This Christmas I learned that not only do I like my Mac, but my family does so as well. Last year I created a DVD with photo slide-shows and made them an integral part of my present. This year I just didn’t have the time and there was a certain amount of disappointment with my parents. Of course I sat down after Christmas and created a 45 minute DVD with picturs from my holiday(s), business trips and my brother’s wedding in August. My parents were really pleased, and I enjoyed the process of creating this “belated present” as well.
As you know, it really isn’t difficult at all, iPhoto will get you going really quickly, iDVD puts it all together “professionally” and my LightScribe DVD-Writer took care of labelling the discs. So it isn’t difficult, but it takes a bit of time. Some of this time is pure processing time and this is when I remembered that I really wanted to buy a new computer. I love my Mac Mini to bits, but it is a bit sluggish at times. It isn’t that underpowered (1.42GHz G4, 512MB RAM), but it could do with more RAM and while I am at it, it could do with an Intel Processor as well…
There are a few compelling reasons for buying a new machine, but there is also one problem, currently buying a new Mac would mean a compromise, which I am not quite ready to make. Thus I wait for Steve’s Development Team to come up with a “Mac for me”.
Mac Mini – this currently is actually my most likely choice. The cost is plain simply affordable, even though the 2GB Memory Upgrade is a bit dear. While it is a gorgeous package, it doesn’t really allow me to upgrade simple things like the hard drive or the memory (RAM). These are upgrades I am happy to do myself and that can make quite a difference in performance of an older machine. More RAM is always good and a faster and larger hard drive can help a little as well. I will admit that with a bit of surgery, you can add memory and a new hard drive, but the Mac Mini really wasn’t made for it. A new Mac Mini also only comes with graphics on board, which isn’t that bad, but it shared the main memory of the computer.
iMac – lovely as they are, great value for money, I just don’t have space for one. When I am not traveling for work, I work from home and that means I have a Dell Laptop and that is hooked up to a TFT monitor. I have a KVM Switch to add my Mac Mini to the setup and it works beautifully. Unfortunately work will not permit me to switch to a Mac and finding space for another monitor won’t be possible. While for me it is one of the most desirable Macs out there, it is a non starter. And changing jobs ain’t an option either (unless you’ve got a marvelous offer).
Mac Pro – well it would give me all the upgrade options I want, but starting at €2449 (US$ 3,224.18; converted today) it is a bit beyond my means and while I want more power, I think this one is too powerful for me.
Mac Book – this would be a nice alternative, it allows you to upgrade the hard drive and memory yourself. But I don’t really want a laptop, nor do I need one. I will only ever travel with one and that will usually be the company issued Dell. Very frequently my personal vacation time starts just after company business. For example this month I had to go to Oxford for some meetings (they were great) and I added a few days in Birmingham, York, Liverpool and London. I had my company laptop, I wouldn’t take another one. So really the Mac Book, desirable as it is, just isn’t for me.
What I want is something in-between a Mac Mini and a Mac Pro and I can’t believe that no-one out there feels like I do. Having outgrown the Mac Mini, but not quite needing a Mac Pro. What do you think?
Am I the only one feeling that Apple currently has a hole in their product line up?
Should I go ahead and buy a new Mac, because I am unlikely going to see a Mac that really fits my needs? If so, which one should I go for?
Should I possibly wait until the new version of Mac OS is out?
Hoping that the discussion will not only benefit myself…
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