This weekend I'm hoping to upgrade in the computer life cycle at last, the laptop I have niow is about 2-3 years old, and when I bought it the man said I'd be lucky if I'd be able to run The Sims 2. This didn't bother me as much back then because all I really wanted was the internet, but now with the rise of Steam I'm missing the games. So I'm going to go and buy either an iMac or a Macbook, In the future I do hope to own both an iMac and a Macbook, but due to money issues and I can't afford both. So which one do I get?
To help narrow it down I will be using it for games and internet and basic media management (Music/Films on my iPhone) and I may attempt some photoshop. I'm will be going on a financhal plan which would be £47 a month for the Macbook or £100-£120 for the iMac as I hope to get the 27inch model. Although I may end up getting the 21inch, depending on my mood. I have had a laptop for two years, it has never left my house apart from once, I don't really have any oppterunitys to use its portablity outside of bringing it downstairs, and my laptop is big and heavy.
What do you think, do you have either of theese?
Also does a Mac play WOW, cause I would love to play that!
Mac
Platform »
The Macintosh (Mac) line of personal computers is designed and developed by Apple, Inc. - formerly Apple Computer, Inc. It runs macOS, a Unix operating system. Its current version, macOS 13.4 "Ventura" was released on May 18, 2023.
iMac or Macbook?
if you are using it for games, get a windows machine. Macs are bad for gaming, even with emulation and steam. The drivers just aren't there.
always go with a desktop too, if you are taking it with you then I would say laptop, but since you said you never take it out of the house then what is the point?
if you are using it for games, get a windows machine. Macs are bad for gaming, even with emulation and steam. The drivers just aren't there.
always go with a desktop too, if you are taking it with you then I would say laptop, but since you said you never take it out of the house then what is the point?
All of my friends have them and are able to run the games I want to play so it seems ok for me. And because the Macbook is 50% cheaper.
All I can tell you is if you go iMac get the 27" over 21". Personally I´d get the iMac because I don´t have a need to carry my computer around. Especially since I have an iPad
It really just depends on whether you want a laptop or a desktop. You can always use Bootcamp later on if you want to run other PC games.
And yes, WoW is also available for Mac.
I always wondered why people think so highly of Macs. I mean, they're pretty damn expensive, and in exchange they are... pretty.I hate to be this guy but, if money is an issue, you can build an equivalent PC for a third of the price of a mac.
Seems like a waste of money for your needs. I own both macbook and imac. I use my macbook for day to day stuff like surfing the web and banking and I use my 27" i7 imac for video and sound production. I have to use final cut studio and logic for work which are mac programs. I use my ps3 and 360 for gaming because leisure time is living room. If you are using it for gaming and photoshop...you should just buy a cheap $500 PC.
Unless you are some sort of brand whore.
MacBook Pro or iMac. Since you are using any pro-apps (photoshop) i'd go with either of the two. A PC is a viable option as well.
And Yes you can play WoW with a Mac.
Either way you will want to use Windows for games so use boot camp so you can dual boot.
OS X is terrible for games compared to Windows. You get like half the FPS you would in Windows.
One example is I can run StarCraft II super smooth on a mix of medium and high settings at 1280x800 on my MacBook when in Windows. When in OS X running the same game I can barely run it on low/medium.
Also I find OS X has weird mouse acceleration in Source games but I didn't spend much time changing the settings!
Edit: By the way the new MacBook Air and MacBooks are out soon (this month I bet, as soon as Lion releases) so don't go out and get one yet. They will be getting a considerable upgrade. (Sandy Bridge is pretty much guaranteed)
Don't worry too much about the naysayers, the majority have never owned a Mac.
The choice is entirely based on how portable you want really; but a few points to help you mac your decision:
- The latest iMacs (only a couple of months old) are pretty damn fast. The sandy bridge i5/i7s are really speedy, and with the OS optimised for them, it'll probably be quicker than anything you've seen. Games run pretty well too, Source games, WoW, Starcraft, etc.
