Help me decide Apple computer for mom

By macoman
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Grand Master

macoman

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I am looking to upgrade the aging Powermac G4 for my 65 years old mother. The flash player is an issue because is not more supported and there are websites, including facebook that does not support anymore flash player 10 and my mother use facebook a lot. I am undecided in two computers from ebay:

 

MacPro 3,1 (2008)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321569451482?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

iMac 2011

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111501877392?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

My mother like a lot the Apple OS, unlike me (windows 8.1 pro), and does not need a new one. She only use it for web surfing, watch videos from facebook and check her e-mail. So that's why I am undecided in these two, because the MacPro is a great computer and what I like is the ability to upgrade internal parts if I want it. In the other hand, I have the imac which is a little more modern than the MacPro but less powerful. But like I said, my mother does not need anything very powerful to handle youtube or facebook videos in HD. The price range is ideal for my budget.

 

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Grand Master

+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹

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I would definately get iMac.  No need for old Pro...

 

it looks nice and fits your mothers need.   if you a  new small SSD drive in it, it will be perfect. 

 

 

i got mine refurbished from apple and with 3 years applecare. still using it as a second computer 5 years later.  

though this option is not good for you, since i just checked the store and the model there are $900+

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Grand Master

The Evil Overlord

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Any of the imac variations or mac books would serve her well, heck, there are users here who on occasion have 3 year old apple machines for sale, if you're in no desperate rush to go out and get one, give this thread a couple of days, to see if someone messages you?

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Grand Master

123456789A

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iMac for sure. That 2008 McPro will be on its way out in terms of support, plus the iMac is going to take up a lot less space (mothers don't like big bulky machines).

 

The iMac has enough power to do web browsing and checking email.

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Grand Master

macoman

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I am not looking to buy a laptop for my mom, she only use the desktop version.


iMac for sure. That 2008 McPro will be on its way out in terms of support, plus the iMac is going to take up a lot less space (mothers don't like big bulky machines).

 

The iMac has enough power to do web browsing and checking email.

Maybe you mom, but my mother like the bulky powermac G4.... she is very proud :laugh:... one more thing, I don't care about support. If it can last me few years it's fine... the powermac she have has been pretty good for more than 6 years in her room.

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Grand Master

adrynalyne

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Can the Mac Mini support HD videos? Can the memory be expand?

 

If you go with 2012 or older model, RAM can be expanded.  Do you think she will need more than 16GB?

 

Also, yes to HD videos.

 

I have a 2012 quad core i7 mini with 16GB of ram, a 256GB SDD, and a 512GB SSD.

 

As long as you don't go too old, you will be fine.

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Grand Master

macoman

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If you go with 2012 or older model, RAM can be expanded.  Do you think she will need more than 16GB?

 

Also, yes to HD videos.

 

I have a 2012 quad core i7 mini with 16GB of ram, a 256GB SDD, and a 512GB SSD.

 

As long as you don't go too old, you will be fine.

the mini can be expand to 16GB? wow I didn't know that... pretty cool  :woot:

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Grand Master

tsupersonic

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I would also suggest a Mac Mini 2012 - the base i5 will suffice for the tasks your mother needs.You can upgrade the RAM easily to 16 GB, and with a little bit of surgery, you can upgrade the base 500 GB HDD to an SSD. Works great with HD videos, flash, etc. The only downsides are you need a mouse, keyboard, and monitor.

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Grand Master

Anibal P

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I agree, the iMac or a newer Mac Mini

 

I was gifted a mid 2010 iMac, cheapest model available and it's not the fastest or a beast but it works good enough, and it even runs Yosemite just fine

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Grand Master

Mr.XXIV

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I have my Mac Mini (Late 2012) I may sell for $300 - $400 which comes which 16GB, 500GB of RAM and an additional 128GB SSD that can be used as the main drive that runs OS X Yosemite. I tend to clean it from time to time. The 2012 version allows you to install Yosemite from it's own separate drive in case you remove 2 of those drives and put in a new one. OS X Recovery & Time Machine is everything right now. Since I just got my Macbook, I have less of a need for it since I don't want much running at home besides my Xbox.  :rofl:

 

As far as peripherals, I have a good wireless mouse that'll require 2 AA's and a Logitech Solar Keyboard K750 that charges off of light. I have Logitech's best webcam as well, so you'll get 1080p.

 

I'm actually currently in the process of the Mini taken a part to clean everything so that it runs good, the bolts are tight and the fan remains good on ventilation.

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Experienced

shifts

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I cant remember where i read it earlier but I think (sorry for the vagueness) the latest version of the Mac mini base spec pretty much as the same internals as a Macbook air.

