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Mac questions from a new Apple convert

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Jan 11, 2006
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This year I finally got my first iPhone (5) and iPad. I am not sure why I resisted the change for so long, but I am very glad to have made the change. I need a new desktop computer, and I think it makes sense to get a Mac since all my info can be easily shared from the iCloud. I only need the basics as I do nothing besides internet other than having pictures and some documents on my computer. What do you recommend from the lower priced desktop Mac's: iMac or Mac mini?
 
My DH has a mac mini and works perfectly for all his needs. He is lusting over the larger iMac tho!

I still love my macbook and like the laptop portability, but if I were buying new at this point, my preference would be the Mac Mini---- so effective and powerful and I already have a great monitor and key board.
 
I have both and a MacBook air. I prefer the iMac but DH prefers the Mac mini. I use the MacBook Air for work due to the light weight and portability. My kids have iPads and love theirs! So to each their own!
 
DH and I are Mac people. So are my parents! DH and I both have iPhone 4s and iPod touches. DH has iPad 2 and an iMac. He does a lot of video and photo editing. He stores a lot of stuff on his computer. His job is IT, so it was important to him to have the best computer. I have an older Macbook, but I hardly use it now that I got my iPhone. My mom has an iMac mini and she uses it for bills, email and to surf the web. That works for her! We also have Apple TV 1 and 2. We are Apple-nuts! :twirl:
 
Ok, thanks Enerchi and mom2boys! I have been using a laptop like a desktop and leaving it on all the time and having too many pages open, and my DH suggested that I need to get a desktop for my desk! Now that I have the iPad, I can use that as my portable device.

It appears that the Mac mini does not require an Apple display, etc. That might be a little more versatile. But the separate Apple display is super expensive and too big, so I'd either have to do the iMac or the Mac mini with non-Apple components.
 
gem_anemone|1353425885|3311002 said:
DH and I are Mac people. So are my parents! DH and I both have iPhone 4s and iPod touches. DH has iPad 2 and an iMac. He does a lot of video and photo editing. He stores a lot of stuff on his computer. His job is IT, so it was important to him to have the best computer. I have an older Macbook, but I hardly use it now that I got my iPhone. My mom has an iMac mini and she uses it for bills, email and to surf the web. That works for her! We also have Apple TV 1 and 2. We are Apple-nuts! :twirl:

Hmmm, I will have to explore Apple TV now! Thanks!
 
Another question....is there a word processing program already on the iMac and Mac mini? I am not seeing mention of that and wonder if you have to buy a lot of add-ons?
 
You would have to buy iWork or Microsoft office for Mac.

I personally use the Microsoft office for Mac.

Edited to fix typos...on my ipad! :saint:
 
LoveLikeCrazy|1353450340|3311400 said:
I personally use the Microsoft office for Mac.

Ditto. I was too used to my PC programs, so I stuck with Microsoft Office. Congrats on your conversion, DS! I've love my Mac! Apple's customer service, and their workers are so Nordstrom-y, I love it. They've bent over backwards for me, multiple times.
 
I would go with an iMac simply bec it has the monitor built in already and in theory a more powerful machine. Now I don't know if either comes with a DVD or cd reader burner anymore so you need to check that out.
 
Thanks for the input everyone!

I have hit a snag, though. This is a small desk with hutch and I can only handle about a 14" high monitor, and the iMac is a few inches higher. So that means I either have to do the Mac Mini with a non-Apple 19" monitor (because I am seeing some that have heights of around 14") or else go for a laptop again!!!

I guess I am going to have to call the Apple number and see what they say. I don't do anything complicated, but I do like to leave it on all the time and I like to have a LOT of tabs open at the same time. But that is one reason my husband said I should get a desktop. I don't understand enough of the technical aspects to even know what I need! I just thought it would be great if everything on the iCloud could go to all my devices.
 
If that's the case I'd get the mini and a view sonic monitor which I use with my Mac towers.
 
ame|1353461871|3311569 said:
If that's the case I'd get the mini and a view sonic monitor which I use with my Mac towers.

Oh, that is really helpful, Ame, thanks! Do you think that it is better to get the mini or would it be better to get one of the 13" laptops? I am using a 15.5" screen on my current laptop, and I am a little worried about going down in size. But the 13" Macbook pro is $1200 while the 15" is $1800, which I think is nuts!
 
