my first ever mac

L

leecollings

Registered
hi, my names lee and im 16

ive been using Windows and DOS for about 5 or 6 years now, and just recently ive been wanting to switch to Mac.

im running an HP Pavilion 7760 UK PC
700MHz
320MB RAM
20GB HD
WinXP
NVIDIA TNT2 64 Pro 32MB

and this works fine as i use Photoshop and Cakewalk software alot.

Would this kind of spec be kool for a first mac?

I'm thinking of getting an Imac 600 Snow
600MHz
128MB RAM
etc.
(Im not sure how much hard disk space its got).

i notice that this is also the cheapest mac, being in my local PC WORLD store at £450.

would this be suitable as a first mac?
 
I wouldn't pay more than £300 for that machine. It's an old model. I'd rather get a used 400-500 MHz G4 for approx. the same price and upgrade its RAM and HD.
Check online auctions (ebay.com, qxl.com) and classifieds lists in magazines like MacFormat.
 
I would have to second ksv's suggestion... you can pick up an old Sawtooth G4/350 for literally a few hundred dollars, and upgrade it to 800MHz for $200 more...

The G3 machines are gone as of today with the release of the G4 iBooks, so don't ever pay money for a G3 machine. I think that's a good deal for that computer, but I think it'll leave you wanting more, and that's a bad impression to have when switching to a new platform. Three years ago that would have rocked, but for now, I would HIGHLY suggest getting a G4 machine.

Another suggestiong would be to look for a user PowerBook, that way, you could take it on the road with you and hopefully convert some of your friends as well... having a few buddies with Macs is cool... having buddies with all PCs ain't so cool...
 
RAM will make also big difference! If you run PS X with 128 mb ram, it is painfully slow! Get at least 512 MB more, you will see the difference and not regret it!

Lee, where in UK do you live? Maybe some mac users from the board here could suggest you some places where to have a look for more options of mac. Welcome on boards! :)
 
Originally posted by Giaguara
RAM will make also big difference! If you run PS X with 128 mb ram, it is painfully slow! Get at least 512 MB more, you will see the difference and not regret it!

Lee, where in UK do you live? Maybe some mac users from the board here could suggest you some places where to have a look for more options of mac. Welcome on boards! :)
Click to expand...

Yea, amen to that. I have a G4 Cube (500MHz) but with everything besides the CPU upgraded. Memory is the key tho, i run it with 1.25Gb RAM, and i think its a sweet machine. - This coming from a Windows user, little over a year ago! ;)

I too would say, the G3 iMac wouldn't really show you the Mac platform, how it should be shown. It might leave you feeling a little disappointed, which is something few Mac users feel! :p heh

I know its a huge jump, but instead of £450, grab an eMac (@ £650). Apple updated the product line today, and the 'basic' 1GHz model is pretty sweet, i think. It would run OS X very nicely (with the obvious memory increase) You deffo want 512Mb >. Or, an OLD PowerMac 500MHz (G4!!). Personally i would say, go with the eMac, it'd make a lovely first Mac! :)

- Oh! and i am BRITISH too! :D :D :D *proud*
 
i had that exact machine for my previous computer, and do what you do (run photoshop, but i also ran reason and the macromedia suite as well).
the only thing i remember about that machine was how much it made me want a faster one. it was my first mac, and i loved OS X, but it was hella slow, even with 1GB RAM. panther, i'm sure, will help that, but i don't think it'll help with photoshop much at all.
i would personally tough it out with the PC until you can afford a low end G4 desktop machine. i used to use a 400mhz G4 at my place of work and even that was slow, unfortunate to say.
however, if you're just putzing around with photoshop and are going to use your computer for recreation, then the 600mhz imac will do just alright, but personally, i would never buy a pre-quartz extreme machine (the imac DV was the last computer apple made that wasn't capable of quartz extreme).
 
I also suggest you save up another £200 and get the low-end eMac. For that extra £200, you get a bigger screen, a faster and better processor, much more VRAM, more hard drive space, probably a better optical drive, more space for RAM, and of course Panther pre-installed.
 
Yep. The eMac is the perfect entry-level Mac now... It's still a pity there is no _real_ entry-level Mac, i.e. an eMac that comes without screen. Just a plain ol' desktop machine would be very nice. With the specs of the eMac and for, say 100$ less than the eMac, that would be awesome... (Because I've already _got_ a TFT screen for my next desktop Mac, that is...)
 
Fryke, to get a monitor to equal the quality of the eMac's, you would have to pay more than $100. Besides, I think $800 is quite entry level for many people, especially considering how hard it is to build a PC for less than $500.
 
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