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Starting From Scratch w/$5,000 What Should I Buy?
- Thread starter Freewayjim
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Yeah, but if you buy a UPS and your equipment gets fried the manufacturer will replace all, plus it gives you some time to save and shutdown before you lose battery power. For every time someone lucks out having electronics plugged directly to the socket there's a dozen melted blocks of junk that weren't so lucky
True. And with two smaller displays if one malfunctions you can still get work done. But if you need a 30-inch display in addition to another display there's really no alternative. As for what brand to go with, if you buy based on specs and price alone you're likely to regret it; Apple's higher quality and superb AppleCare support are easily worth the extra price if you have the money. You can add RAM later, but you can't upgrade support and quality once you find out you've got what you paid for and your tech support can't make it work any better than you can!
Well I settled on a Monitor.
I purchased a Samsung T260HD (25.5") Monitor that includes 2 HDMI ports as well as a ASTC Tuner ($599 at Best Buy). I just needed an antenna and I'm getting over the air HD.
I mainly bought it to be used as a monitor and so far, so great, I'm VERY happy with it, and having "free" HD is a nice bonus, even if it is just the networks.
I debated on the 30" Apple, Gateway and Dell models but just could not justify the extra cost, my sense of "Value" just would not let me do it.
Now it's a question of which MacBook Pro to buy which means waiting for the new models to come out, and I still have not decided on which size to get.
I certainly will get a good UPS system in the process.
2 Hookers, a 12 pack, 17" MBP HD + Monitor (not a ACD...they are being updated most likely in Jan.)
The rest break down into singles and spread on the bed so you and your new "friends" can roll around on it.
You do realize that your Y-axis calculations are dependent on having four of these monitors, and two being stacked above.
I'd advise a baseline Mac Pro, and 2 dell 3007wfp-hc's, I have one and they're great... hopefully ordering another monday
You don't need a UPS if you have a portable.
Remember, a UPS isn't to let you keep working after the power's out, it's so you can make a safe shutdown, with no data loss, during an outage. You don't need your printer or other peripherals on a UPS. And since a laptop already has a battery, you can safely shutdown during a power loss.They only replace the cost above and beyond what you receive from your home / renters insurance. It's not "first dollar" (?) insurance. I just bought new surge protectors and discovered that in the replacement coverage fine print.Yeah, but if you buy a UPS and your equipment gets fried the manufacturer will replace all, plus it gives you some time to save and shutdown before you lose battery power. For every time someone lucks out having electronics plugged directly to the socket there's a dozen melted blocks of junk that weren't so lucky
I'll take you at your word: you need a portable, and have a full $5000 budget.The [2.8 GHz] iMac was great but I want to downsize to one Apple machine and it's got to be a laptop (15.4 or 17" MBP) w/Applecare. I would be using this machine at work and in my home office (a short commute), I travel a couple times a year (By Car) and don't frequent the local Starbucks at all
I'll need an external monitor for at home, I'm open to the ACD or Gateway 30" models but if there is a great choice in the 24"-26" size I'm open to that too
(Will probably upgrade to 2008 w/new machine)
Between insurance, selling my 15.4" MBP and some "mad money" there will be roughly $5K to work with, so what should I buy?
Some quick pricing reveals you can't get both a top-end 17" MBP and a 30" LCD for $5000. So here's a proposal trying to compromise on your budget and understood needs
$3367 : Maximum 15" MacBook Pro (15", 2.6 GHz, 4GB, AppleCare, MobileMe)
$599 : Dell 24" LCD
$499 : 1TB Time Capsule for Home (for wireless & Backups)
$50 : 2 x 8-outlet surge protectors for home & office
---------
$4515 : sub-total
+ 7% sales tax (assumed)
-------
$4831 : total
$169 remaining for misc office supplies, like an all-in-one printer
I'll take you at your word: you need a portable, and have a full $5000 budget.
Some quick pricing reveals you can't get both a top-end 17" MBP and a 30" LCD for $5000. So here's a proposal trying to compromise on your budget and understood needs
$3367 : Maximum 15" MacBook Pro (15", 2.6 GHz, 4GB, AppleCare, MobileMe)
$599 : Dell 24" LCD
$499 : 1TB Time Capsule for Home (for wireless & Backups)
$50 : 2 x 8-outlet surge protectors for home & office
---------
$4515 : sub-total
+ 7% sales tax (assumed)
-------
$4831 : total
$169 remaining for misc office supplies, like an all-in-one printer
That's a pretty good plan Dave, thanks. I already spent $599 for my Samsung T260HD Monitor so that's a wash.
The 17" MBP is awesome and I've always wanted one but a fully loaded 15" Probably makes more sense.
I was thinking of getting one of these NewerTech MiniStacks with FW800 http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ministackv3
The 750GB for $219 looks like a great deal! Plus it would fit right under a Griffin Elevator.
I have an Airport Extreme and a couple other External HDD's so I don't think need the Time Capsule.
And thanks for the insight on the UPS, surge protectors will do fine.
Make sure they're the Ultrasharp-branded monitors. Dell makes great high-end monitors, but their low-end "value" monitors are horrible (no DVI, visible tracing, low response times, etc).
Get the Mac Pro, you already have a MBP, the difference is so small.
Get the base model, pump some ram and get the apple cinema 30" or maybe the 23" (for a normal user 23" is more than enough).
Get the base model, pump some ram and get the apple cinema 30" or maybe the 23" (for a normal user 23" is more than enough).