Someone give me the lowdown on Macs

[WA]

Hi:
I'm currently thinking of buying a used Mac notebook just to test scripts (JavaScript) out in that platform for compatibility. However, the problem is I'm completely bewildered when it comes to Mac. Can someone provide a quick run down of the system, like the various CPUs available, how much RAM is decent, what to look out for etc?

I see a few inexpensive systems on eBay that use the G3 chip- is that decent enough to install the latest IE/NS/etc browsers on it to test run webpages? Ideally of course I would like to actually be able to use the computer for other things as well.

Thanks,

[brothercake]

Yeah it is; I have a G3 iMac for the same reason - 196 RAM (enough, but not super fast), ~600MHz (quite fast for a G3; 500Mhz is more common). I run OSX.4 with all the latest versions of browsers (as well as classic mode, but nb you also need a copy of OS9 to run classic mode). It's connected to my PC with an x-over, so they can share folders and both use my internet connection.

And of course ... once you have OSX you might be inclined to use its Apache server and start messing with the shell :)

I paid £400 second hand (off ebay), but in the US you should be able to get something equivalent for more like $500.

<edit>
Just noticed you said "notebook" - same as PC notebooks I guess, in that you pay more for equivalent spec, but of course it's portable. If you wanted to go all out, the new iBooks are looking very sexy indeed ;)
</edit>

[WA]

"It's connected to my PC with an x-over..."

Do tell! Is x-over a physical cable or just software plus standard USB line? If I can get a Mac and PC to work in tandem, that would definitely be a huge plus.

There are a few Mac notebooks on eBay going for less than $200. This one looks promising: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3412055203&category=4602

[jkd]

Originally posted by WA
There are a few Mac notebooks on eBay going for less than $200. This one looks promising: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3412055203&category=4602

Ick! Those were the most fugly laptops ever produced by Apple, and a 300mhz G3 won't get you anywhere if you actually to do anything significant on it.

The new iBooks though.... very nice. I want one whenever I get $1200.

[Sparky]

Originally posted by WA
"It's connected to my PC with an x-over..."


x-over = crossover cable. Its an RJ45 cable wired back-to-front, allowing you too connect too computers directly without the need for a network hub.

[WA]

I actually thought that one on eBay was one of the more decent looking of the bunch. Take this Mac notebook for example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3412036760&category=14908 Yuk.

Buy a brand new notebook? That would be a steep investment for me right now. With the right software/connection, can a Mac basically run all the essential apps of my PC? If so that would make buying a new Mac notebook over a PC one more reasonable.

[Jason]

here is a thread where they talked about connecting 2 computers for a network, there is a nice picture by x_goose_x about how they work. http://www.codingforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16808

And I don't know much about MACs but my philosophy is the newer the better....;)


Jason

[brothercake]

Originally posted by WA
With the right software/connection, can a Mac basically run all the essential apps of my PC?
Yeah I should think so, but it depends on what you want to do, and on whether you can get comfortable enough with the GUI.

You certainly will find that you need OSX and OS9 classic mode to run a full set of applications - some apps only run in one or the other; some (such as Quark Xpress) still only run natively in OS9.

I wouldn't have a mac as my main computer, mostly because of the lack of right-click context menu - macs force you into a lot of ctrl/click apple/click stuff - too much keyboard+mouse action for my liking - I want to be able to do everything with just the keyboard, or just the mouse.

I'm so much more productive in windows, but plenty of people will say the opposite. Personal choice I guess - some people swear by their macs; some people just swear at them :D