Trashcan Mac good for a newbie?

[adrian0883]

I'm interested in getting a new computer next year and the trashcan macs have always interested me. I have little macOS knowledge, but I want to familiarize myself with it. I don't want a slow computer as I also want to learn video editing with this machine. I have seen the trashcan macs on eBay like the one in this link that interest me. Is this a good deal?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3142658122...Yk664/GKfD+nBMlBPAJrNj2oOu|tkp:Bk9SR6bq5KaiYQ

 

[salamanderjuice]

The trash can Mac Pro is a 9 year old computer at this point. It is no longer officially supported and won't get macOS beyond 12. The M1 Mac Mini which is similarly priced to that eBay listing at the moment (although with a day left it will likely increase) is over twice as fast in single core performance and about as fast in multi-core performance. The only real advantages at this point of the trash can Mac Pro is that you can put more RAM in it and upgrade the SSD yourself. I wouldn't say that one is the best deal.

If you're deal hunting and OK with DIY it's generally better to get the base model Mac Pro and upgrade the CPU/RAM/SSD yourself although the CPU upgrade isn't the easiest.

The 2013 Mac Pro is very pretty but it's time has passed and it doesn't make a huge amount of sense these days, especially for $600+.

 

[apostolosdt]

I can't tell you about those deals (although they look better than mine when I got the 6,1 about a year ago) and I understand that you would prefer more encouraging answers; however, If you're thinking of some "vintage" Mac Pro, avoid 6,1 and look for a good 5,1 model. Some reasons for that:
1. 5,1's are much cheaper than 6,1's; still available but not forever, I guess, though.
2. They are only one year older (2012 vs. 2013).
3. They are HIGHLY upgradable: CPU, RAM, disks, and video cards can be upgraded by the user.
4. Using all the slots available, you can install up to at least 10 TB disk capacity in 5,1.
5. They are equally fast; mine runs 12-core at 3.33 GHz and I have no complaints.
6. The twin video cards on 6,1 cannot both run with all apps. With a bit of experience or help, you can install much faster video cards on 5,1.
7. In my humble opinion, the 5,1 is as iconic as the 6,1; but of course, that's me.

 

[appltech]

Good deal. But check the decent comments above (also like to obtain some nuggets bargain)

 

[Gudi]

I have little macOS knowledge, but I want to familiarize myself with it. I don't want a slow computer as I also want to learn video editing with this machine.

Get an M1.

 

[EugW]

I also like the aesthetics of the trashcan so I went searching on eBay for one, but it was just too much money for an obsolete machine without USB-C.

I also wouldn't recommend an older Mac Pro either, unless you enjoy the hackintosh experience to use modern macOS.

P.S. As @salamanderjuice suggested may be the case, I paid roughly the same price as that trashcan eBay listing shipped for a faster M1 Mac mini with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD, also from eBay.

 

[maflynn]

and the trashcan macs have always interested me.

If you can find a good deal, then go for it. There's more to computers then pure horsepower and while newer computers do offer advantages. I don't knock anyone trying get one due to aesthetics. One of the advantages you'll get for a non-ARM based Mac, is increased app compatibility, particularly if you want or need to run x86 code.

 

[EugW]

BTW, if you want to run Ventura, you'll have to install a hacked version of it on a trashcan. I myself actually have several machines (including Mac laptops and older Mac Pros) with such installed versions of OS X, but IMO, this is not a good way to learn macOS because there are just too many niggling issues. Even if most of the issues may be small, it just gets tiresome. If you want to have a proper Mac experience, don't half-ass it with a hacked macOS install. Buy a Mac that officially supports the latest OS and it will be a more pleasant Mac experience.

 

[chrfr]

I'm interested in getting a new computer next year and the trashcan macs have always interested me. I have little macOS knowledge, but I want to familiarize myself with it. I don't want a slow computer as I also want to learn video editing with this machine. I have seen the trashcan macs on eBay like the one in this link that interest me. Is this a good deal?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/314265812215?hash=item492bb3bcf7:g:5KYAAOSw1RVjkoRY&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA4HXamfxsc1lVdBiDspNTDvdmmCFUg3adiD4C6ALdkfK0Vypa+GVShtOxNzn2UA0FYoW6WK/69hqaZNbOMzArNEcM7bc0IAPd/CZZxfvocbRywAuDbV33V+w1ocnA5DAbTRMu91qv09tzSreD/BGJhEoo4+ScB3R8vN3iHiJj+hGJHqZe9lyqnWTj4IlAphbJYsg8pEAJ1WJENkRhRAkHp3SFi15XqJHqxdee3C9Raau6evSolyl2itKN8IcVph3ALw7X7jmyYEx1dXGPUPYk664/GKfD+nBMlBPAJrNj2oOu|tkp:Bk9SR6bq5KaiYQ

I see that this auction is now closed, but I'd say that no, these computers are not good for new users. They're not especially fast in the context of today's Macs, and they're old enough that reliability issues are coming up. For the same money, an M1 Mac mini is a far better computer for someone just getting started with Macs.

 

[zgagato]

Just get a M1 mac mini with 16GB ram and bigger external Ssd or internal.
6.1 can have graphics problems. Its not worth it.

 

[bluespark]

As others have said, get an M1. A Mac mini would be a great way to go.

Now that Apple has undergone a processor transition and is making its own (extremely good) processors in-house, Macs that don't use those will necessarily become less useful and less compatible over time. The "trashcan" Mac Pro was super cool in its time, but isn't a good value now for anyone who doesn't have a specific and unusual need for it.

 

[Fishrrman]

One thing:
If you choose to get an m1 Mini, DO NOT get one with just 8gb of RAM.
Get 16gb...!

 

[EugW]

One thing:
If you choose to get an m1 Mini, DO NOT get one with just 8gb of RAM.
Get 16gb...!

Well, I guess it depends on what s/he wants to do with it.

I bought 16 GB but 8 GB is fine for light mainstream usage.

 

[tstafford]

Unless you need intel for a specific reason, I'd get a refurb Mini.