My eight year old Mac desktop is still working fine. However, the OS is ancient, and the processing power is about the same. I don’t know how much longer I can go being “left behind”; plus, there are some things that might help me that I’m unable to run because of said OS and RAM.
So, I’d like to get another Mac. A few questions I’d like opinions on:
I’m leaning towards a laptop. How are they, dependability-wise (both physically and over the long haul), compared to desktops these days? (Specifically, if I do get a desktop, it’ll be a Mini; it’s about right for what I want and do, and I can put in more RAM if I want.)
Any recommendations on which model? I don’t need much more than 2MB of RAM normally (I really don’t think I’ll ever be doing a lot of multitasking between, say, Photoshop and Dreamweaver), and I don’t particularly care if it’s the thinnest notebook ever or whatever.
I’m no IT expert, but I am a Mac Fan (and a professional user, being a graphic designer).
I guess the main question is, why do you want a laptop? You’ll pay a premium over a mac mini for it, so do you need that portability?
Personally, I love having a laptop - I have a big hulking desktop (Mac Pro) for working from home, but I also have a MacBook Air. I love the Air because it’s so light - I can carry it around in one hand, watch stuff on my lap in the living room, commute with it without giving myself back trouble in the process… so I love its portability. But if all my Mac time was going to be spent at a desk in my study, then a laptop would be a pointless expense.
I might add that I wouldn’t have bought a MacBook Air necessarily if it was my only machine, as it doesn’t have a disc drive, only one USB slot and no Firewire slot, it’s really meant to be a second machine, designed for lugging around. If you fancy the flexibility of a laptop but with more of the basic functions you’d expect from a desktop, then one of the other MacBooks would be better (if heavier and less boootiful).
Why am I interested in a laptop? Well, because it seems like folks who have one find a lot of reasons to travel with it. I mean, I don’t do so much NOW, but only because I CAN’T, if that makes sense. Whenever I go on trips (which isn’t that often, admittedly), I’ve LOVED having a laptop with me (the one I have is a hand-me-down about as old as my desktop, but more infirm/broken). More reasons to have the portability might come up if I had one.
Thanks for the Air info, tho’. Sounds like it’s not for me.
boy, I have been using Macs for a long time! for a moment the above seems perfectly reasonable to me…
However, in today’s world I suspect the OP meant 2GB of ram. a reasonable amount.
as for the original question, I love my iMac. all in one. simple to use. I occasionally would like to have a laptop, but not often enough to buy one. I found the mini to be a nice idea, but really it makes financial sense only when you have the the monitor and keybrd already-like at work. I know several people that can’t buy Macs at work, but had a cheap PC delivered, put the cpu on the shelf, brought in a mini and a mac keybrd and got to work. Other than that, decide if you really want to pay for a laptop, consider whether you already have a monitor/keybrd, and decide on cost.
Too many people look at computers and THEN think of what software they will need.
You really need to purchase your computer based on your software
The easiest way to do this is with a spreadsheet
Try this:
Open a spreadsheet and make a list of everything you ever want on your computer.
Once that is done divide the list into
MUST
Would Be Nice to have
Could go either way
Could live without
Would never use
Then review that making sure each cateorgy is correct and then go shopping based on that list.
One other thing I think you can often find better deals online, but if you buy a laptop, make sure you go to an actual store and look and get a feel for the computer.
I’ve seen a lot of nice laptops but when you actually go to use them for some reason or another they just don’t feel right to type in or they’re heavy or hot or whatever.
So even if you buy it online before your make your final purchase make sure you visit a store to actually get a feel for the laptop
I just got one of the little Macbook Pros. I love it - it’s the smallest one, the one that used to be the iBook or whatever. It does everything I need it to do, and it does it beautifully.
I have a PowerBook G4 that I’ve had for almost 4 years that replaced the big tower thing (I forget the model now) which was way too heavy to lug around when I once had to take it in for service.
The older Mac I got from an authorized Apple dealer that specialized in design applications because that is my realm. I was fraidy scared because it was the first computer I owned and they walked my through everything but a lot of the hardware I got (the printer, monitor and scanner) was overkill.
I got the PowerBook in an Apple store, which I highly recommend. They are knowledgeable and have all the models there for you to play with before you purchase. The associate who assisted me helped me decide which size PowerBook was best for me. While I like the bigger screen because I do graphics and was used to a huge monitor on my previous computer, the associate suggested that the largest PowerBook might not be what I wanted to carry around should I want to travel with it, so I compromised on the Mama Bear rather than the Daddy Bear. I have to admit that that particular associate coincidentally turned out to be a former instructor from one of my graphics classes so I totally trusted his opinion, which was an additional help to me. They also have classes if you need some training. Apple stores weren’t around yet for my first computer.
Generally, I recommend the cheapest Mac laptop available, with extra memory added.
However, I can’t recommend the plastic Macbooks. I have one, and it had to have the keyboard and front panel replaced twice under warranty because the edge of the plastic breaks. This isn’t because I’m hard on it (I’m not), it’s because the piece of plastic that you rest your hands on when typing isn’t reinforced underneath, so the weight of your hands is constantly stressing it, and eventually the edge just cracks off. It’s no longer under warranty, but it’s started to crack again (3rd part in 3.5 years). Talking to the guys at my local Mac repair shop, it’s a very common problem with this model.
I’ve heard good things about the aluminum-body ones, so if you’re set on a Mac, I’d go with one of those.
If there’s any chance you’ll need assistance of any kind, get the Applecare. Sure, it’s $249 for a macbook, which is a lot. But it extends the phone support from 90 days to 3 full years (and the hardware warranty from 1 year to 3 years) and unless you’re a total moron and/or have a severe attitude problem, you’ll find the Applecare reps to be extremely helpful.
Don’t know how to do something? Call Applecare. You won’t get that with a PC.
It’s $169 for the desktop units, which is almost a no-brainer.
