Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Occasional Windows Gamer contemplates making the jump to Apple
- Thread starter jmpage2
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The Mac mini is a "real" Mac.
Yes I know it's a "real" Mac, which is why when I said if I upgraded from it to a "real" Mac I put "real" inside of quotations.
The bottom line is that the Mac Mini is not going to cut it for me playing Starcraft 2 when it comes out, etc.
While this might not matter much to some, it does matter to me.
An iMac with 24" monitor, integrated audio, camera, etc, is actually more appealing than getting a Mac Mini and having all of those peripherals purchased separately.
If I purchase a Mac Mini + Mighty Mouse + Keyboard + 24" Cinema Display I would be spending around $1700 anyways and would have far inferior graphics performance than the iMac, less RAM, smaller hard disk, etc.
The only reason I would contemplate the Mac Mini is to get my feet wet with OSX and get more time to decide if OS X is really what I want to move to.
It's just surprising to me that you'd get a Mac to play effectively Starcraft 2, etc. In addition why do you need an Apple mouse and display? I can understand the keyboard.
No, I'd be getting a Mac to have a Mac that runs OS X. The ability to play Starcraft 2 or any other game is just something that I am going to expect out of any new computer I buy.
I realize that it makes no sense to you. You'd rather have a Mac Mini and then a separate Windows PC for gaming, but as I previously mentioned I'd really rather not have two machines on my desk, KVM switch, etc, to accomplish this.
The Apple hardware is elegant. This is one of the reasons I am contemplating doing this over building a FrankenMac (which I could probably do pretty easily seeing as I've been hacking on PCs for all of my adult life).
Which is why I have a Macbook and my Windows gaming machine.
A hackintosh might be the route for you if you decide against something from Apple and you want to get the best value on hardware.
A hackintosh might be the route for you if you decide against something from Apple and you want to get the best value on hardware.
I think that the 24" imac with the gfx card upgrade would suit your needs well. It would be able to play pretty much any game very well under bootcamp and once you get used to a few of the "quirks" of OS X, it's a far better platform than Windows and performance doesn't "deteriorate" under heavy use nearly as much as Windows. The only caveats I could see would be the lack of blu-ray but if you already have a PS3 I'm not sure why you would want to play it on the small mac screen as there is no real way to "rip" blu-ray on mac yet. Normally I would recommend a MBP but since you already have a laptop that you have to use, the iMac seems like a better idea as you get more with the same specs. The mac pro would probably be overkill in your scenario unless you're dead set on upgradeability. Be sure to check out the glossy screen (which I like but many people don't) at an apple store before you purchase.
Ya, I do think if I go the Mac route that the iMac with 24" and Radeon 4850 probably makes the most sense. I can get the $1799 24" iMac with Radeon 4850 for $1870 so that's not a bad deal really. Even though I could build a higher spec PC for the same price it doesn't have the hardware elegance not to mention the Operating System.
It's a bummer that Blu-Ray support is unlikely to make it to the Mac this year with the Snow Leopard update. That was one of the things I was really hoping for.
I'm not as concerned with playing Blu-Ray discs on the 24" screen as I am with being able to author home movies in that format. All of my friends and some of my family now have BD players and it would be nice to start working in that format, it's quite a bit more robust than DVD.
I keep hearing about all this support stuff. What is there to support? Doesn't one simply purchase the blueray drive, connect it, load the accompanying software, insert the media and just use the frigging thing?
That's how it worked in the past when other new tech products were first released - CDs, DVDs, DAT tape, Qic-Tape, MO Drives, etc. etc. Why would BlueRay or HDV drives be any different?
,
That's how it worked in the past when other new tech products were first released - CDs, DVDs, DAT tape, Qic-Tape, MO Drives, etc. etc. Why would BlueRay or HDV drives be any different?
,
I'm not aware of there being much easy about it. I believe that to author Blu-Ray on the Mac you need Toast Titanium (expensive) as well as an external aftermarket Blu-Ray drive (very, very expensive).
If Apple embraced BD support then in all likelihood there would be basic authoring capabilities for the media right in the OS as well as at least a few hardware options that include a BD burner on some machines.
Personally if I'm going to get a svelte, expensive, iMac, I would prefer not to have to get an expensive and clunky external drive to connect to the stupid thing just to author discs.
My Macbook Pro has an internal blu-ray drive, however your right it was expensive, and required some work on my part to install it.
Recently all Blu-Ray licensing was rolled into a single fixed fee license that I believe is about $30 per machine.
This really does pave the way for Apple to introduce Blu-Ray drives into some of the higher end machines by year's end or early next year.
But that's always the way it's been. When CD drives 1st came out no PC included them. It was an external square box till the VARs and OEMs could get their stuff together. I paid $2,300 for my first CD Writer. It was 4x and awesome... Umm, Yamaha C-something I think. DVD was the same. We're wanting it to magically change now? I don't think it will - I could be wrong.
they wont though. possibly as a BTO option in the top end Mac Pro and Macbook Pro 17".
What's magical about getting Blu-Ray support on the Mac when it's been available on PCs for over 2 years now.
If I add a Blu-Ray reader to a Dell, etc, it adds about $90 to the price and includes the software support.
So, we're talking small $$$, not thousands.
We're also not talking about cutting edge technology when the drives have been on the market for three years now.
Well, the clock is running out, as the support would have to be showing up in seed loads that go out to developers in just the next couple of months.
There was a rumor running strongly in the fall that Snow Leopard would have native BD support for playback/write functions in the OS itself.
Time will tell I guess but certainly not holding my breath at this point.
Nope.
You can probably get about a $300 external BD drive, connect it to the Mac and have to use 3rd party software to get it to work.