 

With the mac mini the cost soon rises when you start to add a half decent monitor, keyboard and mouse.  It;s easy to get tied up with wanting to upgrade it but as it's your Mom's system will you realistically be updating and upgrading as you go along.

 

The i3 iMac would be ok BUT more ram would be a must and a bit odd it doesn't have bluetooth, meaning some of the Yosemite features wont work but I bet thats no deal breaker given the target user.

 

As it;s not really about the specs but budget I'd say price up a 2012 Mac Mini vs what you can get an iMac or Macbook for.

 

HTH

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Grand Master

adrynalyne

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I agree, the iMac or a newer Mac Mini

 

I was gifted a mid 2010 iMac, cheapest model available and it's not the fastest or a beast but it works good enough, and it even runs Yosemite just fine

Newer Minis perform worse overall than the older ones.

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Grand Master

+Zlip792 MVC

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Really? I thought the new ones were even faster with better processors.

 

Nope, that's not the case.

 

Issues with new Mac Mini

 

- Soldered RAM (so no future upgrade possible)

- Integrated Intel Iris GPU (Its not bad but dedicated GPU choice would have been much better) even lowest denominator does not have Iris, it has Intel HD 5000.

- 2014 mini has U series Intel processor which are used in low performance regime where power efficiency is focus while in 2012 mini, they used M series proper mobile processors.

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Grand Master

neo1911

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If you can wait for upcoming Intel's Broadwell or Skylake processors, they are expected to push the performance of next year's iMacs.

Currently, none of the iMacs or minis hit the sweet spot under Price/Performance ratio.

But if you are keen then go for lowest tier iMac which has 8 GB RAM and which is quad core. That would serve you well for 4-5 years minimum.

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Grand Master

offroadaaron

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Nope, that's not the case.

 

Issues with new Mac Mini

 

- Soldered RAM (so no future upgrade possible)

- Integrated Intel Iris GPU (Its not bad but dedicated GPU choice would have been much better) even lowest denominator does not have Iris, it has Intel HD 5000.

- 2014 mini has U series Intel processor which are used in low performance regime where power efficiency is focus while in 2012 mini, they used M series proper mobile processors.

 

-Wait, what? Isn't the Iris an upgrade to the Intel HD 5000, the Intel HD 5000 isn't dedicated anyways and the mini has never had a dedicated GPU?!

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7072/intel-hd-5000-vs-hd-4000-vs-hd-4400

 

-The processors in the mini's have always been mobile processors haven't they?

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/index-macmini.html

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Grand Master

+Zlip792 MVC

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-Wait, what? Isn't the Iris an upgrade to the Intel HD 5000, the Intel HD 5000 isn't dedicated anyways and the mini has never had a dedicated GPU?!

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7072/intel-hd-5000-vs-hd-4000-vs-hd-4400

 

-The processors in the mini's have always been mobile processors haven't they?

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/index-macmini.html

 

 

- Sorry I didn't know that Mac Mini never use dedicated GPUs. So I agree this point would be gone.

 

- The ULT vs Mobile processor has huge difference in performance. Current generation uses UTL Haswell while previous one use Mobile series. Mobile > ULT in performance while ULT < Mobile in power consumption, which is the point here. They made it more power efficient, but sacrificed performance.

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Grand Master

farmeunit

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- The ULT vs Mobile processor has huge difference in performance. Current generation uses UTL Haswell while previous one use Mobile series. Mobile > ULT in performance while ULT < Mobile in power consumption, which is the point here. They made it more power efficient, but sacrificed performance.

That maybe true, but for this use case, it's more than enough.  And power efficiency would be a good thing.  It's for his mother and she watches videos.  Don't need much power for that.

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Grand Master

offroadaaron

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- Sorry I didn't know that Mac Mini never use dedicated GPUs. So I agree this point would be gone.

 

- The ULT vs Mobile processor has huge difference in performance. Current generation uses UTL Haswell while previous one use Mobile series. Mobile > ULT in performance while ULT < Mobile in power consumption, which is the point here. They made it more power efficient, but sacrificed performance.

 

This isn't a power user, in fact power efficiency is probably better in this case, it's a 'mom' using it.

 

That maybe true, but for this use case, it's more than enough.  And power efficiency would be a good thing.  It's for his mother and she watches videos.  Don't need much power for that.

 

Agreed

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Grand Master

+Zlip792 MVC

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This isn't a power user, in fact power efficiency is probably better in this case, it's a 'mom' using it.

 

 

Agreed

 

Then you should go with Mac Mini 2014 + Some decent monitor.

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jasondefaoite

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- Sorry I didn't know that Mac Mini never use dedicated GPUs. So I agree this point would be gone.

 

You were correct initially. The 2011 minis had an option for an ATI GPU.

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