iOS What year Mac to use to develop apps?

[techguy15]

I want to get into building simple apps and learning Xcode and Swift. I don't have a Mac yet and can't afford the latest models. My question is what year model I need to get for developing. I've read online that some get by with 2009-2010 and some say you need a later model. I know you need the latest OS X version.
What I don't want to do is budget so low, get a Mac and then find out that next year it won't be supported anymore and I'm stuck with an outdated machine. I appreciate all the input. Thank you.

 

[thats all folks]

laptop, desktop, tower, iMac...?

if you want a Mac Pro tower, the 2009-2012 years are the place to go for a low cost powerhouse that can be upgraded and modified with now cheap parts.

if you want a laptop or iMac... at least a 2011, model depending.

are you proficient in opening up and working inside of computers?
what are your other requirements? (portability, lots of storage, multiple monitors...)
and really, how much can you afford, what do you already have to bring to the party?
details, ever more details.

 

[techguy15]

laptop, desktop, tower, iMac...?

if you want a Mac Pro tower, the 2009-2012 years are the place to go for a low cost powerhouse that can be upgraded and modified with now cheap parts.

if you want a laptop or iMac... at least a 2011, model depending.

are you proficient in opening up and working inside of computers?
what are your other requirements? (portability, lots of storage, multiple monitors...)
and really, how much can you afford, what do you already have to bring to the party?
details, ever more details.

Sorry I wasn't being specific enough.
Budget: around $500
I'd prefer to get a laptop. I wouldn't mind an iMac if I was only planning on working at home but I'd like to work at my local library so portability is a must.
Technical proficiency: I've worked on phones but not computers. I have a close friend who works on them and if anything went wrong or I needed an upgrade he could step in.
So realistically I'd like to spend $500.
Question: you said 2011. How long do you think 2011 models will be upgraded and when will they be considered obsolete?

 

[Floris]

You could try to get a refurbished mac mini perhaps, with a usb keyboard and mouse.
These are pretty new still, and fast enough for xcode and swift development.

This page shows you for under 1000 you can get 2015/2014 models,
so surely anything from 2013/2014 you could find new or refurbed in a shop somewhere .. might be around 500 or 600.
Which is a good price.

I do recommend to try and find something more modern, if not only so you just can get the most out of it.

 

[thats all folks]

$500 isn't really going to get you much of anything. Apple stuff holds it's value something fierce. for a laptop, you are way back in Core 2 duo territory. and even then, something a little beat. also figure that on an older computer that you should replace the now 5 to 8 year old hard drive (add that into the cost). don't expect much of the battery either.

and Apple had a lot of models with poor integrated graphics (or shared memory GPUs), avoid the Intel HD 3000. that was a dog. 2012 brought the 4000 and things got a little better from there.

I'd recommend the 13" Air (2012 or 2013). recommend you go for the i7, 8GB RAM and at least the 256GB SSD. I have a 2012 and don't really treat it well and it has held up. a good price on that is $600. for example:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201690380167
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172370885718

 

[AxoNeuron]

I'd recommend a hackintosh, and even then, $500 really won't go that far.

Your best bet is to save up a bit more. A hackintosh will really go a lot farther, dollar per dollar, than an actual Apple machine would, assuming you don't care about mobility.

 

[Floris]

I'd recommend a hackintosh, and even then, $500 really won't go that far.

Your best bet is to save up a bit more. A hackintosh will really go a lot farther, dollar per dollar, than an actual Apple machine would, assuming you don't care about mobility.

Apple developer program has no issues with xcode on hackintosh ?

 

[AxoNeuron]

Apple developer program has no issues with xcode on hackintosh ?

There's no one in Apple HQ checking your serial number whenever you submit an app.

I recently built a machine that is literally faster than anything Apple sells at any price point, and it's amazing. I've submitted plenty of apps on it without a problem.

 

[Floris]

Ok. Thanks for the extra info.

 

[PhoneyDeveloper]

If at all possible get a Mac with an SSD. For a development-only machine 256GB should be fine. If possible get 12 -16 GB RAM. You can probably get away with 8GB but 12 -16 GB is better.