All I'm saying is that it would be nice if Apple at least offered a BD drive on the top spec iMac, Macbook Pro and Mac Pro as an option so that you pay a bit less for it and have it integrated directly into the machine as opposed to having to hook up a big clunker of an external drive.
Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Sory for askig all the questions. I've never considered a BR (BD?) drive for anything yet. Just heard about the standards war between that and the HD thing. So I know nothing about them. Thanks for the patients bro!
BTW, are they actually good for backups or is the same thing as DVD... very temporary.. ?
No, it can't. Most of the 3rd party software I use regularly are Window based.
You can initiate Boot Camp and be able to run Windows and Mac OS X. Therefore, you can play your games and if you like to do editing and stuff, you can switch back.
You see.. This kind of statement really bothers me. Why do you guys do this? Its so embarrassing. You guys trash Windows/ Microsoft / PC's so much but actually I would say Apple is getting further and further behind each day.
1. Why on EARTH is there no 64bit software on Apple machines? Every CGI artist needs to access more than 2.5GB. Answer is Windows / Linux. NOT Apple. Even Photoshop isnt 64bit on Apple. I mean we're talking 2 years+ behind schedule here.
2. Blu-ray / new media technologies. The only reason this isnt available is because it takes sales away from iTunes. This is terrifying. So now, let me get this straight, technology will be limited according to iTunes. How does the consumer win? This is what happened with Netflix.. again a year+ behind PC schedule.
3. Cost. PC's are substantially cheaper. No need to elaborate here.
4. Upgradeability. Because Windows can run on an infinite number of configurations (which many Mac users forget - wow.. how hard it must be to get an operating system stable on 20 different machines), I can get the latest graphics card in my machine whenever I want.
5. Games. Enough said.
6. Mouse. Why do the laptop Macs ship with one mouse button? I have 5 fingers. Is it easier to ctrl click??? Embarrassing.
7. Windows Explorer vs Finder. I havent met any serious person who thinks finder is better at manipulating files.
8. Mini DV adapter. Pleeeeeeeeeeease dont make me go there. (Laughs as he plugs an HDMI cable into his laptop)
9. Green. Apple are still bottom of the PC manufacturers pile for their policies on recycling / environmental. http://www.environmentalleader.com/...-most-eco-friendly-greenpeace-says-different/
So I proudly use a PC. Fortunately, 90% of the world agrees with me. But then again we must all be doing something wrong.
Leopard (Apples operating system) is 64 bit
Photoshop CS4 is actually Open GL and far more advanced than the Windows version at utilizing system resources.Its called broadband, and Blu-Ray will be outdated before Apple get around to introducing it anyway.
PC's are more expensive spec for spec.
So can i
Its called bootcamp
Lie: The Apple mice are three click like normal PC mice with a trackball
Lie: Youve found me, and any Unix user in the world, oh wait Windows Vista and Windows 7 copies the Unix file system.
Thats because they're made from sexy aluminum and not cheap plastic
Yes
Probably. Steve Jobs isn't a fan of blu ray, and makes money with the iTunes store. I don't agree with this, internet where I am (Australia) is quite expensive, with ridiculous download quotas, so I doubt optical media are going away any time soon (good for making backups, storage, etc.)
If you're considering ECC RAM and Xeon processors, that's probably right. A 3GHz quad core Xeon chip costs nearly twice as much as a 3GHz Core 2 Quad (or whatever they're called now), but isn't that much quicker. Just like ECC memory won't have many obvious benefits for the average user or gamer.
Bootcamp is my hero
For games, they're poor. Probably a personal preference thing, but I've never liked Apple's offerings (I actually have a Microsoft mouse. Traitor, I know.)
You're right that spec for spec they are inline. However, not every user of say, the MBP, needs that exact video card, or those particular features. So, for those that need the bigger screen, but not necessarily the other features, it's tough to swallow that price.
For the upgradability of video cards, the apple selection is still limited and not as open as the PC world. On the other hand, there are so many video cards for PC that it is out of control.
Sexy aluminum? For some, maybe, but for me, I am not willing to pay more for just a case. As long as it holds things in place and is durable, it doesn't matter. This also goes back to the PC price point as well.
Leopard (Apples operating system) is 64 bit
Its called broadband, and Blu-Ray will be outdated before Apple get around to introducing it anyway.
PC's are more expensive spec for spec.
So can i
Its called bootcamp
Lie: The Apple mice are three click like normal PC mice with a trackball
Lie: Youve found me, and any Unix user in the world, oh wait Windows Vista and Windows 7 copies the Unix file system.
Thats because they're made from sexy aluminum and not cheap plastic
Yes
What a selective response. You ignored most of the questions.
1. I know Leopard is 64bit. What 64bit software runs on it? Are you actually saying that you are better off not being able to access all of the memory in your machine?
2. What about where broadband isnt cheap? or available? did you even think outside of the box for a second? Any answer about the Netflix thing?
3. LOl PC's are more expensive spec for spec... good answer, I suppose if you are forced into buying 5 different configurations then you could say that. I guarantee you I can build a better PC for less than it costs to get one from Apple.
4. I didnt see you could get a Geforce 290 in a Mac. Can you show a link?
5. Bootcamp. So you do like Windows? I love the fact that you have to begrudgingly boot up Windows to play games.. Each boot up is your admission of defeat
6. Again ignored the question. the LAPTOP HAS ONE MOUSE BUTTON.
7. Fair enough... its a personal thing.
8. Mini DV adapter. Ignored
9. Its good Apple arent green? Or is sexy an excuse to wreck the environment?
PS I am a heterosexual female. Good argument with the "GF" thing. No wonder the sun sets on the British Empire nowadays