Best mac

[computoman]

What is the best mac to buy?

[tokenuser]

Wah?? Buy? A computer ... ?? are you sick or something????

Seriously, it depends on your needs.

For me a previous gen Macbook (2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, upgraded to 4GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Firewire, etc) was perfect, but the current model isn't as good for me (more expensive, no Firewire).

The iMac is a slick machine at a comparable price point to PC desktops - espeically factoring in the monitor.

MBP are great. MBA is kinda "meh" ... great technology demonstration, but not worth the expense.

Servers are mystery. The world runs Linux on servers, and you'd do better with a "PC" based system.

What are you looking for? If checking out the Apple store (online) look at the refurbs - good deals there. Also, if this is for a student, the academic pricing is about the only discount Apple EVER give.

[ArmpitOfDeath]

I think for you, something salvaged from a dumpster or a yard sale :p

Wah?? Buy? A computer ... ?? are you sick or something????

Seriously, it depends on your needs.

For me a previous gen Macbook (2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, upgraded to 4GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Firewire, etc) was perfect, but the current model isn't as good for me (more expensive, no Firewire).

For me, the unibody 2.4 was the closest thing to a machine I could use if I needed to run OS X, wanted a replaceable battery and didn't want to carry 2.5Kgs all-up, all the time. I think it's also the only form factor in which the unibody construction makes any kind of real structural sense. And it has less fundamental kinks than the previous plastic Crudbook. Shame/bizarre about the firewire, but I need a Crapple with firewire I can turn to other machines.

If you HAD to buy a Mac now and it could be any machine, I'd say the 2.4 Crudbook is an acceptable intro to all things Apple - although you can pick up vastly superior Windows machines for only a little more. If you don't like it, it'll be easy and popular to resell too.

The iMac is a slick machine at a comparable price point to PC desktops - espeically factoring in the monitor.Oh purleeeze.

iMac 3Ghz, 4Gb, 750Gb, underclocked mobile 8800, iWork, iLife, Applecare, wired mouse/keyb, N wireless = $2667.
Dell Studio XPS, i7 920, 6Gb, 750Gb, 2408WFP, ATI 4850, Microsoft Office, Sony Imagination Studio, 3-year onsite, Bluetooth mouse/keyb, N wireless, 2.1 speakers = $2448.

It's a nice lifestyle machine if you have no interest in technology, or your particular need is more style than substance. Which is why I have one in the kitchen.

MBP are great. MBA is kinda "meh" ... great technology demonstration, but not worth the expense.The current Crudbook Pro's are the most naked expression of Apple's style over substance obsession. The newer MBA's are less crud than the first gen (which was borderline unusable, at least for me), but are still way too compromised. As for the newest 17-inch, I'll reserve judgment until the first of them thuds onto my doorstep and I've had it for a while.

Servers are mysteryNo mystery to me. XServes are OK, but poorly supported (in my neck of the woods). OS X Server is exactly as it seems to be. Fisher-Price Windows Server.

Oh yeah, there's also the Pro. Quietest dual-Xeon machines around, also the most prone to instability through overheating (duh) if you actually use them for doing *&%$ beyond whatever BS media types do. The expansion capability is a bit of a joke since e.g. GPU's are usually tied to a specific generation of machines and you don't get a choice in the matter - but if you want more than the relatively pathetic capabilities of the iMac, it's the only game in town unless you're going with a potentially (more) unstable Hackintosh.

[xcorvis]

What is the best mac to buy?

:eek:

You must be trolling. You must know by now how these guys will react to a question like that. ;)

[ArmpitOfDeath]

Oh I dunno, perhaps he's looking to refresh his computer collection with something more recent.

Maybe a G3 BarbieBook?

[computoman]

My brother who works for a small town newspaper where macs are king for doing the publication asked me about a potential system. He has a g4, but wants something better.

[phatlip]

My brother who works for a small town newspaper where macs are king for doing the publication asked me about a potential system. He has a g4, but wants something better.

Is he looking for a portable machine or a desktop?

