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Considering a mac...

L

LiquidOps

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 19, 2007
4
0
Hi all,

I'm considering getting a Mac as my next computer. I currently have a PC that's getting old quickly. I'll skip the foreplay and just say what I'm looking for in the computer:

-Enough power for gaming (I'll be running XP on Boot Camp as well; call it blasphemy but I gotta have my games)

-Enough power for movie editing and photo editing

-Mobility is useful, but it's mainly gonna be used as a desktop

I was looking at the MacBook Pro, but christ it's expensive! Also, should I hold off on getting a Mac until after WWDC? I know how Apple likes to make their hardware 10x better every 4 months, and I'd really hate to get screwed over by buying a MBP right before Apple updates it to be strong enough to shoot down nukes and asteroids.
 
LiquidOps said:
Hi all,

I'm considering getting a Mac as my next computer. I currently have a PC that's getting old quickly. I'll skip the foreplay and just say what I'm looking for in the computer:

-Enough power for gaming (I'll be running XP on Boot Camp as well; call it blasphemy but I gotta have my games)

-Enough power for movie editing and photo editing

-Mobility is useful, but it's mainly gonna be used as a desktop

I was looking at the MacBook Pro, but christ it's expensive! Also, should I hold off on getting a Mac until after WWDC? I know how Apple likes to make their hardware 10x better every 4 months, and I'd really hate to get screwed over by buying a MBP right before Apple updates it to be strong enough to shoot down nukes and asteroids.
Click to expand...

Three choices:

Mac Pro. Watch out for the sticker shock.

MacBook Pro. 15" or 17" Same dilemna.

24" iMac upgraded RAM and graphics card.

Tell us what you like and we'll help narrow it down.
But if you're not willing to spend a little money for a higher end Mac to handle both the gaming and above average video editing, then stop now.
 
How mobile does it really need to be?

If you need the power more than the mobility, I'd recommend the iMac. If the mobility is more important, you can't go wrong with a MBP. Yes, they're a little expensive, but what you spend up front on the computer is money you would have spent down the line on the PC getting it fixed from malware.
 
Yeah, you're gonna have to get over the price fear. Apple high a high sticker value, no matter what you get.

For what you're asking about a MBP would probably suit you best, but depending on how heavily into video editing you are, you might wanna go with a macpro.

What's your price range though? Perhaps you could look into a refurb model of a MBP.
 
Value and quality!

I agree w/ eveyone else...if you need mobile, go w/ MBP...otherwise, go iMac...

the price is high, but the resale value (if you ever intend to resell) is quite high and keeps for years...just pointing this out 'cause most switchers don't realize it.
 
NtotheIzoo said:
I agree w/ eveyone else...if you need mobile, go w/ MBP...otherwise, go iMac...

the price is high, but the resale value (if you ever intend to resell) is quite high and keeps for years...just pointing this out 'cause most switchers don't realize it.
Click to expand...

Excellent point. A lot of people bought CD iMacs last Jan and bought C2Ds again in Sept. Sold their CD iMacs on ebay for $100-400 less than they bought it for. That's not bad to have the latest tech and rent it for $10-50/mo. Even at $50/mo. That's the equivalent of a new machine every 2 years for $1200 but getting one every 10-12 months.
 
Yes, the Macbook Pro is expensive but worth every penny in my book, and it easily outperforms the G5s which are still very powerful machines.

Also if you are looking for that desktop touch, I use an 21" external monitor with the lid closed on the Macbook which turns it into a very space saving desktop machine. Although I hear you might have trouble doing this if you dual boot with Windows but I'm sure it will be fine with Parallels.
 
Unless you really want portability, and need a Mac before this summer, I'd say wait until the WWDC in June to see what kind of updates arrive, and then buy yourself a Mac Pro - especially if the GeForce 8800 or Radeon R600 show up this summer in the Mac Pro.
 
epochblue said:
How mobile does it really need to be?

If you need the power more than the mobility, I'd recommend the iMac. If the mobility is more important, you can't go wrong with a MBP. Yes, they're a little expensive, but what you spend up front on the computer is money you would have spent down the line on the PC getting it fixed from malware.
Click to expand...

Never had extreme malware problems on my PC... but whatever. Mobility would be nice, you know for notes in class and whatnot. I don't necessarily NEED a super-powerful gaming solution, I mean my computer I have right now runs current games OK.

How's the MacBook looking?
 
