Getting a mac possibly, advice needed

S

shiftlocked

New member
Wooooot. I've saved up and with getting rid of some spare stuff that I have lying about, the time has come to seriously start contemplating getting a mac.

I know NOTHING about them at the moment, all i know is that my pc is being used by the misses for warcraft when I want to get on with surfing, interweb, email, photoshop and dreamweavery type stuff. Just starting a photo course thats mac based as well so its something new to play with

My budget is about 800 quid at the moment but depending on the sale of stuff that i have here spare including:

1 x 6600GT AGP

1 x black gold DVB tv card

1 x Usb Freeview digital thingy

Couple of low end PCI-e cards

1 x Ps2 with games, pads, lan adapter

1 x Xbox chipped a few games as well

I might be able to strech the budget a bit more if its warranted so to speak. I know that 800 wont get me a lot of mac but it might do 2nd hand. So over to you guys.. Could do with some advice, do you regret owning a mac, prefer it, can you watch xvid and divx on it easy enough. How does it compare speed wise to a pc in terms of "zip".

Does it have an MCE type application as well. Would love to see if mac do an MCE app and if it outperforms MCE in the way of usability. I could perhaps go for a mac mini to start with and just up the mem?
 
I can do everything on my Mac that anyone with a PC can do so it's definately a wise choice if you want to use a much more user friendly and stable os.

On your budget, and what you're looking to do I would probably look in to an Intel based Mac Mini, a MacBook, or an Intel iMac. This way you have the option of running Windows to play comp games, and Mac for everything else.

If you don't care about games, or leaving Windows in the dust then I would highly suggest you search around for a used G4 PowerBook, preferably 17". This is going to be the fastest option for any Photoshopping or video editing as the G4 is tailored with Adobe speed enhancing code which totally rapes face.
 
Anychance you can bag us a bargain one from the states dude :D

The mac minis are looking good for about 250 but they seem to be a little low end. For a media centre yes, photo shopping ..hmmmmmm

I love the idea of going dual core as id "feel" happy with it being up to date if that makes sense. In fact its now between a good G4 and a intel imac or macbook as i know me, im weak and will go back to the doze side now and again
 
Ive seen a few that I lubs but they mostly USA based. Cant understand why its a better deal to get one from the states that it is here.

You up for helping an Oc3d fellow member purchase a mac. Think I want to go laptop now definatly. The mac mini I might get if I can find something like MCE for it that lets me watch tv on it.
 
nope...no regrets about my mac AT ALL (got a PC for gaming but that is all i use the PC for). on what mac to get, it really depends on what you plan to do with it, if you just plan to do email web surfing word processing etc. the mac mini is deffinatley the way to go...if you get the mac screen they look much better than the iMac IMO.
 
shiftlocked said:
Ive seen a few that I lubs but they mostly USA based. Cant understand why its a better deal to get one from the states that it is here.

You up for helping an Oc3d fellow member purchase a mac. Think I want to go laptop now definatly. The mac mini I might get if I can find something like MCE for it that lets me watch tv on it.
Click to expand...

Everything is cheaper here mate :) Benefits of a huge arse country that likes to spend a lot of money.

I'm definately willing to help ya out. You find the best deal in the states and I'll help you acquire it.
 
Its now going to be used for

Photoshop

TV watching

World Of Warcrafting

The net and email type mlarky

Maybe some video editing (maybe tho)

That covers it. So im thinking that I really want to get the best I can within my budget. I know a laptop would cost more and give me less but still thats the same with pc ones. Bigger the screen the better obviously.

I did look on ebay but on the 3 items that I bidded on, 2 were removed from Ebay for being fraudulent and they looked darn legit to me !

Fragz. If you can sort us out mate that would be sweeeettttttt!!!
 
shiftlocked said:
Its now going to be used for

Photoshop

TV watching

World Of Warcrafting

The net and email type mlarky

Maybe some video editing (maybe tho)

That covers it. So im thinking that I really want to get the best I can within my budget. I know a laptop would cost more and give me less but still thats the same with pc ones. Bigger the screen the better obviously.

I did look on ebay but on the 3 items that I bidded on, 2 were removed from Ebay for being fraudulent and they looked darn legit to me !

Fragz. If you can sort us out mate that would be sweeeettttttt!!!
Click to expand...

Tell me exactly what computers you're eyeballing and I'll have a look for you mate.
 
Umm not sure TBH, what recommendations can you make for me so I can do a choose and pick.

If a 17" duo macbook is about then thats prolly the first choice to start with id imagine.
 
since you are planning on playing a game...i would stick away from the mac mini (intergrated graphics). for what you are going to be doing the Mac Pro is overkill.

as for laptops i would recommend the 17" powerbook/macbook pro any day. the people who complain about the weight of the 17" mac laptops really need to go to the gym or something...i have had my 17" powerbook for 3 years now not a single problem (save two minor repairs that needed to be done, they were both my fault :o).

my "favorite mac" would deffinaltey have to be the 17" powerbook/macbook pro...very very pleased with mine

i am happy to be more specific if you want me to be :)
 
(nips to apple site to see the diff)

The macbook does look ideal although I couldnt see the diff between the 2 that applie list. What recommendations could you make to help narrow it down.

13" screen would be a little small and I work out a bit now and again so I think I can just about manage 17" :D It wont be lugged about that much anyways but the sheer handiness of it would be a boon.
 
shiftlocked said:
Just been sent this link

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200021951745&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D200021951745%26fvi%3D1

Its a g4 but the screen is 17"

For only 100 quid more I could go with a new mac but its only a 13" screen.. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I have no idea about Mac's, but afaik the G4 cant run Windows - so that throws the ability of being able to dual boot into windoes for playing the odd game or using Windows-Only software out.

Do u need to be able to switch to windows at all?
 
That is definately an uber badass laptop, no question about it. But Mr. Jim is correct. The PowerPC line of proccies can't run Windows as they aren't x86 based such as the new Intels. Now you can emulate windows inside of osx for any windows apps u may need but you will not be able to game with that laptop unless the game is osx native.

I'd recommend a new standard MacBook with a Core Duo in it so that you can run Windows natively and still play some games. CS:S runs flawlessly on the onboard Intel gfx in that lappy from what I hear.
 
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