I have the 11" MacAir and DH has the 13" MacAir. He also has the Mac Pro. I think you will be happy with whatever Mac you pick. I really struggled switching to Mac software. I did a monthly newsletter in Microsoft Publisher for years and even though we bought Mac Office, it doesn't have Publisher. I bought the iWorks and really like Pages now. It took awhile to get used to it but I like it better than Mac Word. I prefer Excel over Numbers though.
 
Thanks, Marcy! It sounds like a lot of people here have the Air. My only qualm about the air is that I'd have to go down to 13" and since I have an iPad, I sort of wish I could have a 15" laptop. I am making a list of the ones I think I'd like to have and then seeing what Apple puts on sale on Black Friday. It is killing me, though, to look at Dell prices and see that it would cost about a half to a third to get a laptop there. ;(
 
marcy|1353469071|3311690 said:
I have the 11" MacAir
Me too. I really love it. Had it at least a year and a half now -- 2 years in April I think. But I have since upgraded the memory so I'd suggest if you go for this model, get it as jam packed w/power as you can.


ETA: If you're sweating the Dell prices ... keep in mind that part of what you're paying for is security. Apple computers have FAR fewer viruses etc targeting them. Pretty fabulous customer service too.

EETA: Also wanted to mention that I downsized from a 15" and it wasn't such a hard transition at all.
 
I've been using a MacBook (not an Air or Pro) for the past four years, and have never had a problem with it!

I've left it switched on for very nearly all of that time. I lug it around everywhere I go, and have a DVD on averaging on 4 hours a day I'd guess. Its runs exactly the same as ever, and it looks near perfect. I absolutely love it! I did buy Microsoft Office.

I just wanted to chime in to sing some praise! Enjoy your new Mac, whichever you choose!
 
I didn't suggest the laptop up front simply bec you didn't seem like that was what you wanted nor was it really your initially "offering". But for the space constraint and portability it's a good idea. Then you can travel with it too. I would go with a pro over an air myself but I use them for my work vs what you'd be using it for. Whatever you do get, I'd get the largest screen you can afford and max out memory and power even if it costs more on the front bec you want it to be relevant as long as possible. And get AppleCare on it. Mine just ended in my older iMac and I think the disc drive is dying so I'm a little annoyed that I either need to use a tower or other machine for burning now which is a pain bec I use this machine for most of the work that gets backed up or sent out on disc.
 
Thanks so much deco, chewbacca, and ame!

I was just looking at Windows 8 and I really think it would be nuts to go on into that when all my other devices are Apple. It looks like it is mimicking Apple, but it would be an incompatible system. The thing is, I can keep a Dell for 2 years, give it to one of my kids and then get an upgrade for me. I'd have to keep the Mac a lot longer than that!

Ame, I was originally thinking desktop because the computer stays on my desk all the time. I take my iPad when I travel (and before that I had a netbook). This would be easy if I had the space because I'd probably get the smaller iMac. But since I can't, I have to decide between the mini and the macbooks.

deco, you upgraded to how much memory? 4GB is twice what I have in my 2.5 year old pc laptop, I think. I don't download much but the one thing I do is keep a LOT of tabs open at one time!
 
Get whichever is the most "maxed out" that you can afford then. Laptop or mini. The view sonic monitors (or even a dell monitor) aren't that expensive if you go with a mini. Just max out whichever you go with and it will stay relevant longer. I had a titanium power book that was like 13 or 14 yrs old just finally die, I thought it was dead two years ago and I managed to resuscitate her but this time I think it's for real. That dang thing was like a cat. It had a lot of lives. But it's specs now are hilarious, 20gig hd!


Eta: it appears the mini doesn't offer any option for a built in SuperDrive (cd/DVD) which would for me be a deal breaker. The MacBook Pro 15" that is like 1799 + I think(quad core 2.3) has it iirc.
 
Oh, I did not even notice the ones that didn't have a cd drive. I rarely ever use one, but I will have to think about that.
 
It's something to think about. If you end up wanting to share photos, like a lot, with someone that's often the easiest way to do so, mail a cd. Or if you want to burn a disc to listen to in the car instead of connecting your phone to the car... It's just a little thing that you might miss.
 
