Mac questions!

[DawnM]

I converted to Mac this past year with a MacBookPro for ME. The kids still used the two old PC desktops.

My intention was to wait until summer to get a Mac desktop as a replacement for one of them.

Now a PC has died and the other one has issues, so am considering getting one now.

I would LOVE the fancy 27" monitor, but honestly, I can't justify the price increase for it! The 21" inch is most likely sufficient.

OR, should I get the mini mac and buy a larger screen and use it? In fact, if I got the mini mac I could use the PC monitor for now with it until I could save up for a larger screen.

Thoughts?

SECOND QUESTION:

I am able to get the education discount and in the summer they give freebies out......ipod touch has been the freebie the last couple of years.

Do they give out the freebie with a mac mini or only with the full imac or macbook? Anyone know?

My plan was to go in during tax free weekend in Aug and get the Education discount, the freebie, and no tax.

Anyway, looking forward to thoughts.

Dawn

 

[dex08]

Here's my opinion:

If you are looking for a quick budget-minded solution, I'd get a Mac Mini and use your current monitor. Like you said, you can always upgrade your monitor later.

The 27" iMac is HUGE. Have you been to the store to look at it? While it's fabulous, it can almost be overwhelming depending upon your desk setup and intended use. The 21.5" iMac is a great size too, but not as massive. I'd go sit in front of them at the store to really consider these two options.

Also, you can get a refurbished 27" iMac (or even refurbished Mac Mini if you are really trying to be budget conscious). Apple's online store has great deals on them all the time and they carry the same warranty and you can get the Apple Care Protection for them just like you would a new iMac. I've bought refurbished Apple products in the past and never had an issue with them. Apple really stands behind their products -- refurb or first quality.

The Apple Education free iPod Touch deal in the Summer usually doesn't include the Mac Mini. It's always been the MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iMac. Likely because the Mini is so inexpensive.

 

[vicki_c]

I am so in love with our 27" iMac - just got it for Christmas. But based on what you posted, I also agree that I would do the mini and use your current monitor.

But save up for the iMac!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I agree with the above poster! I would definitely sit in front of them both in the store. My friends had me convinced when I switched to my iMac about 2 months ago that I should get the 27in but when I saw it in the store I thought it was too big. The 21in is big itself but not overwhelming so. The 27in is beautiful but it would not have fit at my new desk I also got.

I love my iMac!

Heather

 

[58cognac]

I am able to get the education discount and in the summer they give freebies out......ipod touch has been the freebie the last couple of years.


Anyway, looking forward to thoughts.

Dawn

Just curious, with and education discount, would it still be in budget to get a Macbook Pro so that you can have the portability? MacMall has a mini for $1000 and I think my Pro was only $1200 at best buy and they have similar specs. With my limited tech knowledge, though, I may be wrong. I just know I like my Pro I run CS4 on it with no problems, are you using it for design purposes?

 

[DawnM]

I actually already have a Macbook Pro! Now I need to replace our desktop for our family computer. A laptop has a tendency to get abused by kids who don't look where they leave things!

Dawn

Just curious, with and education discount, would it still be in budget to get a Macbook Pro so that you can have the portability? MacMall has a mini for $1000 and I think my Pro was only $1200 at best buy and they have similar specs. With my limited tech knowledge, though, I may be wrong. I just know I like my Pro I run CS4 on it with no problems, are you using it for design purposes?

 

[DawnM]

Thanks.

I have already sat down with both computers and would prefer the 27", but may have to get the 21" for cost savings. I love that I can pull up a full page and have another full page right next to it.....not smaller versions side by side.

Dawn

 

[scboyd]

personally I would go with the 21 inch imac (over the mac mini) if you cant justify the 27 inch... These displays are amazing. I personally own the 27 inch and love it and we will be purchasing another for our children in the coming months.
I would suggest a wall mounting arm as both the 21 and 27 take up a lot of space on a normal sized desk. when wall mounted they can be pushed back against the wall giving full use of the desk for studying and such....

 

[DawnM]

Thanks. I figured it wouldn't include the mini, but I thought I would ask.

Dawn

Here's my opinion:

If you are looking for a quick budget-minded solution, I'd get a Mac Mini and use your current monitor. Like you said, you can always upgrade your monitor later.

The 27" iMac is HUGE. Have you been to the store to look at it? While it's fabulous, it can almost be overwhelming depending upon your desk setup and intended use. The 21.5" iMac is a great size too, but not as massive. I'd go sit in front of them at the store to really consider these two options.

