How to Choose a Mac Computer
It's very frustrating walking into the Apple store or scouring the website and not being sure of what you want to buy. It's especially hard if you've never used a Mac machine before. Truth is, Macs are similar to PCs in a lot of ways and the one for you is probably not too different from your current computer. Just make sure to choose yours not based on what looks the best or how it fits the image of what you think you want, but rather by how you intend to use it.
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Instructions
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If Money Is No Object
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If you're doing heavy video or audio work, you need a Mac Pro desktop station with plenty of RAM and processing power. It has enough speed to keep up with your projects.
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If you're a road warrior who is doing mostly blogging, email and document work, the Mac Air is going to be a good fit because of its small size and low weight. It is not, however, for everyone as it has no optical drive or wired Ethernet connection.
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If you do some audio or video work and find yourself on the road a lot, a Macbook Pro would be the best choice for you. This machine gives you the option to watch DVDs on the go with the slot loading optical drive and a good number of ports for all of your connections. The added horsepower of the Core 2 Duo processor and the larger screen will make it easier to work on your masterpiece.
If Cost Is a Concern
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If you don't do much audio or video work, a Macbook is a good option and is less expensive than the Mac Air. The smaller screen might be harder to use for graphic work, but it you're just writing and playing music, the cost savings will be to your benefit.
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If you're a PC user looking to try out the Mac for the first time, then the Mac Mini is for you. At a starting price of around $600, this is a budget-level machine to introduce you to the Mac operating system. It doesn't come with a monitor, keyboard or mouse but will work with most third party devices, thus saving you some cash while not skimping on performance. These systems aren't for heavy audio, video or graphic work as they max out at 2GB of RAM, but they hold their own on most computing tasks.
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If you're looking for a compact all-in-one system that will allow you to do most tasks while still coming in at a reasonable price, an iMac is right up your alley. With the built-in screen and all components being attached to the screen, these systems are great for saving space while not skimping on performance.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep the receipt for your computer at least until the warranty expires. If you're still not sure what to get, ask an employee to help you. If you're shopping online, call the customer service number.
Be cautious before going for the extended warranty or service plan. Some are a good value and others are a complete waste of money. Read the fine print.
