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M29

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Hello,

I am considering a switch over to a Mac and was wondering what models to consider. I know nothing about them other then there is the all in one imac and the standard tower types. Any suggestions as to what processors to go for or features? Money is a concern and I know they run quite high. I want the most current I can get for the bucks. Maybe something around 2000.00 usd.
I hope this don't start any conflicts but you guys would know more about what to look for in a desktop that would be favorable to our type recording and guitar playing and still be adequate for a family.
Also can my PC monitor work with a Mac or will I need a new one?

Thank you for your time and help.
M29
 
Question.....if money is a concern then why are you looking towards Macs? You can get as much if not more firepower in a PC with a lot lower pricetag...even much more so if you build it yourself.
 
M29 said:
Hello,

. . Maybe something around 2000.00 usd.
I hope this don't start any conflicts but you guys would know more about what to look for in a desktop that would be favorable to our type recording and guitar playing and still be adequate for a family.


Thank you for your time and help.
M29
Click to expand...


For 2K you can get a whole lot! The top of the line iMac with a 27 inch monitor built in is 1999.00. But for most uses, the lower three iMacs would serve, and start at $1,199.00 with a 21.5 rather than 27 inch monitor. The next one up as a 1TB HD rather than 500GB and the faster ATI Radeon graphics. I would likely buy at that level for me. My 20 inch is plenty huge and still is plenty fast and powerful after buying it in late '07.

You have a monitor, and yes, they do work generally with macs, and a lot of crossover types look at the mac mini starting at $599.00. It is a little slower processor than the iMac, but works for lots of people, and costs a lot less. The big "mac pros" in a more traditional looking box start at $2499 but have huge 4 core processors. Way overkill for my needs. I would look at the iMacs and the Mac mini.

The apple store has all the specs, etc.

http://store.apple.com/us?mco=Nzc1MjMwNQ

Like I said, you can spend all 2k, but for me, as a lawyer that runs windows sometimes, does word processing, online research, some graphics and movie/photo work, and my music stuff, the $1499.00 level iMac would be my choice, and I would save the extra dough, or use some of it to load up the ram. That is how I am using my '07 machine at home, for both work from home, and all the uses you mention, and plan to start using it as a media center to stream vid to a TV, stream and play music over the homes stereo, etc. Happy shopping!
 
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Thanks Kazz. In the past I have always built my own PC's and am looking for something different this time.

Steve, thank you for the info. You pretty much covered what I needed to know. Can you run Windows from your Mac? What do you think of the all in one set up? I am concerned about upgrading and adding components.

Thanks again guys.

M29
 
I can and do run windows, simultaneously while running OS X. I use "Parallels" but there are other ways to do it too. I use XP Pro for that, and briefly tried Vista, but given the emulation, Vista did not run well for me on my '05 iMac I tried it on. I did not try Vista on my '07 one, but XP Pro works fine.

The all in one works great for me, but there is admittedly little you can do to upgrade it, other than max out the ram. I tend to buy as I have noted above, max out the ram and then use it a long time. I am not a PC builder, and don't desire to be one at all. That sort of experience is not what you will get with an all in one mac. It will do very well all the things you mentioned in your earlier inquiry though, and should do it well for a long time.
 
Thanks Steve. I am kind of burnt out on computers. I rarely do anything to them anymore. Shoot I have forgot most of the DOS commands, not that they are used much anymore but there was a day way back then. It is getting like guitar modding and amph modding, It always seems to take away from my playing with all the kids and family activities eating up my time.

I think an iMac might be the way to go these days for me.

Thanks again Steve.

M
 
The new iMacs are looking very good. I think that 27" screen might be a bit over the top unless you have a very big desk though. Remember you can always use Boot Camp or Parallels to run a Windows partition for software you just can't give up on. You'll need a windows license too if you do that.
 
I also have a 21" iMac, 4 years now I guess. It's great.
Other than what I think now was my self inflicted Snow Leopard woes (no probs now btw) Can't think of any negatives for our usage.
 
Do the iMacs have some sort of (audio out) that I can run into an amplifier and external speakers?

M
 
I know what you mean Kazz that is always in the back of my head and the one thing that kind of troubles me with the iMac. The individual component Macs look to be very very expensive. I do hear good things about them though.
 
M, maybe a mini would be the way to go if it is a mac you want and not all-in one ? A buddy has one, he loves it, used it as some kind of media server well.
 
