How many macs do you own?

[3SQ Machine]

How many macs do you have? Are you still using a desktop for some tasks and a laptop for portability? What about just one mac for everything? Or do you have a collection of macs, some of which you haven't touched in ages?

Curious to hear experiences. I used to have 2 macs, an iMac for music and a 13" MBA for general web browsing, couch surfing, and portability. A few years ago, I traded in the iMac for a 16" MBP M1 pro and like just having just one computer for everything. I'm currently at 2 again as I'm test driving the 14" M3 pro but am not convinced I'll ever need two macs again, outside of maybe an older hobby computer.

 

[casperes1996]

One iMac, one 16”MacBook Pro that I personally own and use. Then in my collection I have a g3 and a g4 iMac as well as a G4 iBook. Then for work which I don’t own personally but my employer does I also have a 16” mbp. In my home there’s seven Mac’s as the girlfriend also has a work laptop Mac

 

[eyoungren]

How many macs do you have? Are you still using a desktop for some tasks and a laptop for portability? What about just one mac for everything? Or do you have a collection of macs, some of which you haven't touched in ages?

Curious to hear experiences. I used to have 2 macs, an iMac for music and a 13" MBA for general web browsing, couch surfing, and portability. A few years ago, I traded in the iMac for a 16" MBP M1 pro and like just having just one computer for everything. I'm currently at 2 again as I'm test driving the 14" M3 pro but am not convinced I'll ever need two macs again, outside of maybe an older hobby computer.

Primary Mac: 2009 MacPro running Mojave.

Mac I use for filesharing: PowerMac G4 500mhz. PCI SATA card, 2 Gigabit NICs, 6TB hard drive.

Let's see, 5 Mac Minis, two of which are Early and Late 2008 Minis. 1 PowerMac G5 Quad, 1 PowerMac G5 2.0Ghz Dual Core, 1 2.7Ghz PowerMac G5, 1 2003 17" PowerBook G4, 1 2006 17" MacBook Pro, 1 15" 2008 MacBook Pro, 1 2004 12" PowerMac G4.

Work computers: 2023 13" MacBook Pro, 2015 15" MacBook Pro.

I'll spare you the list of broken/partly working Macs.

PS. I know people (particularly in the MacRumors PowerPC section and Intel section) that have entire collections. We're talking a large amount of Macs.

 

[Juicy Box]

Or do you have a collection of macs, some of which you haven't touched in ages?

That is me.

My Macs that are currently daily used:
2023 M2 Pro Mac Mini
2020 M1 Mac Mini
Two Late 2013 27" iMacs, one technically isn't at my home, but used by my daughter
Late 2012 27" iMac, this one has been having boot issues, and I am probably retiring
Mid 2012 11" MBA
Late 2011 17" MBP
2006 Mac Pro 1,1 - It has been running almost non-stop for the last 16 years, probably going to retire it soon

My Macs that are used infrequently, or I keep as part of a collection (most stored in boxes):
Mac Mini G4 - boxed
iMac G4 - boxed
Power Mac G4 MDD - dumpster find, sitting out in my basement
iBook G3 - I use it every once in a while, have plans to install a SSD
iMac G3 - boxed
Power Mac 6300 - boxed
Performa 631CD - boxed
Mac Plus - boxed

My Macs that are currently not working, but I am keeping around to fix or for parts:
Late 2012 27" iMac - parts, bad logic board
Mid 2011 27" iMac - Project Mac, attempted to install a non-Apple GPU, but I think the eBay GPU was bad
Mid 2007 20" iMac - Bad GPU, probably going to trash it
Power Mac G5 - Could never figure out what broke on this, worked great until it didn't

My basement looks like a grave yard for dead Macs.

Might still have a Macintosh Portable somewhere. It was actually given to me by a high school teach of mine in the mid 90's. It was donated to the class, but they couldn't get it to work. She knew I like Macs, so she asked if I wanted it, which I did. Not sure what happened to it. I still have a few other Macs that I owned from the 90s, but that one isn't with me. I will probably find it in my the attic of the house I grew up in after my parents pass away.

That teacher was the one that gave me the Mac Plus as well.

 

[rm5]

• 2020 M1 MacBook Air - what has been my main computer for nearly three years
• 2010 Mac mini, which I don't use
• 2011 15-inch MacBook Pro, which I only use if I need an optical drive
• 5,1 Mac Pro, which I used to use, but don't anymore

I'm thinking of getting a 2019 iMac, too, because I found a good deal for one from a local seller. Don't know if I'll end up doing that though, we'll see. I like the desktop + laptop setup, too.

 

[MacDaddyPanda]

Macbook Pro M3 Pro my main computer.
Mac Mini M2 was my main computer is now demoted to bedroom computer.
Macbook Air M2 is my backyard/mobile computer for more casual use.

