When Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computers in 1976, they could never have imagined the global sensation that Apple would become. They pursued their vision of creating compact computers that would be small enough to have in the home, creating a market leader as they achieved their dreams.
One of the key goals of the original designs was user-friendliness, and the pair were quick to realize that this was a popular feature of their products. Many people chose Apple tech because it was so easy to use, and they continued to choose compatible items because the familiar interface could be used across so many products.
A Mac for every need
Today, people choose Macs because they appreciate the ease of use of the proprietary systems, and the ability to connect several devices via a shared online platform. Many gamers also favor Apple products because they offer powerful processing alongside the excellent graphics that makes gaming a pleasure.
With more and more online gamers choosing to indulge their habits from the comfort of their own homes, everyone has their own perfect setup. From playing in an online casino to joining a massively multiplayer game online, most of the top games worldwide are available on iOS, Apple’s operating system.
To find the best Mac to suit your gaming habits, it’s important to check that it will be compatible with your favorite games and make sure that it meets the published hardware requirements. Apple has traditionally offered a choice of great gaming computers including the MacBook Pro, the iMac, the Mac Pro, and the iMac Pro.
For those that want to stay at the cutting edge of gaming, the latest Apple Silicon range has silicon processors instead of the Intel ones that were used before.
What to look for in a Mac
Macs are also known for their industry-leading software, and they are incredibly popular among creatives. From graphic design and photo editing to music writing and producing, Macs are known for being easy to use and ideal for those that want to create something special.
So, when you are looking for a Mac, it’s worth checking what software it comes with and if there is any specific software that you may want to install. You will need to choose a model that meets the minimum requirements for any programs you want to use, so check the spec before you buy.
How much memory do you need?
You will also need to consider how much memory you will need, which will largely depend on what you will be using your computer for. Macs tend to be relatively hard to upgrade, as the more recent machines have had the RAM soldered to the motherboards inside the computer.
This made them difficult to access, and therefore expensive to upgrade, but the new Apple Silicon processors have changed the way Apple even refers to memory. The memory is now a part of the chip that contains the processor, graphics processing unit (GPU), and some other components that used to be housed separately.
This means that the latest models of Mac have their capacity described in terms of ‘unified memory’ which means the total of the base and upgraded memory. The various chips offer different levels of unified memory, but casual users should find that the basic level of 8GB is enough to shop online, stream music, make occasional video calls, and do most other day-to-day tasks online.
For those that want to use a Mac for work, using complex spreadsheets, video-conferencing, and managing multiple large documents at a time, a 16GB machine would be more suitable. For those that want to use specialist creative software, whether that’s editing high-resolution photos or videos, or editing a lot of tracks on a music program such as Logic Pro, 32GB might be more suitable.
For the very heaviest users, there is also a 128GB option with the new silicon chips, and this is with the M1 Ultra Mac Studio, which uses two of the new M1 Max chips to create one of the most powerful machines around.
What else to consider when buying a Mac?
Like any purchase, there are sometimes compromises to be made to get the most cost-effective and practical product, but Macs tend to offer good all-rounder machines. Some of the things that buyers might want to consider include:
- Battery life
- Weight
- Durability
- Screen size
- Processor speed
- Video processor
It is important to consider some things before you buy as you cannot upgrade them later, so choose the fastest processor you can afford in the first instance. Once you find the right balance of all the available options, at a price that suits your budget, you will be one step closer to getting your perfect Mac.