which model apple mac to buy???

[Minitoots]

I have a very old iMac which still works ok but is nearly 8 years old, is very slow, and is version 10.3.9.

I need to get a new or newer reconditioned one. I don?t need/can't afford the newest swankiest model, and am on a pretty tight budget as I?ll be getting it on a credit card and can?t afford to pay it off for some time:(

I need it mostly for emailing, admin, storing photos etc.

I?ve also started to use photoshop and illustrator for work now and would like to be able to do more of that if I had a better computer!

Any suggestions of what I should get and where I could get the best value new or reconditioned one?

thanks for any advice!

[sophiesofa]

They do reconditioned ones on the mac website - so look there. It doesn't sound like you need a powerful one so don't let them talk you into more than you need.

[cate]

Systems Solutions in Blackwater Street sometimes have newer second hand Macs for sale. Karl knows a lot about them.

[MissM]

Why don't you get a PC? They are much cheaper.

[matty]

Why not just build a hackintosh and save a ton of cash? The build itself shouldn't take more than 60-90 minutes, and the OS install another 45, and its way easier to do than it was a year ago...

[Applespider]

Miss M, because for some price doesn't always equal value (and yes, I know that's a subjective argument)

Minitoots - I'd have a think about the kind of thing you want to do on it. If pics are important, then you want something with a decent sized screen - makes life much easier.

I'd suggest the following depending on what your priorities are - and I'd aim to get it with 10.5 on it (don't worry about 10.6). I'm currently using an iMac which is 2.5 years old and happily running Photoshop etc on it. I'm not sure I'd go much beyond the 3.5 year mark so models from mid 2007 onwards it what I'd be looking for to find out prices.

If you want a laptop, then you're looking either a Macbook (once they went aluminium rather than plastic - the screen on the plastic ones isn't great if you plan on working with pics) or an older Macbook Pro (which have much better screens). I had a Powerbook which I replaced with an iMac and while I don't entirely regret it, the portability with the gorgeous screen was great.

A newer iMac (one of the aluminium ones) would be a decent upgrade too - particular if that's the space you currently have - their slimness and near silence are fabulous. The 24" ones had better spec'd screens than the 20" ones although obviously will be dearer.

The other option in the second-hand market is the Mac Mini - yes, you need to go and buy screen etc (but you could use your old keyboard/mouse) but it gives you more screen size options and still keeps it all small and neat.

Where? There are a couple of Mac forums online which allow long-standing members to advertise. (eg. Macrumors)

[monica]

MissM Wrote:

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> Why don't you get a PC? They are much cheaper.

Unless you want viruses, I highly recommend you buy a Mac, they are dependable, classy and are easy to use.

I bought a MacBook Pro last summer and I havent looked back. Karl at Systems solutions is very helpful and will help you all the way through the process.

Good Luck

[Minitoots]

thanks for all the helpful advice so far1 (And sorry Miss M, you can't convert me to PC at any price!!)

[woofmarkthedog]

PC

(td)

[matty]

mac thumbs down

If you must use one (usually because the user is too lazy/computer illiterate or a sheep e.g your average EDF poster) then build your own, rather than throwing money towards this kind of crap, which does indeed happen here in the UK too.Or if you are too lazy to get the screwdriver out, steal one...

http://gizmodo.com/5427058/apple-gestapo-how-apple-hunts-down-leaks

[Minitoots]

update - I just bought an i-mac from apple and got a student discount of over ?120 even though I'm only doing an evening class at an adult education institute (the course actually cost me less than the apple discount)so if anyone else is doing an evening or p/t time course, you can also get a student discount. Apple are also doing a ?70 cashback on selected wirelesss printer/scanners when you buy a new computer so I got one for ?19 too.

So thanks again for all the helpful advice and as for Matty's comment, well yes I am too lazy/computer illiterate but at least I'm a bit more cheerful than you sound!

Signing off from this thread now.

Mindy

[*Bob*]

matty Wrote:

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> mac thumbs down

>

> If you must use one (usually because the user is

> too lazy/computer illiterate or a sheep e.g your

> average EDF poster) then build your own, rather

> than throwing money towards this kind of crap,

Hey that sounds like a great idea, Matty!

For the sake of spending a couple of grand - every seven years - on something that needs to run faultlessly every day - running the only software option there is for me, which also happens to be made by Apple, for Apple computers, I could INSTEAD knock something up from bits of string, some rusty parts from Maplin and casio calculator that doesn't work as well, looks shite - and spend the difference on (nearly) half a week in Spain for the family.

Makes sense.

[Waldo]

I bought under the student discount a number of years ago. It's not a lot off the actual machine but the applecare is wayyy cheaper.

[Jeremy]

Bob - are you a Logic user?

I was thinking of getting a macbook, but noticed they'd dropped firewire from the cheaper models... so not sure now...

[*Bob*]

Me Logic, yes.. Of course!

[MissM]

I have an imac and much prefer it to a PC, but I only do basic emailing, photo's, calendar stuff on it and do wonder if I wasted money going for the sexy imac rather than a PC which I had before without problems. Ho hum!