Hey guys,
I'd just like your suggestion on which setup I should get. I'm a college student that will be working this summer to save up for a computer setup which I'm in desperate need. I currently have none, and spend most of my time in the computer lab at school on the iMacs. I previously owned both the aluminum Macbook circa 2008 as well as the 1st generation iPad but at separate times.
I'm not necessarily in need of a powerhouse computer, I don't really do anything intensive though I do plan on learning the ins and outs of Photoshop as well as web design this summer. The most video editing I'd do is of sports clips I record on my Flip camera.
The setups I'm currently contemplating are..
1) Unibody Mac Mini + Apple Wireless Keyboard + Magic Trackpad + BulletTrain Express + Logitech Z2300 Speakers + HDTV
Which would come up to $1375 in my estimation. The benefit of this setup is that I can take my Mac Mini with me whenever I travel back home (international student) as well as the HTPC aspect of it, I used to use Boxee and Plex when I had my Macbook. The downfall I guess would have to be the power (it's a 2.4ghz Intel Core Duo which although I really don't know that is exactly I know is a lot less power than I'd get from 3.06ghz i3 iMac)
2) 21.5" iMac + Apple Wireless Keyboard + Magic Trackpad + Logitech Z2300 Speakers.
This setup would cost a little more at $1430. I wouldn't need the BulletTrain Express as I'd be sitting at a desk to use it and can probably do without both the Wireless Keyboard and Magic Trackpad though I'd love to have as clean of a setup as possible (Removing the Magic Trackpad and purchasing MM Fixed for the Magic Mouse that comes standard with the iMac would bring the price down to the same $1375 as the Mac Mini)
The benefit of it is I guess would be a cleaner setup and ofcourse the power increase over the Mini. However unlike the Mac Mini I wouldn't get an HDTV out of the deal (note: I do not have cable and the only benefit of the television would be to hook up to an OTA antenna in the future, which I'm aware I can do with the iMac in the future if need be by purchasing an Elgato EyeTV Hybrid) So it isn't that big of a deal, just something I keep in mind because it may be helpful in the future. The downfall would be portability, when I go home from school in the summer and during the Winter break I'd have to pay to bring it as extra luggage on the airplane or bring it as a carryon and end up having to pay for another suitcase regardless.
3)Hackintosh Setup + CR48 Netbook + Logitech Z2300 Speakers
The total of this setup would be a little more expensive at $1460. I've included the price of all peripherals and the monitor in the total but it is not an HDTV as in the Mac Mini setup. Also included in the price is the netbook. The processor I would use is a 3.06ghz i7 which would be the most powerful of the 3 setups. The benefit of this is that I get a netbook out of it. This would be the least portable of the solutions so I'd get the ChromeOS netbook to use whilst I'm out of the country. I can also take it to my classes with me to do note taking.
No matter what setup I chose I plan on getting an iPad 2 as well after falling in love with the first one I had. I do not factor it into the equation because it is a definite that I'll be buying one at some point. With the Mac Mini and iMac setup I would use my iPad & Wireless keyboard in class to take notes but with the Hackintosh setup I can use my iPad for what I'd really want it to be and that's for entertainment purposes, movies, games, books and some light browsing. When it was my sole device I didn't really feel it functioned well as a full on computer but as far as just taking notes on to edit later on my other device I'm pretty sure it'll do the job well enough for me.
Another benefit would be the upgradability of it. I hope to someday install a SSD, blu ray drive (for ripping & converting) and include a wireless keyboard and mouse eventually, concessions i had to make in order to keep the price down and get everything I wanted. The downfalls obviously would be the slightly higher price, lack of portability of it as well as the time it would take me to put it all together, something I've never done before but I have four months of summer and a lot of free time on my hand so i actually look forward to the challenge of it all.
I really appreciate any input I can get from anyone on which setup you think is ideal or even suggestions as to other things that might be better. Money is not the issue when it comes to purchasing what I want, Im just really unsure of which one I want and which would be best for me.
Thank you in advance, sorry for such a long question. I can provide more details if needed.