 

[kschendel]

Macbook Air 15" is my general office computer as well as the travel companion.

2019 iMac desktop is still used for a lot of family stuff; my wife uses it a lot more than I do.

Somewhere on the basement shelves there's a 1998 Powerbook Lombard "bronze keyboard" that still works. I power it on every now and then just to see if it still boots. The display backlight is dying so it's not suitable for everyday use.

There used to be an older (intel) Macbook Air floating around, but we gave it to one of the grandkids.

All the other computers are Linux desktops. Oh, and one windows laptop (bought off FB marketplace for $50) that I dig out on those once-a-year occasions when I have to run Windows for some stupid reason or other.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Not long ago I was using 4 Macs. I am down to 2.

 

[GLS]

Too damn many.

Current daily driver here at home is a 15" Air. I carry a M2 Air in my daily work bag. Upstairs I have a 2019 Mac Pro, and an iMac Pro. In various closets, etc around the house there's another 30 or so desktops, laptops, Pros and Minis.

 

[Siliconguy]

MacBook Air M1
2014 Mini i5 in the stereo cabinet is playing Haydn as I type this.
2014 Mini i7 as file server.
2012 Mini in the shop as music streamer / lookup device, but it's running Linux.
2009 Mini in the antique computer lab as the bridge machine. (it's getting hard for new Macs to talk to old Macs.)

2010 Mac Pro as the hardware experimenting box, and windows box for the four things I use windows for.
2004 G5 Mac, still works, it was cheap. It's a single processor machine, really no faster than the 2002.
2002 Quicksilver Dual processor, kept for old software reasons.
Power Mac G3, has a Local talk port and 100base ethernet card, and fire wire, and USB.
Power Mac 7600.
Power Mac 6500, If only I could find the tuner card I'd have radio in the lab!
Power Mac 7200 for that fine 601 PPC goodness. (It's the 120 MHz version)
Mac 640 with a PC compatibility card if I could figure it out.
Mac LC III
Mac LC
Mac SE.

Then there is an Apple //GS (upgraded with a CF card), another GS with a SCSI card and hard drive, and an Apple //e.

But the real work gets done on a Linux box. (Ryzen 4600G). Apple's offerings of late are too port deprived to serve my purpose except for the Studio. That would do, but it's pretty expensive.

 

[Flash1420]

I have the MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Pro for programming and development, a MacBook Air M1 when I need to step out of the house, and a 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro.

 

[Harry Haller]

2020 i7 27" iMac.
My first Mac.
Was $600 off during last years black friday.
So $100 more than the Studio Display.

 

[zachz]

14 total.

M1 iMac yellow - daily driver, I’ve always had an iMac and will always use one as a daily driver until they completely discontinue the all in one.

16” M1 Pro MBP - daily driver when I’m not at my desk, use it for the occasional game.


27” iMac (2012) - previous daily driver, now it sits mostly unused although I’m thinking of installing Windows to play some old games from the 90s/00s

G4 Cube - my favorite I own, very occasionally boot it up just for fun and play some games or just to tinker with. I have the matching display that I recently got brand new in box for $40CAD, perfect stand!

iBook G3 - on display with my print copy of Steve Jobs: Make Something Wonderful

2008 MacPro - now a side table next to my couch

PowerMac G4 - a plant stand/cup holder in my reading nook

PowerMac G5 - beside my desk to hold my routers

Macintosh Classic - on display below Susan Kare’s Macintosh icon print in yellow to match my iMac (and my tattoo!)

PowerBook Pismo
iMac G3
iMac G4
2x eMacs

 

[svish]

4 Macs. 2 iMacs and 2 MacBooks.

 

[leifp]

Because I used to travel a fair bit, I was able to consolidate down to a single laptop. Often. Now that I have two locations where I spend 90%+ of my time, I can return to my preferred fold: the desktop. I have always hated laptops and even with the magnificent effort Apple has made in its M-series computers, I relish never owning one again. Every single compromise is one that jars me directly, and having a computer with me always and everywhere is more of a nightmare than a dream come true.

I don’t know if I’ll end up keeping the M1Max MBPro after I replace it (I can’t seem to keep useful tech sitting on a shelf, a personal failing…) but as my best friend mentions, I have returned to the laptop fold so often in the past that it would be foolish to think that I can abandon it… it is absolutely more computer than I need, but at some point it won’t be. The “Pro” chips are good enough but then the useful lifespan of my computer would be shorter. I replaced my OG 5K iMac when the combination of EoL macOS updates and noticeable speed reduction reared their heads. May my Mac Studio, whenever Apple adds Thunderbolt 5, last me nigh on a decade…

 

[HawkTheHusky1902]

That is me.