- MacBooks are due for a refresh soon (with sandy bridge CPUs I assume) - they're not as powerful as the iMacs and generally have poorer graphics cards (unless you go for the more expensive models with the dual cards).
Seeing as you say you won't use it as a portable device very much, and you have a smartphone, I'd go with the iMac - you get a powerful computer with a great screen at a pretty decent price.
The base iMac does come with a 512mb graphics card though which is a little bit worrying these days especially for a 1920x1080 screen.Don't worry too much about the naysayers, the majority have never owned a Mac.
The choice is entirely based on how portable you want really; but a few points to help you mac your decision:
- The latest iMacs (only a couple of months old) are pretty damn fast. The sandy bridge i5/i7s are really speedy, and with the OS optimised for them, it'll probably be quicker than anything you've seen. Games run pretty well too, Source games, WoW, Starcraft, etc.
- MacBooks are due for a refresh soon (with sandy bridge CPUs I assume) - they're not as powerful as the iMacs and generally have poorer graphics cards (unless you go for the more expensive models with the dual cards).
Seeing as you say you won't use it as a portable device very much, and you have a smartphone, I'd go with the iMac - you get a powerful computer with a great screen at a pretty decent price.
http://www.overclock.net/graphics-cards-general/780310-how-much-vram-do-you-need.html
Quite a lot of games go over that limit there, but I do doubt the 6750 will be able to max any of them games out so it probably won't be an issue if you don't mind playing at lower settings and at worst having to drop the resolution down a notch.
I don't hate Macs by any stretch - they do what they do very well...it's just that you pay a premium for what they do, and what they do isn't really all that cost effective if you want something to dick around and play games with.
Mac fans gets very defensive when you say that, but the fact is you can buy a PC that will run games far better for a fraction of the cost of any of the Mac variants....so why do you want a Mac?
Pretty much this. I like my MacBook it's a nice product. I feel Apple have a big edge when it comes to the quality of their laptops so I can understand the price premium a little bit more with those but I completely disagree with the pricing of iMacs. They are costly for what they are.I don't hate Macs by any stretch - they do what they do very well...it's just that you pay a premium for what they do, and what they do isn't really all that cost effective if you want something to dick around and play games with. Mac fans gets very defensive when you say that, but the fact is you can buy a PC that will run games far better for a fraction of the cost of any of the Mac variants....so why do you want a Mac?
£1000 for a machine with a 512Mb graphics card in 2011 is pretty hilarious. For that price you could build a complete PC with a Sandy Bridge quad, double the ram, a decent 24" LED monitor and a high end graphics card. (GTX 470/HD6870+ easily)
They'd be a more rounded deal if the graphics card was a bit better. They're still around £300 too expensive, though and the screen is only 21".
This is what my cousin bought for £930...I woulda cut some corners and got it down to £850 ish but it was still a decent deal
I like iMacs, they look cooler than Macbooks.
Also this is a worthless answer, all depends on what you need.
I had the same problem and went with a laptop. I don't regret it, but I also didn't pay for a Macbook, but a PC. I don't have the money to pay a premium on... idk, something I obviously don't care enough about to acknowledge.
@Hizang said:
This weekend I'm hoping to upgrade in the computer life cycle at last, the laptop I have niow is about 2-3 years old, and when I bought it the man said I'd be lucky if I'd be able to run The Sims 2. This didn't bother me as much back then because all I really wanted was the internet, but now with the rise of Steam I'm missing the games. So I'm going to go and buy either an iMac or a Macbook, In the future I do hope to own both an iMac and a Macbook, but due to money issues and I can't afford both. So which one do I get?
To help narrow it down I will be using it for games and internet and basic media management (Music/Films on my iPhone) and I may attempt some photoshop. I'm will be going on a financhal plan which would be £47 a month for the Macbook or £100-£120 for the iMac as I hope to get the 27inch model. Although I may end up getting the 21inch, depending on my mood. I have had a laptop for two years, it has never left my house apart from once, I don't really have any oppterunitys to use its portablity outside of bringing it downstairs, and my laptop is big and heavy.