If he's looking for a desktop I would suggest an iMac. There is a 20 inch model and 3 24 inch models. The specs on the machines increase as you go up the ladder (and so does the price of course). The 20 inch should be fine but he may want the 24 inch for the larger screen size. DO NOT purchase RAM through Apple. It's ridiculously overpriced ($150 to go from 2 to 4 gigs). It's super easy to upgrade yourself and you'll save money.

If he's looking for a laptop a regular old Macbook may suite him well. I would consider the white and the lower end of the aluminum models. However, he may want a Macbook Pro for the larger screen size. I bare minimum low end Macbook should be fine. Both of these machines are super easy to upgrade so don't spend money customizing the machine. You can access the hard drive super easy and it's easy upgrading the RAM in it too.

Apple offers education discounts which he is eligible for if he's taking any college courses. Apple also has TONS of government and corporate discounts too. Another thing to consider is "Back to school" time which is just around the corner. Historically speaking, Apple has had a promotion where students got a free iPod (after rebate) after purchasing a computer.

One thing I would seriously consider is the Apple Care protection plan. It can be expensive on the laptops (cheap on the desktops) though I think it's worth it. I love Apple, but I admit I had my share of problems with Apple hardware. My Apple Care literally saved me over $1,000 worth of repairs on my Macbook. Well worth it. Apple is a lot like BMW. They're expensive GREAT cars. But when they break they're expensive to fix.

Hope this helps.

[phatlip]

I bet ArmpitOfDeath has a HUGE Apple tattoo on his chest. A huge one.


lmao

;)

[ArmpitOfDeath]

"Apple is a lot like BMW."

Great analogy. Driven by egotistic cocks who think they know how to drive but don't, people who know nothing about cars but simply recognise the brand, poorly aspirational juniors in business who laughably think it puts them above others, people in media who can't afford a Porsche, and soccer moms with zero grip on driving ability ;)

I'm pretty surprised given the extremely limited number of products that anyone computer-literate has to ask for advice on which Mac to buy, but if by G4 you mean a G4 tower, then the obvious replacement is a Pro. However if a 24" monitor won't be a limiting factor than an iMac may do just fine for regular use.

[masherscf]

"Apple is a lot like BMW."

Great analogy. Driven by egotistic cocks who think they know how to drive but don't...

Oh, snap. Given the number of Mac users on the forum, that little jab is really provocative. I guess I would delete it if it wasn't so damned funny.


That reminds me, How do you tell the difference between a Saab and a porcupine?

[tokenuser]

That reminds me, How do you tell the difference between a Saab and a porcupine?You can't fit a Saab in a blender?

[ArmpitOfDeath]

I believe it's a generic Euro-make joke about pricks. There is a variation on spines.

[masherscf]

I believe it's a generic Euro-make joke about pricks. There is a variation on spines.

Classic, that's much funnier than the original punch-line.

[tokenuser]

I believe it's a generic Euro-make joke about pricks. There is a variation on spines.The "pricks on the inside" reply was too obvious.

[masherscf]

The "pricks on the inside" reply was too obvious.

Well, to be fare, the original punch line was "The pricks are on the outside."

[ArmpitOfDeath]

Well, to be fare, the original punch line was "The pricks are on the outside."

To be fare, Mr 'Google Knowledge' gets it wrong most of the time.

So - back to the topic: Mr Command Line, what G4 does your brother have?

[tokenuser]

To be fare, Mr 'Google Knowledge' gets it wrong most of the time.

So - back to the topic: Mr Command Line, what G4 does your brother have?To be FAIR, Mr Armpit has a low tolerance for an alternate opinion.

Regardless whether it is mixers, computers, or punchlines to jokes - and needs to realise that opinions and answers different to those he expects need not be incorrect ... just different.

Alternate opinion?

Macbook will handle most of what a journalist needs, but if he is involved in the newspaper layout he'd need to consult the software vendor to see what the min spec for the software would be.

Get an external monitor, and a backup device (online at the newspaper? external harddrive?). You then have the best of both worlds - a good desktop system, and a portable computer.

[masherscf]

To be FAIR, Mr Armpit has a low tolerance for an alternate opinion. .


Oh Nos,I did spell that wrong.

[phatlip]

"Apple is a lot like BMW."

