Mac advice

[Strider]

I would like to get a Mac as I'd like to start doing work from home.I know nothing about them though and would love some advice.

This probably flies in the face of Mac convention, but my main priority is to be able to purchase it from somewhere that allows for monthly payments. Mainly because Macs are expensive and I am poor (and I've already blown the £500 I've made from selling DC games and Criterion Blu-Rays).

I want to use stuff like indesign for my work, but I'd also like to possibly get into gaming as well (particualrly interested in being able to play anything that's on Steam.

I don't want the equivalent of a lap-top, but I want something that will last at least 3 years.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Budget wise (seeing it's not in one go) I'd be looking at wanting to spend no more than £1500.

This isn't important, but would you need to buy a special printer/scanner or could I use the one I have?

Would this suit my needs?
Is it good for playing recent games?

http://www.solutions-inc.co.uk/index.php/store/mac-computers/imac/apple-imac-27-inch-306-ghz-intel-core-2-duo-1tb

[Lyris]

I really don't see any point in getting a Mac if games are your priority. You pay over the odds for older hardware.

I use both Windows and Mac OS for work, and especially if you're low on funds, I don't really see any point in getting the Mac unless you want to run a Mac-exclusive program/application. That said, there are benefits to the all-in-one design if you're low on space (and personally I'm a sucker for the Mac keyboards - I use one on my Windows PC).

If you're set on it though, then there's not a lot of advice to give since there's a limited selection of models. Your printer/scanner should work absolutely fine.

[wakka]

Yeah that'll be dope for everything that you want to do. You can pay in monthly installments if you buy on the Apple Store too, don't know where the best deal is though.

[Strider]

I really don't see any point in getting a Mac if games are your priority. You pay over the odds for older hardware.

I use both Windows and Mac OS for work, and especially if you're low on funds, I don't really see any point in getting the Mac unless you want to run a Mac-exclusive program/application. That said, there are benefits to the all-in-one design if you're low on space (and personally I'm a sucker for the Mac keyboards - I use one on my Windows PC).

If you're set on it though, then there's not a lot of advice to give since there's a limited selection of models. Your printer/scanner should work absolutely fine.

Sorry Lyris. Didn't really explain myself.
I'm not a big pc gamer by any stretch. I was just wondering that if I started investigating Steam, would I be disappointed, because the games don't run properly. I mainly want it because it will make my work a lot easier.

[EvilBoris]

Why would it be easier than a pc?

[Strider]

Why would it be easier than a pc?

because I do all more work at work on a mac.

[egparadigm]

If you wanted to go really cheap and didn't mind the added hassle there is always the option to build a Hackintosh. The problem being that you'd need to be sure with software updates that they're not going to brick it and there might be potential hardware incompatibilities.

http://lifehacker.com/321913/build-a-hackintosh-mac-for-under-800

It is also against the End User License Agreement from Apple.

Otherwise you could choose a Mac Mini – which is effectively a PC tower – so you'd need to have your own monitor, mouse and keyboard.

You can see all the models of iMacs (the low-end desktops) here:

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac?mco=MTM3NDk0NjU

[Ghost]

If you get any of the current models of macs it will be fine to run steam on, Ive got a 13 inch macbook pro and it runs games like half life 2 and torchlight beautifully. So really the cheapest iMac should be fine for your needs, apple store will probably be the best place to go for prices and if your in london you can check the apple shop there to see if they have any refurb machines which will be even cheaper. Also I highly recommend getting a magic mouse.

Hope that helps

[Brad]

I've been using a Macbook for nearly 3 years. It still runs great, unlike the PCs I use at work which have ground to a halt and required a couple of re-installs during that time.

I'd just get an iMac mate, a 27" model if funds will allow, as long as you are sure that you don't need a laptop.

[Lyris]

It is also against the End User License Agreement from Apple.

I heard - not sure if it is true - that the EULA states the software has to be installed on an "Apple-labelled" machine. Couple of stickers are you're sorted

[NekoFever]

I've had my MacBook Pro for about three years now and it's still great. Most Source games run like arse on it but less intensive stuff like Torchlight or Warcraft runs perfectly on high settings, so I don't know how much of it is the hardware and how much is a dodgy Source port/drivers in OS X. I used to have Windows on it in Boot Camp and never had a problem running games on Steam, so possibly the latter.

That one you're looking at is good and would **** all over the old iMacs that you're used to. The higher spec ones with Core i5/i7 processors are basically another generation ahead, but it's probably overkill for a bit of light InDesign and Photoshop.

Also, if you want to finance it, see what Apple can do for you directly. Admittedly this was a student offer so don't expect anything this good, but when I bought a new iBook G4 in 2004 I got it interest free paid off over ten months.

[Btang84]

Steam for Mac runs like **** mainly because the graphics drivers aren't optimised, your computer certainly should run it fine. I've got the i5 Macbook Pro and it runs like a dream. I can certainly tell the difference over the Core 2 Duo my last machine was.

[Jaz]

I am poor

How can the editor of Retro Gamer be poor?

[Ginger Tosser]

I think he has children, it is entirely possibly he's poor.