MAC help

[N_Jay]

I am looking for information on buying a MAC.
(No , I did not fall down and hit my head!)

It is for my niece, who needs it for a Graphic Arts program she is entering.

So far all I know is it need to be a 20", platform 10.4 with 2Gig ram.
She also needs Creative Suite with Dreamweaver, and Wacom Tablet 6x8.

She (and her parents) are not very technical, so I need to know what questions I need to ask to find out exactly what she needs.
Then I need to know where the best place to get a decent price. (My brother-in-law id a real staving artist, so cost is important)

Thanks all.

P.S. Feel free to toss in any digs you like, as long as the post contains other answers.

[Sportymonk]

OK

1. The 20" Screen Requirement rules out all laptops.

2. 10.4 is the operating system. That is the current one until 10.5 comes out sometime this year or early next.

3. 2 Gig of Ram, OK.

Questions to Ask: Does she want a specific video card? How big a hard drive does she want?

You didn't mention if she wants a certain speed processor. Here are links to the 3 computer lines Apple makes in desktops:

Mini-Mac - Can add any screen. Small case. 2 GB Ram is maximum. Keyboard and mouse are optional.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...0&nclm=Macmini

iMac - The screen is the CPU. Problem, if the screen or CPU anything has a problem, its all in one case. 3 GB Max ram. Can't change the screen (You can run another screen but it would look odd to run off the first one)

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...1F78&nclm=iMac

Mac Pro - The big mama Drool. Lots of options (But I would personally have a laptop and I do)

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...C0&nclm=MacPro

Here is the general link to Apple Computers. http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...cts/AppleStore

Look at the three lines and talk to her. The MiniMac is good but not very expandable. The best thing might be to talk to some students and or instructors. DO NOT go by the schools recommended list. Most are out of date and represent the minimum for today. In 6 months you will wish you hadn't.

ONE LAST THING (Mac folks know that phrase from MacWorld conferences) - Once you go Mac you will never go back. I seriously love mine and after the ongoing problems of my wife and her Dell and Windows, I will stay in the Apple world. (But don't let anybody kid you, they do have problems and there have been a few viruses.)

Originally posted by N_Jay
I am looking for information on buying a MAC.
(No , I did not fall down and hit my head!)

It is for my niece, who needs it for a Graphic Arts program she is entering.

So far all I know is it need to be a 20", platform 10.4 with 2Gig ram.
She also needs Creative Suite with Dreamweaver, and Wacom Tablet 6x8.

She (and her parents) are not very technical, so I need to know what questions I need to ask to find out exactly what she needs.
Then I need to know where the best place to get a decent price. (My brother-in-law id a real staving artist, so cost is important)

Thanks all.

P.S. Feel free to toss in any digs you like, as long as the post contains other answers.

[Photosmike]

Good luck with discounts.

Look at http://tinyurl.com/y2g84l
for education pricing (modest discounts) and
http://tinyurl.com/y96ayl
for Apple Certified Refurbished equipment.

Also, there are some sites that specialize in "academic" software and equipment for the MAC, see http://tinyurl.com/2pd48k



Mike

[N_Jay]

Do the current gen of MACs take standard RAM, drives, and video cards?
Do you have to go MAC Pro to get that?


Asking her will not get me many answers, but want to see if she can ask the school or other students.

[jay]

I get a corporate discount (usually 8% or so on new Macs) at the Apple Store. MacMall http://www.macmall.com/ usually beats the price I get, even with the discount.

[bluegp]

I recommend going to an Apple Store and looking. If she is going to school she will get a discount in the store. There is an apple store in Woodfield mall which should be somewhat close to you.


CLICK ME CLICK ME

[fjwagner]

I have bought three Apple's from the web site under re-furbished and saved a couple hundred dollars each time. Refurb typically means someone returned and they check it out and sell at a lower price. No problems with any of them. Fred

[N_Jay]

Thanks everyone.
I passed along all the great information.
Now, knowing her, she will buy what she does not need at the highest price. but at least I did my job.