Best 27'' For Needs

[A Macbook Pro]

Hey guys, coming over here to ask you guys for some advice.

My mother owns a small business, about 10 workers, about 10 hours work a day, makes about 120k a year. Anyway, so I'm trying to convince her she should get a mac. Right now she is running 2GB RAM, 2.0Ghz, some random HP tower. I've seen her use the computer and it takes ages for even safari to load, she's on XP. So I am kinda getting her into Macs and she is attending Apple Store sessions and stuff. So to get to the point, she mainly uses internet, filemaker, and outlook. She want's a 27'' and there are 2 different base models, ofcourse the quad and the C2D, but I was thinking, would it be more beneficial to get her a C2D with 8GB ram, or a i5 with 4GB? She's been stuck on her current computer for years, and that's why she wants a really good computer to last her awhile because she hates upgrading to stuff. She wants to run W7 only, no OSX, so what is the best option to go with here?

 

[AAPLGeek]

If she doesn't want to use OS X at all, there's really no point in getting an iMac.

Sorry, but that's just what i think.

Still, if you're determined to get her a Mac, then the basic 27" with Core2Duo processor and 4GB RAM will suffice.

 

[Sambo110]

Does she want to run Windows 7 because there are programs she needs, or because it's all she knows?

 

[A Macbook Pro]

Does she want to run Windows 7 because there are programs she needs, or because it's all she knows?

It's a mix of both. THe filemaker she uses is designed for her business and is only compatible with Filemaker 7, and probably doesen't work on Mac either.

 

[iamthedudeman]

It's a mix of both. THe filemaker she uses is designed for her business and is only compatible with Filemaker 7, and probably doesen't work on Mac either.

You want to buy a 27 imac to run Windows 7? Lol. Hahahah.

Oh man. That is funny. Whew. Haaa a a a a hahahahah.

Sorry.

Seriously, just buy a imac 27 inch Quad core. Don't bother with the C2D, they are obsolete. I would wait a few weeks until Mar 14 if you can, most likely a refresh is due. If you buy a C2D it will not last her a long time especially if she is running a business.

OSX is easier to use than Windows 7 or any flavor of Windows. You will be there to help her wouldn't you, and she is taking classes isn't she? My dad is 74 and he learned in just one day, not even seemed like one hour.

There are other advantages, OSX is more secure and will not contract viruses that can hurt her business. And filemaker is available for the Mac, all of them.

http://www.filemaker.com/products/filemaker-pro/?nav=products-pro

If the IT guy she uses can't put Filemaker 7 or another version which is compatible with the software she uses than she needs to fire him or her right away. Most everything will work and is compatible for the Mac.

If you just want to run windows, just buy a windows machine. The advantage in owning a Mac is OSX, not the hardware.

 

[Sambo110]

Seriously, just buy a imac 27 inch Quad core. Don't bother with the C2D, they are obsolete. I would wait a few weeks until Mar 14 if you can, most likely a refresh is due. If you buy a C2D it will not last her a long time especially if she is running a business.

What, says who? I wouldn't be expecting a refresh until June at least. Any evidence to support this?

 

[alent1234]

What, says who? I wouldn't be expecting a refresh until June at least. Any evidence to support this?

intel has been making new CPU's for months now and phasing out production of c2d CPU's

 

[undftd]

What, says who? I wouldn't be expecting a refresh until June at least. Any evidence to support this?

intel has been making new CPU's for months now and phasing out production of c2d CPU's

hope this is true, I've been waiting for the quad-core 27" refurbs to be available so I can save a couple hundred dollars, since new years (when I sold my 24" iMac), I'd totally jump on it if there's going to be a refresh.

BTW, why so specific with the March 14 date? (sorry for the newb question haven't been keeping up with mac news since the iPad announcement )

 

[09iMac=Fail]

Your mom needs a PC to run her business and your trying to push her into an iMac? What's the point? Doesn't sound like she is all that interested to me. Heck, she makes 120k a year, if you want an iMac so bad, just have her buy you one.

The C2D will be blazing fast compared to her HP tower. Honestly, they both seem like overkill, does she need 8 gigs of RAM? It might not benefit her much considering the 3 main things she uses her computer for. If she wants to keep it for a while, talk her into the i5 option. Later down the road, more RAM would be cheap and easy to upgrade.

 

[Max(IT)]

If she doesn't want to use OS X at all, there's really no point in getting an iMac.

Sorry, but that's just what i think.

Still, if you're determined to get her a Mac, then the basic 27" with Core2Duo processor and 4GB RAM will suffice.

Absolutely agree with you.
No point in buy a Mac if you don't use OSX

 

[iamthedudeman]

What, says who? I wouldn't be expecting a refresh until June at least. Any evidence to support this?

Why would you expect June? Last year they had a refresh in March. At about the same time. Secondly Apple will not sit by and let their competitors have a all Core line up and them go with the C2D's. It is not written in stone but the Macbook pro's are getting a refresh, most likely on that date. The ipad is coming around that time, so it might not be the imacs but we don't know for sure. If this report is to be believed we might just have a refresh very, very soon. Doesn't hurt to wait and see a few weeks before buying either way.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010...-reveals-placeholders-for-new-apple-hardware/

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/02/08/new-macbook-pros-launching-soon/

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...xpecting_new_apple_products_in_mid_march.html

 

[Sambo110]

Hope that's true. As soon as I get a job I'm going to start saving up, but I don't really want to buy one until they update the GPU, so would be good being able to buy one as soon as I can, instead of having to wait for a refresh in a month or so. But then, I wouldn't want to buy an iMac when a refresh is not long away. So hard to choose when to buy