Advice for new mac...

[ADSR]

Planning to replace  one of my DA , and don't  know  nothing about  the new Macs.

Could you give me an advice  for buying a good one?

 

GR

[krissel]

The best advice I could give right now is wait.

Almost all the lines are due for upgrade at any time.

That said, it would help if you listed the main uses you will have for it, especially any absolute "musts" that it needs to be able to do.

[Paddy]

I agree with Kris, if you're not in a hurry.

See: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/ for info.

However, as Kris says, you should tell us what you anticipate using the new Mac for, so we can provide more useful advice. In general, assuming a desktop is what you're looking for, then your choices are the iMac, the Mini and the Mac Pro. Each has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your intentions. (though I would say the Mac Pro's only disadvantages are its size and cost! )

[chriskleeman]

Yup, IAW Kris and Paddy! That being said, I lucked out buying a MacBook Pro that was the last in it's line of being able to run 10.6.8, thus Rosetta, which can run PPC apps, and still be engineered to run Lion very well.  

CK

[ADSR]

It will be the most  for music...and a little internet

Keeping  my old DA whith all the music software  i got ,  and getting use whith a new system and apps whith a new one  .

My macs are away from my working place where there's only screens  (less noise)  so should look for a desktop...

So i must wait ...and get your advices

 

GR

[Xairbusdriver]

Sounds, no pun intended, like the Mac Pro would certainly be over-kill. I know there are fans in my iMac but I have to put my ear almost on the Mac to hear them. They are certainly not as loud as the CD/DVD mechanism which I would think you might be using at some point. But that is built into both the mini and the iMac so it would be rather inconvenient to use if not within reach. Of course, the iMac's computer is inside the back of the screen so not having it on the desktop would make it even less useful. That leaves the mini which nas no screen so it could be located in another room assuming it can still be within range of Bluetooth or a very long USB cable as well as the video connection. Personally, I don't think either the mini nor the iMac have the kind of sound problems that would require all that trouble. Your ears may vary!

An iMac is slightly upgradable (mainly by adding RAM but also by replacing hard drives). The mini is less upgradable mainly because it is so tightly constructed and difficult to open. And your current monitor(s) may not be able to connect without a different adaptor (another expense, even though a minor one compared to the mini).

Just be aware that PPC apps simply cannot be used on the newest model Macs, no matter which type. But you'll have to face that fact sooner or later. If you are fortunate, all that means is updating the apps. Otherwise it means finding a different one. I'd rather face those decisions on my timetable than when it is forced on me by the permanent crash of the hardware.

[Paddy]

Uh, Jim, I don't think I'd call the iMac hard drives upgradeable - at least not easily. See:
http://gigaom.com/apple/imac-drives-not-me...-and-i-hate-it/ and
http://www.macworld.com/article/1159956/im...iveupgrade.html and
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1148314

Making a hard drive, the thing most likely to fail on any computer, so difficult to replace is just dirty pool, in my books. It actually looks a whole lot easier to swap the HD on a Mac Mini, judging from the instructions on iFixit. http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing-Mac...lacement/6422/1

Me? I'd go for the Mac Pro any day - but I need multiple drives and don't want an external hard drive farm on my desk, and I also want to be able to add things like eSATA if Apple still stubbornly refuses to add it. Of course, you have to have the budget for it - they're not cheap! They're also not quiet when the fans kick in.

[Xairbusdriver]

Note that I did not say "user-upgradable." Certainly not like the Pro models. Nor would I suggest that even the mini be opened by most people. While it is possible and I've opened one several times, it is simply not a task to undertake without knowing what can happen and having at least the proper 'pry-bar' tool handy. Of course, adding RAM could not be simpler on the iMac or Pro. But that still would require the same case-opening procedure on the mini. But I always suggest buying RAM on your own.

Personally, I think the iMacs are usually the best product for the most people. The displays are gorgeous, the drives are quite adequate and external backup drives are cheaper than ever. FireWire 800 being more than sufficient for most people, also.

Lastly, don't forget about the refurb path! Usually around 11—15% less than new and they already have any failures repaired (which usually happens in the first 90 days) and are still eligible for full AppleCare!

BTW, I don't think Apple will ever support eSATA until/unless they decide Thunderbolt is going to flop.

[Jack W]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ May 9 2012, 04:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Note that I did not say "user-upgradable." Certainly not like the Pro models. Nor would I suggest that even the mini be opened by most people. While it is possible and I've opened one several times, it is simply not a task to undertake without knowing what can happen and having at least the proper 'pry-bar' tool handy. Of course, adding RAM could not be simpler on the iMac or Pro. But that still would require the same case-opening procedure on the mini. But I always suggest buying RAM on your own.