I'd just like your suggestion on which setup I should get. I'm a college student that will be working this summer to save up for a computer setup which I'm in desperate need. I currently have none, and spend most of my time in the computer lab at school on the iMacs. I previously owned both the aluminum Macbook circa 2008 as well as the 1st generation iPad but at separate times.
I'm not necessarily in need of a powerhouse computer, I don't really do anything intensive though I do plan on learning the ins and outs of Photoshop as well as web design this summer. The most video editing I'd do is of sports clips I record on my Flip camera.
The setups I'm currently contemplating are..
1) Unibody Mac Mini + Apple Wireless Keyboard + Magic Trackpad + BulletTrain Express + Logitech Z2300 Speakers + HDTV
Which would come up to $1375 in my estimation. The benefit of this setup is that I can take my Mac Mini with me whenever I travel back home (international student) as well as the HTPC aspect of it, I used to use Boxee and Plex when I had my Macbook. The downfall I guess would have to be the power (it's a 2.4ghz Intel Core Duo which although I really don't know that is exactly I know is a lot less power than I'd get from 3.06ghz i3 iMac)
2) 21.5" iMac + Apple Wireless Keyboard + Magic Trackpad + Logitech Z2300 Speakers.
This setup would cost a little more at $1430. I wouldn't need the BulletTrain Express as I'd be sitting at a desk to use it and can probably do without both the Wireless Keyboard and Magic Trackpad though I'd love to have as clean of a setup as possible (Removing the Magic Trackpad and purchasing MM Fixed for the Magic Mouse that comes standard with the iMac would bring the price down to the same $1375 as the Mac Mini)
The benefit of it is I guess would be a cleaner setup and ofcourse the power increase over the Mini. However unlike the Mac Mini I wouldn't get an HDTV out of the deal (note: I do not have cable and the only benefit of the television would be to hook up to an OTA antenna in the future, which I'm aware I can do with the iMac in the future if need be by purchasing an Elgato EyeTV Hybrid) So it isn't that big of a deal, just something I keep in mind because it may be helpful in the future. The downfall would be portability, when I go home from school in the summer and during the Winter break I'd have to pay to bring it as extra luggage on the airplane or bring it as a carryon and end up having to pay for another suitcase regardless.
3)Hackintosh Setup + CR48 Netbook + Logitech Z2300 Speakers
The total of this setup would be a little more expensive at $1460. I've included the price of all peripherals and the monitor in the total but it is not an HDTV as in the Mac Mini setup. Also included in the price is the netbook. The processor I would use is a 3.06ghz i7 which would be the most powerful of the 3 setups. The benefit of this is that I get a netbook out of it. This would be the least portable of the solutions so I'd get the ChromeOS netbook to use whilst I'm out of the country. I can also take it to my classes with me to do note taking.
No matter what setup I chose I plan on getting an iPad 2 as well after falling in love with the first one I had. I do not factor it into the equation because it is a definite that I'll be buying one at some point. With the Mac Mini and iMac setup I would use my iPad & Wireless keyboard in class to take notes but with the Hackintosh setup I can use my iPad for what I'd really want it to be and that's for entertainment purposes, movies, games, books and some light browsing. When it was my sole device I didn't really feel it functioned well as a full on computer but as far as just taking notes on to edit later on my other device I'm pretty sure it'll do the job well enough for me.
Another benefit would be the upgradability of it. I hope to someday install a SSD, blu ray drive (for ripping & converting) and include a wireless keyboard and mouse eventually, concessions i had to make in order to keep the price down and get everything I wanted. The downfalls obviously would be the slightly higher price, lack of portability of it as well as the time it would take me to put it all together, something I've never done before but I have four months of summer and a lot of free time on my hand so i actually look forward to the challenge of it all.
I really appreciate any input I can get from anyone on which setup you think is ideal or even suggestions as to other things that might be better. Money is not the issue when it comes to purchasing what I want, Im just really unsure of which one I want and which would be best for me.
Thank you in advance, sorry for such a long question. I can provide more details if needed.
