MP All Models iMac Pro 10.6.8-Moving to Africa

[Cheetah NGO]

Hi Everyone,

I've started a 501c3 non-profit for cheetah conservation in Africa (absolutely do not support for captive breeding and no I'm not promoting it on this post). We're leaving for Tanzania at end of August. Our office will be set-up with a WiFi tower when we get there. I have to get up and running as soon as possible. Our website should be launched within a month of arriving. I need to decide on the best way to set myself up over there with a Mac. My background: over 25 years as a SF based graphic designer, web designer and marketing consultant (fortune 500's, Yahoo!, Paramount, yada, yada), and wildlife photography (Outside mag, Animal Kingdom, L.A. Times, USA Today, yada, yada).

After a 4-year, full-time study on the cheetah (only 7,100 left in the wild), I'm now turning all my expertise to saving the cheetah.

I've always used the latest (pro) Macs with Adobe graphics, but I've been using my 27" iMac Pro since 2011 (10.6.8, I know... but I've had no income for 4 years - my husband was my first sponsor ). I have CS 5.5 installed (unfortunately lost my discs) which is my highest priority and I also need LightRoom (at the end of this post, I give you the specs on my iMac Pro). Here are my needs, choices and issues and I would really appreciate your recommendations:

Needs: I need to have full graphics capability in Tanzania. Heavy website updating, CreativeSuite (heavy use of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Microsoft Word/Excel. I also need to upload/edit RAW photo files from my Nikon D850. With my current kit, I believe I can't get LightRoom for 10.6.8 (like everyone, I'm trying to avoid subscriptions). I'd need to download LR to my AirMac (but the screen is so small for editing). As you can imagine, as an NGO, I need to keep the price down. I could wait a couple of years until our NGO has more presence, and maybe Apple and Adobe would give me a deal (as a non-profit), but this is highly unlikely (but maybe someone has an idea on this). So I'm looking at two options:

Choices:
Option 1.) Upgrade my iMac, ship to (northern town of Tanzania, let's call it NTZ.) or take it on the flight as cargo (still need to confirm-but could only be $200.00). Shipping via DHL (recommended) is $1,000 but is concerning: How long will it take? Will it even get there? Will the computer even survive the journey? Possible likely duty/tax charges on arrival (but we're registering as a Tanzanian NGO, so I may not have to pay taxes). I still have original box, but would need to rebox that box. I'm using Microsoft Office 2011 (so no costs there). I could upgrade to 10.3.6 (High Sierra) which allows me to still use CS 5.5 (don't see the need to go Mojave). Maybe I should invest in CCS Master Suite 6 ($1,000.00) on eBay if I can get a legitimate copy, but I need the latest LightRoom to read my Nikon D850. (opinions on this?) https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...cat=0&_odkw=Adobe+Creative+Suite+Master+6+mac

Costs:
$1,000.00 (Shipping)
$1,000.00 (CS6)
(Surge protector)

Minuses:
- Editing my photos on my AirMac
- Buying CS6 may be a problem (eBay)
- Couldn't subscribe to CS Master (old graphics card)
- Hate to upgrade my Mac. (Just bad experiences in the past)
- Go to all this trouble, and my Mac doesn't even make it in one piece in NTZ

Pluses:
- Just use a TZ 3-prong adapter, buy surge protector.
- Don't need to buy Microsoft Word/Excel
- Cheaper - Don't need to buy the kit below:

Option 2.) Buy an iMac 27 i5 3.86GHz/8GB/2TB at the iStore in Dar es Salaam (10 hour drive): http://istore.co.tz/mac . This is advertised on their website, but this is Africa. They may actually have to order it which could take months (currently investigating this with a recommended IT guy in NTZ). The cost for this baby is $3,269.00. If I go this route, I either have to buy CS6 or go with a subscription of the latest CS (which I don't want to do). I can bring my backup hddrive to download all existing art files on new Mac (that I have produced over the last four years). I also have backup on 1&1.

