Tips on Buying a New Computer
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- 2001.10.05
Buying a new computer can be difficult. This article will help make it a little bit easier.
So what is considered old? Well, someone doing video editing can't use a 6100/60. However, someone who needs the Internet and word processing may be perfectly happy with that 6100. Here is how I will break it down:
Use |
Machines considered too old |
| word processing/spreadsheets | 128K/512K/512Ke |
|
email, light Internet |
IIcx, LC II or older |
| email, general Internet | Quadra/Centris or older |
| email, intense Internet | 120 MHz 603e or older |
| light image editing | 120 MHz 603e or older |
| general image editing | 210 MHz G3 or older |
| intense image editing | Anything G3-based or older |
| video editing | 300 MHz G3 or older |
| intense video editing | anything G3-based or older |
Hopefully this list helps a little bit. If you know where your machine is on the list, see if it matches the needs that you have. If not, it may be time for a new one. What kind of computer to get?
If you have absolutely no idea what you want and are open to anything, there are a few questions to ask yourself.
First, what do you plan to do with it?
If you plan to do anything with graphics, you will want a Mac - preferably one of the new G4 models. If you want just basic Internet, email, and word processing, you may actually do well with a used machine, perhaps a beige G3. If you want a new machine, the $799 iMac might be perfect.
Second, do you already have software for the platform you are considering?
This question doesn't matter too much anymore. If you buy a Mac, you will be able to run Virtual PC to use your Windows applications. Most older Mac applications will still function in Classic mode inside of Mac OS X.
Third, how much do you want to spend on a computer?
One of the most important things is what you are willing to pay for a computer. The $799 iMac is a very nice deal, and the $999 version an even better one. However, if your budget is less tight, you have a couple of options.
The 733 MHz G4 sells for $1,699 plus the cost of a monitor (roughly $400 if you buy an Apple). So, a G4 with 128 MB of RAM and a 15" LCD monitor will cost you $2,100 or so. This is perfect for those who work with Photoshop, Illustrator, and other such applications often. This is also a good machine for people who like upgrading their computer.
However, if you want something less expensive, you can get a very nice 600 MHz iMac for $1,199. This allows you some room to buy a printer, scanner, or additional monitor.
Also, don't be fooled by cheap PCs and high MHz ratings. They typically are poorly made, very slow, and already outdated.
One last comparison to antique radios (if you don't know what I am talking about, take a look at last week's article). Cheap PCs are like Japanese transistor radios were in the 60s. You could buy a Japanese set with ten transistors for $15, or you could buy an American set with seven transistors for $30. Assume you know nothing about radios - 10 transistors sound better than 7, right? And $15 sure sounds better than $30. However, the Japanese company isn't going to tell you that their radio only uses 6 transistors in the radio design - the other four are just there to make it a 10 transistor radio! Also, the case is made of inferior material to the American model, and the radio has poor sound reproduction and is not very good at receiving stations.
Now think of the 1960s Japanese radio as a cheap PC and the American radio as the iMac. The PC has a high MHz rating and costs less than an iMac. What the PC company isn't telling you is that the 700 MHz PC runs slower than the 500 MHz iMac! Also, the case is poorly designed when compared to the iMac, and the operating system loaded onto it is inferior to the iMac's.
Since this is Low End Mac, I won't talk about buying PCs right now. I assume if you are reading this you are at least thinking of a Macintosh.
Lastly, do you plan to upgrade your computer often?
Buying the G4 gives you a very upgradeable computer. The G4 has room to use an additional hard drive, up to 1.5 GB of RAM, four PCI cards, and possibly a processor upgrade in the future. If you have upgraded your existing computer considerably, the G4 might be a better choice for you. If you are still running a 6360 with 16 MB of RAM and System 7.5, an iMac might be the better option.
One last tip: Buy all the RAM you can afford to. With RAM prices this low, there is no excuse not to have at least 256 MB of RAM in your new computer. Check out ramseeker for prices.
Next week I will talk about how to maintain your new computer, what software you might consider buying for it, how to move files from your old computer to your new one, and more.
Recent Apple Archive articles
- iPods, notebooks, and other modern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, 12.07. Whether it's an intermittent failure or a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replace a broken electronics device than repair it.
- Options for replacing your older iPod, 11.19. Whether you've run out of space on your old iPod or want features it doesn't have, here are your options in new and used iPods.
- Could the $200 'green' PC with gOS Linux become a threat to Apple?, 11.14. The low cost, low power Everex desktop comes with a customized version of Ubuntu Linux, has a Mac-like Dock, and sells for $400 less than the Mac mini.
- Leopard different, a bit buggy, but worth the upgrade, 11.02. Leopard on a Power Mac G4 and a MacBook Pro: It runs well on both computers, but each has some odd bugs, and some of the changes are a step backwards.
- More in the Apple Archive index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 'Sawtooth' Power Mac G4, Aug. 1999 - Available in speeds from 350-500 MHz, 'Sawtooth' introduced AGP video to the Mac.
