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Apple's line-up is driving me insane

U

UglyLittleSpud

macrumors member
Original poster
May 31, 2009
49
0
Okay, so I'm looking at getting a new Mac but...

I don't need the portability of a laptop.
I don't really need a laptop on a stand (iMac).
I can't afford the Mac Pro.

Right now, I'm open to suggestions as to what to do. Primary uses will be web browsing, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Garageband and I'm just getting into Cinema 4d/Maya and After Effects.
 
So, you need a mini. Buy the base model and upgrade the RAM to 4GB. Then if you can afford it get the apple 24" monitor. If not, get a cheap one off eBay :)
 
UglyLittleSpud said:
Okay, so I'm looking at getting a new Mac but...

I don't need the portability of a laptop.
I don't really need a laptop on a stand (iMac).
I can't afford the Mac Pro.

Right now, I'm open to suggestions as to what to do. Primary uses will be web browsing, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Garageband and I'm just getting into Cinema 4d/Maya and After Effects.
Click to expand...

Get the 24" iMac and spec up the graphics card. 1TB HDD, up to 8GB of RAM and the Radeon 4870 - nothing laptop on a stand about it. I don't know where people get that idea. It spanks the mini for performance and you have everything right there on your desk.
 
Chundles said:
Get the 24" iMac and spec up the graphics card. 1TB HDD, up to 8GB of RAM and the Radeon 4870 - nothing laptop on a stand about it. I don't know where people get that idea. It spanks the mini for performance and you have everything right there on your desk.
Click to expand...

If the MacPro is too expensive then a maxed out iMac probably is too...
 
Chundles said:
Get the 24" iMac and spec up the graphics card. 1TB HDD, up to 8GB of RAM and the Radeon 4870 - nothing laptop on a stand about it. I don't know where people get that idea.
Click to expand...

It uses laptop CPU and memory.
 
cube said:
It uses laptop CPU and memory.
Click to expand...

Big whoop. They're bloody fast machines and quiet to boot. The mini uses a laptop CPU and memory but Final Cut and Maya etc will suck on it because of the slow HDD and integrated graphics.
 
UglyLittleSpud said:
Okay, so I'm looking at getting a new Mac but...

I don't need the portability of a laptop.
I don't really need a laptop on a stand (iMac).
I can't afford the Mac Pro.

Right now, I'm open to suggestions as to what to do. Primary uses will be web browsing, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Garageband and I'm just getting into Cinema 4d/Maya and After Effects.
Click to expand...

Why is the iMac is an issue for you? The iMac would handle the programs your looking for beautifully. The iMac will outperform the MacBook Pro.....so I don't really get how you came to the conclusion of an iMac being a laptop with a stand.
 
Chundles said:
Big whoop. They're bloody fast machines and quiet to boot. The mini uses a laptop CPU and memory but Final Cut and Maya etc will suck on it because of the slow HDD and integrated graphics.
Click to expand...

So put a 7200 drive in the mini
and what integrated graphics?
 
akutad said:
Why is the iMac is an issue for you? The iMac would handle the programs your looking for beautifully. The iMac will outperform the MacBook Pro.....so I don't really get how you came to the conclusion of an iMac being a laptop with a stand.
Click to expand...

Perhaps I'm being overly harsh about it! Maybe an iMac would be best, but you can't get one with dedicated graphics for less than £1500...

I know this is a poor comparison, but I could build 2 i7 PCs for that amount (granted, they wouldn't be Macs and therefore would be inherently inferior).
 
How long do you want it for?
With the mini if you buy a nice display, you will only have to upgrade the computer for the next few years.
 
UglyLittleSpud said:
Perhaps I'm being overly harsh about it! Maybe an iMac would be best, but you can't get one with dedicated graphics for less than £1500...

I know this is a poor comparison, but I could build 2 i7 PCs for that amount (granted, they wouldn't be Macs and therefore would be inherently inferior).
Click to expand...

Then building a PC may be the best thing for you if you don't mind windows. It's a personal preference really. I sense you are carefully watching the $$$. You have two options. Buy a PC or mac mini now, or wait and save up for a mac that you would truly want. That's how I first started and am happy about it.
 
UglyLittleSpud said:
Okay, so I'm looking at getting a new Mac but...

I don't need the portability of a laptop.
I don't really need a laptop on a stand (iMac).
I can't afford the Mac Pro.

Right now, I'm open to suggestions as to what to do. Primary uses will be web browsing, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Garageband and I'm just getting into Cinema 4d/Maya and After Effects.
Click to expand...

Like with many others, only a Hackintosh can offer what you need. Buy one from PearC (in Europe) or Psystar (in the US).
 
UglyLittleSpud said:
I know this is a poor comparison, but I could build 2 i7 PCs for that amount (granted, they wouldn't be Macs and therefore would be inherently inferior).
Click to expand...
Well... of course you can buy 39827492879 PCs, but what will you do with them? It's just that I don't like the "I could buy X of *** instead of a ***".

I agree the iMac is the best solution here. It's better than the Mini, which does use notebook components (GPU, CPU, RAM, HDD) and will suit you just fine.

The 1500 pounds one is the best choice you can make. Save a few bucks (I assume you've already got at least 1000 pounds), and get it.

Or, you could buy a notebook and use it as the hardware, connected to a monitor of your choice, but this will end up being way more expensive.
 
Not Available said:
I agree the iMac is the best solution here. It's better than the Mini, which does use notebook components (GPU, CPU, RAM, HDD) and will suit you just fine.
Click to expand...

The iMac also uses notebook GPU, CPU and RAM with a desktop 3.5" HDD.

Sadly Apple doesn't make a computer with cheaper and more powerful desktop components so they are going to be more expensive than desktop PCs. If you need dedicated graphics then unfortunately the cheapest options are either the £1499 iMac or 15" MacBook Pro for the same money.
 
dubhe said:
So put a 7200 drive in the mini
and what integrated graphics?
Click to expand...

NVIDIA 9400M is an integrated graphics system. It is on board and uses system memory. It beats the pants off the old Intel GMA but it is still no match for the dedicated cards in the higher end iMacs.

The iMac will carve up the apps mentioned. It's a much better option than a specced up mini + decent monitor + ancillaries.
 
You can always opt for an older generation Mac Pro and get it used; will save you some money and it'll probably be more powerful than the current iMac and Mac mini.
 
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