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Thread: Getting a Mac

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    Oh Crumbs.... Biscuit's Avatar
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    Getting a Mac

    Ok im kinda new to macs, used them but never owned.

    Being a media student im kinda being forced into buying one as a lot of software i need is mac only (pro-tools, final cut and modul8).

    Being a PC owner and builder i was wonding what my options are. Im very weary about paying quite so much for lower end componants as is on the Apple store so i was wonding what my options are for home upgradability.

    Powermacs/books are waaay out of my price range so im thinking mac mini/20" bottom end imac or possibly a macbook

    I would like to be able to start off with the 1gig models and then slap another gig of ram in & if possible put a higher rate CPU in at some point.

    Any thoughts?

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    Gordy Gordy's Avatar
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    Re: Getting a Mac

    Ok, if you are wanting a cheap option the mac mini is the best option. Whilst it is possible to upgrade the cpu/ram/hard disc in the mini getting the thing opens is slightly hard. However there are plenty of people out there that have.

    The iMac and macbook can have ram and hard disc upgraded fairly easily, but the cpu's are soldered in place so they can't be.

    I would check that the tools you need to run are supported on the macbook/mini as some of them aren't due to the graphics card they have.

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    Re: Getting a Mac

    Hmm thanks for pointing that out... means it will have to be an imac or ibookpro

    Goodbye bank balance for the next 2 years

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    Re: Getting a Mac

    If you're going to be running high end Apps you'll need a fairly powerful machine, like a Macbook Pro. They are expensive, but well worth the money!

    Personally i wouldn't go changing the CPU, RAM and HD not a problem. Laptops run warm and upgrading the CPU is going to make it hotter, therefore reducing the life of other components.

    My advice is get what you can afford, but from what you have said, it would appear you need a Macbook Pro or if you dont need the portability go with the 2.4 ghz iMac with 2gb ram.

    EDIT - P.S if you want more ram get it from Crucial UK, Apple Ram prices are a rip off! Someone on the inside at Apple told me the RAM they supply is Crucial anyway!!!!

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    Get in the van. Fraz's Avatar
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    Re: Getting a Mac

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    Hmm thanks for pointing that out... means it will have to be an imac or ibookpro

    Goodbye bank balance for the next 2 years
    If you are a student, you are eligible for a discount. This gets you ~£100 off the bottom-end MacBook Pro, and ~£50 off an iMac.

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    MacDaddy! darrensen's Avatar
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    Re: Getting a Mac

    And free iPod Nano!!!...

    Apple (UK and Ireland) - Back to School

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    Re: Getting a Mac

    Macminis are very easy to upgrade, I just upgraded mine from 1.66Mhz CoreDuo to a 2.4GHz Core2Duo, did the RAM 512->2GB at the same time. As has been pointed out, however, they have naff graphics cards, so don't expect to game on one.

    iMacs have slightly better GFX - the new ATI chipsets, but still aren't great for gaming on. If I were you, I'd go with the Macmini (and if you game a console)....

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    Re: Getting a Mac

    thanks all.
    I would like to go for the mac mini although when I checked the requirements of final cut pro, needs a proper gfx card. portability isn't too importaint & I would go for the 2.4 imac but money restrictions means I can only really afford the very bottom end imac I reckon. I'll stick another gig of crucial in when I have the cash.

    I knew about the discounts but unfortunately the nano is for college, not uni students

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    Re: Getting a Mac

    If i was upgrading the ram would i have t go for laptop ram?

    Crucial 2GB SO DIMM 667MHz DDR2 PC 5300 200pin Memory - CT25664AC667 - www.microdirect.co.uk ?????

    i have a friend who has a G4, what kind of ram will he need?

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    Senior Member charleski's Avatar
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    Re: Getting a Mac

    Keep an eye on the refurb section of the Apple Store. You can usually trim a couple of hundred pounds off the price that way. My MBP is a refurb and it came spotless apart from a tiny nick on the power adapter.

    Yes, you'll need 667MHz DDR2 SODIMMs for the RAM.

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    Re: Getting a Mac

    And for the G4? i assumed that would take DDR400

    Nothing on the clearance/refurb atm but thanks for pointing it out.

    Think i may end-up doing what i said, going for a base model imac with the 2.0ghz cpu and adding a 2gb stick of ram seeing as its only £50.

    I am wondering if its worth spending the extra £130 on 0.4ghz and bumping the gfx up to a 2600 pro. Its unlikely i will be gaming at all, will i notice much differenc? i was under the impression that ram was more imnportaint for macs?