Not to mention software install cd's
 
Let's see... I'm a bit embarrassed to say that we have gone through all Mac products I think except for ipads. We have both an iMac and and a Mac mini. Might have been the user (teenage son), but the mac mini was almost more trouble than it was worth. It had to be repeatedly fixed for software glitches and hardware malfunctions. This involved of course, dealing with the genius bar, and being told every time that it must be something we were doing as Mac minis just don't break :rolleyes: We all have other apple products now, including the work horse iMac and have never had problems, other than charge cord issues. I would stay steer clear of the Mac mini, unless space is an issue. If you do go that route, know that you do not have to go with an Apple monitor, but can get a great, calibrated monitor elsewhere for much less. It used to be that the ones Costco sold were the ones the Apple guys recommended when no one was around to hear them!
 
Thanks, Minuous! My only choices really are a 13" Macbook or the mini, so I don't know how it will turn out. My plan is to watch the sales on Friday and see what the best deal is. The computer that would have everything I want is a 15" Macbook Pro, but I am just not at the point of spending $2k+ for a laptop!
 
If you are happy with your keyboard, mouse and monitor as it is now, then the MacMini with the external "super drive" (DVD drive that plugs into the USB port) is available for an extra $79. This info is directly quoted from DH and he wanted you to know that would be probably be an approx $700 investment, including the superdrive. He's only used the superdrive about twice in the 1.5 years he's owned it, so not sure if that is a piece you would need right away, or maybe add later from the Apple store, if you find you do require it. Apparently, Apple rarely have any sales, so you may not notice a Black Friday special, but if you are willing to look at refurbished, thru the apple.com website, they are slightly less and still carry the full Apple warranty. My DH is trying to get another convert to the Mac team, apparently!! :bigsmile:

(Much less than the laptop, if you know that it will always be stationed in the one spot on your desk.)
 
Thanks, Enerchi, and tell your DH thanks, too!

I currently use a 15" laptop, so if I switch to the mini, I will still be buying a monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse (unless my current mouse would work). I probably don't really need the dvd drive. The only time I can recall using one on the current computer was when my son had an xray on cd! The thing I hate the most is having speakers and speaker wires because most of the 19" monitors I am seeing do not have integrated speakers. I do think the mini would be the least expensive option, though, even with the extra items I'd have to buy. I am still uncertain about how much memory to buy, though.

I got an email from Apple telling me they were having Black Friday specials, but they aren't revealing what the specials are until it starts! It could all be accessories, but we'll see. There are going to be good sales on Dell laptops on Black Friday, so I am still not ruling that out, although I'd stick with Windows 7 and not deal with Win 8.
 
More DH input, hoping this may help:

All Mac Mini's come with at least 4G of memory and for what you have said you want it for, you should be more than fine with that amount. Your current mouse would be fine with the mini. If you are looking for a 21" iMac you'll need 18" tall by 21" wide and won't need to worry about speakers/wires/keyboard/mouse. That runs approx $1300.

(DH loves this kind of research!!!!)
 
diamondseeker2006|1353534659|3312408 said:
Thanks, Minuous! My only choices really are a 13" Macbook or the mini, so I don't know how it will turn out. My plan is to watch the sales on Friday and see what the best deal is. The computer that would have everything I want is a 15" Macbook Pro, but I am just not at the point of spending $2k+ for a laptop!

Another route to consider is refurbished Apple products. Cosmetic appearance is as good as new and they come with 1 year warranties. The offerings change, but right now you can get a 15" Macbook Pro for less than $1400. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro/15

While I've not bought a refurbished product, everyone I know who has hasn't had any problems at all.
 
Enerchi|1353541280|3312487 said:
More DH input, hoping this may help:

All Mac Mini's come with at least 4G of memory and for what you have said you want it for, you should be more than fine with that amount. Your current mouse would be fine with the mini. If you are looking for a 21" iMac you'll need 18" tall by 21" wide and won't need to worry about speakers/wires/keyboard/mouse. That runs approx $1300.

(DH loves this kind of research!!!!)

The iMac would be perfect for what I need if I could handle the height. But my desk has a hutch over it and I can't handle more than 14.5" in height. That is unfortunate because the iMac would give me the most for the money. Tell him thanks again!
 
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