Cheap way to dip your toe into the Mac world...

John Henderson · 02-15-2009, 01:44 PM

Hi there. I've noticed that a few warriors have been having security, reliability and/or virus problems with their PCs. I had exactly the same experiences when I was a PC owner, and it was these frustrating episodes that finally made me switch to using Apple Macs.

However, I realise from experience that switching computer systems is much more easily said than done. Apart from investing money into a machine, an operating system, software applications and peripherals, people invest a heck of a lot of time and effort in learning how to use those assets until they become proficient. Switching to another system cannot be taken lightly.

But if there was a cheap way to try an alternative, one that could be tested in addition to your existing machine, might it be worth giving it a test drive?

I was chatting online to another Mac user the other day, when he pointed out that there is one model of Macintosh that offers a lot of machine for the money. It's called the eMac and on eBay, these machines can sell for between $50 and $100. eMacs are all-in-one machines (everything's in the same case apart from the keyboard and the mouse) and resemble a pumped-up version of the small, colourful iMacs that came out in 1997.

The downside to the eMac is that its 17" CRT monitor makes it a heavy machine - about 56 pounds in weight - and its cooling fan isn't the quietest that you'll hear. But it will still run a recent version of Mac OS X, can take up to 1GB of memory (the later models will unofficially take 2GB) and if you don't like the idea of staring at a CRT screen, you can plug a cheap 1024x768 LCD screen into it. The eMac has a G4 processor which is more than enough for most of the day-to-day tasks that people undertake with their computers and can run the free Office-like suite "OpenOffice" or its Mac-specific cousin "NeoOffice".

So there you go. If you want to try an alternative to a PC without spending hundreds of dollars, check out the eMacs on eBay.

P.S. I'm not trying to start a PC vs. Mac flame war here. I just thought that if PC-using warriors are as tired of Windows as I was 5 years ago, then they might be interested in trying a cheap alternative.

Star69 · 02-15-2009, 07:04 PM

Oh you smug Mac people just rubbing it in...

Thanks for letting us know. I'm going to see what's on eBay right now!

John Henderson · 02-16-2009, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Star69

Oh you smug Mac people just rubbing it in...

Oh, I hope you don't think that I'm one of those!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Star69

Thanks for letting us know. I'm going to see what's on eBay right now!

That's great, Star69. I've seen quite a few "Can you help me with my Windows machine?" posts on the Warrior Forums, and I just thought that there might be a few warriors who were open to the idea of trying another way of doing things...

jdjenkins · 08-24-2009, 02:44 PM

Nice idea; and I don't mind CRTs - I'm currently using a 20" display as a second screen for my laptop. I've made my Sony laptop dual boot for Linux and Windows, and found I can do most things on Linux; I still need to test a few more bits of software, like SEO Elite and that kind of thing.
One thing that's speeded up the XP boot-up is uninstalling Office - the free version is just fine for my needs. Back to the subject though - I like the user-friendliness of the Macs I've seen (there's a couple I have to use at work sometimes), so it's good o hear about this cheap way to try it at home,

best wishes,

Jon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Henderson

Hi there. I've noticed that a few warriors have been having security, reliability and/or virus problems with their PCs. I had exactly the same experiences when I was a PC owner, and it was these frustrating episodes that finally made me switch to using Apple Macs.

....

So there you go. If you want to try an alternative to a PC without spending hundreds of dollars, check out the eMacs on eBay.

P.S. I'm not trying to start a PC vs. Mac flame war here. I just thought that if PC-using warriors are as tired of Windows as I was 5 years ago, then they might be interested in trying a cheap alternative.

KimW · 08-24-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Henderson

Oh, I hope you don't think that I'm one of those!

That's great, Star69. I've seen quite a few "Can you help me with my Windows machine?" posts on the Warrior Forums, and I just thought that there might be a few warriors who were open to the idea of trying another way of doing things...

Sure theres another way of doing things, it's called Linux.

Course, with the emacs, you need to count on another $50 or so for shipping and handling......

Paul Myers · 08-24-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

eMacs on eBay

Vi! Vi! Vi!