Costs:
$3,269.00 (iMac)
$1,000.00 (CCS6 if I can get it before I leave)
$249.99 (Home/Office Microsoft Word/Excel - can buy outright)

or go with subscription of the latest CS:
- $599.88/year ($52.99/month, plus applicable taxes/VAT/GST). They're doing a deal right now but it won't last.

Minuses:
- Not sure if iStore will even tell me they have it in stock (order, then it could takes months).
- Expensive.

Pluses:
- Don't have to ship my old Mac (that would be nice)
- Native plug
- Can use the latest software (also very nice)
- Can edit photos on big screen

Thank you so much for any feedback or suggestions you may have.

___________________________________________
My iMac Pro Specs:
iMax OSX: Version 10.6.8
Processor: 2.93 GHz Intel core i7
Memory: 9BG 1333 MHz DDR3
TM and Copyright 1982-2011

Hardware Overview:
Model Identifier: iMac11,3
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 8 MB
Memory: 8 GB
Processor Interconnect Speed: 4.8 GT/s
Boot ROM Version: IM112.0057.B00
SMC Version (system): 1.59f2
Hardware UUID: 5D5B8255-A8FD-553B-8186-C6462AF8B40E

Space: 1TB
Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 2.4.5f3
Built in SD Card Reader: (but doesn't read an XQD card)
No Thunderbolt

Vendor ID: 0x05ac
Product ID: 0x8403
Revision: 1.00
Memory Slots:
ECC: Disabled
BANK 0/DIMM0 (X 4 - Using all 4 Slots):
Size: 2 GB
Type: DDR3
Speed: 1333 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0x02FE
Part Number: 0x45424A3231554538424655302D444A2D4620
ATI Radeon HD 5750:
Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 5750
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 1024 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x68a1
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-B9710C-238
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.417
Displays:
iMac:
Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Built-In: Yes
Connection Type: DisplayPort

 

[jbarley]

This post might be better received in the iMac forum.
https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/imac.91/

 

[goMac]

The other forum would be more helpful. But that iMac is probably only worth a few hundred dollars, which I would weigh carefully against the shipping charges. Although it might be hard to find another iMac in Tanzania.

You could use the shipping money and just buy a new laptop, which would probably be better than the iMac.

(It's just a normal iMac, not an iMac Pro.)

 

[lowendlinux]

I’d be inclined to sell the iMac and buy a trash can Mac Pro while it’s not great it’s better for austere conditions since it can be pulled apart and cleaned. It’s also small enough to ship for repairs and can go with you on the plane. My local Craig’s list has a 6 core/d500/32gn for $1200

 

[Cheetah NGO]

This post might be better received in the iMac forum.
https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/imac.91/

Thanks Lowendlinux. I've just copied this post to imac.91.

 

[Cheetah NGO]

The other forum would be more helpful. But that iMac is probably only worth a few hundred dollars, which I would weigh carefully against the shipping charges. Although it might be hard to find another iMac in Tanzania.

You could use the shipping money and just buy a new laptop, which would probably be better than the iMac.

(It's just a normal iMac, not an iMac Pro.)

You're right! I am having a hard time finding the iMac I need over there (through emails). My AirMac screen is too small to do graphics in Illustrator. I'm currently testing Light Room on my AirMac to edit my photos. I'm going blind doing this... Thanks for the response!

You are funny though! I noticed your quote under your post: "If you don't like Porsches 99% of the time it's because you haven't driven one or you don't know how to drive" -- Jethro Bovingdon

"If you don't like iMacs with a 27" monitor 99% of the time its because you haven't driven one or you don't know how to drive. -- Cheetah NGO (;-)

I’d be inclined to sell the iMac and buy a trash can Mac Pro while it’s not great it’s better for austere conditions since it can be pulled apart and cleaned. It’s also small enough to ship for repairs and can go with you on the plane. My local Craig’s list has a 6 core/d500/32gn for $1200

I’d be inclined to sell the iMac and buy a trash can Mac Pro while it’s not great it’s better for austere conditions since it can be pulled apart and cleaned. It’s also small enough to ship for repairs and can go with you on the plane. My local Craig’s list has a 6 core/d500/32gn for $1200

I’d be inclined to sell the iMac and buy a trash can Mac Pro while it’s not great it’s better for austere conditions since it can be pulled apart and cleaned. It’s also small enough to ship for repairs and can go with you on the plane. My local Craig’s list has a 6 core/d500/32gn for $1200

 

[lowendlinux]

You're right! I am having a hard time finding the iMac I need over there (through emails). My AirMac screen is too small to do graphics in Illustrator. I'm currently testing Light Room on my AirMac to edit my photos. I'm going blind doing this... Thanks for the response!