What do you think, do you have either of theese?
Also does a Mac play WOW, cause I would love to play that!
As someone who went to art school, I know how the pull of a Mac can be. Nice exterior design, nice walled garden approach to software, but don't do it. Don't buy a mac.
There is literally no reason to buy a Mac in today's world. They use the EXACT same hardware as a PC, they run the EXACT same production apps (save a few) and a PC is about 2/3s cheaper than a Mac.
There is 1, and only 1 reason to own a Mac, and that is for Audio editing. Because the MacOS is based on a version of Linux, it allows programs to have direct access to the processor and RAM, which allows for a higher bitrate when encoding music. Otherwise, Mac is at a severe disadvantage in just sheer number of software titles that run on the machine.
Do yourself a favor. Buy a PC. Save yourself a grand and invest it in buying a bunch of games, or buying a camera. You can still play with the people who own macs.
@Tim_the_Corsair said:
I don't hate Macs by any stretch - they do what they do very well...it's just that you pay a premium for what they do, and what they do isn't really all that cost effective if you want something to dick around and play games with. Mac fans gets very defensive when you say that, but the fact is you can buy a PC that will run games far better for a fraction of the cost of any of the Mac variants....so why do you want a Mac?
I think that they think that people think more highly of them if they get a one. Either that or they've had terrible experiences with some PCs in the past.
I'm currently sporting a MacBook and iPhone4. They are both great products, in a vacuum. I love the form factor of the MacBook. As far as laptops go, it's the best one I've ever owned. Having said that, if I were you, I'd stay as far away from Apple as you can and just get a PC. Everything that Apple does is about locking you into their products for life. OSX is no Xanadu of operating systems. I have many more frustrations with it than I do with Windows. It works good and does what you need most of the time, but if you need to get into the nether regions of your OS, it can be very irritating. Plus some of the software I use for development is just frustrating with a Mac. A PC is cheaper and you can do so much more with it. When I get around to it, I'm just going to install Windows on my MacBook as I really do like the hardware.
Seriously, if you are playing games, a Mac will not be good enough. It also sounds like you don't need it to be portable so get a desktop.
If you're not moving around much, get an iMac. I usually inhabit two differentAlso does a Mac play WOW, cause I would love to play that!
locations each week so I like having a Macbook Pro. But I also have a PC at
both locations for PC-based games (& an Xbox 360), although one PC currently
needs repairs. I still use the Mac extensively because I enjoy it but I like to have
one system that I carry with me that has all the stuff I want to use. Before the
Mac, it wasn't that much fun copying stuff on two PCs to keep them current
with any data or installing games, or whatever.
When I look/use the Windows OS, it just looks archaic by comparison. Mac
goes for taking the technical elements in their software & moving it behind
the scenes as best as they can. It lets you be more productive & focus on
content, research, or whatever it is you're trying to accomplish; rather than
be bogged down with oddball error messages & google searches to find
out what is wrong with Windows this time around.
Yo Boot Campif you are using it for games, get a windows machine. Macs are bad for gaming, even with emulation and steam. The drivers just aren't there.
always go with a desktop too, if you are taking it with you then I would say laptop, but since you said you never take it out of the house then what is the point?
It's kinda tough, Mac OSX Lion has mainly been crafted for Macbooks because they're the most popular. Things like multitouch gestures etc. will work better on the laptop. The only real reason you'll want a 27" is for PS etc. otherwise with playing games and the lot, the resolution will be a burden.
Also, don't listen to people who say to get a PC. Obviously they don't get that Macs aren't "You pay a premium" and are actually "You get what you pay for". Apple support is incredible! And the hardware you are getting is reliable and actually pleasant to look at. Also, Mac OSX takes advantage of it's hardware. Put a Macbook next to a PC Laptop with the same specs and the Macbook will perform tasks a lot faster.
