Hello!
i sold my imac dv400 in september, i decided to build my own, i did it, but now i want a mac becuase i hate windows!
The only problem is that i have no sweet clue what to get!
I was intrested in the macbook, but i heard there are problems with it shutting down and overheating and the finish, and i love the mac mini, but i heard its slow with the base.
The imac is the obvious choice, but i still can decide.. any recomindations?
thanks!
-J.B.
My personal choice would be to go for the iMac beacause it gives you a large display and the ability to easily upgrade RAM, super drive and the hard drive.
Apple has just released a firmware update or something like that for users of MacBooks if you'd rather have more portability and you can always go for that black one as it won't have discoloration problems like the white ones do.
Most Macbooks don't have any problems at all, and the Core 2 Duo Macbooks seem to be without any problems and quite cool running. Please don't spread those myths.
I would recommend the iMac if you don't need portability, though.
What about the mac mini? they are cheap, are they pretty decent in the speed department?
Thanks,
J.b.
ps. sorry about the whole rumour thing, i read on a website that they had spontanious shut down problems on some models, but i do like the black ones! and I heard they were isolated cases.
that new 23" iMac sure is calling my name!
...and yes, it blows my mind totally! we have got 2 of them here at work, the screen is so huge! if you've got the money, go for it. regarding it's size, it is cheap as dirt!
At my work, I support a moderate sized user base that uses everything from pm 8500's to the latest and greatest mac pros. From what I've seen so far, and from personal experience (I owned a macbook for a few months), I would say that if you want portability, spend the money and get a MacBook Pro. So far, they have been far less problematic than the 13" MacBooks. Between overheat issues, logic board failures, and now backlight issues, I can not in good conscience recommend a 13" MacBook at this time. We'll see if the core 2 duo MacBooks shape up to be any better, but I doubt it as they are essentially the same machine as the core duo MacBooks, save for a different chip.
If you're getting a desktop, the iMac is the way to go. If you are planning to get a display, keyboard, and mouse with your machine, the Mac Mini does not make economic sense, as it isn't far from the price point of the faster, better equipped, more expandable iMacs. (more expandable as in 3.5" drives are easier and cheaper to come by in large capacities, as well as being available in capacities that 2.5" drives won't be for some time).
From the $999 integrated graphics 1.83 ghz core 2 duo iMac, all the way to the awesome $1999 24" iMac, you really can't go wrong. I had a 24" iMac for two weeks from Apple as an evaluation unit for some of my end users. I must say that I didn't want to give it back. The large screen is amazing, it's pretty fast, and very capable for what it is. However, for my uses (I'm the onsite support guy), I'm in the process of getting a 20" core 2 duo iMac for my desk. Good form factor, good performance, and good screen. For the price, you really cannot go wrong with an iMac.
The Mac Mini and Mac Pro are machines that I would only recommend for certain situations. The mini being for a semi portable desktop, you already have a display, kb&m, or want to use it with a tv. The Pro for video, audio, or serious number crunching. Anything else is well suited by an iMac.
The MacBook, while inexpensive, is exactly that. It's a new product in a new form factor, give it one more revision before buying one so that the teething issues are addressed. The MacBook Pro is just an evolution of the already solid, dependable aluminum PBG4, so those are pretty solid. The 13" MacBooks, like the iBook G4 before it, have been good for ensuring that my Imitrex prescription needs to be refilled on a regular basis.
Actually there are quite a few people having problems with MacBooks. 2 of my friends who own MacBooks have had multiple problems with shutdowns and other logicboard issues. My own MacBook pro has also had the logicboard replaced as well as the superdrive. I'm sorry, but its not a myth. Apple's hardware is total crap.
Total crap and problems covered under warranty repair are two very different issues.
http://www.modyourmac.com/?p=58
So why do you buy it then?
Mac OS anyone?
My mom's Macbook has had no problems and it runs cooler than my desktop PC and my Powerbook G4. My good friend's Macbook Pro has also had no problems. These are all original Core Duo 'books, not the Core 2 Duos that have had nothing but good reports.
It could be argued that Apple's QA is not as good as it once was. The reliability issues of the iBook (dual usb) and iBook G4 (just watch, there WILL be more logic board issues with that model), the beautiful but less than sturdy powerbook g4 titanium, and the teething issues of the 13" macbooks are a testament to this.
However, it is also safe to say that QA in the tech sector has gone downhill since 1993, and that's because of cheaper components, higher volumes, etc. As Apple becomes a larger volume vendor, there WILL be more QA issues as it is inherent in any large organization. Look at the problems Toyota is facing due to their efforts at making higher volumes http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/07/toyota_recalls.html .
If MS had a smaller user base and a locked platform, Windows would be a much better product than it is today. Higher margins on a smaller volume of product will almost always result in better QA.