My Macs that are currently daily used:
2023 M2 Pro Mac Mini
2020 M1 Mac Mini
Two Late 2013 27" iMacs, one technically isn't at my home, but used by my daughter
Late 2012 27" iMac, this one has been having boot issues, and I am probably retiring
Mid 2012 11" MBA
Late 2011 17" MBP
2006 Mac Pro 1,1 - It has been running almost non-stop for the last 16 years, probably going to retire it soon

My Macs that are used infrequently, or I keep as part of a collection (most stored in boxes):
Mac Mini G4 - boxed
iMac G4 - boxed
Power Mac G4 MDD - dumpster find, sitting out in my basement
iBook G3 - I use it every once in a while, have plans to install a SSD
iMac G3 - boxed
Power Mac 6300 - boxed
Performa 631CD - boxed
Mac Plus - boxed

My Macs that are currently not working, but I am keeping around to fix or for parts:
Late 2012 27" iMac - parts, bad logic board
Mid 2011 27" iMac - Project Mac, attempted to install a non-Apple GPU, but I think the eBay GPU was bad
Mid 2007 20" iMac - Bad GPU, probably going to trash it
Power Mac G5 - Could never figure out what broke on this, worked great until it didn't

My basement looks like a grave yard for dead Macs.

Might still have a Macintosh Portable somewhere. It was actually given to me by a high school teach of mine in the mid 90's. It was donated to the class, but they couldn't get it to work. She knew I like Macs, so she asked if I wanted it, which I did. Not sure what happened to it. I still have a few other Macs that I owned from the 90s, but that one isn't with me. I will probably find it in my the attic of the house I grew up in after my parents pass away.

That teacher was the one that gave me the Mac Plus as well.

Damn💀

 

[eyoungren]

Damn💀

There is a user in these forums who has for the most part collected one example of every model and CPU option Apple offered in the entire PowerPC Mac lineup. Plus extras.

Right now they are all in a storage unit somewhere (he got married). But when he was single they filled every room of his apartment, including the closets. He has enough to open his own museum.

 

[MBAir2010]

MacBook Air 2010 in a box
MacBook Pro 2012 on loan.
(recycled a MacBook Air, Mac mini 2012 in October)

updated:
Im now tempted to get a Macmini 2014 just for Monterey and downstairs
instead of a ssd rive and enclosure.or that satechi Mac mini hub with a M.2 SATA SSD drive slot.

 

[MBAir2010]

There is a user in these forums who has for the most part collected one example of every model and CPU option Apple offered in the entire PowerMac/PowerBook line. Plus extras.

Right now they are all in a storage unit somewhere (he got married). But when he was single they filled every room of his apartment, including the closets. He has enough to open his own museum.

there was person who had many rows of colored G3 iMacs stacked upon them selves in shelfs.
they needed a Bondi blue mouse pad who I mailed to them back in 2008,

 

[eyoungren]

there was person who had many rows of colored G3 iMacs stacked upon them selves in shelfs.
they needed a Bondi blue mouse pad who I mailed to them back in 2008,

I edited my post to reflect PowerPC as a whole. No idea what I was thinking, I should have used PowerPC instead because that includes iBooks, iMacs, etc.

 

[Elusi]

Aside the collection of old stuff as I don't really think that was the question..

I have a work Macbook issued by my employer and a personal one. Ideally they'd be the same Mac (for environmental reasons if nothing else) but the device enrollment tech has the potential to be too invasive for me to consider that.

I do still have a separate desktop computer at home, however it's a PC as that makes me able to cover more ground overall. In terms of everything, really.

Maybe in the future I'll be able to simply dock the macbook and be happy with that. Seeing the performance of the M3 Max really got me playing around with the thought of just throwing out everything and have something like that as a base unit.

 

[dmr727]

Right now they are all in a storage unit somewhere (he got married). But when he was single they filled every room of his apartment, including the closets. He has enough to open his own museum.

There was a time in college where I collected just about every 68k Macintosh ever made. Not necessarily all at the same time, but I had 30-40 at any given moment. Never did find a PowerBook 550c though.

I even had a girlfriend during that time!

 

[BaggieBoy]

A 2018 MacBook Pro as my main machine. An M1 Mac mini as a media server. A 2012 Retina MacBook Pro as a spare, originally was going to be scrapped due to a bad keyboard but was revived using a 3rd party keyboard from China.

 

[HawkTheHusky1902]

There is a user in these forums who has for the most part collected one example of every model and CPU option Apple offered in the entire PowerPC Mac lineup. Plus extras.

Right now they are all in a storage unit somewhere (he got married). But when he was single they filled every room of his apartment, including the closets. He has enough to open his own museum.

lol that is cool

 

[msackey]

I just have one mac: MacBook Pro 13" touchbar

I've owned 8 other Macs:
SE/30; Centris 650; PowerBook 540c (bought used), iBook G3; PowerBook G3; PowerBook G4; MacBook Air (original model), MacBook Air

I just noticed I only ever had 2 desktop Macs! It's been laptops since the late 90s for me.