Used Mac vs new PC?

Spudnik_2

Hey guys,

Apologies for asking a really uninformed question, but I'm hoping you'll be able to help me. My friend has been using a second-hand Mac for the past few years – it's about 10 years old. But it's running unbearably slow, so he wants a new machine but doesn't have a lot to spend. He's only ever owned Apple products, but given that he'll mainly be using it for word processing, browsing the internet and watching videos, I suggested that he just get a budget PC – maybe this one (ignore stock). Another (Mac-using) friend of his has said that this is false economy, and that he'd be better to get a used Mac, instead suggesting this. So my question is: which is the most sensible option? Is a Mac of that age really likely to be more reliable than a cheap new laptop? I don't have any experience with Apple products, but I also don't want him to buy something that ends up having a really short lifespan.

Thanks in advance!

Hx

Figment

[Pulls up a chair in readiness for the regular Mac v PC v Linux debate]

Spudnik_2

Figment wrote: »

[Pulls up a chair in readiness for the regular Mac v PC v Linux debate]

Haha, I was hoping to maybe minimise that a little by asking for a direct comparison between two machines, but I think that was really optimistic.

jayme1

I personally would prefer the laptop option over a 2nd hand Mac Mini, but it's up to him really, the 2006 mac mini has already been left behind by Apple it can't be updated to the latest OS Mountain Lion.

The specs of the Dell are much better and it will come with a warranty, and should play the likes of flash and youtube better.

Plus there is a more fundamental difference, one is a laptop the other is a desktop, although you can use a laptop with a monitor for a desktop 'experience' you can't ever use a desktop as a laptop.

Notmyrealname

It makes absolutely no difference whatsoever which he chooses in regards to longevity however as jayme1 has said, Apple have already effectively ended support for the 2006 Mac Mini. OS X Lion though will work just fine for quite some time and Linux or even Windows will be able to be installed as well.

gonzo127

the biggie in this instance the monitor, as if they do not have a monitor then thats a extra expense on top of the mac mini.

otherwise the other issue is the lack of warrenty on the used mac mini.

both will be fine for the basics asked of them, although the laptop is a underpowered one, going refurb can get a decend amount more power for the same amount of money, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOSHIBA-C660-GV-V1-LAPTOP-500GB-15-6-INCH-INTEL-CELERON-4GB-RAM-REFURB-/360485561766?pt=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item53ee9d25a6 would be one i would look at

Im_just_careful

Some years back I was given a second had blue and white Mac desktop machine.

It is the easiest machine I have ever worked on to add memory to.

Moving the operating system to a larger disk is also extremely easy.

For that machine (a G3) you could put 1GB of RAM in it and an 80GB disk extremely easily.

Perhaps the answer is to upgrade the old machine.

InsideInsurance

Really it comes down to preferences of operating systems and concerns over warranties.

The problem with Mac, as a buyer, is they hold their prices too well meaning that even ancient technology is more expensive than budget up to date/ last season.

I personally am a Mac user through and through so would want another Mac. I'd save up some more money and then wait and look at the refurb store for a last year model at a good price. There's none on the UK site at the moment but looking at the US version http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/mac_mini they've an i5 model from last year with Mountain Lion for about £320

Notmyrealname

Im_just_careful wrote: »

Perhaps the answer is to upgrade the old machine.

Not unless it is an Intel processor because nobody is releasing applications that work on the PowerPC Mac platform any more.

Haffiana

So, he has a Mac that after TEN years is finally ready to be replaced.

I think he has the answer to his question right there, don't you think?

That said, I recently donated and set up an old 2006 Mac mini for a friend who could not afford any sort of computer at all. It had been languishing in a drawer. Even I was surprised at just how good it was with a fresh copy of Snow Leopard. Just make sure it is the Core Duo model, not the odd Core Solo model.

gonzo127

Haffiana wrote: »

So, he has a Mac that after TEN years is finally ready to be replaced.

I think he has the answer to his question right there, don't you think? ..

really dont think that is anything to go on, for example i have a couple of really old windows and linux based systems which are still running fine at around 10 years, does that mean those systems are better than the mac?

also on this logic, the mac mini they are looking at is already 6 years old (nearly 7 years) so they should only expect to have another 3-4 years out of the mac mini before it would need replacing?

we of course know the above means nothing, you never know how long a system will last be them windows linux or mac, and dont sprout the usual macs are more reliable carp, as the most recent reliability and warrenty cliams surveys put macs in third or forth place, behind manufactorers of windows based system

anyways moving away from the potential back and forth this could cause, as stated previously both options should do the things asked of them,

of course the mac has the bonus that the person is totally used to the way the OS works and moving to windows will be a learning curve. and dispite what i have said above i do conceed that macs do have one of the best records for reliability (just not the best at the moment)

but a windows based laptop of course has a warrenty, if something did go wrong,

and of course no need for a seperate screen (also it is not fixed)