Cheapest Mac

[tco21]

What's the cheapest Mac one can get for graphic design purposes, including the price of the necessary software (photoshop et al), and where would you get it from?

Thanks.

 

[Synaesthesia]

You can get a Mac Mini, or a Macbook. For prices check ZAstore. It comes with a lot of software already, but Photoshop is damn expensive.

For a cheaper option can also build a PC and run OS X on it, hackintoshing. That's what I did, my PC only cost like R2500

 

[wolfsburg]

The colour is hugely different on a PC compared to mac when doing graphics design... i switched to mac mainly for that along with other reasons aswell.
I do agree with Synaethesia though ... thats a much much cheaper option if you dont want to fork out 6k for a mac mini and the new Macbooks are going for 13k now so you have options .

Good luck dude

 

[Synaesthesia]

I'm very happy with my Hackintosh + BenQ FP241W screen. It's so awesome. I just wanted to say.

 

[wolfsburg]

you see the thing is with designing the colours will look the same on PC and mac but the minute you print the piece its totally different - if the design was done on PC that is . When the design is done on mac the colour you use is the colour that will show up on the print .

 

[tco21]

Thanks. Well 13k isn't that bad actually, was expecting prices nearer to 20k.

 

[d0b33]

Adobe design suite costs nearly 15k alone, a macbook is cheaper... but I am using the adobe cs4 suite on OSX now, much better experience it runs so much better than it did on windows.

 

[Pooky]

I'm very happy with my Hackintosh + BenQ FP241W screen. It's so awesome. I just wanted to say.

Help me turn my computer into one?

At the moment I have tried everything some stuff is incompatible.

 

[ponder]

Help me turn my computer into one?

At the moment I have tried everything some stuff is incompatible.

http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2010/04/iboot-multibeast-install-mac-os-x-on.html
http://osx86sv.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/how-install-osx-10-6-2-on-an-pc-asus-p5-series-motherboard/

Above links use original DVD, I have the 10.6.3 one if interested.

 

[macboer]

you see the thing is with designing the colours will look the same on PC and mac but the minute you print the piece its totally different - if the design was done on PC that is . When the design is done on mac the colour you use is the colour that will show up on the print .

i'm pretty sure this is not (completely)true.

 

[ponder]

i'm pretty sure this is not (completely)true.

Yip, not entirely true. Since Vista Colour Mangement has been implemented for Windows.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Color_System
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_management

 

[Budza]

By how much does this new "Colour Management" close the gap between Mac and a PC?

Never thought a Mac was worth it myself... ( I know nothing of design etc )

 

[rapidblue]

Thanks. Well 13k isn't that bad actually, was expecting prices nearer to 20k.

If you willing to spend about R13k on a Mac then you should also consider a 21.5" iMac - about the same price as a 13" Macbook but will have a lot more power and a bigger screen (awesome for photoshop)...

 

[Pooky]

http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2010/04/iboot-multibeast-install-mac-os-x-on.html
http://osx86sv.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/how-install-osx-10-6-2-on-an-pc-asus-p5-series-motherboard/

Above links use original DVD, I have the 10.6.3 one if interested.

Thanks for the links. I am using a retail CD and the first link's method, problem is the install gets to about 8-7 minutes remaining and then freezes...

 

[bwana]

If you willing to spend about R13k on a Mac then you should also consider a 21.5" iMac - about the same price as a 13" Macbook but will have a lot more power and a bigger screen (awesome for photoshop)...

Great choice. The new iMacs are great solutions.

 

[StbA]

If you willing to spend about R13k on a Mac then you should also consider a 21.5" iMac - about the same price as a 13" Macbook but will have a lot more power and a bigger screen (awesome for photoshop)...

Agreed, it's a frikken awesome machine + LED screen that makes a huge diff.

 

[rapidblue]

I'm actually considering upgrading my MacBook to an iMac at the end of the year (seeing my MacBook will be 3 years old then) and then getting an iPad for when I'm not at home

 

[phiber]

You can get a Mac Mini, or a Macbook. For prices check ZAstore. It comes with a lot of software already, but Photoshop is damn expensive.

For a cheaper option can also build a PC and run OS X on it, hackintoshing. That's what I did, my PC only cost like R2500

What hardware you running. Know of anyone who has got OSX going on AMD hardware ?

 

[Shardie]

Id go hackintosh

 

[PaulMark]

I'd be careful about advising people to go hackintosh. The fantastic thing about Macs is that they just work out of the box. This is achieved by tailoring the software for very specific hardware. Change the software and they don't always play so nicely together. I've got nothing against people with the rights skills building their own hackintosh but unless you know what you're getting yourself into I think it's best to stick to the real thing.