Come and get it folks. Episode #17 of the iLifeZone is in the can. Please subscribe via the iTunes Music Store whether or not you like to listen via iTunes.
Episode 17 iLifeZone Dec 1, 2006
Apple Hardware
36:38
This is our very first hardware show! Today, for the first time ever, we talk about all the various Mac hardware from the Mac Mini to the iMac to the MacBook and, on the higher end, the Macbook Pro and Mac Pro.
With
Scott Bourne -
www.podcastgearguy.com
Derrick Story -
www.thedigitalstory.com
Alex Lindsay -
www.pixelcorps.com
John Foster -
www.twit.tv/forums
Craig Syverson -
www.videogrunt.com
-----
Apple's Official Links to the entire product line are at the top of each section, followed by our comments about them:
The Mac Mini
John discusses the Mac Mini. Derrick is not really impressed, but John points out that it isn't all about the specs and the Mini is more than enough for basic use by average users. It's an inexpensive alternative to Windows and a good way to get your feet wet on the Mac platform. Alex notes that the Mac Mini will also run
Parallels and make it less intimidating for potential switchers from Windows. He also mentions that the folks at
PixelCorps are buying them to use as media servers. John mentions
Moore's law , and how most people will never catch up to the amount of power they have in their desktops anyway. John agrees with Derrick that if you do go with a Mini, you shouldn't skimp on the RAM. Scott points out that
$599 to start makes it the cheapest Mac you can buy for basic computing needs.
The iMac
Scott changes the discussion to the iMac by mentioning that if you don't already have the accessories the Mini doesn't come with (keyboard, mouse, monitor), for $400 more, you can get an entry level 17" iMac. Derrick loves how people are befuddled by the fact that the monitor
is the computer with an iMac. Scott notices the resolution on the 24" iMac is very high and hard to see if you're of a more advanced age, and also notes that the 20" is probably still more computer than most people need. Craig points out that
his video podcasts are still being done on iMac G5's, the point being you can do some serious work on the current generation of iMac. Derrick likes the idea of the iMac being an all-in-one entertainment center (TV tuners like EyeTV). Derrick also notes that iLife apps generally don't take good advantage of the huge screen of the 24" iMac. Alex waxes nostalgic about production a few years ago and how you can do a lot of that on an iMac. Scott mentions
Grass Valley Switchers , a company that sold video switchers. They sold boxes that act as effects processors for television. One of them was the page curl effect that we get for free in
iLife , and at the time they were charging $125,000 for a box that did that very same thing. Alex's brother does ads for his golf course on
iMovie .
The Mac Pro
The highest end of the desktop lineup. The big Kahuna. It's ideal for
Aperture and can even go to 16 Gigabytes of RAM. Alex brings up the fact that Apple's core user base is the graphics and creative professional. Scott bought an
Xraid to store all his photography and another to back up the first! Scott admits to buying the RAM from Apple, much to Derrick's chagrin. Alex on a quick aside notes how perfectly the RAID in one of his Xserve servers was able to recover from a dead hard disk (
more info on the Xserve here ).
The MacBook
Derrick, recovering from all the discussion on the stratospheric hardware that Scott and Alex were mentioning, changes the subject to the current crop of Mac laptops beginning with the MacBook. Derrick likes the MacBook and is surprised so many high-end users are sporting MacBooks instead of the more powerful MacBook Pro (See Below). The general consensus seems to be it's powerful, light, affordable, and looks great. Alex lusts for a black MacBook Pro. (Maybe he should check out
ColorWare? ) Alex also isn't a big fan of the glossy screen. Derrick didn't like it at first, but he's warming up to it. Craig doesn't like it because it reminds him of Windows PCs, and John is a fan. Alex also notes that unless you're doing high-end work, there's nothing you can't do on the MacBook. His big difference between the two is the graphics card. Scott says that an Aperture user probably wouldn't like the MacBook and Derrick agrees. Craig notes the power of the MacBook for a day-to-day user. For the price, the MacBook makes great sense according to John.
The MacBook Pro
Derrick uses a MacBook Pro as his only computer. Scott also uses his MacBook Pro as his "real" computer, where he does his writing, e-mail, etc., and ordered his Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro on October 26th. Alex points out that you can get 4,500 RPM 200 Gig HDs and 5,400 RPM 160 Gig hard drives for the MacBook Pro from various third parties, and advises doing so if BootCamp is in your future because it takes 30 Gigs of space right off the top. Scott reaffirms that he will never sully his MacBook Pro by putting BootCamp on it and watching Windows crash and blue-screen. He ordered his MacBook Pro with 7,200 RPM drives (perfect for
Aperture ,
Final Cut , and
Logic ). You can also get the MacBook Pro with a glossy or matte screen and the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros are also allowing RAM upgrades up to 3 Gigs, unlike the MacBook which maxes out at 2 Gigs.
Derrick reminds everyone that whichever laptop you choose, you should get
AppleCare . Alex and John agree. Scott goes a step further and says you should get it on
all Macs, and Craig makes the point that you don't have to buy AppleCare the minute you buy the machine. You're allowed to buy AppleCare anytime within the first year of purchase.
You can contact the show at
info@ilifezone.com
There are also hot links in the enhanced podcast track.
This episode was sponsored by
M-Audio and
Rogueamoeba.com .
Be sure to sign up for our e-mail newsletter.
The next show lands on December 10, 2006. For more information email us at info@ilifezone.com.
Thanks to Pixelcorps for production assistance with the iLifeZone and Libsyn for hosting services.
Subscribe free of charge to the iLifeZone podcast at the
iTunes Store
A special thank you to Vincent M. Ferrari (The AOL CANCEL GUY) for providing us with show notes. You can find out more about Vince at
ISPNmedia.com .
Save This Page
Technorati Tags: ilifezone , ilife , macintosh , macbook , mac
apple
