Might buy a Mac

Joe 90 · 14-04-2010, 03:06

Someone I know has said he's wanting to sell his old 20" iMac, with snow leopard (he's just bought a big one, like 27" or something) for £300

I don't know a whole lot about macs but recently been using Mac Pros at uni for video editing and visual effects and thats something I'll hopefully get involved in in future.

Now this things obviously fairly old (about 3 yrs) and only like 2ghz core 2 duo with 1gb ram. What do people think... is it worth it or am I better off waiting a while and buying one new once I've got a job & more of an idea if i'll actually get some use out of one professionally?

http://twitpic.com/1ffq3l

Streeteh · 14-04-2010, 08:55

Sounds like a bit of a bargain to me, this also means you can get to know macs well on a budget and, if you like what you see, upgrade to a more powerful variant should you need to.

There'd be nothing worse than forking out ~£1k+ on a nice new imac and then finding you don't make as much use of it as you'd like. One such example would be a friend of mine who persuaded her father to buy her the top of the range imac @ £1.4k as soon as she finished uni, only to find it wasn't relevant to the employment she later found. It's now used as a big-fancy netbook, such a waste.

Joe 90 · 14-04-2010, 16:52

yeah I thought it sounded like a bit of a bargain.

My only concerns come from not being at all familiar with it, but at the same time that could be a good thing.

On the one hand, I assume that if I get one and become familiar with the OS like I am with windows that should prove useful when I come to look for a job.

On the other hand, I don't know a lot about the architecture or system as a whole so will I quickly out-grow the older model? I know you can upgrade the RAM which should help, but what about the HDD etc?

Oh and he said the mouse broke, so it only comes with the wireless keyboard... how much are apple mice?

Streeteh · 14-04-2010, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe 90

snip

Mac hardware is near identical to PC hardware in most cases (pretty much all cases these days, i'm not sure about that older model in terms of CPU however). Ram and HDD should both be upgradable.

Macs also work with nearly all USB devices, much like a PC, you could just buy a microsoft/logitech mouse and it should just work.

In my eyes you've said why you should get it yourself:

"My only concerns come from not being at all familiar with it"

Wouldn't you prefer not being familiar with something that cost you £300, than something that cost you just under £1000 (minimum)?

Desmo · 14-04-2010, 17:19

Yeah, you can upgrade them just like any other computer mainly. HDD etc are just the same. As for the mouse, depends on if you want a proper mac one. I use a bog standard USB Microsoft mouse.

Kitten · 14-04-2010, 20:24

It's not that hard to familiarise yourself, not at all really, certainly not in terms of the OS. It's very intuitive and flows easily - the windows structures are very similar, and if you've used VISTA/7 then you'll have been using a lot of the Apple OS features anyway (albeit much later than they were introduced by Apple) I'd been using an old PC for a few years when I first used an ancient old apple. It was weird, but I'd definitely say that learning mac after windows pc is easier than vice versa because you already know what it can do. We only had a machine running DOS at home, no GUI, so the apple machine was the first experience I had of graphical interfaces!

Edit: Just read that you've already been using one. DOH!

Most annoying thing that'll get you alllllll the time is the @ symbol and " being swapped around if you have the mac/US keyboard.

Dymetrie · 15-04-2010, 07:10

I'd say definitely go for it.

You'll get used to the OS and even though it's three years old it'll run very well (Mrs Dym's iBook is much older but performs remarkably well).

Hell, £300 for a 20" iMac!? If you don't want it then I'll have it!*

*subject to me actually having any money, which I don't, so an empty offer...

Desmo · 15-04-2010, 07:20

It's better spec than the one I work on daily so you shouldn't have any problems.

Mark · 15-04-2010, 10:47

Better spec than my Mac Mini too which is also fine.