You are funny though! I noticed your quote under your post: "If you don't like Porsches 99% of the time it's because you haven't driven one or you don't know how to drive" -- Jethro Bovingdon

"If you don't like iMacs with a 27" monitor 99% of the time its because you haven't driven one or you don't know how to drive. -- Cheetah NGO (;-)

I like iMacs just fine I have one in the closet

I work for the military and I cleaned out and repaired enough iMac's and MacBook Pros that have gone down range to convince me that I'd never take one any place austere, you'd be amazed where dirt/sand/dust end up. The one redeeming value of the trash can Mac Pro is it can be pulled apart and cleaned while maintaining compactness which is a benefit when civilization is many hours away.

 

[orph]

If it was me id relay think hard about where im going and what will be best.

website work, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Microsoft Word/Excel
If it was me id look at a laptop, the cheapest one with 16GB of ram and a 500GB ish SSD + an external display and a pile of portable HD's in sets of two for backups.

none of the apps you mentioned need a top end computer so any modern 4c cpu will do, no GPU needed but 16GB of ram will be nice.

and a nice big external display (+mouse key bored)

i don't know where you will end up but in parts of Africa power is a problem so a laptop may be relay handy.

depending on what you need to do photoshop elements may be worth a look, i think you can outright buy it still.
libreoffice is worth a look https://www.libreoffice.org/ as a office alternative.
may be worth looking at some of the alternative applications

depending on the environment you may also want to look at creeper windows laptops that can just be replaced when they brake. (if you can get something with a 4c CPU 16GB ram and 500GB SSD for $500-800 if it brakes in 1 year you can just replace it

Africa is a big place, i know parts have bad power so a laptop has a UPS and i know parts are hot so that's a problem + if dust/sand

 

[lowendlinux]

Heck..Tanzania is a big place

 

[Cheetah NGO]

If it was me id relay think hard about where im going and what will be best.

website work, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Microsoft Word/Excel
If it was me id look at a laptop, the cheapest one with 16GB of ram and a 500GB ish SSD + an external display and a pile of portable HD's in sets of two for backups.

none of the apps you mentioned need a top end computer so any modern 4c cpu will do, no GPU needed but 16GB of ram will be nice.

and a nice big external display (+mouse key bored)

i don't know where you will end up but in parts of Africa power is a problem so a laptop may be relay handy.

depending on what you need to do photoshop elements may be worth a look, i think you can outright buy it still.
libreoffice is worth a look https://www.libreoffice.org/ as a office alternative.
may be worth looking at some of the alternative applications

depending on the environment you may also want to look at creeper windows laptops that can just be replaced when they brake. (if you can get something with a 4c CPU 16GB ram and 500GB SSD for $500-800 if it brakes in 1 year you can just replace it

Africa is a big place, i know parts have bad power so a laptop has a UPS and i know parts are hot so that's a problem + if dust/sand

Thanks so much. Actually, I've never worked in a "4c cpu will do, no GPU needed" environment (with a big display). And it will all be up to me to keep my mac going (no tech support). Shipping any big display is the real problem. I envision opening the box and there's a cracked screen... My big screen iMac would be set up in our house. Power can be an issue, but it's not too bad. I'll be getting a good surge protector and a small generator. I already have a 13" AirMac that I take on safari and download my photos for immediate back-up. Then back home and work on the photos. I've tried editing my photos in Photoshop and Light Room on my AirMac but the screen is just too small. I'm tying to replicate what I've got here. When I'm working at home (in the US) I often have as many as 6-8 apps open at a time (from Word to Illustrator to Photoshop to website, email and in and out of social media. InDesign for print. Excel for accounting.) In this environment, I can crank out what I need to do to keep the NGO going. To keep my NGO fresh with new stories and photography, I need a desktop workstation. I have a 1TB external for back-up (for both computers). Since Tanzanian iStore haven't responded, I think I'll go straight to Apple. Maybe they'll ship it for me. We're trying to figure out the safest way to get it there. Stressed.
[doublepost=1563916915][/doublepost]