Hey, if you're gonna start a Holy War, make it worth fighting.

Paul

John Henderson · 08-24-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KimW

Sure theres another way of doing things, it's called Linux.

Oh, Kim! Are you trying to tell me that you've finally left Microsoft TrainWreck behind? Good for you, fella!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KimW

Course, with the emacs, you need to count on another $50 or so for shipping and handling......

Yeah, but it's a one-off cost. Unlike Windows virus protection.... :P

Michael Motley · 08-24-2009, 03:57 PM

I love the imac 24" Intel and mac proc, dual boot o.s., big shiny display

makes me tingle in my stinky spots.

KimW · 08-24-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Henderson

Oh, Kim! Are you trying to tell me that you've finally left Microsoft TrainWreck behind? Good for you, fella!

Yeah, but it's a one-off cost. Unlike Windows virus protection.... :P

Oh, not at all, I'll be a MS cheerleader forever. I am looking forward to windows 7 release!!

Kelpsi Media · 08-24-2009, 07:36 PM

Mac rocks but just too over the hedge for normal guys. :P

02-15-2009, 01:44 PM	#1
John Henderson Advanced Warrior Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West Sussex, UK Posts: 601 Thanks: 262 Thanked 189 Times in 134 Posts	Cheap way to dip your toe into the Mac world... Hi there. I've noticed that a few warriors have been having security, reliability and/or virus problems with their PCs. I had exactly the same experiences when I was a PC owner, and it was these frustrating episodes that finally made me switch to using Apple Macs. However, I realise from experience that switching computer systems is much more easily said than done. Apart from investing money into a machine, an operating system, software applications and peripherals, people invest a heck of a lot of time and effort in learning how to use those assets until they become proficient. Switching to another system cannot be taken lightly. But if there was a cheap way to try an alternative, one that could be tested in addition to your existing machine, might it be worth giving it a test drive? I was chatting online to another Mac user the other day, when he pointed out that there is one model of Macintosh that offers a lot of machine for the money. It's called the eMac and on eBay, these machines can sell for between $50 and $100. eMacs are all-in-one machines (everything's in the same case apart from the keyboard and the mouse) and resemble a pumped-up version of the small, colourful iMacs that came out in 1997. The downside to the eMac is that its 17" CRT monitor makes it a heavy machine - about 56 pounds in weight - and its cooling fan isn't the quietest that you'll hear. But it will still run a recent version of Mac OS X, can take up to 1GB of memory (the later models will unofficially take 2GB) and if you don't like the idea of staring at a CRT screen, you can plug a cheap 1024x768 LCD screen into it. The eMac has a G4 processor which is more than enough for most of the day-to-day tasks that people undertake with their computers and can run the free Office-like suite "OpenOffice" or its Mac-specific cousin "NeoOffice". So there you go. If you want to try an alternative to a PC without spending hundreds of dollars, check out the eMacs on eBay. P.S. I'm not trying to start a PC vs. Mac flame war here. I just thought that if PC-using warriors are as tired of Windows as I was 5 years ago, then they might be interested in trying a cheap alternative.
	Last edited by John Henderson; 07-19-2009 at 06:29 AM. Reason: Old photo stopped working

02-15-2009, 07:04 PM	#2
Star69 Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 67 Thanks: 12 Thanked 64 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Cheap way to dip your toe into the Mac world... Oh you smug Mac people just rubbing it in... Thanks for letting us know. I'm going to see what's on eBay right now!

08-24-2009, 03:57 PM	#8
Michael Motley HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: U.S. Posts: 425 Thanks: 33 Thanked 270 Times in 189 Posts Social Networking	Re: Cheap way to dip your toe into the Mac world... I love the imac 24" Intel and mac proc, dual boot o.s., big shiny display makes me tingle in my stinky spots.

08-24-2009, 07:36 PM	#10
Kelpsi Media Idiotic Marketer War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Malaysia Posts: 186 Thanks: 5 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Cheap way to dip your toe into the Mac world... Mac rocks but just too over the hedge for normal guys. :P