- Group of the Day: G4 List is for those using Power Mac G4s or G4 upgrades.
- November 22 in LEM history: 99: Gradebooks - 00: Leveraging Apple design - Quadra 630 to Power Mac 5200 - 02: Laptop or desktop? - 04: SuperDuper: Quick, easy, efficient backup - Cross-platform programming for the rest of us - 05: Mac video surveillance on the cheap - Which OS is best for my vintage Mac? - No 'best browser' for the Mac - Sorry state of browsers for classic Macs - 06: Core 2 means cooler running 'Books - 2.0 GHz G4 upgrade
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- The Long Term Value of a High End Mac, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 11.21. Low-end Macs are more affordable up front, but the flexibility and upgrade options of a top-end Mac can make it the better value in the long run.
- iPhone #1 Worldwide, Google Voice Search for iPhone, iPhone 3G Battery Pack, and More, iNews Review, 11.21. Also British accents throw off Google voice search, lots of new iPhone apps, universal USB car charger, new protective cases, and more.
- 15 Reasons Macs Are Better, Quad-core iMac in January?, USB 3.0 Spec Finalized, and More, Mac News Review, 11.21. Also 25 years of Macs, 'Snow Leopard' in Q1?, SimpleTech's faster and greener hard drive, Hyperspaces, StarOffice for OS X, and more.
- DisplayPort Copy Protection, Trackpad Update, Netbooks Not to Be Taken Lightly, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.21. Also Apple set for record sales, 4-finger gestures on original MacBook Air, MacBook Apple's best consumer notebook to date, Cricket laptop stand, bargain 'Books from $490 to $2,299, and more.
- Virtualization Shootout: VMWare Fusion 2 vs. Parallels Desktop 4, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 11.20. Both programs do the same thing, but one runs Windows XP smoothly alongside Mac apps, while the other bogs down everything but Windows.
- Just Right: Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear MacBooks, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 11.20. Some people like small and light notebooks, others prefer huge desktop replacements, but the best value tends to be in the middle.
- Apple Caves to Hollywood with DRM on iTunes Videos, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. HDCP on the new MacBooks means that you may never really own those videos you buy from the iTunes Store.
- Leopard Runs Very Nicely on PowerPC Macs, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 11.19. Some claim that Mac OS X 10.5 is so optimized for Intel Macs that it runs poorly on PowerPC hardware. That's simply not the case.
- No High Definition iTunes Video for You, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 11.19. The October 2008 MacBooks are preventing users from viewing some high-def iTunes content from being viewed on their external displays. Poor form!
- Every Working Computer Is Useful to Someone, Allison Payne, The Budget Mac, 11.19. Whether it's a PowerBook 1400, G3 iMac, or Power Mac G4, it could be all the computer someone needs.
- 3 WeatherBug Options for Apple Users, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.19. Have instant access to current local weather conditions with a Dashboard widget, iPhone app, or Firefox plugin.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.20. Used 400 MHz, $50; 733, $100; 800, $199; 1.25 GHz, $300; 800 MHz dual, $200, 867, $300; 1 GHz, $350; 1.42, $400.
- Best iBook G3 Deals, 11.20. Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 366, $199; 800 CD, $180; 600 CD-RW, $240; 700 Combo, $290; 900, $369; 14" 600, $360; 900, $449.
- Best Power Mac G3 and PCI Video Card Deals, 11.20. Used beige 300 MHz, $25; blue & white 350, $80; 400, $90; 450, $105; PCI video cards from $15; shipping additional.
- Best iMac G4 Deals, 11.18. Used 15" 700 MHz Combo, $243; 800 MHz, $280; 1 GHz, $380; 17" 1.25 GHz SuperDrive, $400; 20", $549.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, 11.18. New 1.6 80, $1,150 after rebate; 120, $1,744 a/r; 1.8 80, $1,794 a/r; 1.6 128 SSD, $2,150; used 1.8 64 SSD, $1,500; new, $2,200 a/r; 1.86, $2,398 a/r.
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals, 11.18. Mac OS X 10.0.3, $30; 10.1, $20; 10.2, $60; 10.3 CD, DVD, $100; CD, $119; 10.1 Server, unlimited users, $58; 10.3 Server, unlimited, $150.
- Best iPod nano Deals, 11.17. Refurb 3G/4 GB, $79; new, $114; refurb 8 GB, $99; new, $125; 3G/8 GB, from $134; 16 GB, from $189. Prices include ground shipping.
- Best Titanium PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.17. Used 1 GHz with SuperDrive, $478 plus shipping.
- Best Xserve deals, 11.17. Used G4/1 GHz, $999; G5/2 GHz, $1,288; new 2.0 4-core Xeon, $1,900; refurb 3.0 4-core, $2,599; 2.8 GHz, $2,499; 3.0 8-core, $3,499.
- More deals in our archive.
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