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How to Choose the Best Mac
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When it comes to picking a Mac laptop or desktop, there are a lot of choices. So we sat down with Tekserve, New York City’s premier authorized Apple reseller and service provider, to get their recommendations on choosing the best Mac for every need and budget.
MacBook ($999)
This attractive entry-level portable is perfect for general computing tasks like Web browsing, photo editing and word processing. It makes a great first computer and gift for grandparents and kids.
Display: 13 inches
Battery Life: 10 hours
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 250GB hard drive
13" MacBook Pro (starts at $1,199)
This small powerhouse delivers the most bang for the buck. It’s made of durable, lightweight aluminum, which makes it more rugged than the MacBook. It also comes with more upgrade options—faster processors, more memory and an SD card slot.
Display: 13 inches
Battery Life: 10 hours
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics
Memory: 4GB RAM
Storage: 250GB hard drive
15" and 17" MacBook Pro (15" starts at $1,799, 17" starts at $2.299)
For people who need portability and maximum power, the 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pro models are the best. They have the best graphics cards and biggest screens, both of which are important for video editing and video games. Keep your eye out for closeout models—they offer a new warranty and a lower price tag.
Display: 15 inches/ 17 inches
Battery Life: 8-9 hours
Processor: 2.4GHz Intel Core i5/ 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256MB / NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512MB
Memory: 4GB RAM
Storage: 320GB hard drive/ 500GB hard drive
MacBook Air (11" starts at $999, 13" starts at $1,299)
The MacBook Air is all about mobility. Super thin and light (2.3 pounds for the 11"), it’s perfect for someone with general computing needs who needs to travel with their computer. The flash memory drive means a faster boot time (only 2 seconds to awake from sleep) and it’s much more rugged than a regular hard drive. Keep in mind that there’s no built in CD/DVD drive or SD card slot, but external options are available.
Display: 11 inches/ 13 inches
Battery Life: 10 hours
Processor: 1.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo / 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 64GB flash drive / 128GB flash drive
Dimensions: 0.11- 0.68" x 11.8"x 7.56"/ 0.11-0.68"x 12.8"x 8.94"
eight: 2.3 pounds, 2.9 pounds
iPad (Wi-Fi starts at $499, Wi-Fi + 3G starts at $629)
Although it's not as functional as a regular computer, the iPad can easily handle light computing tasks like email and word processing. Plus there’s access to all of those great apps for work and play. Chose Wi-Fi for use primarily at home or 3G for computing anywhere.
Display: 9.7 inches
Battery Life: 10 hours / 9 hours (3G)
Processor: 1GHz Apple A4
Dimensions: 9.56" x 7.47" x 0.5"
Weight: 1.5 pounds, 1.6 pounds (3G)
Storage: 16GB flash drive
Mac mini (starts at $699)
This entry-level desktop is perfect for someone with general or light computing needs looking for an inexpensive way to get into a Mac. Just add your existing display, keyboard and mouse. And the sleek mini has a tiny footprint of 7.7-inches square by 1.4-inches high, making it a great option as a media-center computer.
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 320GB hard drive
iMac (21.5" starts at $1,199, 27" starts at $1,999)
Everything is built into this computer’s gorgeous screen, making it ideal for places with limited space. Pair it with a washable keyboard for the kitchen or kids’ workspace. iMacs have plenty of power to handle all but the most intensive professional computing tasks. Comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse.
Display: 21.5 inches / 27 inches
Processor: 3.06GHz Intel Core i3 / 3.2GHz Intel Core i3
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256MB / ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB
Memory: 4GB RAM
Storage: 500GB hard drive / 1TB hard drive
Mac Pro (starts at $2,499)
As its name suggests, the Mac Pro is designed for professionals with the most powerful processors, best graphics cards, largest amounts of memory and biggest hard drives.
Processor: 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xenon “Nehelem” processor
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB GDDR5
Memory: 3GB RAM
Storage: 1TB hard drive
A Special Holiday Offer from Tekserve
Print out this Holiday Coupon and bring it to Tekserve during December for a special offer: Buy any Apple product and receive 15% off an accompanying accessory or peripheral. The coupon is also valid for phone orders.
Also, when you stop by, Tekserve (119 W. 23rd St., New York City) will give you the newly updated 10th Edition Tekserve Mac FAQ booklet for free, full of answers to hundreds of Apple computer and iPod user questions. To get your free copy, just ask for "a Tekserve Mac FAQ from Cassandra."
This article was brought to you by Tekserve.
