Mac suggestions

[foreverducky]

I have one year left of my education (practical application only), but will be finishing up my dissertation while on internship this year. I was *thinking* of getting a mac while I still have the education discount.

After school I would need it for itunes, pictures, and then basic stuff since school will be finished.

What do you think I could get? Also, do people have to upgrade their macs often. You know, with pcs it's out dated as soon as you buy it.

Oh, and I will need to be able to type in Word, so what would I need for that?

I'm so out of my comfort zone.

[foreverducky]

Anyone have the imac?

[Keith]

Anyone have the imac?

argh how did I miss this one :/


Yep I have the 27" imac and loads of friends have the smaller version. We all love them and wouldnt change them for anything.

Completely silent (or at most, a very very quiet fan). Fast, beautiful monitor, comes with all you need to get going.

Honestly I couldnt recommend it more highly

[catrancher]

I would strongly suggest taking a look at the Macbook Pro's. I've just recently bought a new 17" one and it's spectacular. I've had Macs since 1984 and 3 different Macbook Pro's over the last several years.

1. The first one I bought was a 15" Macbook Pro. That was a Powerbook G4 Aluminum way back in 2003.
2. Next was a 17" Macbook Pro back in 2006.
3. And finally, this new 17" Macbook Pro I bought earlier this year.

The interesting thing here is that the old ones don't go away. My DW takes the old ones and keeps using them since her needs are much simpler than mine.

So, the reason I bought a new Macbook Pro this year is that the original Powerbook G4 I had (number 1) was being used by my DW and finally died enough of a death earlier this year to warrant replacing it. So, I got number 3 on the list above and my DW inherited number 2.

Based on that kind of history, it means that our Macbooks have had a rough expected lifespan of 8 years!

People say that Macs are expensive but anytime I can get 8 years of life out of a machine where the industry standards generally indicate a 3 year lifespan I call that a good deal.

Now, you need to be able to type in Word (and Excel and Powerpoint I would assume).

You've got two choices.

1. There's a version of Microsoft Office for the Mac. Has Word, Excel, Powerpoint just like on a PC.
2. There's Apples own iWork suite (Pages, Numbers and Keynote).

I have them both. Office 2011 and iWork. Of the two, I much prefer the Apple offering. Here's why.

The Apple iWork suite can read and write MS Office formatted files.
I've had instances of trying to open Word or Powerpoint documents from a PC on my Macbook with the Word or Powerpoint versions in Office for the Mac.
Sometimes it doesn't work.
But trying to open the same Word document using Apples Pages application does work. Go figure.
A document that's not compatible between the PC and Mac version of Word or Powerpoint but is compatible between the PC version of Office applications and Apples iWork suite. Strange.
Second reason. The Apple iWork suite works like you'd expect these series of programs to work. They're easy to use, and incredibly intuitive. No convoluted "ribbon". Wanna put a picture in the document and flow text around it? No problem. Just drop it in and it happens. That's the way the whole iWork suite works. It's incredibly intuitive. You can read and see more about it here.

Be that as it may, both Office:Mac and iWork are available. So you take your choice and move forward. One other thing though. iWork only costs $79.00. For all three apps.

I really think your idea is an excellent one. And once you've used a Mac, I think it'll spoil you.

Hope this has helped. I know that like John (USCWEST), I may have been just a bit loquacious.

But I had to say it.

Tom (... I'll shut up and sit down now.)

[catrancher]

I mentioned the Macbooks in my post above since I thought that's what you were looking for. But if you're looking for any of them and a desktop would work too, the iMac's are brilliant! And the 27" one must be like having a movie theater on your desk!

Tom (... didn't mean to get too Macbook specific!)

[foreverducky]

Thanks guys!

Okay, so I could write my dissertation thru the iwork program and have it read by someone using the word office program on a pc.

Could we do editing back and forth without problems?

[foreverducky]

I talked to the apple guy through chat.

Chris was very nice and helpful.

From my understanding we could edit a document back and forth without problems. Also, I wouldn't need my anti-virus any more or another firewall.

Also the apple care seems nice. I was told I have up to a year to buy it.

I am thisclose from becoming a imac owner.

[foreverducky]

Okay, so will this one do okay for me. It's the stats for the imac.

• 2.5GHz Intel Core i5
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 4GB (two 2GB) memory
• 500GB hard drive¹
• ATI Radeon HD 6750M with 512MB

I need to type my dissertation, edit photos, watch netflix movies, play a few card games, utilize itunes, and surf the net.

[Keith]

It'll not only do you, it'll wow you

[catrancher]

It'll not only do you, it'll wow you

Tom(... and you get to officially use the little mac smiley like I do!)