    Edit:
    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    I knew about the discounts but unfortunately the nano is for college, not uni students
    Sorry i see that your right. It does apply to uni students, however, there is a store for education and higher education and if you go for the higher education the price drops a further £50... seeing as i already have a 30gb creative MP3 player im not to arsed about the nano so il save the £50. I could sell off the nano but my ebay account is buggered atm :@

    Would this 1gb stick work fine in an imac? Crucial 1GB 667MHz So-Dimm - Misco.co.uk
    Last edited by Biscuit; 25-10-2007 at 09:32 PM.

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    Senior Member charleski's Avatar
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    Re: Getting a Mac

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    Nothing on the clearance/refurb atm but thanks for pointing it out.
    There was a lot of stuff there a month ago, must have all been snapped up by students buying for the new semester . The refurb store generally updates once a week on Sunday, so it's worth checking late Sun/early Monday.

    I am wondering if its worth spending the extra £130 on 0.4ghz and bumping the gfx up to a 2600 pro. Its unlikely i will be gaming at all, will i notice much differenc? i was under the impression that ram was more imnportaint for macs?
    A slower CPU will affect the realtime rendering of effects in FinalCut and the number of composited streams you can handle in RT, but you can always render the segment while you watch telly and check it later. CPU speed really counts for final compression, but for student projects you probably won't be rendering hours of footage. If you aren't gaming the change in Gfx card will have no effect. For final compression you can save a lot of time by avoiding Apple's inefficient code and using Open Source alternatives, but that's another discussion.

    Would this 1gb stick work fine in an imac? Crucial 1GB 667MHz So-Dimm - Misco.co.uk
    Yes.

    If you're working with media the one thing that really comes to haunt you is HD space. You can never have enough, and should think about saving for an external FW drive for later. You can save quite a few Gb off the standard OSX install by reinstalling the OS without all the printer drivers and extra languages that you won't use.

    BTW, if you're going to be doing a lot of editing and can skimp on beer money for a couple of weeks, then this will make things a lot easier.
    Last edited by charleski; 25-10-2007 at 10:13 PM.

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    Re: Getting a Mac

    Hard drives are no worries as it will be networked up with my PC which has lots of hard drives eventually, when i have the cash i will set up a server out of an old p4 and bang loads of hard drives in that anyway. (bear this in mind because i will most likely be back with networking issues )

    Im not not bothered about the realtime rendering, it would be nice but im used to rendering with premiere etc. Im focussing mostly on music video anyway so yeah i probs wont have masses of rendering to do.

    anyone know a decent guide to help me with the ram upgrade when i come round to it?

    And again.... what about the G4

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    Re: Getting a Mac

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    Hard drives are no worries as it will be networked up with my PC which has lots of hard drives
    Make sure you get a gigabit hub. I haven't tried using networked drives for scratch renders, but it should work, and if you run into problems you can always install FreeBSD to manage them for full compatibility.

    anyone know a decent guide to help me with the ram upgrade when i come round to it?
    Here you go. [Edit: right page now]

    And again.... what about the G4
    What sort of G4? A G4 iMac? That's one of the great computer designs of all-time but an absolute bugger to service. The G4 used PC-133 DDR DIMMs, but without knowing the specific model it's impossible to say exactly what type your friend would need.
    Last edited by charleski; 25-10-2007 at 10:58 PM.

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    Re: Getting a Mac

    Quote Originally Posted by charleski View Post
    Make sure you get a gigabit hub. I haven't tried using networked drives for scratch renders, but it should work, and if you run into problems you can always install FreeBSD to manage them for full compatibility.
    I wont use it for scratch, il just keep all storage on there so i will have the full 250 for scratch, should be enough when its mainly music videos

    Quote Originally Posted by charleski View Post
    Here you go. [Edit: right page now]
    Wow didnt realize it was do damn simple!

    Quote Originally Posted by charleski View Post
    What sort of G4? A G4 iMac? That's one of the great computer designs of all-time but an absolute bugger to service. The G4 used PC-133 DDR DIMMs, but without knowing the specific model it's impossible to say exactly what type your friend would need.
    Hes a bit of an idiot so all i know is its a G4 powermac. Il go round and get some info. After looking at some info on wikipedia Power Mac G4 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia i have a feeling its the DDR one which is a relief
    Last edited by Biscuit; 26-10-2007 at 10:38 AM.

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    Re: Getting a Mac

    After talking to my parents they seem to be more inclined in paying the extra cash for moving to macbook pro. Im kinda hesitant to spend £1200 odd (with added HDD space & student discount) on something that is SO FAR lower spec than the top end imac for roughly the same cash.

    I need some kind of direction, portability would be good for location filming, Vjing, going home, visiting mates however if i go the Imac route i get so much more processing speed, faster & bigger hard drives, much bigger screen with 1080HD (right?). I would have thought he Imac would pull me through the years better aswell I know its like choosing between a halo and a crown but its hard :/

    Also if i wen the macbook pro option, is the glossy screen worth it?
    Last edited by Biscuit; 26-10-2007 at 07:24 PM.

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