Cheap Desktop ------!!

[aaron.lee2006]

Hey everyone. After purchasing my MBP I have grown to want a desktop mac over my PC. What would be a good option. I want something cheap. What would be a good option for me. Maybe a little photoshop cs2 and mostly just something to do email and browse the web. And to play some music on it.

 

[PlaceofDis]

if you have a monitor already and USB Keyboard and Mouse a Mac Mini is a good starting point. if you need those items though i would look at an iMac. the refurbished items, which are a great deal, start not much more than an Mac Mini.

either would be fine for the basic usage that you're looking to use it for, although more RAM is always a good thing in either model.

 

[aaron.lee2006]

Yah a mini is a good selection. Would a PPC be okay? Just for what I'm using it for?

 

[pianoman]

a Mac mini would be a good choice is you've got a monitor, keyboard, and mouse already. you can find good prices on refurbs but the new ones aren't that much, either. if you want an all-in-one machine, go for the base iMac (that's really your only other choice as i image a Mac Pro would be out of the "something cheap" range).

a PPC mini would work splendidly, except you'll want to upgrade the RAM as the PPCs are slower than the Intel machines that you've become used to.

 

[PlaceofDis]

Yah a mini is a good selection. Would a PPC be okay? Just for what I'm using it for?

i don't see why not, my sister has a PPC mini and it works well for her. she basically does email, chat, webbrowsing and such. photoshop might be a ram hog, but it'll run.

 

[72930]

Think about getting an external monitor, mouse and keyboard; you're MBP is much more powerful than a PPC mac mini.

 

[ChrisA]

Hey everyone. After purchasing my MBP I have grown to want a desktop mac over my PC. What would be a good option. I want something cheap. What would be a good option for me. Maybe a little photoshop cs2 and mostly just something to do email and browse the web. And to play some music on it.

Why can't you use the MBP on your desk? You could connect a larger LCD monitor.

If you need a second computer and cost is a big issue the low-end 17" imac is $900 and I think a better deal than the Mini.

If you really need to save money look for a used computer. Prices start at about $100 for an older B&W and a little more for an eMac. Do you really ned to run PS CS2. Tha't a $600 program. Why not PS Elements? or Gimp?

 

[aaron.lee2006]

Why can't you use the MBP on your desk? You could connect a larger LCD monitor.

If you need a second computer and cost is a big issue the low-end 17" imac is $900 and I think a better deal than the Mini.

If you really need to save money look for a used computer. Prices start at about $100 for an older B&W and a little more for an eMac. Do you really ned to run PS CS2. Tha't a $600 program. Why not PS Elements? or Gimp?

I guess your right maybe I should grab an old Power Mac running CS2 is not a true need. So an old power mac or emac? I have an old crt already.
?

 

[Aperture]

Go Emac. They're great computers, very durable and I love the look of them. Sad to see them discontinued; used to have one and loved it. I would try for one of those but if you need/wanted a tower for whatever reason go Powermac.

Kevin

 

[4nr-]

I agree with ChrisA, use your macbook pro as your desktop computer too. For a little more than 300 bucks you should be able to get a decent tft screen and a wonderful mighty mouse to go with it.

 

[SkyBell]

Get a Mini. Cheap, and just what you need.