What do you want to do with it?
Web browsing, music/movie downloads, email, word processing, database,
presentations, picture and video archive and editing. All easily doable.
Inexpensive or free software? Software off the rack at Best Buy? Look
elsewhere. However, you will find everything that you need and it will be
highly functional and platform transferable.
Due to the evolution of the Mac OS more of the common functions are built
into the OS and do not have to be duplicated in apps. So things work
together, better.
IMac:
Pros - bigger/faster hard drive, more possible memory than Mini; everything
you need for a work environment, plus some. if you want to do a lot of home
video editing, start here.
Cons - all-in-one but everything that you will need for its lifetime;
Mini:
(a laptop in a small desktop format - more companies should make this)
Pros - small footprint, designed to be great as a "personal" computer, WiFi,
Bluetooth
Cons - you will hit limits with some "professional" level applications
Macbook Air:
Pros - portable (great for roving around the house), great as a "personal"
computer, magsafe power cord.
Cons - dependent on WAN/LAN internet connection or USB memory (no disk
drives - probably the next evolution for all computing devices)
Typical lifespan of a new Mac, for me, has been about 7 years. I retire one
usually, because it drops off the software upgrade path. Total cost of
ownership ...
Buy from an Apple dealer. In the rare event that you might need service, you
won't regret paying the small premium. As with all computers, add all the
memory that you can afford. Many of the big box retailers cannot even open
the case to install more memory (voids the warranty, though they won't
explain that).
I moved to Wintel boxes in the office for engineering software but the house
is all Mac.
I have a firewall router but I don't run any third-party security software
on the Macs - never had a problem. The office Wintels are a different story.
These are the things that come to mind. You won't regret the purchase.
I'm Paul and I'm a Mac ...
--
Paul Ransom, P.Eng.
ph 905 639-9628
fax 905 639-3866
ad026@hwcn.org
> From: Drew Morris <dmorris@bbfm.com>
> I have been thinking of getting an Apple iMAC or mini MAc for home. I
> know there are a few Macheads out there. Any suggestions? Likes or dislikes?
> You can respond privately to me if you wish. TIA
>
> Drew Morris
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