Personally, I think the iMacs are usually the best product for the most people. The displays are gorgeous, the drives are quite adequate and external backup drives are cheaper than ever. FireWire 800 being more than sufficient for most people, also.

Lastly, don't forget about the refurb path! Usually around 11—15% less than new and they already have any failures repaired (which usually happens in the first 90 days) and are still eligible for full AppleCare!

BTW, I don't think Apple will ever support eSATA until/unless they decide Thunderbolt is going to flop.

I agree with all of the above, and how could I ever disagree with Paddy?

Her needs are a Mac Pro.

Mine and most peoples needs can be satisfied with an iMac.
My mid-2010 i7 27" iMac is quite sufficient for all that I do.
And it is GORGEOUS. I love the 27" real estate.

And the only problem I see is the declining interest in firewire, not only by others, but even now by Apple themselves.
I happen to love firewire, and all my external drives are firewire, with USB also, which I don't use.

And yes, Classic Mac and PPC programs will no longer be able to be run.

I am going to try out EazyDraw for a Canvas replacement soon.
I sure hope it comes close since that's the last of my OS 9 programs. I miss it sorely.

FWIW

Jack

[ADSR]

Waiting for the new Mac pro  could be a solution but would be very expensive...what do you think of buying an old Mac pro ( which one ?)

 

GR

[Paddy]

Georges, always buy the most recent one you can afford, if buying used. Mine is from 2008 and still going strong, with 18GB of RAM and 4 drives stuffed into it. I've got the single processor version of this: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_...2008-specs.html

I don't do video, so opted for the single processor version. Not sure if audio benefits from multiple processors or not.

One thing - if buying used, don't buy the model I've got or anything that takes the VERY expensive PC6400 DDR2 ECC RAM!!! I'd aim for one of the 2009 Nehalems at the moment, though the Westmeres will definitely drop in price once the new line (if there IS a new line!) come out. The RAM for the Nehalems is DDR3 PC8500 ECC - a 4GB stick at Canada Computers is a mere $25.99. Same amount of RAM for my Mac Pro is a whopping $159.

It does appear that the prices for the 2009 models and up on eBay generally exceed the price you'd pay for a brand new iMac - even one with a 27" screen. So, you definitely need to decide which you actually need (and whether you can live with a glossy screen). The new iMacs have approximately equivalent Geekbench scores to some of the Mac Pros circa 2009. The Westmeres from 2010 appear to score far better - though I've seen other tests that put those iMacs pretty much on par with the current crop of Mac Pros. http://www.macworld.com/article/1159692/im...benchmarks.html

[ADSR]

Thanks for all the infos...

What i found  mostly are  Mac Pro 2x2,66Ghz Xeon 4 Coeurs ...they are older  but in my budget , and seems to have  enough power for my needs

They also have Firewire 400 to use all my external drive,burners ...

What do you think of  buying that one ..?

 

[Paddy]

This one?

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_...2.66-specs.html

It's a tad long in the tooth, since it's the first of the Mac Pros, and I seem to recall some sort of issue with updating/upgrading that one that arose on another forum but I can't remember what it was and whether it would be relevant. I do know that there are quite a few of them around for sale these days, as they are now 6 years old. BTW - they take that horribly expensive RAM with the huge heatsinks attached that I mentioned earlier.

If you can, I'd be inclined to aim for something more recent (like the 2009 models), but it may be hard to find something at a decent price. If you can wait a bit (say through June maybe?) and see if Apple does upgrade the Mac Pro line, you may find that prices on the used ones fall a bit, as more people decide to upgrade.

[jchuzi]

That's the Mac Pro model that I have. Its only limitation, as far as I can see, is that it won't run Mountain Lion (OS 10.. That too, could change as ML evolves. It has been very good to me and I probably never will get to 10.7 (my Mac Pro can run that one), much less 10.8, unless there is some compelling reason.

[Paddy]

QUOTE(jchuzi @ May 17 2012, 08:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's the Mac Pro model that I have. Its only limitation, as far as I can see, is that it won't run Mountain Lion (OS 10.. That too, could change as ML evolves. It has been very good to me and I probably never will get to 10.7 (my Mac Pro can run that one), much less 10.8, unless there is some compelling reason.

Well, I'm not sure if that was the limitation I was dimly aware of or not - but it's definitely worth thinking about. I wouldn't buy a computer I already knew was limited on the OS upgrade front, but that's me. Granted - I still haven't installed 10.7 on MY Mac Pro, though have been running it for ages on my MacBook Pro. There are no longer any reasons that I can't run it, as all the software I was waiting for has now been updated, but I simply haven't had the time and I'm not about to attempt it while in the midst of major projects for clients.