. As a MacBook Pro user, I can say that Apple's high-end notebooks are superb. The Mac Pro, the most powerful of the Mac family, is the only true tower and upgradeable/expandable Mac, but that comes with a cost and a whole lot of unnecessary power (two quad core processors is overkill for most people; only developers or extreme video editors may ever need that).
Again, you'll have to provide some more info before we can give some advice. I will say that the Mac Mini is somewhat overpriced and is in great need of a hardware upgrade; stay away from that for the time being. The iMacs were just updated and are giving users more for their money, so those are good to look at. With notebooks, you are also limited, but I would advise against buying the MacBook Air. If you are looking for a main machine, that would not be one of your choices. Now if you have something like a Mac Pro or an iMac already, the Air could be a good add-on for remote tasks and the like, but otherwise, I'd wait for version 2. Let us know what you're looking for.
-BMF
Something simple
by white-bread - 6/20/08 12:12 AM In reply to: Need more specifics by BeatleMegaFanSince I am not big on eye candy, maybe more towards the educational platform.
I have at least a year to decide on this one.
Unlike Windows,
by mrmacfixit
- 6/20/08 5:53 AM
In reply to: Something simple by white-bread
there is only one version of the OS X Operating System for consumer Mac's. All consumer Mac's run exactly the same Operating System, from the Mac Mini right up to the Mac Pro. This also includes the laptop range.
If you are using the term "eye candy" to refer to what the machine looks like, externally, it really does not apply.
All the iMac's look the same, apart from screen size, as do the Macbooks and Macbook Pro laptops. The only odd ones out are the Mac Pro which has a tower configuration and the Mac Mini which is just 6" square. Those two do not come with a screen.
You will find that it is very rare for you to find a task for which you will need a different Mac. They are all capable of doing the same thing, some just do it faster but they all do it with the same software.
P
Your real decision then becomes
by BeatleMegaFan - 6/20/08 1:55 PM In reply to: Something simple by white-breadwhat kind of machine you want. You still have not specified what type of computer you want: a notebook or a desktop. For a desktop, your best bet would be with an iMac, but if you want a laptop, you need to ask yourself what you want it to do and how much power you need. And then the price tag comes in. Unless you need a 15-inch or 17-inch screen with a real graphics card, buy a regular MacBook and upgrade that to your requirements. That would do it, but as mrmacfixit says, they all do the same thing with varying speeds, so you really just have to pick one and go for it.
What you could do is go to your nearest Apple Store, and you could try out the different Macs. Some of the employees could help you with choosing them too. Just ask.
-BMF
About the Aople Store
by jennywren1420 - 7/28/08 10:56 AM In reply to: Your real decision then becomes by BeatleMegaFanJust to confirm what the poster suggested: All the Apple Store people I've encountered are very knowledgeable, and when one doesn't know an answer, they consult with others. That in itself is unusual and comforting. In addition, they can install things for you. Further, if, down the line you need support or service, you can make an appointment (in person at the store or online) to see one of the Apple Geniuses. Advice is free, and sometimes the service is, too.
Make sure, though, that you know that what we're talking about here is an Apple Store (capital A, capital S), not just an Apple retailer. They do know a lot about Apples, but I'd go right to the source at the outset. You don't, of course, have to buy the computer anywhere in particular. Once you know what you want, you can get it wherever you please.
Hoping this helps,
Jenny
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