Cheap Apple PC - what to recommend

Rouxenator

Rouxenator

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I don't know apple, and that is exactly why I am recommending it to a family member, please help me out.

For years now, through about 4 PC systems ranging from a Windows 98 PC to a Windows 7 PC, I have had a family member that every now and then has some issue with the computer. Most of the times it was just Windows being completely paralysed by malware require a tedious backup and format operation.

Currently it seems the scanner is not working due to a WIA error and apparently some of the USB ports are not working. I offered to fix up the PC and said they must then sell it and get some sort of Apple computer since they are very happy with thier ipods and iphones.

The main reason why I am recommending them to go apple is because I cannot support it. I have no idea how it works so if they do get it I will simply say they need to take it to some apple expert. Secondly it is because I doubt it will give them as much hassles as they have with windows.

So please tell me what apple I should recommend - it needs to be new, bought from a store with warranty so they can take it back there and most importantly it needs to be cheap.
 
Rouxenator said:
I don't know apple, and that is exactly why I am recommending it to a family member, please help me out.

For years now, through about 4 PC systems ranging from a Windows 98 PC to a Windows 7 PC, I have had a family member that every now and then has some issue with the computer. Most of the times it was just Windows being completely paralysed by malware require a tedious backup and format operation.

Currently it seems the scanner is not working due to a WIA error and apparently some of the USB ports are not working. I offered to fix up the PC and said they must then sell it and get some sort of Apple computer since they are very happy with thier ipods and iphones.

The main reason why I am recommending them to go apple is because I cannot support it. I have no idea how it works so if they do get it I will simply say they need to take it to some apple expert. Secondly it is because I doubt it will give them as much hassles as they have with windows.

So please tell me what apple I should recommend - it needs to be new, bought from a store with warranty so they can take it back there and most importantly it needs to be cheap.
Click to expand...

If it has to be bought brand new from a store and cheap then your best bet is to get the Mac Mini i5 - they sell for about R8000 - and you can easily upgrade the RAM if need be.

The next step up is the MacBook Pro but those start at R14k.
 
All the PCs they had were bought from me and it was usually for less than R2k. I will try to persuade them to get the Mac Mini since that seems to be the cheapest and they should know Apple does not come cheap. Hopefully it will be successful.
 
Have to say mini as well. Fwiw mine has been running 24/7 since 2006 with almost no downtime.
 
Rouxenator said:
All the PCs they had were bought from me and it was usually for less than R2k. I will try to persuade them to get the Mac Mini since that seems to be the cheapest and they should know Apple does not come cheap. Hopefully it will be successful.
Click to expand...

You do know you will have to support it anyway.... once the family have you then they will never let go.
 
Nerfherder said:
You do know you will have to support it anyway.... once the family have you then they will never let go.
Click to expand...
See that is why I thought of not telling them to buy a new PC from a PC store. They will inevitably ask me for help only when it is an Apple computer I can honestly say I know ef-all about Apple, it should not break in the first place, so get some support from the store you bought it from because as I said I have no clue :whistle:
 
There is no such thing as cheap.

I would highly recommend that the iMac is the best value for money and comes with EVERYTHING you need.

The Mac Mini is a cheap cop out but requires a screen and mouse and keyboard all of which if not the Apple version will cause some consternation especially if they've never used Apple products before and read guides online that then don't like up with the products they have.

If they already have a decent screen can always use that as a secondary monitor if need be.

It is however R18k at present.
 
Rouxenator said:
See that is why I thought of not telling them to buy a new PC from a PC store. They will inevitably ask me for help only when it is an Apple computer I can honestly say I know ef-all about Apple, it should not break in the first place, so get some support from the store you bought it from because as I said I have no clue :whistle:
Click to expand...

It makes logical sense.

It's what Apple excels at, their support. So they can pick up the phone and call them or go to the store.

The stores often give free training as well which is highly recommended.
 
Seeing as they currently have a HP DC7800 Core2Duo 1.8ghz running XP and a Athlon X64 3200 with Windows 7 I am pretty sure the value of them together is not even R1k so I am going to have a hard time trying to get them to buy a R8k computer. I do hope it works out though.

This will be my new strategy then when people ask me for help or advise on computers.
 
Rouxenator said:
Seeing as they currently have a HP DC7800 Core2Duo 1.8ghz running XP and a Athlon X64 3200 with Windows 7 I am pretty sure the value of them together is not even R1k so I am going to have a hard time trying to get them to buy a R8k computer. I do hope it works out though.

