Originally posted by BeerCan I am really considering trying a mac. Can some of you macophiles suggest what are the best bang for the buck mac's out there?
It would help if you tell us about the kinds of things you do or want to do in a computer, whether you prefer a laptop or desktop.
But in overview, there are 6 models; 3 desktop and 3 portables:
The iMac desktops and MacBook portables are probably the most bang for the buck. If you don't have a preference for either laptop or desktop, then the iMac would give you the most for the amount of money over the MacBook (bigger built-in screen, larger hard-drive, dedicated graphics card, etc.). Both machines also have glossy screens.
The Mac Pro desktop (sans monitor) and MacBook Pro portables are pretty powerful machines, but you pay quite a bit more for that.
The MacBook Air is designed for people willing to pay a premium for the lightest machine possible, so that's probably not what you're looking for.
There was a time that the Mac Mini would have been a great budget machine, but Apple has done a poor job with keeping it updated; it's quite behind the other Macs in performance, hard-drive, etc. It is the most inexpensive Mac, but honestly I would pay a little bit more to get a MacBook or iMac. Rumor has it that a major upgrade is in the works, but who knows when that's gonna happen; Apple is notoriously secretive about upgrades.
I personally own a 1st generation MacBook and works great for my photo needs. I also maxed out the RAM to give it a nice boost for an intensive program like Aperture. Word of the wise, NEVER buy extra RAM from Apple, they're overpriced and you can get RAM for a lot less from a major reliable brand. RAM is very easy to install on the Macs.