Which Apple Mac Can You Buy?
Which Apple Mac Can You Buy?
As more people become familiar with the elegance of Apple hardware through the use of iPods, iPhones and, more recently, the iPad, there´s been increased interest in Apple´s line of computers, the Macs. For those coming from the world of Windows or Linux, the choices available may be overwhelming. The information below will help you decide which of the different models to choose, beginning with desktop systems.
Desktop vs. Laptop
The first choice is whether to get a portable computer or a desktop computer. Unlike the compromises this required ten years ago, today there are few reasons to choose a desktop, should a laptop computer appeal to you. The low-end desktop and laptop Macs are comparable in configuration, as are the high-end versions. The one area where compromise still exists is price. The engineering required to get all the working parts into a box the size of a laptop is greater, and that greater engineering comes at a price. For example, the most affordable desktop Mac, the Mac mini, at its lowest configuration, retails for $599, while the comparable laptop Mac, the MacBook, retails for $999. At the high-end, however, the differences narrow.
Of course, laptops provide greater freedom for this greater cost. There´s an appeal to having the ability to take your entire digital life with you wherever you might go and have access to all of your applications and data any time, any place.
Mac mini
Should you find that a desktop computer is the way to go, Apple provides three lines in this format: the Mac mini, the iMac and the Mac Pro. These can be considered as the beginner model, the home model and the professional model.
The Mac mini is an excellent choice for getting a Mac with the least investment. Unlike the other computer models Apple offers, the Mac mini includes neither a keyboard, mouse nor display. However, any existing hardware you have that was used with a Windows based machine can be used with the Mac mini, making this the most economical entry point. Simply get the Mac mini, plug in your existing display, mouse and keyboard, and you´re ready to go. The Mac mini´s pricing starts at $599 with additional costs for upgrades to hard drive or memory beyond the basic model.
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