Great analogy. Driven by egotistic cocks who think they know how to drive but don't, people who know nothing about cars but simply recognise the brand, poorly aspirational juniors in business who laughably think it puts them above others, people in media who can't afford a Porsche, and soccer moms with zero grip on driving ability ;)

I'm pretty surprised given the extremely limited number of products that anyone computer-literate has to ask for advice on which Mac to buy, but if by G4 you mean a G4 tower, then the obvious replacement is a Pro. However if a 24" monitor won't be a limiting factor than an iMac may do just fine for regular use.

Dude, quit being a troll. I tried joking around with you but your sort of taking it too far.

It's okay if you absolutely hate Macs. But calling people that use them egotistical cocks and going this far to denounce them is frankly worse than an Apple fanboy. In fact, hating on something to this degree is a form of fanboy.

[ArmpitOfDeath]

Dude, quit being a troll. I tried joking around with you but your sort of taking it too far.

It's okay if you absolutely hate Macs. But calling people that use them egotistical cocks and going this far to denounce them is frankly worse than an Apple fanboy. In fact, hating on something to this degree is a form of fanboy.

The question is, what am I fanboying?

[phatlip]

The question is, what am I fanboying?

You seem to be a huge fan of hating on Apple.

[ArmpitOfDeath]

You seem to be a huge fan of hating on Apple.

But what am I fanboying?

[phatlip]

But what am I fanboying?

Hating Apple.

[ArmpitOfDeath]

Hating Apple.

I think you may be mistaking the fact that I (as a Mac user) recognise much of the elements of espoused superiority of the platform among more genuine fanboys as spurious, uninformed or irrelevant... with fanboyism. Many Apple fanboys do, I know.

[masherscf]

You use your tongue prettier than a twenty-dollar whore.

http://www.morethings.com/fan/blazing_saddles/slim_pickens-harvey_korman.jpg

[ArmpitOfDeath]

It's Hedley.

[phatlip]

I think you may be mistaking the fact that I (as a Mac user) recognise much of the elements of espoused superiority of the platform among more genuine fanboys as spurious, uninformed or irrelevant... with fanboyism. Many Apple fanboys do, I know.

I know fanboys too, but I can honestly say I believe they are a minority of the mac...minority (less than 10% market share FTW). As some of you know, I work at an Apple store and given my experience, the egotistical snob with the Starbucks coffee in one hand an scarf around the neck just isn't true. Most of my customers are your average people. Generally very nice and down to earth. Everyone ranging from grand mom to computer science professors (I had two of those just last month).

Shh, don't tell Balmer but I know a Microsoft employee (#70 something, been with Microsoft for the longest time) and he loves his G5.

I'm a nerd. I like computers. That includes Windows, OS X and Linux. This is the internet, so this is our playground. Go to the drag strip one weekend. You'll hear plenty of Ford/Chevy fanboys. Your average person could care less though. It's just preference. Of course your bound to hear more smack talk at the strip are on the net.

;)

[ArmpitOfDeath]

I know fanboys too, but I can honestly say I believe they are a minority of the mac...minority (less than 10% market share FTW). As some of you know, I work at an Apple store and given my experience, the egotistical snob with the Starbucks coffee in one hand an scarf around the neck just isn't true.

It's a minority, but not entirely untrue. The majority of the more vocal 'Macs are best' types are derivatives of that extreme - people in the content business whose ego and attraction towards the shiny overrules any real experience or knowledge. On the flipside I also know the Macs also have a certain resonance among programmers and nerds who like the development environment and it's NeXT - and older - underpinnings. And of course, Apple has a long history in academia which makes it a de facto choice for many, with a weighed decision not even being a factor.

[computoman]

The Simpsons had a real good satire on apple a ways back, but back to the story. He has a g4 tower, but I do not remember the specs. The last time I saw it was when we went to visit him during huuricane Ike. I spent most of my time trying to resurrect his mswindows based laptop and watching the news.

[mariokid21]

Yeah Imac is the best I have one 5th Gen bought it a month ago. Fairly fast and huge screen. Processor: 2.66Ghz(core2duo) Memory: 4gb(2x2gb) Screen: 24'' HDD: 640gb(5,400rpm). I got it refurbished for $1,300 with a years warranty. Even came with keyboard and mouse.