Let's talk about Macs....

MJ5150 · #1 07-28-2010, 11:26 AM

I have a couple Mac things to talk about, so here we go...

Anyone going to get a Mac Pro? We're going to get one next month.

Now about the Mac Mini running SL Server. Anyone here use that? How well does it work as a server? I currently run a little network at my house off Windows Server 2008, NON R2.

-Mike

skwee · #2 07-28-2010, 11:34 AM

Personally, I'd never get something that wasn't mobile, so my macbook pro is where its at. If you are a big desktop user, that mac pro has to be the bees knees. Even the new imacs look amazing.

MakiSupaStar · #3 07-28-2010, 11:54 AM

I have a mac book pro, and an iMac. I'm pretty sure you could run your Mac mini as a server in theory, (as a pingable external HD), but you might encounter a few problems if you install mac os server on it (you might not too). But if you want to run any kind of database push technology I think you'd be pushing it. Still, I've never done it (I run an xraid at my school), so you might be pleasantly surprised.

How do you picture the server functioning in your house?

MJ5150 · #4 07-28-2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

How do you picture the server functioning in your house?

Eventually I want to deploy a VDI, virtual desktop infrastructure. I can do that now with my Windows and VMWare config, so maybe I'll just stick with it.

Right now I have the network setup to centralize resources and manage all the PCs in the house better. It does a fine job of that until the rogue Macs started creeping into the house in recent months.

-Mike

stratovani · #5 07-28-2010, 12:14 PM

I prefer Quarter-Pounders!

L-A · #6 07-28-2010, 12:17 PM

There's one thing that prevents me from buying a Mac Mini as my next computer: an outdated socket. The best you can put in is an intel Core CPU (i3, i5, i7 are all out of range). New processors won't be made for its motherboard.

So I'll be building a hackintosh next, which will come for the same price as the Mac Mini, but with the same hardware as a 7k$ Mac Pro.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

I have a mac book pro, and an iMac. I'm pretty sure you could run your Mac mini as a server in theory, (as a pingable external HD), but you might encounter a few problems if you install mac os server on it (you might not too).

The new Mac Mini can come with Snow Leopard Server and twin 500Gb drives. In fact, it's called Mac Mini Server. The whole Mozilla server farm is Minis, if I recall correctly.

MJ5150 · #7 07-28-2010, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-A

The new Mac Mini can come with Snow Leopard Server and twin 500Gb drives. In fact, it's called Mac Mini Server. The whole Mozilla server farm is Minis, if I recall correctly.

This is the one I thought about deploying.

-Mike

DerHoggz · #8 07-28-2010, 01:43 PM

Don't, they have the worst prices ever.

MN_Bass · #9 07-28-2010, 02:06 PM

Just picked up a new IMac quad core i5, its awsome for graphic and music work. You can never go wrong with a Mac Pro, I use one at work and its great for TB

BurningSkies · #10 07-28-2010, 02:13 PM

I have an old iMac that's from 2001 and it's still kicking, although not used anymore. I also have a Macbook Pro that's one of the first Core Duo 2 setups and is my main computer and is still good and relevant.

I also just bought my girlfriend a 13.3 MacBook Pro that's a pretty sweet little computer...

...and I'd certainly consider some of the newly announced offerings. I've spent some time with a 21" iMac and the monitor looks beautiful and having that screen real estate is awesome. Unfortunately I don't really want to sit at a desk for computing. Most of my time on my machine is on the couch, on the porch, or sitting indian style on my bed when my roommate is inhabiting the livingroom. Also, since I record for the band, I take my pro with me to our practice/studio room. I don't see me taking a tower or iMac.

MJ5150 · #11 07-28-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerHoggz

Don't, they have the worst prices ever.

I suppose that is subjective, but I do feel that Apple has inflated prices for the most part. In my experience so far with Apple laptops and desktops (about six months), the extra $$ up front also brings a level of comfort and confidence that you just don't get with a $400 eMachine from Best Buy.

There is something to be said for the convenience of opening the box and "it just works". It really does. Our iMac connected to my wireless printers before I had a chance to go looking for them. Doing system restores is as simple as navigating web pages and choosing the one you want to restore. It is conveniences like this that is drawing people to the platform. Take my wife for example, she was totally enamored with the simplicity, even though she is a PC user for the last 25 years. But we both still use our PCs as much as the Macs in the house.

-Mike

Mike N · #12 07-28-2010, 03:07 PM

I have some MAC tools, good quality and cheaper than Snap On. Does that count?

MJ5150 · #13 07-28-2010, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike N

I have some MAC tools, good quality and cheaper than Snap On. Does that count?

Sho does, but I like Craftsman better.

-Mike

L-A · #14 07-28-2010, 05:11 PM

Makita all the way.

On a more serious note - the Mac Pro is the one I'd shy away most from buying, except if it really, exactly, answers a need. It's the one mac with an incredibly bloated price, and there are very few uses that a recent iMac won't be able to do.

BTW, there's a new Pro line coming out in August, if you didn't know.

MJ5150 · #15 07-28-2010, 05:19 PM

I saw the new Pro line, that is why we are waiting until next month to buy.

My wife has an iMac, so I can't have the same as her. Mine has to be better, and she has the 27" with the quad core in it.

-Mike

L-A · #16 07-28-2010, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I saw the new Pro line, that is why we are waiting until next month to buy.

My wife has an iMac, so I can't have the same as her. Mine has to be better, and she has the 27" with the quad core in it.

-Mike

Haha, that's a good enough reason

NJL · #17 07-28-2010, 11:24 PM

bmc · #18 07-29-2010, 01:28 AM

We have a G5, a G4 (both desktops), two white macbooks and a macbook pro.

The G4 isn't used anymore.

All three macbooks are unable to operates without adapters.

All three macbooks have cd drives that no longer work.

The macbook pro is no longer working. It has tea spilled on it, was repaired but only lasted another year.

ALL LAPTOPS, Mac or PC, have a higher failure rate than desktops.

L-A · #19 07-29-2010, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmc

We have a G5, a G4 (both desktops), two white macbooks and a macbook pro.

The G4 isn't used anymore.

All three macbooks are unable to operates without adapters.

All three macbooks have cd drives that no longer work.

The macbook pro is no longer working. It has tea spilled on it, was repaired but only lasted another year.

ALL LAPTOPS, Mac or PC, have a higher failure rate than desktops.

What do you do to them? Our Quadra 650 is still in working order

MIJ-VI · #20 07-29-2010, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmc

We have a G5, a G4 (both desktops), two white macbooks and a macbook pro.

The G4 isn't used anymore.

All three macbooks are unable to operates without adapters.

All three macbooks have cd drives that no longer work.

The macbook pro is no longer working. It has tea spilled on it, was repaired but only lasted another year.

ALL LAPTOPS, Mac or PC, have a higher failure rate than desktops.

A potential 2nd life for the ol' G4.