Best approach back into MacOS?

Captain · 20 Oct 2019 at 22:24

Hi all,

I regrettably sold my last Macbook Pro and i'm wanting to get another machine for MacOS.

Not sure what the best approach is though, i have a Windows 10 gaming rig which i want to keep as most games i play aren't compatible with Mac.

I'm invested in the Apple ecosystem now with my iPhone 11 Pro and will be adding to that with Airpods Gen 3, iPad Pro and hopefully either a new Macbook or Mac Mini.

It won't leave my house so i'm thinking Mac mini and use the other port that's free on my monitor.

Or i can get a Macbook pro so i have the flexibility if i want to take it with me on my travels, i could also connect it to my monitor and get a dock for it if necessary.

I do take a lot of photos on my iPhone now so having the added bonus of loading up MacOS and seeing my photos etc already synced is a big bonus.

Cheers

Minstadave · 20 Oct 2019 at 22:25

Doesnt the windows icloud client sync your photos? I'm sure it did when I last used it.

Combat squirrel · 20 Oct 2019 at 22:26

MBP are the best genral laptops all things considered (bar gaming, although the i9 vega 20 is capable), but yeah otherwise the mini is great, the mini i7 and 64gb ram + egpu is my main rig and flyesssss

This might sound TOTALLY RANDOM, but might make some realisation to a lot of people with an 'oh yeah' moment - but input devices mattered a lot to me with Mac OS - the way it inputs user input delay or smoothness somehow mattered, once i got my I/O sorted i got on a lot better with Mac OS, to the point its my main one now - hate windows, spyware hell now.

Feek · 20 Oct 2019 at 22:34

Combat squirrel said:
but input devices mattered a lot to me with Mac OS

Out of interest, what pointing device do you use? I bought the original Apple trackpad when it was released and then got the new one when that came out. I use that exclusively with my iMac, I don't use a mouse at all, simply can't even contemplate it.

Combat squirrel · 20 Oct 2019 at 22:36

Feek said:
Out of interest, what pointing device do you use? I bought the original Apple trackpad when it was released and then got the new one when that came out. I use that exclusively with my iMac, I don't use a mouse at all, simply can't even contemplate it.

Logitechhhh I can't remember which one! I'm away from home wireless G6 something ? Nailed the tracking and speed just great, although I happily get along with an apple mouse as well when travelling its compact and fairly accurate if a little dumbed down.

Captain · 20 Oct 2019 at 22:56

Minstadave said:
Doesnt the windows icloud client sync your photos? I'm sure it did when I last used it.

Yeah but I love how fluid macOS is with iPhone, iPad etc.

ChrisD. · 21 Oct 2019 at 12:24

I have a mac as my work laptop, it excels at being a laptop but I still prefer Windows 10 as a desktop OS. Also an iPhone user here, I don't sync my photos to my PC, it's mainly used as a gaming rig.

Deleted member 77746 · 21 Oct 2019 at 12:43

There probably isn't a best way back into macos basically just buy something and use it.

LiE · 21 Oct 2019 at 13:43

Mac mini is going to give you a way to use your existing monitor, but you won't get that crispy retina experience.

What is it about macOS that you want to use? an iPad is a really good way to live within the ecosystem like mail, photos, web, messages, etc.

Captain · 22 Oct 2019 at 15:05

LiE said:
Mac mini is going to give you a way to use your existing monitor, but you won't get that crispy retina experience.

What is it about macOS that you want to use? an iPad is a really good way to live within the ecosystem like mail, photos, web, messages, etc.

Nothing specific about macOS I miss I’m just bored of Windows

Looking at the i7 Mac mini and then upgrading the memory myself.

LiE · 22 Oct 2019 at 15:13

Clov!s said:
Nothing specific about macOS I miss I’m just bored of Windows

Looking at the i7 Mac mini and then upgrading the memory myself.

I have the i7 Mac mini and it's been great, but it wouldn't be as good if I didn't use the LG Ultrafine monitor.

Just in the process of ordering a Radeon 5700 XT and Razer Core X to boost the GPU performance as its lacking.

Captain · 4 Nov 2019 at 22:50

Hi all, sorry for the delay in responding.

Just logged into my reward scheme through my employer and noticed I qualify for the Apple EPP (Employee Purchase Program) giving me 10-15% off all apple products depending on what they are.

Looking at prices I think the i7 Mac mini will be the best all in one solution to go with my iPad Pro for lounging around the house or to take to work with me.

Just specs now, no need to pay apples memory prices when I can upgrade myself, what about the SSD?

With my discount I can get the Mac mini i7 delivered for £908 but that’s leaving everything else at stock.

The_Abyss · 4 Nov 2019 at 23:15

I don't believe that you can upgrade the SSD in the Mini, as it is soldered like the MacBooks. Should be simple enough to add an external SSD though - I've just got a Seagate Fast SSD for exactly that purpose.

Captain · 5 Nov 2019 at 00:11

The_Abyss said:
I don't believe that you can upgrade the SSD in the Mini, as it is soldered like the MacBooks. Should be simple enough to add an external SSD though - I've just got a Seagate Fast SSD for exactly that purpose.

So first they solder the memory and now they solder the SSD

Captain · 6 Nov 2019 at 22:59

More options I’ve been looking at, MacBook Pro 15” retina, i9 with boost up to 5GHz, 1TB SSD and 32GB of DDR4 for £2950 through work.

ChrisD. · 7 Nov 2019 at 11:45

Clov!s said:
So first they solder the memory and now they solder the SSD

As do other manufacturers, it's not as uncommon as you think.

LiE · 7 Nov 2019 at 11:47

Clov!s said:
More options I’ve been looking at, MacBook Pro 15” retina, i9 with boost up to 5GHz, 1TB SSD and 32GB of DDR4 for £2950 through work.

Didn't you say you won't be leaving the house? Why bother paying the premium for a laptop when you can get an i7 Mac mini and upgrade RAM to 32Gb for half the price.

Captain · 7 Nov 2019 at 13:33

LiE said:
Didn't you say you won't be leaving the house? Why bother paying the premium for a laptop when you can get an i7 Mac mini and upgrade RAM to 32Gb for half the price.

I’m easily persuaded into buying the higher specced equipment

ChrisD. · 7 Nov 2019 at 13:34

Clov!s said:
I’m easily persuaded into buying the higher specced equipment

It won't run as fast as a Mac Mini as it'll throttle to base clock most of the time.

LiE · 7 Nov 2019 at 13:54

Clov!s said:
I’m easily persuaded into buying the higher specced equipment

Well the Mac mini is higher specced when it comes to cooling. No idea why you'd constrain yourself to such a small chassis if you don't need portability.