The Best New Mac

Low End Mac Reader Specials

Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com

LA Computer Company: LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, Apple Displays, MacBooks, iMac's, MacBook Pros, Laptop and iPod accessories and more. Apple A/C Adapters for laptops starting at $25.00 Call 1-800-941-7654 or Click Here.

Other World Computing has the Upgrades, Enhancements, and Accessories for getting the most from your Mac. Quality Products, Competitive Prices, Expert Support Staff - www.macsales.com

Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.

Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.

MacPro Memory 667Mhz With Apple Spec Heat Sink 2GB $90 / 4GB $134 / 8GB $264. Click to Maximize your Macs...

- 2000.09.27

Q: What is the best new Mac I can get?

A: The answer is . . . it depends. It depends on what you want to do with a new Mac. The first question you have to ask is whether you want a desktop machine or a portable. Portability has its perks, but it certainly restricts your expansion capabilities, the comfort you have when typing, and the number of available ports, as well as screen size.

Desktops

If you are interested in design and other creative tasks, you will need more horsepower than if you use your computer only for, say, Web surfing, email and word processing. Same thing for game lovers.

If you look for a Mac that will live on for several years, expandability and maximum upgrade possibilities are very important. All the above-mentioned needs would require a Power Mac G4. Do you need multiprocessing? Yes, if you want to take full advantage of Mac OS X and have a big speed boost when all mainstream Macintosh software is ready for the technology.

What if you just want something simple? Look for the iMac. It is inexpensive, especially the indigo model at US$799, and it gives you an elegant all-in-one solution. Of course, it requires sacrificing the PCI slots, the great upgrades and expansion. If you have no plans to revolutionize the world from your desk, though, this is the right choice. It will connect you to the Net, let you type documents, do your finances, etc. With its DV, DV+, and DV SE variations, you can get still more power without going for the most expensive Macs out there.

Too many people look at the G4 as the only computer they would buy, but they forget that their needs Power Mac G4 Cube are not as demanding as they think. An iMac can do the trick for most Mac users.

The Cube? Well... frankly, it does very little to differentiate itself from the others. It is between a full G4 tower and an iMac in several categories. It offers some expansion and upgrade possibilities. The Cube provides more than the iMac but a little less than the G4. If you want style, it will probably fulfill all your desires, but otherwise, it would be a lot of money for what you get.

Portables

To decide which portable you could want is very easy. Just ask yourself if you want the equivalent of a desktop or if you just need something to bring with you. The PowerBook is a desktop replacement. It has great expansion options, including the ability to handle a second monitor when you are at home or at the office. It offers a bigger display; the iBook offers only 12.1 inch.

The iBook, though, is great for people who need a portable but do not need all the power of a PowerBook. With lower specs and a lower price, it is a nice machine for basic tasks such as word processing and other less demanding work.

Not sure if you should upgrade your old Mac or replace it? Check the Mac Daniel index to see if we've already addressed your problem.

Recent Mac Daniel columns

Bringing G3 iMacs and other G3 Macs into the Tiger Age, Dan Knight, 12.07. Tips on hard drives, memory, WiFi, and getting Mac OS X 10.4 installed on G3 iMacs and other older G3 Macs.
Multiple users on the same Mac at work, Dan Knight, 11.15. How to set up a Mac so multiple users can log in and use it - and use the same pool of work files.
1 working eMac from 2 broken ones, Dan Knight, 11.14. A pair of matching eMacs, each with a different failure, results in one working eMac and lots of leftovers.
More in the Mac Daniel index.

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More links in our archive.

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