This will be my new strategy then when people ask me for help or advise on computers.
Click to expand...

In that case might as well add 2k for the keyboard and mouse that will work as expected.

Suddenly the iMac doesn't look all that expensive after all.
 
lol, very clever strategy! For people who don't understand how a computer works should def get an apple.
 
SauRoNZA said:
In that case might as well add 2k for the keyboard and mouse that will work as expected.

Suddenly the iMac doesn't look all that expensive after all.
Click to expand...
A R18000 iMac seems a lot more expensive than a R8000 mini plus a R700 keyboard to me :confused:
 
Rouxenator said:
The main reason why I am recommending them to go apple is because I cannot support it. I have no idea how it works so if they do get it I will simply say they need to take it to some apple expert. Secondly it is because I doubt it will give them as much hassles as they have with windows.
Click to expand...

You may not be able to support it but that does not mean you will not be asked to support it.
You will tell them to take it to the store they bought it from and they will give you attitude for selling them an over priced paper weight.
I've been there.

My in-laws had no idea and it meant I was now technical support for a system i couldn't fix.
Which was a bigger pain than I expected.
Upgrade options are so limited it's just a waste of money imo.

You'll essentially be lumping your family members with a redundant system that will become your problem.
I know it's a pain to support your family systems but rather try to establish a perfect scenario for them and ghost the system for in case future issues arise.

If all else fails remove admin rights.
 
bwana said:
A R18000 iMac seems a lot more expensive than a R8000 mini plus a R700 keyboard to me :confused:
Click to expand...

I'm not saying it's not more expensive.

I mean strictly in value for money terms overall.

Try R1099 for the Keyboard and another R1099 for the mouse though.

So R10 197 for the "full" experience if you go Mini.

R7802 more gets you...

A fantastic big screen.
4GB more memory.
Better processor.

I always feel that the Mac Mini is more of a project machine for Apple-geeks who already know what they are doing and what a secondary machine. But that's just me.


Of course what I would do in this situation is not spending any money at all...

1. Setup Administrator account.

2. Switch user's account to Standard.

Problem solved.
 
Last edited:
Electric said:
You may not be able to support it but that does not mean you will not be asked to support it.
You will tell them to take it to the store they bought it from and they will give you attitude for selling them an over priced paper weight.
I've been there.

My in-laws had no idea and it meant I was now technical support for a system i couldn't fix.
Which was a bigger pain than I expected.
Upgrade options are so limited it's just a waste of money imo.

You'll essentially be lumping your family members with a redundant system that will become your problem.
I know it's a pain to support your family systems but rather try to establish a perfect scenario for them and ghost the system for in case future issues arise.

If all else fails remove admin rights.
Click to expand...

Although I am an Apple guru I must just say that they genuinely are much less hassle to support.

I gave my mother an old iMac a few years ago and since doing that it's been a blissful experience of non-supporting it.

I think I've needed to fix something once and it was a straight forward thing that I can't even remember.
 
Hmmmm ... if you get them to go Apple, would they run the Apple OS or would you then install Windows on it via bootcamp?

What about their current peripherals... are these Apple OSX supported or would there then be a need for these to be upgraded as well?

If you are going to do the bootcamp Windows thing on their Apple, are you not right back to where you are now with the current setup?
If their stumbling block is Windows and not the PC hardware, you will be right back to square one.
Their Windows fumbles will be the same in Apple Bootcamp environment as currently on their PC.

If it is their current PC hardware that is not reliable and giving them (and you) the headache... would it not be better to just get new PC hardware?
New PC stuff just works now days and does not need the constant persuading the old stuff does to keep running.

If you are indeed going to completely wash your hands of their Windows issues and have them use the Apple OS... will it have everything they are using now without you being pestered 1st before the referral to the Apple sales / support team at the iStrore they purchased it from? Software and hardware wise.
 
Rouxenator said:
The idea is to ... if you get them to go Apple ... never touch their computer again.
Click to expand...

Ah, sort of kinda like they pay a lot for the Apple and you can then claim absolute ignorance and refer them back to place of purchase.

"Sorry, I have absolutely no idea how Apple actually works."

How then are you going to convince them to go Apple at that price then?
 
They have some apple products already, I think iphone and maybe an ipod might even have an ipad so I pitched it around that. It just works and is easy to use like the devices they are familiar with. If it really comes to it I'll even offer to buy their current PCs and resell them on BoB so they have cash to put towards the Mac Mini.
 
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