Also there is Boot Camp for your Windows needs.
My set-up is a little odd at the moment. I have a 5 year old iMac that I use primarily for uni, internet and media. On the other hand I have a high-end Asus gaming laptop that I use almost exclusively for gaming. I would recommend running an OSX and Windows machine concurrently. Next time I upgrade I will be getting a Mac Book and a gaming desktop though, as being able to upgrade my gaming machine would be nice.
Whatever you buy, just make sure it's not due for a refresh, like the MacBook is. MacBook Pro on the other hand is about halfway through it's usual update cycle, and the iMac's were just updated.
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/
I, personally, would go for the MacBook Pro. The things are great to carry around and use anywhere like on the couch or in bed. You'd be sacrificing some power for portability but if the games you want to run aren't super resource intensive you should be fine. And you can always hook it up to an external monitor if you need to.
EDIT: And I will echo what @Tim_the_Corsair said.
Get a PC you'll always get more for your money.
My $700 PC laptop has equivilant hardware as the 17" macbook pro.
This picture proves how overpriced apple hardware is.
http://www.randompics.net/wp-content/main/2010_08/1282847851602.jpg
i dont care if their supports better or what ever you say, i get fine support with my computer and im able to do more than you can with a mac.
Typing this while i get annoyed at our schools mac computers.
@Hizang: @TheBeast: You get Blizzard products and Source games... everything else like 80% of tittles even steam ones doesn't run on MAC (or run poorly).. why limit yourself?
I work in Macs at the office they fine machines but I strongly prefer PC for Gaming - Mods - Tittles - Drivers - Cards - Upgredability even price is better for a Windows based Gaming machine.
@ShaunassNZ said:
@Stonyman65 said:Yo Boot Campif you are using it for games, get a windows machine. Macs are bad for gaming, even with emulation and steam. The drivers just aren't there.
always go with a desktop too, if you are taking it with you then I would say laptop, but since you said you never take it out of the house then what is the point?
Yo Boot Camp doesn't work.
well, technically, it does, but it is laggy, and not the experience you want for playing games.
and all of the people defending Macs... Linux dude, Linux. It can do the same thing and it is FREE. After all, OSX is just Unix with a shell over it..
Erm. I'm a PC guy and I run Windows 7 on my MacBook for gaming purposes, it is not laggy at all so I don't know where you're getting that from. It works fantastic for playing games.@ShaunassNZ said:
@Stonyman65 said:
Yo Boot Campif you are using it for games, get a windows machine. Macs are bad for gaming, even with emulation and steam. The drivers just aren't there.
always go with a desktop too, if you are taking it with you then I would say laptop, but since you said you never take it out of the house then what is the point?
Yo Boot Camp doesn't work.
well, technically, it does, but it is laggy, and not the experience you want for playing games.
and all of the people defending Macs... Linux dude, Linux. It can do the same thing and it is FREE. After all, OSX is just Unix with a shell over it..
The only problem with boot camped Windows 7 is the differences between the Mac and Windows keyboard layout. Well it's more of an annoyance than anything else.
You know Boot Camp is just a dual booted OS, right? It's nothing different to a standard Windows install. Mac hardware is now just Intel processors and chipsets so it's obvious there's not going to be any glaring differences.
Only thing Boot Camp does is make it easy to install the OS and set it up with the Mac boot loader. Oh yeah it comes with some drivers too which are all replaceable.
I'm a Linux user and I disagree. Unlike OSX, Linux lacks a broad support of drivers, games and professional software and those are some of the main reasons people use computers.and all of the people defending Macs... Linux dude, Linux. It can do the same thing and it is FREE. After all, OSX is just Unix with a shell over it..
I don't care because I like the concept behind it and know my stuff by now but if you ever had to setup a printer in Linux that was not fully supported, you know what I'm talking about.
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