LiquidOps said:
Never had extreme malware problems on my PC... but whatever. Mobility would be nice, you know for notes in class and whatnot. I don't necessarily NEED a super-powerful gaming solution, I mean my computer I have right now runs current games OK.

How's the MacBook looking?
Click to expand...

It really depends on how long you're willing to wait. Intel's new Santa Rosa platform will bring a significant upgrade to the integrated graphics found in the MacBook. Depending on how these new graphics perform, and your definition of "super-powerful", the MacBook (once it's updated) with RAM might be fine for you.

Major problem there is we don't know when Apple will update them, so you might be looking at Fall (worst case)
 
LiquidOps said:
Never had extreme malware problems on my PC... but whatever. Mobility would be nice, you know for notes in class and whatnot. I don't necessarily NEED a super-powerful gaming solution, I mean my computer I have right now runs current games OK.

How's the MacBook looking?
Click to expand...

People say the MacBook is a decent gaming machine, even though it has integrated graphics, it can still handle some light to medium gaming. However, with Santa Rosa coming, the GPU upgrade is suppose to be fairly substantial, though you will most likely have to wait till this summer - sometime between late June and early August - to see that in the MacBook. My guess would be mid July.
 
You need to tell us what games you are playing. I have a macbook and play Warcraft 3 like crazy on it for hours on in. I also take it to class because its so small and type notes. I love this computer way more than my windows machine because there is nothing to worry about ever. No pop ups no slow downs no errors no nothing I cant believe mac isnt the #1 OS used instead of windows its so much better.
 
roland.g said:
...A lot of people bought CD iMacs last Jan and bought C2Ds again in Sept. Sold their CD iMacs on ebay for $100-400 less than they bought it for...
Click to expand...

If that was so easy, everybody would be doing that. Agreed that the value of a Mac doesn't go down as much as a PC in the same time period but the condition of the Mac, selling expertise of the seller be it on ebay, Craigslist or in person and finally the prudence to see scams and frauds are of equal importance. If you don't have the experience in selling stuff, you may lose more than just money (think time, peace of mind, dealing with phone calls and e-mails).

You don't change your car, every time a new model is released but only when your old one doesn't fulfill your needs. The same thing applies to computers.

Better to determine what your current and immediate future needs are and then buy a computer that would last long enough for your needs. Jumping to the latest hardware/software doesn't help if the new developments aren't critical to your work.
 
roland.g said:
Three choices:

Mac Pro. Watch out for the sticker shock.

MacBook Pro. 15" or 17" Same dilemna.

24" iMac upgraded RAM and graphics card.

Tell us what you like and we'll help narrow it down.
But if you're not willing to spend a little money for a higher end Mac to handle both the gaming and above average video editing, then stop now.
Click to expand...

Agreed but a mac pro isnt good for mobility. If you are looking for mobility i would go with the 17" Macbook Pro. Its worth every penny. And i did not read all the posts so im sorry if anyone else has already said this. :eek:
 
I love my MacBook Pro (15" 2.33) I was once a PC guy and well since my switch my PC gets used by my brother than me and I play World of Warcraft on it and it handles the game fine.
 
An older MacBook Pro might not be a bad option for you, if the current ones are a bit steep for your budget. I've got a 15" 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro with maxed-out RAM, and it handles pretty much anything I throw at it like a champ. You could kick it up another notch to 2.16 GHz and have a machine that should handle your gaming needs quite nicely. I tend to be wary of buying before any Apple event, too, but my MBP has been with me since August now, and I really feel like I'll be keeping it around for a lot longer. It's an extremely capable machine.

Screen size depends on personal preference, really. I wouldn't want anything bigger than what I've got--I'm actually looking for a slightly smaller companion model--but the 17-inch screen is really pretty. If you have an Apple Store near you, it might not be a bad idea to head down there and compare the two in person.

Also, added bonus: if you can wait and WWDC does feature hardware updates in whatever section you're looking to buy from, the prices of the previous models will drop shortly thereafter. Depends on how patient you are. It can be pretty hard. :p


~Kalmia
 
Since you do more gaming, you might be better off buying a PC than a mac. Unless you must have OS X, Sony makes nice PCs and with the new Vista they are not half bad for their price.

If you really like OS X, wait till SR and then get a refurbished MBP and they hold value like a champ if you want to keep the machine for a couple of years. If you do bootcamp, also figure in the windows license cost as well.
 
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