As macs use the intel chipset i cannot understand why they are so expensive compared to the bog standard PC.

No wonder Steve Jobs is so rich !
 
Well remember guys the fist Mac was an all in one. It is not likely you are going to have a usable Apple computer if you need to send a part of it in I don't think. It is a different mindset for sure than what you part-o-puter guys are used to (strained reference to partocaster?). I have had to send one in only once, and that was a bummer to be without for a few days, but it was handled professionally and quickly.

I have never owned one of the big "Pro" models in the big boxes. I frankly don't know if you can swap parts in and out of those.

Since the thread is about what Apple computers to look at, I am ignoring the "too expensive" Jobs is rich (Gates isn't?) comments. :pancake
 
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The Mini is a good computer, I'm still running a 2006 Intel Mini as my main computer, but the spec just doesn't match up to the new iMac especially when you remember that you get the wireless keyboard and the magic mouse thrown in (not to mention that display). OTOH you could use your current display, keyboard and mouse with the Mini (I did). Buying a Mini was the only time I've ever walked home from the shop with my new computer :-)

Mac Pros are phenomenal and expandable but much more expensive unless you buy an older model like a G5 (available used for good prices). Snow Leopard won't work on the non Intel boxes, but I'm still running Tiger on my Macs with no problems. A few more recent packages (like iLife '09) won't work but the older versions get the job done. What I need is the extra RAM and processor power to handling my photo editing, 6x6cm negatives = big files :dude . I'm seriously considering a new iMac so I can keep using my 50 year old cameras. My Mini will then become an HTPC to run music and video libraries, my Macbook gets used as little more than netbook plus a few basic apps really.

Sorry to get a bit wordy but my point is that none of my hardware needs to be retired because of new OS releases. Sure, PC users can replace all the bits in their box to upgrade but that's just the 200 year old shovel joke in high tech form.
 
Here is the 20 inch, '07 version in action, M29!:

IMG_0045.jpg
 
M29 said:
Hello,

I am considering a switch over to a Mac and was wondering what models to consider. I know nothing about them other then there is the all in , one imac and the standard tower types. Any suggestions as to what processors to go for or features? Money is a concern and I know they run quite high. I want the most current I can get for the bucks. Maybe something around 2000.00 usd.
I hope this don't start any conflicts but you guys would know more about what to look for in a desktop that would be favorable to our type recording and guitar playing and still be adequate for a family.
Also can my PC monitor work with a Mac or will I need a new one?

Thank you for your time and help.
M29
Click to expand...

What I would do is build a PC and simply install Snow Leopard on it, if you really enjoy using the OS.

There is basically no hardware difference between macs and pc's these days, except macs are way more expensive and more difficult to upgrade.

You can easily run the mac OS on any normal PC. Even dualboot to win/mac osses.

With the same money you can get roughly double the disk capacity, double the processor speed, double the memory and if you like, two monitors if you build a pc...those mac prices are nothing short of insane for what you get on the higher spec machines.

I do think some lower spec macs are much more sensible in their pricing and could be very handy and neat as home computers, though...but if you want power and speed, I'd definitely build.
 
deeaa said:
There is basically no hardware difference between macs and pc's these day
Click to expand...

Except for some chips that the PC doesnt have and thus prevents Mac OS from being installed on a standard PC.

It can be installed via software hacks but I wouldnt recommend a new mac user going that route, its just not "the mac experience".

Here is a picture describing the differences between Mac and PC users :D

pc-vs-mac-1996.jpg
 
mcafee

this is a thread full of mac people, so i guess i can ask...

would my dad's mcafee (Windows) work on this mac im on?

G4 Powermac, made in ireland. Tiger 10.4.11, 533MHz processor, etc.
 
ibanezjunkie said:
this is a thread full of mac people, so i guess i can ask...

would my dad's mcafee (Windows) work on this mac im on?

G4 Powermac, made in ireland. Tiger 10.4.11, 533MHz processor, etc.
Click to expand...

Yes, if you've installed Windows via Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop, otherwise no. Why would you want McAfee security software on a Mac?
 
thats what i thought too, but then someone told me that anything that is connected to a WLAN or ethernet cable can be infected with viruses and stuff. i thought it would be best to protect my computers. :poke
 
That post of Swede's is a bit out of date though. Floppy disks? Iomega Zip drive? Serial cable? A Newton? :)
 
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