Here's my problem - I already have a 17" notebook, and anything smaller than that just drives me nuts. (I'm spoiled by my dual monitor setup which gives me several acres of screen space.) That points me to the 17" Macbook Pro, which retails at $2800.

Now, if I spec out a Mac Pro that does what I want, I'm looking at around $2500 - that's for a single Xeon quadcore, 4GB of memory (assuming I don't buy the extra 2GB from Apple), 320GB hard drive, and a GF8800 GT. So for $300 less I get more machine. The only trick is that I have to shell out for monitors, but if it comes down to it I can just use my current monitors and a KVM switch until I save up for the displays.

Since I'm not in the market for a second notebook, it seems to me like the Pro is the way to go.

Quote: Original post by ApochPiQ
Since I'm not in the market for a second notebook, it seems to me like the Pro is the way to go.

Are you planning on making the Mac Pro your main machine, or do you already have another beefy computer you'd use for Windows and/or Linux development?

The Apple monitors are pricey. I've heard that they're worth it if you want a good quality LCD, but if you're not doing a lot of image work you could probably use a decent cheaper LCD instead.

Some Mac stores might have firesales now and then - I know the resellers in Canberra did. Some of the computers were refurbished (including my dodgy MacBook Pro... grr), but you could get them for about a third of the price off if you were quick. Maybe there's some deals at a store nearby?

I'll be keeping my primary Windows workstation. Whatever I end up doing, the Mac would be supplemental at most.

Quote: Original post by ApochPiQ
Damn skippy. I'm tempted to start nuking posts that go off-topic....

I thought original question was sort of exhausted (as in, "mac prices are on apple.com , you buy what suits you", which is only possible answer anyway) before we did go off topic? [smile]

If you're buying computer for supplemental role (testing), try to get one that matches your software target market, IMO. Benefit from extra cores would be in speed of compilation. You'll need a lot of ram i think for fast builds with --jobs=8 .

I'd think the Mac Pro would be overkill as an auxillary machine. They seem aimed for serious number crunchers, like those who need to do a lot video or audio editing. The only one I've seen outside the Apple store was on the desk of the head of my research department; a lot of Comp.Sci. academics are going Mac.

The main advantage to the Mac Pro over the iMac other than power and extendability is that you can use that KVM switch. An iMac takes up the same space as an LCD screen but can't be used as one for another computer. If you've got the cash, the Mac Pro would be very sweet. But they do cost an awful lot. If I owned one, I'd be making it my prime machine.

Well, I should probably clarify - there's two things I want to do with a Mac, should I end up actually getting one. First off is writing games; this doesn't really require a top-end machine, and having a machine closer to average consumer spec is obviously better for testing, etc.

However, job number two is working on cross-platform support and heavy-duty multiprocessing support for Epoch, my programming language project. Having 4 cores to play with, plus a GPU, gives me a great test bed for making sure the language works and is as flexible as I hope it to be. For that purpose, having the Pro is worth the money.


So I guess I've pretty much answered my own question at this point [smile]

Quote: Original post by ApochPiQ
Well, I should probably clarify - there's two things I want to do with a Mac, should I end up actually getting one. First off is writing games; this doesn't really require a top-end machine, and having a machine closer to average consumer spec is obviously better for testing, etc.

However, job number two is working on cross-platform support and heavy-duty multiprocessing support for Epoch, my programming language project. Having 4 cores to play with, plus a GPU, gives me a great test bed for making sure the language works and is as flexible as I hope it to be. For that purpose, having the Pro is worth the money.


So I guess I've pretty much answered my own question at this point [smile]

Get it! You won't regret it! If you need a laptop don't hesitate to get a 13" MB. Also you get nice discount if you are a student or take the developer subscription (it will pay itself off).

My friend got one and it has been replacing his generic overclocker "newegg powerhouse pc", gradually, step by step. IMac is decent, but I wouldn't waste my money on the more expensive non-portable macs.

I love the insecurity Apple products are stirring up in this thread. It clearly shows that their computers are having a great impact. Now that they are gaining more and more market share, I'd hate to be stuck with C# and Visual Studio. The interesting stuff isn't happening there anymore ;-)

Are you kidding me? C# is becoming an incredibly powerful language, and with F# joining the Visual Studio family in the near future, it's looking like functional programming is starting to take a serious hold in the Windows development world.

That's far more exciting than Objective C [razz]

he's just reverse-trolling... or appear to be.

Quote: Original post by ApochPiQ
Are you kidding me? C# is becoming an incredibly powerful language, and with F# joining the Visual Studio family in the near future, it's looking like functional programming is starting to take a serious hold in the Windows development world.

That's far more exciting than Objective C [razz]

C# is great for the boring enterprise stuff people for which people used Java in the past and I love to use it when programming for Windows.

You simply can't deny that iPhone is brilliant platform that is inspiring Indie game makers everywhere. Even more so than the XNA platform, which has had time to gain momentum for ages compared to the iPhone and the results are... boring.

I mean even Mono runs on iPhone. That's pretty sweet, although Apple will probably never allow C# apps in the store.

Totally not trolling at all. You guys are just being insecure about things. C# is very interesting language, but it doesn't have interesting or inspiring atmosphere revolving around it. It is like the ultimate stereotype of that fat square Microsoft guy from Apple advertisements.