I like iMacs just fine I have one in the closet

I work for the military and I cleaned out and repaired enough iMac's and MacBook Pros that have gone down range to convince me that I'd never take one any place austere, you'd be amazed where dirt/sand/dust end up. The one redeeming value of the trash can Mac Pro is it can be pulled apart and cleaned while maintaining compactness which is a benefit when civilization is many hours away.

Gosh, can I get the military to transport this thing?

 

[goMac]

When I'm working at home (in the US) I often have as many as 6-8 apps open at a time (from Word to Illustrator to Photoshop to website, email and in and out of social media. InDesign for print. Excel for accounting.) In this environment, I can crank out what I need to do to keep the NGO going. To keep my NGO fresh with new stories and photography, I need a desktop workstation.

Modern laptops are fast enough they'd probably have no issue doing all this with room to spare. A basic Apple laptop with an external monitor would probably be even faster and better at this than the iMac you have now. Assuming you sprint for 16 gigabytes of RAM.

Not trying to pick on your iMac... but it's a dinosaur. Almost any Mac in the Apple Store is going to be a faster machine that can deal with doing more work at once. If you can get by on that iMac, you can get by on anything.

But it's up to you. If you pay $1000 for shipping though... You can get a faster and better machine for $1000. If you get a new laptop, it would be able to handle more work at once than your iMac, and you'd be able to transport it. Transporting a monitor might still be a problem though.

 

[orph]

yep you have an imac11,3 (not an imac pro)
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i5-2.8-27-inch-aluminum-mid-2010-specs.html

with the cpu upgrade i7 so 4c @2.8ghz -3,33ghz & 8GB ram (your copy paste is tad confusing i guess it's 8GB ram not 9gb with 2x 4GB sticks)

so a macbook pro 13' has a faster CPU (the base one) 1.4GHz to 3.9ghz & if you are ok with your imacs 8GB of ram 16GB in the laptop will be super fast never mind that your imac has a HD and the laptops all have SSD's in them!

id look at the 500GB SSD or bigger depending on budget, don't go smaller.

even a lot of the used laptops will be a lot faster than your imac if your willing to look at used computers.
(worth asking the NGO if they have a good display you can ues or if there easy to buy there or if it's best to get one to take on the plaine or get it shiped over)

if you do go with any new mac with the idea of an external display make sure you get the dongles in advance for the display as there always a pain.

plus you can take it on the plane with you which solves a lot of problems, you may need to look at what kind of plugs they use there and order an extra power brick for whatever they use there.
then look at a good mid priced 28'' or bigger display with 90-100% SRGB or bigger (for web based content SRGB is what you want) lots of good value options there.

I do photography and when i'm in less kind environments i use a cheap DELL laptop, if it breaks i don't care cost less than £500. I mostly use it to dump files on site and check how they look plus any small tasks needed.
it has a bad display but at home it's plugged in to a nice 28' display when i use it.
sometimes you just need to get the job done & I can break this laptop and replace it 4 times for the same cost as that macbook pro.
I know not every one likes windows but sometimes a cheep laptop is a good option.

it sounds complex and super fun so i wish you the best of luck

 

[MisterAndrew]

I think it's wonderful you're going to Africa for Cheetah conservation. I majored in biology at university. It's interesting to me they evolved in North America and migrated to Africa, and their gene pool severely diminished over the migration.

I suggest checking shipping prices with a 3rd party who is often able to negotiate better rates with the shipping companies such as parcelmonkey.com. It looks like you could ship an iMac to Tanzania for under $500 (I put in 42 lbs and the lowest quote was about $436.) Their lower cost service is typically operated by FedEx. Of course it wouldn't hurt to contact Apple to see if they'd be willing to ship a new computer to you there. They may even be interested in being a sponsor for your expedition.