Also, you can get a refurbished 27" iMac (or even refurbished Mac Mini if you are really trying to be budget conscious). Apple's online store has great deals on them all the time and they carry the same warranty and you can get the Apple Care Protection for them just like you would a new iMac. I've bought refurbished Apple products in the past and never had an issue with them. Apple really stands behind their products -- refurb or first quality.

The Apple Education free iPod Touch deal in the Summer usually doesn't include the Mac Mini. It's always been the MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iMac. Likely because the Mini is so inexpensive.

 

[58cognac]

I actually already have a Macbook Pro! Now I need to replace our desktop for our family computer. A laptop has a tendency to get abused by kids who don't look where they leave things!

Dawn

Sounds like the iMac is the winner! You know as soon as you get a mini, you'll wish you had the iMac. We have the 21 I believe and it's just right. DH has the uber screen at work and to me it's crazy big in person.

 

[Swimalie]

Sounds like the iMac is the winner! You know as soon as you get a mini, you'll wish you had the iMac. We have the 21 I believe and it's just right. DH has the uber screen at work and to me it's crazy big in person.

I agree. We have the 21" iMac and love it. My husband wanted bigger (don't they always?!) but to me it was way too big for every day and would drive me crazy.

 

[PlutoPony]

There used to be a 24" monitor available with the iMac and that was the perfect size imo. Rumor is that the next generation will include 3 sizes but who knows, Apple is pretty secretive about changes. Probably looking at late spring before anything like that would come out.

Last year I checked and computers no longer qualified for the tax free weekend in my state. That was definitely a change from previous years as we'd taken advantage of that offer a couple years ago. Obviously a YMMV but you might want to check that out if you're counting on that savings.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

If you have a Discover Card you can go through shop discover to get 5% back at Apple online.

 

[DawnM]

Hmmmm.....good to know.

I still would like the freebies to educators in teh summer, but that may work to get it in May or June instead.

It would still cost 3% more as I would need to pay tax....and I would need a discovery card!

Thanks,

Dawn

If you have a Discover Card you can go through shop discover to get 5% back at Apple online.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

I agree. We have the 21" iMac and love it. My husband wanted bigger (don't they always?!) but to me it was way too big for every day and would drive me crazy.

I have the 21" iMac, too, and absolutely love it. I went to buy the 27" but it was waaay too big for me, so I came home with the 21". It's perfect.

 

[momrek06]

Yeah! We just bought the iMac 21 inch and love it!

Of course, going from a pc to an iMac, well we have allot to learn! Love the magic mouse! We spent quite abit of time at Apple on Sat night as the tech explained allot to us. The 27 inch screen was just too big for us.

 

[DawnM]

You know, I have heard the next generation is coming out late Spring/early summer, I would LOVE something in the 24" inch range....you are right, for us, that would be perfect! 27" is a bit big, but I love it. The 21" is just a tad smaller than what I would like.

Good news....between DH and me, we were able to get the dying PC back up and running ok.....so it may be able to hobble along until summer!

Dawn

There used to be a 24" monitor available with the iMac and that was the perfect size imo. Rumor is that the next generation will include 3 sizes but who knows, Apple is pretty secretive about changes. Probably looking at late spring before anything like that would come out.

Last year I checked and computers no longer qualified for the tax free weekend in my state. That was definitely a change from previous years as we'd taken advantage of that offer a couple years ago. Obviously a YMMV but you might want to check that out if you're counting on that savings.

 

[DawnM]

What date did the free ipod touch and such start last year? Anyone know? I thought it started around May sometime.

Dawn

 

[Bell30012]

My DD8 has been using a Mac for about 4 years. I was a little slower to give up my Windows. I went to the Apple Store planning to get a Mini but wound up getting the Mac Pro. I love it! I run dual 22 inch monitors can't believe that I didn't buy this years ago.

 

[DawnM]

I know! I wish I had gotten a Mac years ago. Now that I have my laptop (purchased in March of last year), I am ONLY looking at Macs as a replacement for my desktop. I would love to get TWO as we have two PC desktops for the kids to use and they are not ready for laptops (don't watch where they put things down yet!) but I also like the larger screens with the desktops.

Dawn

My DD8 has been using a Mac for about 4 years. I was a little slower to give up my Windows. I went to the Apple Store planning to get a Mini but wound up getting the Mac Pro. I love it! I run dual 22 inch monitors can't believe that I didn't buy this years ago.