Joe 90 · 15-04-2010, 17:01

Yesterday I had just about decided that I am a tech god so therefore could familiarise myself with OSX in no time should I ever need to and instead i'd be better off spending £300 getting absolutely smashed at the end of my degree next month, with some left over for stag do #1 in July.

but you guys have kept my original faith in this being a good idea!

14-04-2010, 08:55	#2
Streeteh Vodka Martini Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kingston Posts: 862	Sounds like a bit of a bargain to me, this also means you can get to know macs well on a budget and, if you like what you see, upgrade to a more powerful variant should you need to. There'd be nothing worse than forking out ~£1k+ on a nice new imac and then finding you don't make as much use of it as you'd like. One such example would be a friend of mine who persuaded her father to buy her the top of the range imac @ £1.4k as soon as she finished uni, only to find it wasn't relevant to the employment she later found. It's now used as a big-fancy netbook, such a waste. __________________ PSN & Live! ID: Streeteh Last edited by Streeteh; 14-04-2010 at 09:01.

14-04-2010, 16:52	#3
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	yeah I thought it sounded like a bit of a bargain. My only concerns come from not being at all familiar with it, but at the same time that could be a good thing. On the one hand, I assume that if I get one and become familiar with the OS like I am with windows that should prove useful when I come to look for a job. On the other hand, I don't know a lot about the architecture or system as a whole so will I quickly out-grow the older model? I know you can upgrade the RAM which should help, but what about the HDD etc? Oh and he said the mouse broke, so it only comes with the wireless keyboard... how much are apple mice? __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter

14-04-2010, 17:19	#5
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Yeah, you can upgrade them just like any other computer mainly. HDD etc are just the same. As for the mouse, depends on if you want a proper mac one. I use a bog standard USB Microsoft mouse. __________________

14-04-2010, 20:24	#6
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	It's not that hard to familiarise yourself, not at all really, certainly not in terms of the OS. It's very intuitive and flows easily - the windows structures are very similar, and if you've used VISTA/7 then you'll have been using a lot of the Apple OS features anyway (albeit much later than they were introduced by Apple) I'd been using an old PC for a few years when I first used an ancient old apple. It was weird, but I'd definitely say that learning mac after windows pc is easier than vice versa because you already know what it can do. We only had a machine running DOS at home, no GUI, so the apple machine was the first experience I had of graphical interfaces! Edit: Just read that you've already been using one. DOH! Most annoying thing that'll get you alllllll the time is the @ symbol and " being swapped around if you have the mac/US keyboard. __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

15-04-2010, 07:10	#7
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	I'd say definitely go for it. You'll get used to the OS and even though it's three years old it'll run very well (Mrs Dym's iBook is much older but performs remarkably well). Hell, £300 for a 20" iMac!? If you don't want it then I'll have it!* *subject to me actually having any money, which I don't, so an empty offer... __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

14-04-2010, 03:06	#1
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	Might buy a Mac Someone I know has said he's wanting to sell his old 20" iMac, with snow leopard (he's just bought a big one, like 27" or something) for £300 I don't know a whole lot about macs but recently been using Mac Pros at uni for video editing and visual effects and thats something I'll hopefully get involved in in future. Now this things obviously fairly old (about 3 yrs) and only like 2ghz core 2 duo with 1gb ram. What do people think... is it worth it or am I better off waiting a while and buying one new once I've got a job & more of an idea if i'll actually get some use out of one professionally? http://twitpic.com/1ffq3l __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter

15-04-2010, 07:20	#8
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	It's better spec than the one I work on daily so you shouldn't have any problems. __________________

15-04-2010, 10:47	#9
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Better spec than my Mac Mini too which is also fine.

15-04-2010, 17:01	#10
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	Yesterday I had just about decided that I am a tech god so therefore could familiarise myself with OSX in no time should I ever need to and instead i'd be better off spending £300 getting absolutely smashed at the end of my degree next month, with some left over for stag do #1 in July. but you guys have kept my original faith in this being a good idea! __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter Last edited by Joe 90; 15-04-2010 at 17:03.