Need helping finding right system!

[Loyalty4Life]

Well, my dad has a six year old Dell running Windows ME. And as you can guess, it might be time for an upgrade! I've been helping him to appreciate what a Mac can do and how it's 100x better than any PC that he could buy. So, I am trying to get some ideas on what he could buy.

My dad is not into video editing, or any intensive game playing, things like that. All he wants is a good up-to-date computer that is powerful and will last him for as long as it can. Surprisingly, when I told him the price of the Mac Pro, and it's expandability, he was not opposed to thinking about it in the future! But, I'm not sure how much money he'll have to spend once he gets a good sized bonus sometime next year. So, now I'm a bit stuck with where to point him to.

Should he get a 20" iMac, or perhaps a Mac Pro? Keep in mind that he's probably not going to get a computer until the summer of next year. By that time, the iMac will be a year old, and hopefully the Mac Pro will be available on the refurb page on apple.com and that might be the way to go.

He's lasted this long with a Dell running ME, so my guess is if anyone can use a computer and make it last longer than the expected 5 years, he could do it. Not because he's a power user or anything... But because he's not pushing the limits of the computer and wanting it to go faster...

Also, he's mentioned that conventional CRT monitors hurt his eyes, and he uses an LCD screen at work which he just loves. And since the Mac Pro does not include a monitor, maybe we should get the iMac since it already has an LCD screen and we wouldn't have to buy one separately.

So do you think the iMac would be a better option? I used to own one. I was so incredibly fast, even with just a 1GIG stick I had in there. Ah yes - I probably should mention that he also will need Windows installed with Boot Camp, which I am guessing will be available on the Mac Pro, especially with Leopard is released. The only downside with the iMac is that really only the RAM is upgradeable, and only to 2GB. Compare that with the Mac Pro, and how you can upgrade a lot of things - the HD's, RAM, video cards, Intel chips, etc.

So what would you recommend he do? I would welcome any kinds of advice. Thank you very much!

 

[I'mAMac]

Well, my dad has a six year old Dell running Windows ME. And as you can guess, it might be time for an upgrade! I've been helping him to appreciate what a Mac can do and how it's 100x better than any PC that he could buy. So, I am trying to get some ideas on what he could buy.

My dad is not into video editing, or any intensive game playing, things like that. All he wants is a good up-to-date computer that is powerful and will last him for as long as it can. Surprisingly, when I told him the price of the Mac Pro, and it's expandability, he was not opposed to thinking about it in the future! But, I'm not sure how much money he'll have to spend once he gets a good sized bonus sometime next year. So, now I'm a bit stuck with where to point him to.

Should he get a 20" iMac, or perhaps a Mac Pro? Keep in mind that he's probably not going to get a computer until the summer of next year. By that time, the iMac will be a year old, and hopefully the Mac Pro will be available on the refurb page on apple.com and that might be the way to go.

He's lasted this long with a Dell running ME, so my guess is if anyone can use a computer and make it last longer than the expected 5 years, he could do it. Not because he's a power user or anything... But because he's not pushing the limits of the computer and wanting it to go faster...

Also, he's mentioned that conventional CRT monitors hurt his eyes, and he uses an LCD screen at work which he just loves. And since the Mac Pro does not include a monitor, maybe we should get the iMac since it already has an LCD screen and we wouldn't have to buy one separately.

So do you think the iMac would be a better option? I used to own one. I was so incredibly fast, even with just a 1GIG stick I had in there. Ah yes - I probably should mention that he also will need Windows installed with Boot Camp, which I am guessing will be available on the Mac Pro, especially with Leopard is released. The only downside with the iMac is that really only the RAM is upgradeable, and only to 2GB. Compare that with the Mac Pro, and how you can upgrade a lot of things - the HD's, RAM, video cards, Intel chips, etc.

So what would you recommend he do? I would welcome any kinds of advice. Thank you very much!

Well if he won't be doing any intense gaming or video editing he could probably get the 20" iMac. It still has a decent gfx card if you or he ever wants to game. Built in web cam and 2gb of RAM. now you said his dell lasted 5 years? this will last 10. my dad has the first generation g4 and 7 years later (or 6 i forget) it still works great. but maybe you could tell me his budget and what he uses it for. i could help ya more. but if you are willing to spend a lot of money then i would get the mac pro. but just to show you a good configuration here is one.http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...104003/wo/A2n99jF0SJiI2jslhvc1W8ly1tu/17.?p=0
like i said I dont know what he needs so if you tell me i could help more.

 

[Loyalty4Life]

Well if he won't be doing any intense gaming or video editing he could probably get the 20" iMac. It still has a decent gfx card if you or he ever wants to game. Built in web cam and 2gb of RAM. now you said his dell lasted 5 years? this will last 10. my dad has the first generation g4 and 7 years later (or 6 i forget) it still works great. but maybe you could tell me his budget and what he uses it for. i could help ya more. but if you are willing to spend a lot of money then i would get the mac pro. but just to show you a good configuration here is one.http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...104003/wo/A2n99jF0SJiI2jslhvc1W8ly1tu/17.?p=0
like i said I dont know what he needs so if you tell me i could help more.

Well, I just told you everything I know. He does not have any specific interests that would require a custom built computer. He just wants a powerful computer that will last him for a long time.

Maybe I should wait until next summer when he's planning to buy one and see what is available from there? I would imagine there would be a newly released computer available. Apple doesn't wait too long before releasing something new.

 

[I'mAMac]

well a powerful computer that will last a long time would be the mac pro. it is expensive though. but you said he doesnt really game so he wont need to upgrade the gfx card. maybe upgrade RAM. but the mac pro is probably the most powerful computer out there.

 

[ricgnzlzcr]

If he can afford the mac pro, then that might be a good long term investment. The B&W G3 was introduced in January of 1999 and it's still running tiger just fine. I'm sure that if things start to slow down after maybe 6 or 7 years he can just upgrade the ram/processor/video card

 

[Felldownthewell]

At the moment the imac sounds best for what he wants to do, but if he wants to keep his computer up to date with DIY upgrades (processor, ram, HDD, gfx card etc) just to keep it going for as long as possible, or if he happens to develop an intrest in photo or video editing (as may happen if he starts experimenting with imovie/iphoto), then the mac pro sounds like it would be best.

I would wait until you actually need to buy this computer and see what is out then. If the then-current mac pro is too expensive pick up a used mac pro, like the one that is out now. It will be cheap(er) and still upgradeable.

I would also suggest taking him to an apple store to experiment a bit with OSX, or let him use your mac (if you have one) to see if he likes it. Some people don't, and if he is going to be spending a big chunk of $$$ on a computer that will have to last at least 5 years, he better get the OS he is most comfortable with... I realize that he will be booting-camping XP (or maybe later vista) on it, but if he ends up ONLY using XP/Vista a mac pro would be a waste of money; you can get him a high end dell box that is just as upgradeable and cheaper (although less powerful).

 

[I'mAMac]

there you go mac pro would definitley last AT LEAST 5 years. and you can upgrade it. the dual core xeon processor wont be out of date for years becuse in essence you have 8 ghz if you get the 2 dual core xeon 2.0ghz. (even though nothing needs 8 ghz )...MAC PRO