Reply to: I want a Mac

[Sysman]

I use it all the time and have never had any problems with it, either running Windows or Linux VM on Linux Mint and on Ubuntu.

Each to their own

I tried with both Ubuntu and Linux Mint as VMware hosts last January, and they both had problems when I started chucking loads of I/O around. The GUI would become unacceptably unresponsive for longish periods. I went back to Windows and VirtualBox at that point.

[TheFaQQer]

I tried the free VMware on Linux on bare bones machine solution and got terrible performance.

Not going there again. It was painful.

I use it all the time and have never had any problems with it, either running Windows or Linux VM on Linux Mint and on Ubuntu.

Each to their own

[Sysman]

Which you could do quite cheaply / easily by buying a bare bones machine and sticking Linux on it first, then free VMWare to put OSX on.

I tried the free VMware on Linux on bare bones machine solution and got terrible performance.

Not going there again. It was painful.

[TheFaQQer]

Or OSX loaded into a virtual machine.

Which you could do quite cheaply / easily by buying a bare bones machine and sticking Linux on it first, then free VMWare to put OSX on.

[Leijona]

Mac junkie

Got a Macbook (the white one 13") a couple of years ago, now upgraded to Macbook Pro 15" (my mom has the white one now, liking it very much coz it looks good "inside and out" and is very straightforward to use). When I absolutely need Windows I run it on VM, otherwise Mac has everything I need. I really enjoy Mac coz it "just works" and the HW is solid. Will not change to Wintel except under torture!

My suggestion is: buy the cheapest Pro (13 or 15 inch, you decide), and upgrade yourself (more RAM and SSD).
You're gonna love it!

[PAH]

you need a Mac in order to develop apps for iphones which is one of the reasons I wrote in the OP I wanted to get one

Or OSX loaded into a virtual machine.

[PAH]

You got any links for that?

This is the one I found but have yet to buy as I don't really need one yet unless getting one or two more SSDs.

Akasa Dual 2.5" SSD/HDD mounting module for 3.5" Bay, Black aluminium (AK-MX010V2) - dabs.com

The things to look out for are that it might not fit all cases, especially any with fancy screwless or easy access drive mounts.

I made a note that it's 114mm in length, the 3.5" screw holes are 60mm apart, for checking it lines up with the case holes.

[SneakySimon]

I've had a MacBook Air 13" for 3 years, gave it to the good lady a year ago and got the Macbook Air 11". What do I like?

1. Wife had an issue on her 13" Air where the screen kept changing colour and flickerring after she dropped it for the 50th time. Took it to Regents Street Apple store and it was fixed in the day with a new screen, camshell etc. Should have been £279 but they let me have it for free. Had similar care with my Apple Iphone where they fixed an issue after I dropped it (anyone see a theme!)

2. I have had an iMac 4.5 years, 13" Air for 3 years and 11" Air for a year. Each one starts up immediatly, runs as fast as the day I bought it and don't have crashes etc. I have a Dell Laptop that is 3 years old. I make a cup of tea between switching on and wanting to do some work.

3. The 11" Macbook has phenomenal power for something so small.

I will never buy a non-Mac PC again.

[chef]

I can not justify buying a Mac. I'd very much like one (because I am a fashion victim) but I can't justify spending twice as much on a Mac as what I would spend on a similar laptop.

Racking my brains I seem to recall that the main advantages of a Mac over a laptop are:

1) No viruses (yet)

2) Mac doesn't have a bloated OS like Windows as everything is written onto the firmware.

Err, that's it.

you need a Mac in order to develop apps for iphones which is one of the reasons I wrote in the OP I wanted to get one

[TheFaQQer]

1) No viruses (yet)

No longer true

There are significantly more viruses on Windows, though.

[Hill Station Murthy]

I can not justify buying a Mac. I'd very much like one (because I am a fashion victim) but I can't justify spending twice as much on a Mac as what I would spend on a similar laptop.

Racking my brains I seem to recall that the main advantages of a Mac over a laptop are:

1) No viruses (yet)

2) Mac doesn't have a bloated OS like Windows as everything is written onto the firmware.

Err, that's it.

[Spacecadet]

(can probably get 2 SSDs into one 3.5" slot with the right mounting kit).

You got any links for that?

[alreadypacked]

Chef, maybe the gf could get you this new Apple product for xmas.




http://www.youtube.com/user/thekloons

[PAH]

Yep. SSD next on the list for me. I have been spreading my VM stuff across spindles, but when you have several VMs hammering away, disk I/O is definitely the bottleneck.

SSDs of around 60gb to 120gb capacity are ideal for VM hosting. Can still fit several VMs on one drive (unless you need large partitions) and using multiple smaller ones over one large one better utilises the data bus paths. Also avoids paying the current premium attached to the higher capacity ones.

Just got to make sure you've plenty of SATA connections (most recent mobos come with at least 4, sometimes more if mixing SATA 2 and the recent SATA 3).

Other bonus is they are silent, use less power, generate less heat, and take up less space due to the smaller form factor (can probably get 2 SSDs into one 3.5" slot with the right mounting kit).

Anyone still using a mechanical primary drive is suffering unnecessarily. Give your system a new lease of life, go SSD.

[scooterscot]

Yep. SSD next on the list for me. I have been spreading my VM stuff across spindles, but when you have several VMs hammering away, disk I/O is definitely the bottleneck.

One of my virtual machines is hooked up to a external raid connected via firewire 800. Even then windaz makes it sound like a grinder.